11. Turning Setbacks Into Strategy: A Mindset Episode for DTC Brands

This week’s episode hits a little different — no frameworks, no formulas, no retail deep-dives. Instead, we’re pulling up a booth at Los Margaritas for a real, honest conversation about what it actually feels like to be in the messy middle of building something big.

Kristin shares a tender, funny, and surprisingly profound story about dinner with her niece before she left for college — a night filled with guacamole, big life decisions, heartbreak, and all the messy emotions that come with growing up. And somewhere between the sorority rush anxiety and the breakup tears… is the perfect metaphor for what you’re experiencing as a founder.

Because building a brand?
Scaling a business?
Putting yourself out there again and again?
It’s the very same rollercoaster.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

•  Why your current challenges don’t mean what you think they mean
• The truth about resilience and why it matters more than any retail strategy
• A perspective shift every entrepreneur needs when they’re “going through it”
• Why the words you speak about your business genuinely shape your future
• A heartfelt reminder that this chapter is only the beginning — no matter your age or stage

Links Mentioned:

Easy Corn Dish Recipe

Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course

If this episode made you think "finally, someone who gets it"—you def need my Retailish newsletter in your life.

📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen