Episode 6 - bonus

The truth about this launch… and it changed everything

Published on: 3rd April, 2025

What happens when the thing you’ve done a hundred times… suddenly stops working?

When your plan makes perfect sense, but you can’t move forward with it?

That’s what this final episode of the Launch Style Stories series is all about. I’m pulling back the curtain—not on someone else’s launch, but on mine. This is the one that took the longest. The one that broke things open. The one that recalibrated everything about how I coach, launch, and lead.


Spoiler: It wasn’t burnout. It wasn’t strategy. It wasn’t missing momentum. It was something deeper—and when I hit that wall, it changed everything.


This episode is both a closing chapter for this series and an opening into what’s now possible—because if you’ve ever felt like the traditional ways of launching are boxing you in, this is for you. I’m walking you through the moments that brought me to a halt, the real story behind this program, and how launch style isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you move through the world.


We’re closing the loop on this series by going full-circle—right back to the heart of what Your Launch Style™ is really all about.


Here’s what I’m sharing in this episode:

[02:00] What made this launch so different (and why it took so long)

[04:59] The moment I hit the "truth wall"

[07:30] What I asked my community that helped unlock everything

[08:49] The real problem with most launch methods

[10:48] The four core elements that make up your unique launch style

[11:36] A fashion metaphor to help you finally understand strategy vs. tactics

[14:33] The truth about funnels vs. launches (and why most people get it wrong)

[17:00] The “meta moment” of launching a launch program while evolving your own launch style


Resources Mentioned:

Your Launch Style program: https://www.traciepatterson.com/yls

YLS Live Event: https://www.traciepatterson.com/yls-live-event

Listen to the full series: https://www.traciepatterson.com/launch-style-stories


🎧 Binge the series or come to the live event, but whatever you do—don’t try to force a strategy that doesn’t fit you anymore.


CREDITS

Music: ColourfulSounds

Podcast Editor: Maia McLachlan

Transcript
Speaker:

..., tracie: and your listening to

digital business, your way.

2

:

Welcome to our special limited series.

3

:

Launch style stories.

4

:

In this series, we're diving deep into

the true stories behind launching what

5

:

it's like to find your way, the hard way.

6

:

And what happens when you finally

discover a launch style that fits.

7

:

You'll hear from entrepreneurs who've been

through well, some miserable experiences.

8

:

Those who are still figuring it out.

9

:

And those who found their groove and

finally feel like they're thriving.

10

:

Because launching isn't one size fits all

and there's not only one way to do it.

11

:

And I believe it doesn't have to

feel like denying yourself to make

12

:

money or just feel exhausting and

something that you have to get through.

13

:

This series is all about exploring what

works, what doesn't And how you can

14

:

cut through the guesswork quicker to

find your way and your style sooner.

15

:

So settle in because these stories

might just change the way you look

16

:

at launching and your business.

17

:

Hello.

18

:

Hello everyone, and well welcome back

to, a bit of a different episode.

19

:

It's, it's a, a more intimate

episode of launch style Stories.

20

:

'cause you see this one, it's,

it's not just a look behind

21

:

the curtain, it's a moment.

22

:

That really the curtain came down.

23

:

'cause throughout this series

we've talked with guests, coached

24

:

through roadblocks and shared what

it really looks like to launch in

25

:

a way that aligns with who you are.

26

:

But something has happened

during all of this creation and

27

:

preparation of your launch style.

28

:

And something has really like

clicked and changed in me.

29

:

So for this episode, I wanted to tell

you about the launch that took longer

30

:

than any other I've ever done and why.

31

:

At this point, I'm glad it did

because what unfolded became

32

:

more than a strategy shift.

33

:

It became a recalibration of how I

coach, how I lead, and how I see what's

34

:

possible for you and for this industry.

35

:

Yeah, Because I've really been

experimenting with this container and how

36

:

to bring the work from one-on-one that

I've done for years into group, and I've

37

:

been kind of playing with this for, I

don't know, probably over, over a year.

38

:

Letting it breathe, talking it

through with others, working it out,

39

:

you know, just kind of tinkering

with all the pieces, right?

40

:

That's, that's part of my process.

41

:

That's part of who I am.

42

:

Some things go real quick, especially

teachings, other things like containers.

