Stories

This year taught me that becoming isn’t about speed — it’s about intention, clarity, and the lessons that shaped us quietly.

“Do what you love.” It’s advice we’ve all heard. It's tossed around like a shortcut to happiness, but rarely do people discuss the cost. Doing what you love is not easy. It will test you. It will take your late nights, your weekends, and every ounce of energy you think you have. And yet, if it’s truly what you love, you’ll keep coming back to it. For me, that love is Community Icons . On the surface, it appears to be a publication. But to me, it’s something much deeper. It’s

Here’s what happened: When we launched Community Icons , we were told the same thing every publisher hears: “Just grow your audience. If you hit big numbers, the advertisers will come.” On the surface, it sounds logical. More followers. More clicks. More eyeballs. Surely that equals more revenue, right? But we quickly saw the flaw in that formula. Chasing mass reach might inflate metrics, but it doesn’t build meaningful relationships. It doesn’t earn trust. And it certainly d