How Jesus, T-Shirts, and the Compound Effect Taught Me Patience

It works, it really works

As I sit here, surrounded by six printers, DTF fumes, caffeine remnants, and a t-shirt sample that I swear looked cuter last night, I can’t help but reflect on this wild ride called entrepreneurship, aka the land of ‘where the money at?!’

It’s been nearly three years since I hung up my badge as a probation officer and dove headfirst into the land of “why did I think this was going to be cheaper than narcissistic leadership recovery therapy?”

But somewhere between the heat pressing and the prayer journaling, I stumbled across a principle that saved my sanity and my business more times than I can count: the Compound Effect.

The Compound Effect, as Darren Hardy graciously explains while probably sipping herbal tea and not waiting on a delayed garment order from California, is the idea that tiny, consistent actions lead to massive results over time.

Translated for us t-shirt people: Tiny smart choices + consistency + time = eventually you’re not crying into a box of wrinkled Gildans.

This blog post is not glamorous. It's not viral. It’s not even Instagrammable. But this is what has worked for me.

Now let’s talk about my evolution, because when I first launched my business, I gave it a name so emotional you’d think it was a Nicholas Sparks novel (Soul Food Creations - wearable creations that feed the soul). And I meant well, but y’all... turns out “emotional branding” doesn’t always translate into invoices paid or bulk orders rolling in when they find out you don't serve cornbread.

Eventually, I had to admit: I needed a rebrand. Not because I failed, but because I was failing forward. (By the way, that’s spiritual for “I tripped into a brick wall but got back up with a logo redesign.”)

Since then, I’ve re-learned everything I thought I already knew about running a business. Including how to laugh at the fact that I once printed 50 shirts with the words “Stronger Than Yesteryay.” #LimitedEditionMistakes

Let me be straight with you, consistency is not “influencer energy", it’s more “I wore this hair three days in a row but I met with customers anyway” energy.

Some mornings, I’d stare at my screen like, “Lord, is this email blast reaching anyone other than my friends and Gmail spam?”

Other days, I’d whisper "Jesus take the heat press" because it sounded like it was revving up to rapture itself out of my tiny bedroom studio.

But here's the truth: success isn’t born in explosions. It’s built in repetition. Repetition of faith, of action and of walking it out even when you're unsure if it's working.

Now, almost three years in at the full time level, I’ve got something better than a viral post, I’ve got proof. Proof that showing up works and pressing through pays off.

I’ve seen growth. Maybe not the kind that makes headlines, but the kind that makes me ready to get up the next day and try, try again. And I’ll take ready over spotlight any day of the week.

A Word to My Fellow Creators, Dreamers, and Jesus-Fueled Side Hustlers

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it to keep going… it is. Even if your inbox is dry, or your last design accidentally said “Let Go and Let Cod”, you’re not behind. You’re just in the middle. And the middle is where God does His best work on you.

So, stay in it even when it’s messy and silent. Stay in it even when even when you accidentally branded your company like a breakup letter.

God? He’s into consistency too! Six days of creation, one day of rest, and zero days of giving up.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 48 shirts to press, two rolls of heat transfer vinyl stuck together like they’re dating, and one protein cookie that’s pretending it tastes like a brownie.

All for the glory. 

Until Next Time,

Andrea