43

:

Um, I just kinda let 'em percolate

and, and I pull these little pieces

44

:

together and just kind of let 'em play.

45

:

But once it comes together.

46

:

Right.

47

:

Once, once all that happens and after

life gets done interrupting and,

48

:

you know, do doing its ing once.

49

:

All that's sorted.

50

:

Oh, it's, it's go time and.

51

:

Things move lightning quick.

52

:

Right?

53

:

That's, that's the beauty of launch.

54

:

It's like, you know how to do it, you move

through it, you have these ways that you

55

:

enjoy and, or maybe you don't enjoy 'em.

56

:

Maybe they're just the ways that you

know how to do it and how to, kind

57

:

of be quote unquote successful.

58

:

Right.

59

:

So you, you go for it with, with

your timetables and, and off you pop.

60

:

Yeah.

61

:

And as I was doing it for this one.

62

:

It's, it's when I met my,

my old frenemy frustration.

63

:

Yes, frustration came a knocking

because the days turned to weeks.

64

:

That turned to months.

65

:

They ticked on as things just fell

apart, reschedules with, with guests

66

:

and with people that were, you know,

joining in and, and being a part of it.

67

:

Right.

68

:

And in my own schedules and just things

that, that were kind of just collapsing,

69

:

, all, all around and all of this kind of.

70

:

Uh, broke apart and then came

back together, and then moved

71

:

around and, and then finally

everything was back on track again.

72

:

And it was like, okay, just

some hiccups, just some bumps,

73

:

just some more life, being life.

74

:

And here we go again, right

back on track and I hit a wall.

75

:

Not a burnout wall, not an

overbooked calendar kind of wall.

76

:

More like, how do I say?

77

:

I don't know, like maybe a, a truth wall.

78

:

I, I'm not quite sure how

to label it, but, whew.

79

:

It was, it was a big and mighty wall.

80

:

I had this like, incredible body of

work that I'd been developing and

81

:

had, you know, created this, this.

82

:

Great container.

83

:

The bones of this group program that I'm

bringing, everybody, I'm excited about it.

84

:

The people are rallying around

it, and those that I'm talking to

85

:

about it are so excited and they're

like, oh my God, I can't wait.

86

:

You know, when, when is this coming at?

87

:

I'm so, yes, you know what?

88

:

Wherever you need me, I'm here.

89

:

I'm here.

90

:

Right.

91

:

There's all this kind of energy

moving, there's all this kind of fun

92

:

part, and yet, in the back end, every

time I sat down to move forward.

93

:

Something just kind of cracked.

94

:

You know, all of this was supposed to have

come out in January, and that's whenever

95

:

all the reschedule started and all the

days and all the weeks and all the time.

96

:

kept just like ticking by.

97

:

And, you know, some of it, of course,

I, I don't control, but that, that

98

:

was when I was like, you know what?

99

:

I'm just gonna have to release time.

100

:

I'm just gonna have to let this play out.

101

:

How it plays out.

102

:

Because the, the messaging,

the messaging felt fine.

103

:

The strategy, it was sound,

the structure was, was strong.

104

:

Right.

105

:

You know, the, the container

had cracked that code.

106

:

And after these things started to

smooth out and it was supposed to

107

:

be, you know, back, back on these

tracks again, that was when it was me.

108

:

I was frozen and I found myself sending

a voice note to a friend and just

109

:

being like, can you give me a pep talk?

110

:

I, I'm frozen.

111

:

My brain is firing, but

my feet aren't moving.

112

:

Right.

113

:

You know, have you been in that, in that

moment when it's like, I'm mentally, I'm

114

:

excited, but my body's not going anywhere.

115

:

That disconnect, you know?

116

:

' cause everything felt too big,

like I couldn't hold it anymore.

117

:

And that tension between knowing how

important this work is and actually

118

:

producing it, it was just too much.

119

:

We talked it out and I re-grounded

my central nervous system, and I

120

:

expanded into like a new level,

a new layer of safety around it.

121

:

But as I was giving that space to,

to settle into that, I, I, you know,

122

:

reached out again because voice is one

of the ways that I connect with people.

123

:

And I, I started to ask this question.

124

:

What's been the hardest

part of launching for you?

125

:

And reconnecting back to those

roots and hearing from you.

126

:

And I'll share what

some of you had to say.

