6 Things We Learned Since Launching R.Riveter

Six years ago, we found ourselves confronted with one of the biggest decisions we’d ever make. 

With freshly printed masters degrees, we had just moved to a remote part of northern Georgia with our military husbands, where jobs (especially those in our respective fields of business and architecture) were few and far between.

The life-changing decision?

To create opportunity for ourselves, or to allow the unique adversity we faced as military spouses press pause on our dream careers.

On Veteran’s Day in 2011, we decided that in fact, we could do it, and R.Riveter was born.

In just six years, R.Riveter has grown from a tiny dream in a little attic to a multi-million dollar company recognized on national platforms like the Inc 500 for incredible growth.

In just six years, without any experience in the corporate world, our little dream of a company is now changing the very idea of American Manufacturing.

To celebrate, we want to share 6 things we’ve learned in the last 6 years building R.Riveter:

1.  It’s not about ideas – it’s about making things happen. Everyone has an idea – not many people have the ability, grit and determination to execute.
   
   
2. Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. Start-up life can be a bit scrappy, but every now and then we get to look up and see what we’ve accomplished and that is what makes it all worth it.
   
   
3. Your creativity and imagination are the only things that will move you forward, and your persistence is what will get you there. Today, R.Riveter is right where we dreamed it would be, but we’ve only gotten started. We are limited only by our imagination for the future and the determination we have to get there.
   
   
4. There’s no such thing as an overnight success. Changes, processes, growth all take time - it’s not instant. Patience and persistence, a flexible team and clear direction forward will take you where you want to be.
   
   
5. You can do anything – but not everything. Scaling the business means you must let something, or many things, go to excel. We had to decide what our true value was both to our customers and our team and cut anything that didn’t fit that mold or advance that mission.
   
   
6. Don’t be afraid to fail, and fail hard. You’ll never succeed f you don’t give your dreams a shot.
   
   BONUS TIP:
7. Don’t ever start a business without a great accountant. Don’t try to cut corners with the seemingly little things you learned in Business 101 - accounting matters!