Building My Dream: The Honest Beginning

Madison Gray
Dec 4, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Dec 4, 2024

I’ve had this idea for the past few months that I can’t seem to shake.

Can I build a business that allows me to truly thrive?

AND—what would it be like to share that journey in real time?

If you’re anything like me, you love a good underdog story—the kind where someone overcomes challenges and reaches their goals. But so often, we only hear these stories after the outcome is all shiny and tied up with a bow. It's safer to share once we know there’s a happy ending, right?

But what if I started telling my story now, before I know how it all turns out? What if I opened up about the wins and losses, what’s working and what’s not, the highs and lows of building something meaningful—without any guarantees of success?

Would people actually be interested in the beginning phases and want to be a part of the journey knowing that success is by no means guaranteed?

The truth is I’m not sure! But like I said, I can’t get this idea out of my head so I’m going to go for it.

From now on, whether it’s through newsletters, Instagram, or my blog, I’m committing to sharing more of the real, messy, nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes stuff—how it’s going, what I’m learning, and maybe even what I’m scared of.

I’ve been drawn lately to this idea of a “zero-to-hero” story (not saying I’ll ever be a hero, but you get the point). There’s something rare and beautiful about witnessing someone’s journey while they’re still in the thick of it—while the outcome is uncertain. Vulnerability like that inspires me, and I want to test it out for myself.

To kick things off, here’s a look at my goals and strategies for this holiday season. Thanks to some wise advice from my BFFL (best friend for life), I’ve decided to keep it simple and focus on three core aspects of my business:

Building an authentic and consistent social media presence

As much as I want to resist social media, I know it’s essential in today’s world to connect with people and build a brand.

Selling my goods to stores

This has been a great way to create a steady income. I set a minimum order of 25 items, and stores typically pay upfront.

Attending markets

Markets are the best way to get to know my customers and what they like and don’t like! I’ve really been trying to better define and understand who my ideal target market is (who I am trying to sell my goods to).

With those core focuses in place, I set some clear goals to achieve by December 31st:

Timeframe: October 1st - December, 31st, 2024