127

:

Finding the energy, getting visibility

beyond my current audience, trying

128

:

to follow all the coaching roles, but

hating them, putting the pieces together,

129

:

the idea's there, but, uh, feel scary.

130

:

I never feel like I can

stay in my brilliance.

131

:

I feel smothered.

132

:

In reading those replies, I saw

pieces of myself and I saw you too.

133

:

' cause the truth is you can have

experience, strategy, past success

134

:

and still feel like none of

the current models fit anymore.

135

:

Right.

136

:

Because, you know, launching it's,

it's not the enemy, but the way

137

:

that we're commonly taught to do it.

138

:

Well that's where the problem is,

We're given high energy challenges and

139

:

funnels and launch formulas and these

rigid phases we're told to pick a side.

140

:

Right, to follow models.

141

:

Exactly.

142

:

If we want to succeed.

143

:

Everything feels so do or die.

144

:

And of course, like we're to

blame if it all goes wrong.

145

:

Like it's not more dynamic than that.

146

:

And like there's not so many moving parts.

147

:

There's no nuance, no

customization, there's no you.

148

:

But what if there was.

149

:

You know what, what if there were more

options in another way, like having

150

:

a structure that actually evolves with

you versus a strategy that boxes you in.

151

:

Right?

152

:

And, and that's what

I'd created for others.

153

:

But now, during this time, I was actually

living and experiencing it in real time.

154

:

During this launch, I was

experiencing the evolution of

155

:

my style changing in real time.

156

:

While I was actively launching,

it became even more like meta

157

:

than it already was, right?

158

:

I was already launching a launch program,

but now my launch style was evolving

159

:

while I was talking about launch styles.

160

:

So yeah, it, it, it became fun.

161

:

It became fun, right.

162

:

But one of the most common things that I,

I hear when coaching and even, you know,

163

:

when talking to all of you through this is

my launch performed great, but we didn't

164

:

hit this, but we had good results here.

165

:

But.

166

:

That, but that's the

duality of you and God.

167

:

Does that speak volumes?

168

:

' cause every profitable, sustainable

launch, it has core elements.

169

:

That have to work together.

170

:

And this is true across industry,

businesses, sizes, seasons of your life.

171

:

You know, from my consulting to my

current coaching to, to all of these,

172

:

these are the the four elements that

I have identified and pulled together

173

:

that has to fit your sales type, your

marketing platforms, your community

174

:

base, and your personal energy season.

175

:

' cause when these four sync up.

176

:

Launching doesn't feel like friction.

177

:

You're not fighting yourself anymore.

178

:

You're moving with not against, right?

179

:

And that's when the launch becomes

that growth engine that you're

180

:

dreaming of, that it's supposed

to be, versus an energetic drain.

181

:

And those buts, they leave your sentences.

182

:

There's a wholeness and what you

want to experiment with or to

183

:

tweak and change for the next one.

184

:

That brings on a whole new elevation

and energy without any desperation,

185

:

and it becomes so beautiful.

186

:

Right, and we can dig into this

a little bit more if I share.

187

:

Probably like, like a metaphor

that you can kind of play with.

188

:

Okay.

189

:

Because, you know, launching it,

it's just another name for promotion.

190

:

Yeah.

191

:

You, you've heard me say that a

thousand times 'cause I, you know, I

192

:

really like to break free from a lot

of this jargon that gets thrown around.

193

:

And just like anything else, it's

made up of strategies and tactics.

194

:

Right.

195

:

So if you think of launching like

fashion, since we're talking about style,

196

:

might as well think of it like fashion.

197

:

Your strategy is your overall style.

198

:

Are you classic?

199

:

Are you edgy?

200

:

Are you boho?

201

:

Are you minimalist?

202

:

But your tactics, well, those are your

options to play with inside of your style.

203

:

Your jewelry, your shoes, your

jackets, your makeup, right?

204

:

So no matter the fashion strategy,

you have options to play with.

205

:

Yeah, same way.

206

:

No matter the launch style, you have

options to play with reels, webinars,

207

:

challenges, podcasts, emails, sales pages.

208

:

Right, but the one that you choose

or how you actually deliver it?

209

:

Well, that depends on

your strategic style.

210

:

Just like how an edgy jacket

doesn't look like a boho jacket,

211

:

but they both have a purpose.

212

:

They're both available.

