The Moment I Didn’t Feel Ready For

When I was first told that I won 2026 New Business of the Year from West Broadway Business and Area Coalition, I was caught off guard.

I remember sitting there, overjoyed for a moment… and then almost immediately, something else settled in.

Imposter syndrome.

Because the truth is—I didn’t feel like I had proof that what I was building was working.

I had done trial runs in local stores, trying to understand what model made sense, only to realize it didn’t align with the pace or direction I envisioned. My profit and loss sheets reminded me more of what I didn’t know than what I did.

At the time, I didn’t have a car. I didn’t always feel like I had the “clean” clothes. I walked down many pairs of shoes from Dress for Success. I was bringing my kids—2 and 3 years old—with me to meeting after meeting, walking, catching buses, doing whatever it took to show up.

And as you can imagine, those weren’t always calm or easy moments.

So when I was told I won, my mind didn’t say “you did it.” It said, “what did you do to deserve this?”

It didn’t feel real. It felt like someone might come back and say, “just kidding.”

I see it differently...Now that some time has passed.

This award doesn’t represent perfection. It represents perseverance without immediate proof.

It represents showing up—even when the results weren’t visible yet. It represents effort that wasn’t always posted, celebrated, or seen.

But someone saw it.

And more importantly, it helped me see something for myself:

This can actually work.

The idea of blending positive, intentional thought with healthy beverages—creating moments that allow people to pause, reflect, and reset—it’s not just something I believed in quietly anymore.

It’s something people need.

It’s different. It’s unique. And in a way, it feels like I’ve carved out a space that’s truly my own.

What people don’t always see are the early mornings filled with self pep talks. The moments where I had to encourage myself because my friends and family only remember my most troubling moments so I didn't think that anyone would have faith in me this time.

The long days, the endless “no's” or "You need to change your recipe before I give you a chance.” The tears from my toddlers and myself, the setbacks, the debt that came with trying.

There was a point where I literally walked in a circle for years.

Listening to months worth of motivational speeches from speakers like Les Brown, Lisa Nichols, ETtheHipHopPreacher etc.., I threw my tv out and made a decision to use my 24 hours wisely—and that shift changed everything. I read more than 40 books last year, we spent our free time at the library, I volunteered as an intern for a local non-profit organization, I became more conscious of who I was becoming in this season.

Now, I’m thinking ahead...

I’m focused on being more intentional about how I pour into others—especially those who allow me to take up space with them.

I have been diligently creating micro-moments that inspire people to step outside of routine and into something more aligned with who they want to become.

That’s where my next chapter begins.

My goal is to start hosting wellness experiences, for those who contribute to someone else's vision, in environments that naturally reflect growth—gardens, lakes, open spaces where transformation isn’t just talked about, it’s seen and felt. Because when we pour into those who work towards our bottom lines the rewards are greater

More than anything, I want people to walk away with this understanding:

It’s you vs. you.

The only limits that matter are the ones you accept.

You have 24 hours—just like everyone else. The question is, what do you intend to do with them?

This award didn’t make me—it reminded me.

And now, I’m moving forward with that awareness.

A Micro-Moment:

If you knew you would succeed, what would you attempt?