3 Days in Waco

Patience…a virtue many have to learn, and one I’m still mastering as I continue on this journey of entrepreneurship. If someone had told me four years ago, when I started The Southern Dog, that I would be invited to be a vendor at Magnolia Silobration in Waco, Texas, I probably would’ve laughed. Back then, I had no clue what lay ahead. Yet, here I am—fresh from an unforgettable three days in Waco, grateful for the experience and all the lessons along the way.

Being invited to this event was surreal. The thought that my small business—one that I started with just a handful of collars and dreams bigger than my capabilities at the time—was now sharing space with some of the most creative vendors at such a prestigious event felt like a dream. But this wasn’t an overnight success story. It took years of patience, persistence, and more moments of doubt than I care to admit.

The Power of Patience

Let’s talk about patience. It’s a word that gets thrown around, but as any entrepreneur will tell you, it’s easier said than done. I had to be patient with my growth, with my goals, and most of all, with myself. When I first launched The Southern Dog, I thought every little thing had to be perfect. I believed that if it wasn’t flawless, it wasn’t good enough to share with the world.

But that mindset didn’t last long. Running a business isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, about showing up every day even when it feels like no one is watching. There were months when my sales were non-existent, my social media posts seemed to disappear into a void, and my website traffic was a ghost town. It felt like I was shouting into the wind, and no one was listening. Those were the times when the temptation to quit felt the strongest. It would’ve been easy to give in to those thoughts and walk away. But something told me to hold on, to have patience and trust the process.

Lessons from the Road

Every loss and setback became a learning opportunity. And let me tell you, I had plenty of them! But instead of seeing them as failures, I chose to see them as stepping stones. Was it easy? Absolutely not. But those early struggles prepared me for the successes that would follow.

If you’re reading this and you’re at that point where you’re questioning whether it’s worth it—whether anyone will care about what you’re creating—let me be the one to tell you to keep going. Be patient. Be patient with your business, with your journey, and with yourself. Success doesn’t come without hard work, and the reward is often hidden just beyond the moment when you want to give up the most.

Embracing the Unknown

Being a vendor at Magnolia Silobration was an incredible experience, but if I had let fear or doubt stop me from starting The Southern Dog all those years ago, I never would’ve made it here. That’s the thing about taking a leap into the unknown—you never really know where it’s going to take you.

Starting a business can feel like diving into the deep end, but you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. I certainly didn’t. What matters is that you take that first step and trust that you’ll learn and grow along the way. There’s no “perfect” time to start, and there will always be uncertainties. But the risk is worth it.

The best thing you can do is dream big, embrace the unknown, and just go for it. Take the risk, believe in your vision, and understand that success won’t happen overnight—but with patience, it will happen.

An Invitation to Dream

As I reflect on those three days in Waco, I’m reminded that the journey is just as important as the destination. The Southern Dog is far from a finished story—there’s so much more growth ahead, and I’m excited to see where it leads. To those of you thinking about starting your own business, I hope my story encourages you to chase your dreams, take the leap, and embrace the journey with all its bumps, detours, and unexpected surprises.

Because if I can do it, so can you. Keep dreaming, keep going, and most importantly—be patient.

Here’s to the road ahead!