3 Things I'd Do Differently

My first office? A canal boat crammed with plants. Laptop on my knees. Post-it notes stuck to the porthole. Every inch mattered. Every decision had to count.

Looking back now, from that floating jungle to everything that came after, here’s what I’d do very differently if I started again.

The 3 Moves That Change Everything

1. Hire Slower, Pay More, Win Faster

The counterintuitive talent strategy that actually saves money

The mistake: I defaulted to junior hires thinking it was leaner.

The truth: You're not paying senior talent just for output. You're buying:

• Judgment that prevents costly mistakes

• Networks that open doors you didn't know existed

• Pattern recognition that shortcuts the unknown

Senior hires bring direction and momentum. They turn your solo struggle into strategic execution.

The takeaway: Stop thinking about salary costs. Start thinking about opportunity costs.

2. Trade Digital Dollars for Street Credibility

Why your next campaign should make people stop and stare

The shift: I'd double down on fewer ads, more experiential magic.

Bold, street-level campaigns that get your team out of conference rooms and into real conversations. Creating buzz. Building memories. Making your brand impossible to ignore.

The insight: My most joyful, high-impact moments came from IRL activations. When people can touch, feel, and experience your brand, they don't just buy—they become evangelists.

The challenge: Can you create a campaign so memorable that people share it without being asked?

3. Raise for Impact, Not Just Survival

The funding strategy that separates brands from businesses

The brutal lesson: I underestimated how cash-hungry physical product businesses are.

The smarter approach: If I did it again, I'd raise capital to build a brand with real impact, not just keep the lights on.

Find investors who understand brand value from day one. Build a senior team that gives them confidence you'll actually pull it off.

The mindset shift: You're not fundraising to survive another quarter. You're fundraising to dominate a category.

The Bottom Line

If I started over tomorrow, I'd go simpler, sharper, and far better resourced for scaling.

Three moves. Massive impact. The kind of hindsight that I wish I had when I was figuring it all out alone on that plant-filled canal boat.

Your Turn: The Million-Dollar Question

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Let’s make moves,
Beth

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Disclaimer: I share advice from my own experience. Every business is unique, so tailor these ideas to fit your needs.