The Brutal, Beautiful Truth About Growth

Nobody talks about this part of growth. The part that actually hurts. Not the glamorous, Instagrammable "look at me levelling up" kind of growth. The part where you're making sacrifices that nobody claps for. The part where you outgrow things—and people—and have to leave them behind.

Because real growth? It’s messy. It’s exhilarating. And sometimes, it’s utterly exhausting.

I see this every day, building nuja inc.—a creative studio that started with just me + 1, our laptops, and an unhealthy number of tabs open simultaneously. Now, we’re scaling, albeit still with multiple open tabs. We’re building real systems (yes, I too once believed processes were for non-creative people). It’s the kind of hard when you realise that your own team might not get why you’re suddenly unavailable. They were used to you being everywhere, knowing everything, having a pulse on every tiny decision. Now? You’re out there, actually building the damn thing. 

More importantly, this shift isn’t about me stepping back; it’s about them stepping up—building their own accountability, making stronger decisions, and growing under a new leader’s guidance.

Because, now, you're in rooms you weren’t in before. You’re having conversations you never had before. You’re making decisions that feel like bets on the future, not just quick wins. And that means you’re shifting. Evolving. Growing.

And the hardest part? Not everyone will keep up.

You’ll outpace people who were once in lockstep with you. Team members who don’t want to operate at this new pace. Clients who liked the ‘older’ version of you better. Partners who can't see the bigger picture. Some will adapt. Some won’t. Some will quietly check out. And some? Some will resist because your growth makes them uncomfortable.

Here’s the truth nobody tells you: growth is a filter.

The more you grow, the more people will self-select out of your orbit. But the ones who remain? Those are your people. The ones who see your vision, who push with you, who get it. The ones who don’t need you to slow down so they can keep up but are already running right beside you. And beyond them? The new ones—the ones you haven’t even met yet—who are already manifesting this next level for you before you even realise it’s yours.

But let’s be real—it’s not all hard days. If anything, I’ve never felt more clear-headed, building with intent. Never had less FOMO. Never read these many incredible (and sometimes deeply underrated) ‘business’ books. Never been more grateful for my rock-solid, loving support system that reminds me, on the rare days I forget, that I am doing this with purpose. And that I can do this—because I already am.

Growth is uncomfortable, yes. But it’s also addictive. It makes you sharper, braver, more you than you’ve ever been before. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade this ride for anything.

Because for all the exhaustion, the friction, the uncomfortable conversations, and the days when you question everything—there’s also this:

Clarity. Purpose. Focus.

You’re not just growing a business. You’re building something that matters. And that? That makes every painful step worth it.