I want to share something about entrepreneurship that doesn't get talked about enough - sometimes, you just need to start somewhere.
Beginning From Zero
When I committed to building Driving Forever into something significant, I faced the classic entrepreneur's dilemma: how do you begin with limited resources? The vision in my head is massive, but the reality of day one is much humbler.
That's where the valve caps come in.
I'm not passionate about valve caps specifically. What I am passionate about is building something from nothing, learning as I go, and creating a foundation for bigger things.
The Learning Laboratory
These caps represent my learning laboratory. They've allowed me to:
- Figure out how Shopify actually works (spoiler: there's a learning curve)
- Understand supply chains and shipping logistics on a manageable scale
- Learn about product photography and marketing
- Develop relationships with suppliers
- Navigate the waters of e-commerce without risking everything
When you're bootstrapping a business, you need something with low startup costs, reasonable margins, and straightforward logistics. Something you can manage while still working a full-time job.
Building Muscles
Every business skill is a muscle that needs development. Marketing, customer service, inventory management, website design - these aren't things most of us are born knowing.
Starting with a simple product like valve caps lets me build these muscles gradually rather than trying to deadlift a massive business concept right away.
The caps themselves are solid quality, and I'm proud to sell them. But they're also helping me build the skills and systems that will power much bigger things down the road.
The Power of Just Starting
I spent years thinking about what Driving Forever could become, sketching ideas, and drafting plans. But nothing beats actually doing something - putting a product out there, building a website, making a sale.
There's a magic to starting, even when that start is modest. It creates momentum. It forces real learning instead of theoretical planning. It makes you commit.
What's Next?
As I mentioned on our newly updated About page, there's more coming for Driving Forever in 2025. Much more. The skills, systems, and confidence I'm building now with this simple product line are laying the groundwork for something I've been passionate about creating for nearly a decade.
If you're interested in what's coming next, sign up for our newsletter. And if you need valve caps, well, I happen to know where you can get some good ones.
Drive on. No matter what.
Mike