Let me take you back 20+ years ago, to the days when my weekends were spent at clubs with my buddies. My best friend was that guy—the one with all the confidence in the world, who could walk up to any girl, flash a smile, and she’d be on the dance floor with him in seconds. Me? Let’s just say I was the ultimate wingman, riding his coattails and awkwardly trying to keep her friend company so she wouldn’t feel left out.
You can probably guess how that went. Even then, I’d get rejected. Why? Was it my looks? My blonde tips? My dance moves? My inability to start a conversation without stuttering? Nah. It was none of that. The real problem was my confidence—or lack thereof. I wasn’t sure of myself, and I was terrified of hearing “no.”
But, like the lovable dummy I was, I kept trying. I’d get rejected, obsess over what I was doing wrong, tweak my approach, and try again. Rinse and repeat. A few years of this trial-and-error insanity later, I found myself at Harmon’s Pub. And this time, something clicked. With a newfound sliver of confidence, I walked up to a girl and struck up a conversation. That girl? She would later become my lifelong partner, my wife Lisa.
Turns out, that “figure it out” mentality that helped me overcome my club-related failures wasn’t just useful for dating—it was about to become the backbone of my career and business.
Figuring It Out, One Rejection at a Time
Fast forward to the early days of starting StandOut Design. I had no formal business training, no mentor guiding me, and definitely no safety net. My design skills were solid, but running a business? That was a whole new ballgame.
I’ll never forget the day I got a phone call from the CEO of a multimillion-dollar company asking me to design their website. Sounds amazing, right? Except for one small problem: I didn’t even have a computer at the time. Yep, let that sink in. But I wasn’t about to let that stop me. I hung up the phone, thought to myself, Alright, time to figure it out, and got to work.
From CEOs to startups walking through my door, asking for advice on how to take their business to the next level, I quickly realized that many people are phenomenal at their craft—whether it’s mowing lawns, roofing houses, or making candles—but the business side of things is a whole other world. And guess what? I was no exception.
I knew I had talent as a designer, but I had no clue how to price services, create contracts, or even file taxes. Cue the “figure it out” mentality.
Building a Business, One Lesson at a Time
Starting StandOut Design wasn’t glamorous. There were no viral success moments, no instant wins, just me, a lot of mistakes, and a constant willingness to learn. I had to figure out what services to offer, how to perfect those services, and most importantly, how to hire the right people to take this business to the next level.
There were failures—plenty of them. Times when I didn’t price a project correctly and barely broke even. Times when I said yes to a client only to realize I was way over my head. But every rejection, every mistake, and every “what the hell am I doing?” moment taught me something.
Here’s the thing: growing a business isn’t about knowing everything upfront—it’s about being willing to learn along the way. As Alex Hormozi says, “The easiest way to improve your life is to stop waiting for the perfect time. Start now and figure it out as you go.”
That’s exactly what I did. Little by little, I figured it out. I learned how to delegate. I learned how to hire people who are smarter than me in specific areas and (this is key) be okay with it. That was a game-changer. You can’t scale a business if you think you have to do everything yourself.
The “Figure It Out” Mentality Never Ends
Here’s the truth: I’m still figuring it out. Even 10 years into StandOut Design, I’m still learning, adapting, and solidifying processes to make things run smoother. The hustle never ends, but that’s what keeps it exciting.
Starting a business is a lot like marriage or having a child. You’re never fully ready. You’ll never have enough money saved or enough time to feel comfortable making the leap. But as Jesse Itzler says, “You don’t have to be ready, you just have to start.”
That’s what the “figure it out” mentality is all about. It’s about taking the leap, even when you’re scared. It’s about embracing rejection, learning from it, and trying again. It’s about understanding that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s a necessary step on the way to it.
The Only Way to Fail Is to Quit
As I reflect on 10 years in business, I think back to those awkward nights at the club, to walking up to Lisa at Harmon’s Pub, to getting locked out of my old job, and to the countless rejections I faced along the way. Every one of those moments built the grit and determination I needed to make StandOut Design what it is today.
Starting a business, building relationships, and growing something meaningful—it’s not easy, and it never will be. But that’s what makes it worth it. As long as you keep moving forward, keep figuring it out, and refuse to quit, you’ll always find a way.
Because at the end of the day, the only way to truly fail is to give up. And giving up? That’s not in my DNA.
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