What 8 years of wins and flops taught me about life

There’s nothing like a birthday to spark a little reflection. So, in true milestone fashion, here are 3 lessons from 8 years of Saint Belford that go far beyond business.

#1 Celebrate the effort

I used to spiral (a lot) when new products flopped (even after months of hard work) or when a post I’d poured myself into didn’t get the engagement I hoped for.

I wanted the results to match the time and energy I’d invested.

But it doesn’t always work like that… because we can’t control everything.

The outcome of any goal is almost always shaped by external factors beyond our control. Take our 2020 product flops (puzzles and t-shirts) as an example. We couldn’t control whether people bought them or how quickly they sold. What we could control was the effort—the creativity, the ads, the content, the energy we put into sharing them.

It feels counterintuitive to celebrate effort when the outcome isn’t what you wanted. But shifting the focus from results to effort acknowledges the journey, not just the destination.

Because effort reflects your hard work, dedication and progress—all the things that actually move you forward and deserve to be applauded.

So yes, measure results when required. But don’t dismiss your effort!

#2 Own your mistakes

From typos to pixelated pockets, I’ve made my fair share of cringe-worthy mistakes. But what I’ve learned is the only way to move forward and shed the embarrassment is to own your mistakes.

Because “hoping no one notices” only breeds more fear and panic.

And responding with transparency says far more about who you are as a person than the mistake you’ve made.

In 8 years of running Saint Belford, honesty has never once backfired. You know what it does? It builds trust and loyalty.

#3 Blinkers = self-care

More often than not, social media overwhelms me. There, I said it! I see what other brands are doing and fall straight into the comparison trap—wondering if I should be chasing this trend or talking about that, when I’m already at max capacity.

And that’s when I lose focus, pulled in ten different directions.

So now, when I’m at capacity, I put my “blinkers” on.

Competitor? Scroll past. Trend alert? Scroll past.

Because choosing to stay in my lane protects my focus, my peace, and my energy.

And maybe that’s the reminder you need too—that sometimes the most powerful act of self-care is tuning out the noise.