As I sit with my Monday morning coffee, I’m reminded that the entrepreneurial journey is rarely a straight line. It’s layered, unpredictable, and constantly evolving. Every single day feels like a learning curve—and if there’s one thing this year reinforced for me, it’s that growth often comes wrapped in challenges we never planned for.
Like many entrepreneurs, I start the year by setting clear goals. I write them down, revisit them monthly, and try to stay intentional about measuring progress. I reset, refine, and maneuver strategies as the year unfolds. On paper, the plan always looks neat and achievable. In reality, the journey has a way of throwing curveballs that hit you straight in the face—completely out of the blue.
This year, I faced several of those moments. Some goals I achieved. Some I didn’t. And in both my personal and professional life, I had to make tough decisions to change course midway. There were lessons I learned the hard way—costly ones that forced me to pause, reflect, and rethink how I approach certain challenges. But there were also lessons that opened doors I didn’t know existed and helped move my organization onto a new and rewarding path.
What I’ve come to understand is this: not hitting a goal doesn’t mean failure—it means feedback. Sometimes success looks like pivoting. Sometimes progress means letting go of a strategy that no longer serves you. And sometimes growth requires admitting that the original plan needs to evolve.
Right now, I’m working on a list of lessons learned—what worked, what didn’t, and how I can fix or improve those areas going into the next year. It’s not about dwelling on mistakes, but about honoring them for what they taught me. Every experience, good or bad, carries insight if we’re willing to look closely.
And to my fellow women entrepreneurs: this journey can feel especially heavy at times. We often juggle multiple roles, carry invisible expectations, and push forward even when the path feels uncertain. If you’ve had to pivot, pause, or start over this year, know that you’re not alone—and that your resilience is not weakness, but strength. Growth doesn’t always look loud or linear, and progress doesn’t always come with applause.
As entrepreneurs, we don’t just build businesses—we build resilience. We learn to adapt, recalibrate, and move forward with renewed clarity and energy. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. It’s continuing to show up, even when the path changes.
So as this new week begins, I’m reminding myself—and anyone who needs to hear it—to stay flexible, stay curious, and stay committed to growth. The journey may not always look the way we imagined, but sometimes the detours lead us exactly where we’re meant to go.