Why I Love Our "Boring" Business
The simple systems that create steady growth
Our latest board meeting lasted exactly 15 minutes.
No, that's not a typo. Fifteen minutes to review a business that's on track for 102% year-over-year growth.
Most e-commerce owners I know are constantly putting out fires, checking their phones during family dinner, and living in a state of perpetual chaos. Meanwhile, Travis and I are running Dr. Barry's with the most uneventful weekly check-ins you can imagine.
Despite only having product in stock for half the year, we pulled in $145K in total revenue - $120K from Amazon and $25K from Shopify. But here's what's fascinating about how we did it.
Travis and I just look at the numbers:
"Hey, do we have money?"
"Yep."
"Cool, I'm going to turn up the ads that are working."
"Sounds good."
That's it. That's the meeting.
Even when things go wrong (like getting kicked off Amazon or running out of stock), it never feels chaotic. We just calmly look at our options and make a decision. No panic, no all-nighters, no emergency Slack messages.
Here's what I've learned
The best growth strategy isn't always about pushing harder. Sometimes it's about building something valuable (even if it's not massive) and using those lessons to level up.
That's exactly why we started small with Dr. Barry's. We needed to prototype our systems, learn the ropes, and prepare for bigger opportunities. And now? We're eyeing brands doing $1M+ in EBITDA.
For all you business owners out there, here's the key insight: Sometimes the "boring" path - predictable systems, steady growth, calm decision-making - is actually the fastest way to build something valuable.
Until next time,
Deacon, Travis, and Justus
P.S. Running an e-commerce brand but tired of the constant chaos? Hit reply and let me know what's keeping you up at night. We've built systems for predictable, drama-free growth through better marketing and operations, and I'd love to hear what you're working on.