Growing Pains
Around 1989, I had posters of Kirk Cameron on my walls, most likely torn from Bop Magazine like this one. (Also Corey Haim... swoon)
Like every 80s baby, I loved the show Growing Pains. Let's disregard that Kirk Cameron lost his mind a few years ago and focus on the glory years of 80s sitcoms!
Now, as a leader of this company and a mom to two little ones, I’ve gained an entirely new perspective on what “growing pains” really means, especially during this season of both personal and professional growth.
With my young daughters, I’m seeing growing pains in real-time. As they grow, their emotions are evolving faster than their toolkit can keep up, often leading to frustration, confusion, and even sadness. Much like how their legs ache from physical growth, their hearts hurt from the challenge of navigating an increasingly complex world.
It turns out, we’re experiencing similar growing pains here at HQ.
The company is expanding—yay! We’re becoming the brand we always knew we could be. But with that growth comes inevitable changes: roles shift, systems get tested, and the pace quickens, leaving little room for our team of grown-ups' emotional toolkit to catch up.
The excitement of success and watching our vision unfold can sometimes feel mixed with frustration, burnout, and the overwhelming challenge of balancing these growing demands.
So, what are we doing about it?
Perspective Check: We're reminding the team that, while what we’re doing here is important, it’s not worth sacrificing our mental health. Yes, we are deeply committed to our franchisees' success, but our HQ team’s well-being is critical.
Implementing EOS: We’ve recently begun integrating the Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS) at HQ. This will bring clarity, accountability and help us all row in the same direction.
Embracing the Growing Pains: We’re keeping in mind that this temporary discomfort is part of our evolution. As we refine our processes and gain clarity through EOS, we know it will set us up for long-term success.
Recalibrating Our Core Values: We’re in the process of refining our Core Values, which will soon be shared widely. These values will serve as our North Star in our continued plan to inspire confidence and build community.
Growing up isn’t easy, but it's necessary. We’re in the thick of it, and we’re all in this together. Let’s embrace the discomfort, stay focused on the big picture, and come out stronger, sharper, and more unified on the other side.