The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Finding Your Joy in the Grind
When we think of entrepreneurship, we often imagine the glossy highlights: being your own boss, chasing your dreams, and waking up every day excited to do what you love. And while those moments do exist, there’s a quieter, grittier truth to the journey—one that doesn’t get nearly as much attention.
Seventeen years into my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve realized that building a business isn’t just about pursuing your passion. It’s also about rolling up your sleeves and doing things you may never have signed up for—or that you downright hate.
In the beginning, the excitement of bringing your vision to life can carry you through almost anything. I remember the thrill of creating my first company, Ocha Tea Bar, and later starting Domo Tea. Back then, I was bursting with ideas and energy, eager to design products, connect with customers, and dream big. It felt like anything was possible, and every small win was exhilarating. There is something so magical about having an idea in your head and then seeing it become a reality.
But as anyone who’s been on this path will tell you, the reality of entrepreneurship is filled with tasks that are far from glamorous. The day-to-day grind of running a business kicks in: packaging orders for hours on end, sorting through mountains of receipts, firing someone for the first time, chasing down overdue payments—the list goes on. These moments aren’t Instagram-worthy. They’re exhausting, humbling, and sometimes leave you questioning why you’re doing it at all.
Domo was not an invetor started company, but more of a 'boot strap...sweat equity' sort of start up. So for years, I wore all the hats. I learned to handle the parts of the business I didn’t feel naturally drawn to because I had to. I wasn’t just the visionary; I was the accountant, the HR department, the marketing team, and the operations manager. Some of it was fulfilling, but much of it wasn’t.
I’ll be honest—there were times I thought about walking away. But here’s the thing about entrepreneurship: the lessons are in the struggles. Every late-night brainstorming session, awkward confrontation, bad partnership, and hard-earned success taught me something valuable about myself, my resilience, and what I truly care about.
Fast forward to today, and I finally feel like I’ve reached the part of the journey where I’m doing what I love most. And funny enough, it’s not the role I thought I’d end up in. Life has a way of surprising you like that. Somewhere along the way, I found my niche—not just in creating products but in building connections, refining our brand’s voice, and collaborating with others who inspire me.
It’s taken nearly two decades, but I can say with honesty that I’ve earned the right to focus on the parts of my business that truly light me up. That doesn’t mean the grind is gone; it’s just shifted. I still have hard days and tasks I’d rather skip. But I’ve built a foundation and a team that allow me to spend more time in the zone where my passion and skills meet.
If I could give one piece of advice to fellow entrepreneurs, it’s this: embrace the parts of the journey you don’t love. They will teach you discipline, humility, and the ability to adapt. And know that with time, you’ll get closer to the work that feels most aligned with who you are.
Seventeen years ago, I never could have predicted where I’d land—or that I’d love it this much. Life has a funny way of shaping us in ways we don’t expect. The key is to stick with it long enough to find out where the journey takes you.