Our Childhood Fixations Can Turn Into Grown-Up Success

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Running your own projects is tough.

You’re figuring things out as you go, second-guessing decisions, and doing the work even when no one’s watching.

That’s why I’m always inspired by people building something from the ground up. Watching others test ideas, stay consistent, and make progress—bit by bit—reminds me it’s possible.

It’s not about overnight wins. It’s about showing up, learning fast, and staying consistent.

So I want to start spotlighting others in some stories.

🌟Founder Spotlight

Ashley Xie and Hedy Yu grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, balancing Chinese traditions with American pop culture.

Like many first-gen kids, they loved the flavors of their parents’ kitchens but never saw them represented in grocery aisles.

That gap stuck with them—and years later, it became the seed for Rooted Fare.

In 2020, they launched with one bold idea: Black Sesame Crunchy Butter. A flavor deeply tied to Lunar New Year tangyuan, flipped into a spread you could swirl into oatmeal or drizzle over pancakes.

It was nostalgic, familiar, but also brand new. The product quickly resonated, spreading online, landing in nearly 50 stores, and eventually earning Ashley and Hedy a place on Forbes’ 30 Under 30.

What’s striking is how much their childhood shaped the vision.

Ashley, inspired by her mother’s journey from waitress to restaurant owner, understood the grind of building from scratch.

Hedy, raised in the same cultural crossroads, knew the emotional weight food carries.

Together, they built the brand they wished had existed when they were kids.

That’s the larger lesson: our early fixations, our culture, even the things that once made us feel unseen can be the fuel for what we create later.

I have such respect for the dedication and hard work of immigrants who make it—they’ve got such a chip on their shoulder to make their idea work—I love it!

Rooted Fare proves that honoring your roots doesn’t just inspire a product—it can anchor a business that truly sticks.

You can read the full version of the story here…

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🧰 Tool of the Week

Ashley and Hedy’s story reminded me of how powerful it is to build from the ground up with the tools you actually need.

That’s exactly how we approach Destroy the Box University (DTBU).

We run DTBU on Podia, an all-in-one platform designed for creators and entrepreneurs.

Just as Ashley and Hedy turned childhood flavors into something fresh and relevant, we use Podia to turn ideas into real programs people can access, learn from, and belong to.

Podia makes it simple to create online courses, sell digital products, and even build a community space that keeps students engaged.

It also handles things like checkout, email marketing, and memberships—so the focus stays on teaching, not tech.

For us, that means DTBU can deliver real value without juggling a dozen platforms.

Podia gives us the same freedom Ashley and Hedy embraced: the ability to take something meaningful and share it in a way that connects.

Here’s why it’s worth leaning on—especially when your students and community expect smooth, reliable access to what you’ve built:

• All-in-One Platform
  Courses, digital downloads, memberships, coaching, and communities all live under one roof. No juggling multiple logins.

• Easy Course Creation
  Upload videos, PDFs, or audio and turn them into a polished curriculum. Drip content and quizzes keep learning structured.

• Community Built In
  Discussion spaces, member profiles, and private groups turn your audience into a learning community—not just a list of buyers.

• Email Marketing Included
  Run newsletters, drip campaigns, and product launches without leaving the platform. Keep everyone in the loop automatically.

• Streamlined Checkout
  Fast payments, upsells, affiliates, and tax support are baked in. Selling feels as simple as sharing.

• Creator-Friendly Design
  Clean templates and simple customization let you launch quickly and focus on your message, not tech headaches.

When the tools fade into the background, you get the space to build the kind of school—or brand—you wish existed when you were growing up.

The thread is clear—whether it’s Ashley and Hedy turning black sesame into something new or us building DTBU on Podia, the real power comes from creating the thing you once wished you had.

Take a step this week toward your own version of that. Share a story, build a tool, launch a lesson. The details matter less than the momentum.

See you next week—keep building what only you can!