213

:

They both bring structure

and they both add flare.

214

:

You pick what works with your style

and you get to mix and match them.

215

:

The vibe is always yours, right?

216

:

That's what your launch style does.

217

:

That's what this program is all about,

and that's what I was living in this

218

:

moment, on this day-to-day evolution.

219

:

I was, I was playing with my mixes

and matches and seeing what actually

220

:

started to fit me as I was evolving

while going through the process.

221

:

It doesn't limit choices.

222

:

It actually starts to make them easier.

223

:

So instead of wondering,

should I be doing a webinar?

224

:

Should I be doing reels?

225

:

Do I need challenges?

226

:

Do I need DM strategy?

227

:

Should I write 24 emails

or, or host summits?

228

:

You know what supports your style, which

makes your tactical decisions faster?

229

:

And of course then you get to

build that momentum and you get to

230

:

pick the tools that work for you.

231

:

Yeah.

232

:

Just like accessorizing with intention

and creating cohesion, you get to stop

233

:

copying somebody else's outfit and start

designing what makes you feel powerful.

234

:

Right.

235

:

You know, and here's another piece of

it that, commonly gets kind of misplaced

236

:

or, or I wouldn't even say that.

237

:

It's like a different nuance.

238

:

It's more like, like another piece of like

jargon busting that we can go ahead and

239

:

do while, while we're talking about it.

240

:

Because the same way I was saying,

you know, like we, we have these

241

:

different challenges, these different

funnels, these different formulas and

242

:

all this kind of stuff to play with.

243

:

That's another important part to,

um, kind of call out while, , while

244

:

we're talking about these, these

strategies and these tactics.

245

:

Yeah.

246

:

Because a launch is not

the same thing as a funnel.

247

:

Okay.

248

:

And I think this misconception comes

from people who are supposed to

249

:

be the authorities, not taking the

time to explain it properly, mixed

250

:

with the double use of the term.

251

:

Yeah, because you have a funnel

and then you have funneling, right?

252

:

The, the beauty of the English language.

253

:

So there, there's kind of this,

double duty that these words do.

254

:

Uh, that, creates this, this

confusion whenever people are just

255

:

kind of throwing words around and

not taking the time to make sure

256

:

that everybody's on the same page.

257

:

Yeah.

258

:

So I'm gonna take the time to make

sure that we're on the same page.

259

:

All right.

260

:

So here's a little bit

of a jargon busting.

261

:

A launch is not the

same as a funnel, okay?

262

:

Funnels are built for the

people already in your world.

263

:

Whereas a launch is both for

new people, as in you're trying

264

:

to attract them, you're trying

to bring them in to your world.

265

:

Yeah.

266

:

As well as the people

already in your world.

267

:

Okay.

268

:

Because launching is lead gen plus

marketing and sales all in one.

269

:

Right?

270

:

It's that beautiful dance of

everything coming together.

271

:

For the purpose of showing

off your offer, right?

272

:

Of letting people see your offer

and be like, Ooh, that one's for me.

273

:

Everything from brand new people

coming into your world and seeing it

274

:

being spotlighted to the people who

have been with you for however long

275

:

they've hung out in your email list

and your audiences and all the places,

276

:

and being like, Ooh, I love this idea.

277

:

Let's jump in that one.

278

:

Okay.

279

:

But if your strategy.

280

:

The tactics you're using isn't

aligned with this, and you are

281

:

inadvertently mixing up when

to use what it won't deliver.

282

:

Okay.

283

:

Now, as far as the duality of the

word funnel and funneling, once

284

:

someone opts in to hear about a

program, they enter the funnel.

285

:

Right to receive an email sequence

because they are now a part of the

286

:

community, because they entered

your world through the lead

287

:

generation efforts of your launch.

288

:

Yeah, so the launch attracted them.

289

:

They opted in, and now they are getting

funneled through all of the different

290

:

sequences and getting the invites and

moving through all the different parts.

291

:

Okay.

292

:

But otherwise, a funnel is what

helps people move from offer to

293

:

offer that is right for them inside.

294

:

Of your world versus a launch, which

is like, Hey everybody, I've got this

295

:

saying and it's out here because it's

a big promotion for something, right?

296

:

Versus moving people sequentially

from one thing to the other.

297

:

So whenever you're thinking about, am

I promoting something or am I helping

298

:

specific people move strategically

from one offer to the other?

