Ten years ago, in the thick of my first year owning a yoga studio, someone gave me a piece of advice that, in hindsight, could have completely altered the course of my life.
“You should just close the doors and be a stay-at-home mom. You’re not making any money.”
I still remember exactly where I was when those words were spoken to me. The sting of them. The way my stomach twisted as I forced a polite smile, feeling the weight of my own doubts suddenly magnified by someone else’s voice. Because let’s be real—at that time, I wasn’t making money. I was exhausted, juggling motherhood, business ownership, and the sheer mental load of wondering if I had made a huge mistake.
It would have been so easy to listen. To take those words and let them confirm the worst fears I had in my head. To walk away, shut the doors, and convince myself that maybe this dream just wasn’t meant to be.
But I didn’t.
Best-selling author and mindset coach Nicole Byars
Instead, I kept going.
Because here’s the truth that no one likes to talk about: the first year (or three) of owning a business is hard. It’s messy. It’s losing money. It’s questioning everything. It’s wondering if you should just quit while you still have your sanity intact.
But what separates those who make it from those who don’t is persistence. It’s waking up every day and hitting the repeat button, even when it feels like nothing is working. Even when the numbers don’t make sense. Even when people are telling you it’s not worth it.
Especially then.
And let’s talk about those voices for a second—the ones who don’t believe in you. Some people genuinely mean well; they project their own fears onto you because they don’t want to see you struggle. Others? Maybe they’re just jealous. Maybe your ambition shines a little too bright in a place where they settled for dim. Either way, who you surround yourself with matters.
Find the people who push you forward, not the ones who hold you back. The ones who see your vision, even when it’s still blurry. The ones who believe in you on the days when you don’t even believe in yourself.
Because here’s what happens when you refuse to quit: Fast-forward ten years. I have built and owned multiple yoga studios. I have supported my family with this work, even in times when I never thought I could. And now, I run a six-figure business and have generated over seven figures (in revenue) through my businesses.
But more importantly? The impact I’ve had—the students, the clients, the transformations I’ve witnessed—that’s the real success.
If I had listened to that person ten years ago, I wouldn’t be here.
So if you’re in that season—the struggle, the doubt, the questioning—keep going. You don’t have to have it all figured out today. You just have to wake up and show up. Again and again and again.
Because the only way you fail? Is if you stop.
Nicole Byars is a best-selling author, business and mindset coach, and breathwork facilitator with over a decade of experience in the wellness industry. She is the founder of multiple successful yoga studios and has generated over eight figures in revenue through her businesses. Nicole specializes in helping yoga teachers, studio owners, and wellness entrepreneurs build thriving businesses while staying true to their purpose. She has worked with high-achieving women, professional athletes, and business leaders to integrate mindfulness, breathwork, and strategy for lasting success. Her approach is real, relatable, and deeply rooted in resilience—because she knows firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up.