Home -> Stories

I’m afraid to say that lately I’m totally a deer in headlights when people ask, “So, how are things going at Bivo? All good?”

This just happened the other day while getting out on mountain bikes for the first time this year with a friend, his two kids, and my two kids. He asked the question and I vividly recall pulling back and saying:

“Bivo is great, we are growing, it’s a roller coaster, it keeps us on our toes, it’s fun. We love it.”

All of that is true. Yet somehow in that moment I felt like I was pulling back emotionally and disengaging a bit. I was summarizing everything into short sound bites instead of leaning into how it actually feels.

I did try to elaborate, but as things go with four spirited kids, bikes, and the freedom of the forest, the conversation got cut short as we chased them around.

Side note, the first bike ride of the season is so fun. Especially ripping around with the kids. I hope many of you are having your first ride this spring and are full of smiles as we all were!

Cutting that conversation short has left me here, trying to honestly answer how things are going at Bivo. Because there is a lot packed into that simple question.

The short answer is that Bivo is doing great. We are growing fast. We are reaching more people. And most importantly, we are doing it in a way that feels true to who we are. I’m incredibly thankful and thrilled to be here at this moment with Bivo.

And… what I thought growth would look like and feel like has constantly left me in a bit of shock, awe, and yes, a good dose of stress. I think this is the part that makes me go deer in headlights when I get that question.

My brain doesn’t really shut off these days without some level of distraction or real effort. It feels like a bit of fight or flight mode has kicked in. And my instinct is to lean in, push harder, keep going. But I’m learning that it doesn't always build sustainability, personally or for Bivo. It usually pushes you toward quicker wins and chasing silver bullet solutions.

And deep down I know that’s not what we’re building. From the beginning, we have intentionally built Bivo for the long game and have tried to do it in a unique way. Hopefully creating a brand and product people love. 

I’m constantly surprised by how much I can love what I’m doing, and then the next minute I feel completely fried. And then back again.

I think that’s been one of the more unexpected parts of growth. It doesn’t simplify things. It forces you to double down on what you believe, while at the same time introducing new challenges you didn’t see coming. And that tension shows up everywhere.

For example, raising more money early would have been easier. Many people told us that. Yet we still pushed back. Was it the right decision? For us, I believe so. For others, it could be the wrong path, and I respect that. In the end, we chose to run lean. To push ourselves to be both scrappy and smart. It has defined Bivo and helped shape what we now call our scrappy smarts.

I sat in a team meeting the other day and counted 13 of us. I almost blurted out “wow, look at all of us,” but held it back and just took it in. The realization that we’ve grown in more than just bottles sold sunk in.

We have a team Carina and I could have only dreamed of five years ago. A group of unique, motivated people who align with what Bivo stands for, not just what it sells. They show up because this matters to them.

That makes me proud every day. Thanks team Bivo, you are all incredible people and core to what we are building.

It also makes the responsibility skyrocket. Something I knew was coming, but still hit me as I sat there looking around at all these people on this journey with us. The stakes are higher now. Not in a dramatic way, just in a very real one.

So when someone asks me now how things are going at Bivo, I’ll do my best to lean in and say  it’s more than I expected in every direction. Some days that means more intensity and more stress. More moments where I need to step back and reset. Other days it sharpens everything bringing clarity to where we’re heading and what we’re building. 

It’s fun and it’s wild. And at the end of the day, this roller coaster is what we signed up for. The twists and turns aren’t always what we expect, but I wouldn’t change it. And we’re grateful for all of you who are along for the ride as we keep putting one foot in front of the other. You help bring balance to it all through your support, your cheers, and by letting us be part of your lives.

Thank you for being here with us,
Robby