Tewdilly Turns One: 12 Lessons I'll Never Forget

Exactly one year ago, I made it official.

I settled on a name for my business, secured a website URL, and filed the paperwork.

Tewdilly wasn’t born out of a business plan. It was created from hope, inspiration, and a conviction that work could be better—for me, for my clients, for everyone.

My mission was simple: do good work with good people. I promised myself I’d stay true to who I am—I’d do what’s right, not just what’s profitable, and I’d support my clients by leading with joy and sharing it freely.

I’m proud to say I accomplished what I set out to do, and learned more this past year than I ever thought possible. About business, yes, and also about myself.  

Here are some of my favorite things I’ve learned this first year: 

1. Work Can Feel Like Play

I tested my own theory, and proved it true: if you care deeply about who you work with—and want their success as much as your own—then the work doesn’t feel like work. It feels like play. Because it is.

“The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression.” – Brené Brown

2. My Real Superpower Isn’t What You Might Think

Seventeen years of pro sports brand experience in marketing, digital, and content? Useful. But this past year, I was reminded over and over again that my true strength is being a mirror—helping business leaders see what they already know, buried under noise, fear, or doubt. Tewdilly is that clarity. That reflection. The fire to trust yourself and move.

“The most important tool in leadership is self-awareness.” – Simon Sinek

3. Inspiration Is Contagious

Working with people who are inspired by what they do lifts everything. It sharpens the work, deepens the connection, and makes the whole thing feel electric. Being inspired inspires. 

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive.” – Marcus Aurelius

4. Trust Is Built, Then Shared

Learning to trust myself didn’t come from building a proposal deck, making a sizzle reel, or practicing a speech. It came from doing—through failing, fear, and figuring it out anyway. I learned by believing in myself the way I believe in the people I care about most. And in doing that, I found something deeper: the kind of trust that makes work feel like home.

“You don’t find your voice. You use it, and in doing so, you discover it.” – Austin Kleon

5. The Obstacle Truly Is the Way

There were moments I wanted to quit. When it felt too hard. Too uncertain. But I kept going—not in spite of the challenge, but because of it. 

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." – Marcus Aurelius

6. I’m Stronger Than I Knew

Starting something alone peels back every layer. It’s exposing. But underneath the doubt, within the vulnerability, I found persistence, clarity, and strength I didn’t know I had. Quiet power. Steady fire.

“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” – Seneca

7. Listening to Everyone’s Advice Can Be a Trap

Advice is everywhere—and most of it well-meaning. But, at times, too much input made me doubt what I knew. I learned to pause the noise and trust my gut. 

“If you want to be original, you have to be irrational.” – Naval Ravikant

8. Business Plans Are Overrated

The best parts of Tewdilly weren’t planned. They were sensed. They were created through care, instinct, experimentation, and real connection. 

“Plans are guesses. Listening and adapting is strategy.” – Adam Grant 

9. Content Reflects Character

Making content isn’t just a marketing function—it’s an exercise in brand integrity. The brands that do it best are the ones truest to who they are. Same goes for people. Authenticity isn’t a tactic, it’s alignment.

“If you’re not making something you love, you’ll never find the people who love what you make.” – Rick Rubin

10. Gratitude Is the Undercurrent

Gratitude is my favorite feeling. It’s the foundation for all of the best feelings I know. And this past year, I learned that working with people you truly believe in—and who believe in you right back—creates a feedback loop of real, lasting appreciation. I'm deeply grateful for my clients: for trusting me, for supporting the way Tewdilly works, and for walking this path with me. The respect and care goes both ways. And I don’t take a second of it for granted.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Cicero

11. The Most Effective Way to Lead: With Joy  

Not everything has to be heavy. Not everything has to be optimized. Fun creates space for trust. And trust creates space for the best work.

“Joy is not a luxury. It is a discipline.”  – Kaitlin Curtice

12. This Is Just the Beginning

I’m proud of the work, but more proud of how it’s been done. With heart. With truth. With integrity. And with people I care about. If this is year one, I can’t wait to see what’s next.

“Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” – Tim Ferriss 

What I’m Most Proud Of  

’m proud that this thing has stayed true. That it feels like me. That the people who work with Tewdilly feel seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways. That this journey has been as much about self-discovery as it has business development. And that I genuinely love what I'm doing.

What’s Next  

More heart. More fire. More building with people who want to do work that matters. The foundation is set. This is just the beginning.

If you’ve been part of this first year, in whatever way: thank you. If you’re curious what year two might look like, I’d love to talk.

#TewdillyTurnsOne