Top Of The Feed
No matter what you’re building (a career, a company, or a new version of yourself) there’s always that middle stretch. The one where you’re putting in the work, doing everything right, but the results you’re after still feel far away. It’s that frustrating place where the effort is high, but the evidence hasn’t caught up yet.
That’s the part most people try to skip: the brewing phase.
When progress feels slow, it’s easy to think nothing’s happening. But most milestones are just markers of what you were doing quietly months ago. The emails people ignored. The client decks you refined ten times. The moments you showed up with no guarantee it would lead anywhere.
I’ve learned, it’s all part of the process.
So if you’re somewhere in that stage, let this newsletter be your sign to keep going! The consistent steps are still movement. The quiet work still counts. And what’s brewing now is what gives everything else its flavor later.
Spotlight
Black Influencer To Follow: HRVST House
In a time when community builders are being recognized as influencers, HRVST House stands out as a cultural cornerstone in Seattle (with projects and influence that extend well beyond). The organization blends music, film, events, and space to create meaningful opportunities for creatives. With deep roots and close relationships across the city, partnering with HRVST House offers brands a powerful way to connect with the local community.
Food For Thought
When progress isn’t being recognized publicly, it’s easy to assume it isn’t there at all. But you just need a better way to measure what’s happening beyond the surface.
Here’s a quick assessment to use in your own brewing phase:
1. Skills: Can you do something faster, smoother, or with more confidence than you could three months ago? Progress often hides inside improved ability.
2. Opportunities: Are new people, projects, or rooms opening up — even if they’re small or unexpected? Access is a leading indicator of growth.
3. Systems: Have you built routines, tools, or processes that make your work more sustainable? Efficiency is a sign of evolution.
4. Alignment: Do the things you say yes (or no) to feel more intentional? The clearer you are on what fits, the less energy you waste forcing what doesn’t.
5. Energy: Do you recover faster from setbacks? Sometimes the strongest sign of growth is simply how quickly you find your footing again.
So ask yourself: if you measured your progress by internal growth instead of external applause, would you realize you’re further along than you think?
Worth The Click
Given that I just recently won an Amazon Kindle (courtesy of my friend Christopher Griffin — aka Plantkween), I thought this week could be cool to highlight some books that seemed relevant as I wrote this post:
1. Rise of The Creative Class by Richard Florida
Coming off a recommendation, I just started this read last weekend and am excited to dive into concrete data and insights that explore how creativity has become the driving force of modern economies.
2. Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis Jackson
I listened to this on audiobook during a flight and really appreciated the straightforward, digestible lessons on negotiation, mindset, and the business psychology behind success.
3. Venture Deals by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson
My crash course introduction to venture funding a couple of years ago, this book breaks down how deals work, from term sheets and valuations to negotiations, and offers a starting foundation for anyone new to the space.
Behind The Feed
Right now it feels like I’m entering one of the most high-pressure quarters of my career thus far. It has me in quite a reflective state, and as we wrapped a National Coffee Day campaign last week, I found myself needing to strike the balance between stressing on the future and recognizing the present.
Alongside several other work streams, we turned a local Seattle coffee shop into a Tia Maria takeover: a daytime party with espresso martinis, local DJs across Hip-Hop, Reggaeton & Afrobeats, and a high-end video production for the brand.
It was creative, community-driven, and everything I love about this work.
But in the middle of planning what’s next, I’ve been trying to pause and actually see what’s brewing now…the relationships being built, the company momentum, the systems forming behind the scenes. These are the quiet signals that things are working, even when it feels like I need to chase the next big accomplishment.
It’s really easy to move so quickly that you forget you’re living the thing you once wanted. But this week, I’m actively practicing both the ambition to keep pushing, and the awareness to appreciate the progress I’m currently sitting in.
Before You Log Off
The best brews take time.
