There’s a sentence my parents repeated to me so often growing up that it became part of my internal wiring:
“You can do anything you set your mind to.”
At the time, it felt so simple and obvious. But looking back, I realize how profoundly it shaped me. It gave me permission to try, to stretch, to believe before there was evidence. As a girl, and then a young woman, that belief helped me build a quiet confidence and work ethic.
And as I applied that, I learned that even with that mindset, outcomes don’t happen overnight.
Case and point, In 2013, I started dreaming about hosting retreats. I could picture them so clearly… the connection, the space, the transformation. But it took 13 years to actually bring one to life. Thirteen years of growth, hesitation, life shifts, learning, and continuing to come back to that same belief: you can do anything you set your mind to.
And a few weeks ago, I finally did it. I hosted the first annual Wendy Road Retreat, with the help of an exceptional co-founder and team.
My Co-Founder & I welcoming the Wendy’s
Our incredible panelists - members of Charleston Founder Mode (our local founder peer group)
Vibes.
Hosting my first retreat was a reminder that some dreams take time, not because they aren’t meant for you, but because they’re shaping you into someone ready to receive them.
Then yesterday, I watched something that felt like an echo of that same truth on a much bigger stage.
At the Kentucky Derby, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman in history to train a winning horse. Her horse, Golden Tempo, didn’t start in the lead—it came from behind. It took patience, strategy, and persistence to get there.
After the race, she said “you can do anything you set your mind to.” Chills.
Training horses, training humans. It’s the same.
It’s about starting from behind, persevering, and believing you can win.
It’s about holding onto a vision for years before it materializes.
It’s about doing the work, even when no one else sees it yet.
Where you end isn’t where you begin.
And maybe the mantra evolves as we grow.
Not just “you can do anything you set your mind to,”
but also:
You can take your time.
You can keep going.
You can begin again.
Wherever you are, keep dreaming, keep working. And make sure you have the right community around you cheering you on.
If you’re interested in joining Wendy Road, please apply here.
Keep going. 🤍
— Joy