Meritocracy is a myth—especially in Trump’s oligarchy.
running an indie non-alc brand in a venture capital world
I’ve been an indie entrepreneur for the last year and a half. Though my new essay for No Booze News argues that I’ve always been an entrepreneur, I just finally have some physical products to sell.
Hubby and I have learned a lot since launching our artisanal NA spirit, (parentheses) in December of 2023. Perhaps the most “valuable” lesson is that meritocracy is a myth—especially in Trump’s oligarchy.
Fav Quotes From My New Essay
“Work hard, and you’ll do great in this world!” says everyone, everywhere, all the time. I believed it; maybe you did, too. Maybe you still believe there’s a direct correlation between hard work and success.
NYC entrepreneurs sometimes remind me of the scene in The Office when aspiring businessman-turned-eternal intern Ryan (portrayed by B.J. Novak) says he could run GM but couldn’t fix a car. This brilliant satire went over my head until I started a CPG business. I was surrounded by Ryans.
This country is moving towards an oligarchy, which is inherently anti-capitalist since capitalism requires competition. Venture capitalists continue to gobble up the non-alc market (every market, if I’m being honest) so the only competition now is in advertising.
I was raised by a single mom; money was tight. My humble childhood taught me to be innovative and self-sufficient. When I was six, I wanted Kirby’s Dream Land for my Gameboy, but we didn’t have the money. So, like the unhinged Capricorn that I am, I threw a carnival in our apartment complex to raise money.
ICYMI
My new column, Behind the Pitch, launched last week. Click here to read how I turned a viral Substack into an essay for Business Insider.
Authors Need a Living a Wage, Too.I was on NPR!
Staying Sober in a MAGA World — Listen on Spotify and Apple.
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XO,
Tawny
