What Didn’t Work Taught Me the Most
Candle Autumn Social in Round Rock
This past year has been nothing short of an adventure.
Running two very different businesses at the same time has stretched me, humbled me, and taught me lessons I never could have learned any other way. One business is rooted in creativity, storytelling, and product-making; the other is grounded in service, systems, and impact. Both have demanded growth—and both have given me plenty of reasons to pause, reflect, and feel grateful.
The Adventure of Building or Rebuilding
Entrepreneurship rarely moves in a straight line. Some days feel like wins stacked neatly on top of each other. Other days feel like backtracking, second-guessing, and learning the same lesson twice.
This year reminded me that building something meaningful is an ongoing experiment. You try. You adjust. You learn. And then you try again—with a little more wisdom and a lot more patience.
What Worked in Marketing
Not everything landed, but a few things consistently showed up as wins:
Storytelling over selling. When I shared the how and why—the behind-the-scenes content attached to the memories, traditions, and inspiration behind products—people leaned in. Authentic stories created real connections.
Showing up consistently. Markets, social posts, emails, and conversations mattered more than perfection. As a former perfectionist, I learned that doing and not being perfect is the key. Progress came from being present.
Community-based marketing. Word-of-mouth, local events, and repeat customers proved that trust is the strongest marketing tool there is. Each day, I work to keep that trust.
Education and value. In my service-based work, clarity and expertise built credibility far more than flashy promotion.
What Didn’t Work
Some strategies looked great on paper—but reality had other plans:
Overextending with too many ideas at once. More products didn’t always mean more sales. In the following year, you will see this in our product line. We will introduce some new products, but some old ones will go.
Chasing trends. Not every trending scent or product fits my brand or my customer.
Assuming excitement equals demand. Personal enthusiasm doesn’t always translate to market readiness. This enthusiasm also extends to supporters who cheer me on, but don’t always know how it fits my brand. Understanding what my customers want is more important than personal enthusiasm for a product.
These moments weren’t failures—they were feedback.
Trying New Products & New Scents
Experimentation was both exciting and humbling.
Some products sold out quickly. Others quietly reminded me that not every idea is meant to stay. Testing new scents taught me how subjective fragrance truly is—and how important it is to listen to customers instead of guessing.
I learned:
Small test batches matter
Feedback is gold and should be consistently sought so that even a 1% improvement means refining the product and exceeding customers’ expectations.
Letting go of a product is part of refining a brand
Timing also matters. Knowing what our target customers want and when is a critical piece to launching new products.
Every product that didn’t perform still served a purpose—it taught me something I needed to know.
Still Learning, Still Growing
Both businesses continue to evolve. Systems improve. Branding sharpens. Confidence grows. I’m learning how to pivot without panic, how to rest without guilt, and how to celebrate progress even when it feels small.
If there’s one truth I’m carrying forward, it’s this:
I am still learning—and that’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. I know that learning is a constant and holds so much truth that it will sustain me through many more years.
Gratitude Above All
I’m grateful for:
Customers who support, encourage, and return
Conversations that spark new ideas
Lessons disguised as setbacks
The courage to keep going when things don’t work
This year wasn’t about perfection. It was about progress.
As I look ahead to a new year, I’m carrying the lessons with me—not just the wins, but the experiments that didn’t work, the ideas that needed refining, and the moments that required patience. Growth didn’t come from getting it right every time; it came from staying open to learning.
So as you step into your next season—whether in business, creativity, or life—I’ll ask you this:
What worked for you this past year? What didn’t? And what lessons are you grateful for as you move forward?
Sometimes reflection is the first step toward what’s next.