299

:

Then think, oh, I'm launching

versus I'm funneling.

300

:

All right, so that's that little piece

of, of jargon break there in the middle

301

:

of it because that, that is something

that comes up, uh, probably as much

302

:

as, as the sentences that I hear.

303

:

Well, my launch was great, but, or we hit

our revenue, but I never saw my family,

304

:

or we actually didn't hit our revenue.

305

:

But I actually enjoyed all

of these pieces, right?

306

:

Those are those little elements and, and

all of this, all, all of these things I've

307

:

shared and getting to try this on myself

and, and moving through and changing

308

:

my style while I was live in a launch.

309

:

This is exactly why I created.

310

:

Your launch style on this larger group

scale in order to help more than just

311

:

people on a one-on-one basis, right?

312

:

Because it's not to teach yet another

launching plan out there, and it's

313

:

never to force my way onto anybody, but

it's to help you build a system that

314

:

fits you now and grows with you later.

315

:

Right.

316

:

It's to handle all of those worries that

we've heard over the last two years.

317

:

Plus, I don't know what works anymore.

318

:

I've had success, but I still

don't feel good about it.

319

:

I won a launch, but I hate

the way I'm supposed to do it.

320

:

Last year was not like the years before.

321

:

Mm-hmm.

322

:

How many times have you heard that one

in conversations is you are not broken.

323

:

You just hadn't been given

a model that moves with you.

324

:

So I built it.

325

:

Yeah.

326

:

It took longer than I expected, but

I also meant I got to live it, right?

327

:

Because that delay has

made the whole thing.

328

:

More honest, more aligned, more

sustainable, and, um, I don't know,

329

:

more, more fun to talk about in, in

interviews and conversations when, you

330

:

know, you tell people that, um, this

launch has actually taken months and I

331

:

don't mind, and I started this process

last year and people were like, what?

332

:

You know, because it, it's, it's

not a copy and paste formula and,

333

:

and the, the container's not either.

334

:

Right, so your launch style, it's, it's

a five week container that it's built

335

:

around clarity on your actual style.

336

:

It's built on a strategy to match your

season, your energy, and your audience

337

:

that you can reuse over and over again.

338

:

Right, that you get to recreate

as you need to, including in

339

:

the moment like I had to do.

340

:

And it's a support system with coaching

with me and all the resources I've

341

:

built in including a custom AI model

and a launch swap system to help you

342

:

bring it all to life when you need it.

343

:

' cause it exists because we need

it to exist because we're tired

344

:

of pretending and squeezing into

someone else's version of success.

345

:

You know, I, and, and if you're

listening right now and you're thinking,

346

:

oh, I, I should be further along.

347

:

I wanna launch, but it's too much.

348

:

I don't even know where to start.

349

:

I, I can't start all over again.

350

:

I've come too far.

351

:

I don't like doing it this way,

but, but I just don't have the

352

:

energy to try it all over again.

353

:

Right.

354

:

It's not that you're doing it wrong.

355

:

It's just that you haven't met your

style yet, and instead of trying to force

356

:

yourself into someone else's blueprint

yet again and feeling off yet again,

357

:

why don't you come over and let's define

your own where everything clicks, so you

358

:

know what kind of support to hire, what

kind of programs to join, what kind of

359

:

coaches to work with so you know which

of your offers need what kind of sales.

360

:

Mechanisms so you can stop throwing

spaghetti at the wall and crying your

361

:

way through it to stop burning out

and ghosting your own launch halfway

362

:

through, and to stop judging yourself

for not doing it like they did or for

363

:

not doing whatever the algorithm or

latest trend told you to do, because

364

:

you just want things to work right.

365

:

So you finally feel like you

are leading your way, and isn't

366

:

that why you have your business?

367

:

So here's what we're doing next.

368

:

Launch Without Limits is the

first step to creating your launch

369

:

style, and it's live April 8th.

370

:

It's a workshop session with me and

we're going to explore all the styles,

371

:

including the hybrids, which is what I am.

372

:

Which is why you see a mix of podcasts.

373

:

It's why you see a mix

of workshop live session.

374

:

It's why you see a mix of, um, email

sequences and affiliates and, um.

375

:

Gosh, what else do I

have going on with it?

376

:

It, it's, well, there will be recordings.

