90 Days in: What I Built, What I Learned, and What Comes Next
Ninety days ago, I took one of the biggest leaps of my life launching Carnes Agency. It’s been a fast-moving, faith-filled, purpose-driven season that’s challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me just how much can change in three short months.
It’s been an incredible whirlwind of learning, growth, and surprises! As I look back, here are the biggest lessons that shaped my first 90 days:
1. Take the Leap
Life’s too short to wait for perfect timing. Try something new. Bet on yourself. Have fun while doing it. The truth is, there’s no right moment, only the courage to begin. Take the risk. Chase that idea. Do the thing you’ve been dreaming about, the one that scares and excites you all at once.
2. Reputation Is Everything
We’re part of an incredible industry, one that runs on trust, relationships, and integrity. Your reputation is your currency. Protect it fiercely. Nurture it with consistency. Build it with purpose. Because when people trust your name, doors open, opportunities grow, and momentum follows. Your reputation is your greatest asset; your future depends on it.
3. Find Your People
The journey isn’t meant to be walked alone. Find your champions the ones who push you, challenge you, and cheer you on. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and remind you why it matters. Get confident at sharing your story and owning your message. Build your own Board of Directors mentors, peers, and advisors you trust and respect because the right people don’t just walk beside you, they help you rise.
4. Purpose Feels Different
When you’re doing the work you’re meant to do, it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like alignment. You dive in, lose track of time, and somehow the long hours don’t drain you, they fuel you. That’s the difference purpose makes. It gives your effort meaning, your grind direction, and your days a deeper sense of joy. That’s when you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
5. Lead with Heart
Find people you believe in and bring them with you. Leadership is 100% about lifting others as you climb. Ask for help. Celebrate wins together. Share your vision boldly and lead with compassion, courage, and heart. Because the kind of leadership that lasts is built on trust, empathy, and the impact you leave behind.
6. Clients Are Family
I don’t take client relationships lightly, not for a second. What we do is a promise, one we renew every single day. I protect my clients and their brands like they’re my own because their success is personal to me. Their wins feel like ours, their goals drive us forward, and their trust is something we’ll never take for granted.
7. Pace Yourself
Know your limits, but never let fear define them. Growth takes rhythm. Sometimes you have to pause, breathe, and slow down to truly accelerate. Don’t rush the process or lose yourself in the pace. Stay grounded, stay focused, and make every move count. Progress isn’t about speed, it's about purpose, consistency, and endurance.
The Next 90 Days
If the first 90 days have taught me anything, it’s that every single day is a new opportunity to learn, to serve, to grow, and to build something meaningful. This journey has been fast, humbling, and incredibly rewarding.
I’m deeply grateful to every partner who’s trusted us with their brand and their vision, especially in our early days. Your belief and trust fuel what we do every day. And to my (new!) team, thank you for showing up with heart, creativity, and courage in every project we take on.
As we look ahead, I’m reminded that there’s no real finish line, just chapters unfolding, stories evolving, and lessons waiting to be lived.
Sometimes, 90 days is all it takes to begin the rest of your story.
