Ocean Native turns One! š
It feels surreal to be writing this... Ocean Native is officially one year old! When I think back to where this all started, it was just a dream I talked about constantly but never truly believed Iād take the leap on. And yet here we are, one year later, looking back on a journey that has been equal parts challenging, messy, exciting and magical.
Taking the Leap
Starting Ocean Native was one of the scariest things Iāve ever done (as silly as that sounds). I didnāt have all the answers, I didnāt have everything figured out and honestly, I still donāt. What I did have was a quiet voice inside me saying, āIf not now, then when?ā
The last year has pushed me SO far out of my comfort zone. Balancing this alongside work has meant plenty of late nights, early mornings and weekends spent at my laptop (it sometimes feels like my laptop is attached to me). Iāve learned to design and develop products from scratch, Iāve stumbled through challenges I never expected and there have been setbacks that really made me question what I was doing!
This journey hasnāt been easy, but itās been so worth it. Iāll never forget the feeling of pressing ālaunchā on the website for the first time, not knowing if anyone would even like what I had created. Or the crazy feeling of seeing orders grow every month, reading a review come through. And the moments that feel truly surreal - seeing a photo of someone, somewhere, wearing a piece I created. To me, those moments donāt feel little at all - theyāre everything!
The People Who Made It Possible
But the truth is, none of this would exist without you. Every follow, comment, share, purchase or review has helped Ocean Native grow into something real. Ocean Native would still just be an idea if it wasnāt for all of you bringing it to life with me.
I canāt put into words how grateful I am. Youāve helped me achieve more in this first year than I ever thought possible and youāve made this journey so much more meaningful than I ever imagined.
Looking Ahead
Year one has been a whirlwind of learning, growing and creating. Itās been far from perfect, but I think thatās what makes it so special. The late nights, the lessons learned, the risks taken and the little wins along the way are what have shaped Ocean Native into what it is today.
Thank you for being part of the first chapter of this journey. Iām so excited to write the next one with you.
CarlyĀ