377

:

You know, like I, I pull a lot of

different elements together because I am

378

:

a hybrid and, you know, maybe you are too.

379

:

Who knows, right?

380

:

That that's the beauty of it.

381

:

There are.

382

:

Lots and lots of styles that you

can be, and you get to mix and match

383

:

them, and we're gonna break down how

the style that actually fits you.

384

:

How does that affect your revenue?

385

:

How does that affect your sustainability

and your current season of life, right?

386

:

Because the season of life you're

in now, it's not necessarily the

387

:

same one that you were in before

or that you're going to be in.

388

:

So these things need to change with you.

389

:

It needs to be dynamic.

390

:

In order to be supportive and

in order to be sustainable.

391

:

And we're gonna walk more in depth

through those four elements that we

392

:

need in order to get that click right,

plus the beauty of those little hidden

393

:

saboteurs that can derail us or they

can make everything go so much smoother.

394

:

And I'm gonna explain those and I'm going

to give you the tips that will, Really

395

:

just make it all like click into place.

396

:

So the same coaching that I gave

myself and the same things that

397

:

I walked through with my friend.

398

:

I'm sharing with all of you.

399

:

And yeah, of course I will tell you more

about the your launch style program and

400

:

how to get your hands on that custom

AI model and the launch swap system.

401

:

But most importantly, you're gonna leave

with clarity on what could work for you.

402

:

Right, and how to stop chasing

strategies that never fit to begin with.

403

:

'cause this, this isn't just

about promotion and launching.

404

:

It's about building a business

that finally reflects who you are,

405

:

that shows your values, that shows

off your offers, that gives you a

406

:

place to create from and make that

impact that you are yearning for.

407

:

So, yeah, this launch took

longer, but I'm, thankful it did.

408

:

It might not have been in February,

but I am now because it gave me

409

:

this space to evolve, to listen, to

share this message with you, right.

410

:

I wanna offer that space to you.

411

:

So join me at Launch Without Limits.

412

:

Let's build your next chapter

Your way with your energy, your

413

:

rhythm, your voice, your style.

414

:

You don't need another template, you need

a reusable process that feels like home.

415

:

So let's build it together.

416

:

Tracie patterson.com,

417

:

YLS, and as always, all the

details are in the show notes.

418

:

I cannot wait to see you there.

419

:

Thank you for listening.

420

:

Thank you for launching

differently and until next

421

:

time, be well and have some fun.

422

:

Thank you for Thank you for joining me

on this episode of Launch Style Stories,

423

:

and I hope it sparked something for you.

424

:

If you've been listening and thinking,

oh, I need to find my way to launch

425

:

without burning out second guessing

or forcing myself into someone else's

426

:

formula, well, that's exactly what

your launch style is here to help with.

427

:

Inside the program, we cut the trial

and error and help you create a launch

428

:

approach that fits your strengths,

your business, and your energy.

429

:

So selling never feels like

an uphill battle again.

430

:

Head to Tracie Patterson.

431

:

com slash YLS to learn more and join us.

432

:

And if you loved this series.

433

:

Let me know, share your biggest

takeaway, DM me, or leave a review.

434

:

It helps more business owners

like you find the show.

435

:

I'll see you inside your launch style

All Episodes Previous Episode
Join The List!

Join The List!

Subscribe today to hear about the latest episodes, upcoming programs, and so much more!
Show artwork for Digital Business Your Way

About the Podcast

Digital Business Your Way
The true stories and insider secrets of online entrepreneur life
You didn’t become an entrepreneur to grin and bear your way through your business and life, did you?
Well, allow me to demystify business and join me weekly on Digital Business Your Way, a podcast about the true stories and insider secrets of online entrepreneur life. I'm your host, Tracie Patterson, and it's my mission to pull back the curtain on building a sustainable business so you can create the impact in life you’re seeking.

About your host

Profile picture for Tracie Patterson

Tracie Patterson

NICE TO MEET YOU
I'm Tracie
Your resident Sales and Offer Coach who proudly accepts the title Business Rebel.

You didn't take the leap into your own business to be bullied into using gross tactics or to be talked down to and confused to the point of daily overwhelm and frustration.

I'm here to demystify business, guide you through the creation of Your Own Style, and pull back the curtain on building a sustainable business you can be proud of and grow with.