As I sit down to write this, I feel so many different emotions. One year ago this month, I sent the first Passion & Growth box out into world. I was scared, nervous, and anxious. I was worried no one would purchase, or, even worse, if they purchased and hated it.

I am getting ahead of myself though. Let me take you back to the beginning. When I came up with my business idea, I was working as a full time nurse. I had no business background and had never taken a business course. To say I knew NOTHING about starting a business would be an understatement. Luckily, Google and YouTube are filled with thousands of people willing to share their knowledge for FREE! I spent 3 months figuring out how to launch a business successfully. I came home every night and worked on my business until I went to sleep. I gave up weekends and time with my partner to work on my vision. There were times that I asked myself, “What the hell are you doing?” Luckily, my why was, and still is, bigger than the fear I was feeling.

I spent hours upon hours debating logos, color schemes, and fonts, thinking if I chose the wrong one my business would be ruined. I hired designers, photographers, and business strategists who all helped me bring my vision to life. I realized early on that I could not do everything myself. I was cautious where I spent my money, because my business was self funded, and I also knew my limits. I tried to build my own website, and let’s just say that didn’t go well.

In the months leading up to my launch, I focused on growing my email list and my social media following. I bought enough products for 100 subscribers my first month. I had no clue if I would even need that much, but it sounded like a good number to shoot for.

The first shipment was in Feb 2020 and we shipped 75 boxes. 75 women (and some close friends) believed in me and my vision. 75 women made the decision to put themselves first. 75 women decided to challenge the status quo of society.

The following months were a whirlwind. Right after we shipped the second box, the pandemic hit. I didn’t know what to expect, but I assumed sales would decrease. I was wrong. Sales started increasing, and, four months into business, the amount of subscribers had quadrupled.

I felt like I was on top of the world; this idea that I had while sipping bubbly in a vineyard was all coming true. Things drastically changed in September when I made the decision to leave my full time nursing job after just 8 months into business. I had to put on my CEO pants and give Passion & Growth my all. Turns out, it was worth making that jump, because the last quarter of 2020 we doubled our subscribers.

There is so much that has happened in the midst of all the success I shared, there have been lows and there have been times when I wondered how the hell I was going to pay bills that month. Those experiences make the successes that much better. If at anytime I had stopped when things got hard, or decided to give up because I didn’t know what I was doing, then I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I wouldn’t have tears running down my face, thinking of the thousands of lives we have impacted.

In so many ways, 2020 was a bust, but it will forever be the year that changed my life. I want to thank each and every person who has supported me in one way or another. Without you, this would not be possible.

xo,

Lo