It’s a quiet afternoon at my coffee shop today. The slow pace gives me time to think about my journey—the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and how I rebuilt my business from scratch.
If you’re working toward your goals right now, you might wonder: “Am I actually making progress?” Let me share five signs that show you’re moving in the right direction, along with my own story of failing and starting over.
My Coffee Shop Story: From Failure to a Fresh Start
In mid-2021, I opened my first small coffee shop. I was excited but completely unprepared.
I made every mistake you can imagine. I bought an expensive coffee machine worth tens of thousands of dollars because I wanted my tiny shop to look like the fancy cafés in Battambang city. I splurged on luxury furniture. I set my prices as high as the established, upscale coffee shops in town.
I had no financial discipline. I didn’t think things through. And by 2023, my business collapsed.
For six months, I felt embarrassed and discouraged. But instead of giving up, I used that time to reflect. I studied my mistakes. I read books. I talked to other business owners. I strengthened my mindset.
In mid-2023, I opened The Press Day Coffee—my second attempt. This time, everything was different. I understood what went wrong before, and I was determined not to repeat those mistakes.
Today, my coffee shop is running smoothly. The journey taught me that success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning from it and trying again.
5 Signs You’re on the Right Path
Whether you’re building a business, learning a new skill, or chasing any dream, these signs show you’re making real progress.
1. You’ve Become More Disciplined
What it means: You’re sticking to your daily habits and routines without needing constant motivation.
When I started my first coffee shop, I had zero discipline. I spent money impulsively. I made decisions based on what looked good, not what made business sense.
The second time around, I made discipline my foundation. Before buying anything, I asked myself: “Do I really need this? Will it help my business grow?”
Discipline isn’t exciting, but it’s your guarantee for future success. If you’re consistently showing up and doing the work—even on days when you don’t feel like it—you’re already ahead of most people.
2. Criticism Doesn’t Break You Anymore
What it means: You can separate helpful feedback from useless negativity.
After my business failed, I was terrified of what people would say. I imagined everyone thinking I was a quitter or that I didn’t have what it takes.
But I learned something important: criticism is just information. Some of it is useful. Some of it isn’t. The key is not letting it stop you.
When you can listen to feedback without falling apart, and when you can ignore mean-spirited comments without taking them personally, that’s mental strength. That’s maturity.
3. You’re Facing Bigger Challenges
What it means: The problems you’re dealing with now are more complex than before.
This might sound strange, but bigger problems are actually a good sign. They mean you’ve outgrown your old struggles.
My coffee shop runs smoothly now, but that doesn’t mean I never have problems. Every business has issues—equipment breaks, customers complain, supplies run out. The difference is that I handle these problems faster and more calmly than I used to.
If your current challenges feel harder than your old ones, congratulations. You’ve leveled up. You’re playing a bigger game now.
4. You Treat Failure Like an Experiment
What it means: When something goes wrong, you analyze it instead of dwelling on it.
The old me would have beaten myself up for months after failing. The new me asked: “What can I learn from this?”
I spent only six months recovering from my business failure because I treated it like a learning experience, not a personal disaster. I studied what went wrong. I made a plan. I started again.
When you can bounce back quickly from setbacks, you’re developing the right mindset for long-term success.
5. Your Relationships Have Improved
What it means: You’re surrounding yourself with people who support your growth.
As I focused on rebuilding my business, I naturally spent less time with people who complained constantly or discouraged my plans. I started connecting with other entrepreneurs, business owners, and positive thinkers.
The people around you either lift you up or drag you down. If you’re choosing better relationships—people who encourage you, believe in you, and share your values—you’re making one of the smartest decisions possible.
Moving Forward: What I’ve Learned
My journey from a failed coffee shop to The Press Day Coffee taught me that success isn’t linear. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll feel embarrassed. You’ll wonder if you should quit.
But if you keep going—if you stay disciplined, learn from criticism, tackle bigger challenges, treat failure as feedback, and surround yourself with good people—you will make progress.
Maybe it won’t happen as fast as you want. Maybe it won’t look exactly how you imagined. But you’ll get there.
Final Thoughts
If you’re working toward something right now and you recognize even one or two of these signs in yourself, you’re doing better than you think.
Keep going. The quiet days in your journey are often when the most important growth is happening.
And remember: failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the path to success.
What’s your story? Have you experienced any of these signs on your own journey? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
