In January 2020, Avid Core opened its doors—right on the cusp of a world about to change dramatically. Like many small businesses, we started with big ideas, lots of ambition, and plenty to learn. Six years later, we’ve grown our client base, expanded our services, increased revenue, and built a talented, mission-driven team.

Along the way, we’ve learned what it takes to start and sustain a small business. To sum it up, our biggest lessons fall into three core principles: persistence, patience, and performance. Here are six things those principles have taught us:

1. Knock on a Lot of Doors, Repeatedly

In the early years, persistence is everything. Much of our time was spent introducing ourselves, starting conversations, and showing up—again and again. Growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built one relationship at a time. Staying visible, proactive, and engaged laid the foundation for the business we have today.

2. Showing Up Fosters the Best ROI

Persistence isn’t just about effort—it’s about how you show up. Being responsive, prepared, and genuinely invested in our clients’ success has consistently delivered the best results. When clients know you’re reliable and trust follows.

3. Patience Beats Panic

Small business growth can be anxiety-inducing, especially when progress feels slower than expected. One of our biggest lessons has been learning to resist panic and focus on steady, sustainable growth. Slow and steady really does win the race—especially when you’re building something meant to last.

4. Learning Never Stops

Patience also means accepting you won’t have all the answers on day one—or day 2,188. We’ve learned by doing—refining our processes, expanding our expertise, and evolving our services as our clients’ needs change. Every project has made us better.

5. Performance Earns Trust (and Referrals)

Good work speaks for itself. Delivering high-quality results has been the single most important driver of referrals and repeat business. Performance builds credibility, and credibility sustains momentum.

6. Doing Less—but Better—Creates More Impact

Not every opportunity is the right opportunity. Over time, we’ve learned to be more thoughtful about where we invest our time and energy. Being experts in a handful of focus areas—and tailoring our approach to each project—has allowed us to deliver stronger outcomes for our clients and stay focused as a team.

Looking Ahead

We’re proud of what we’ve built over the last 6 years and grateful for the clients and partners who have trusted us along the way. As we continue to evolve and expand our services, our commitment remains the same—delivering thoughtful, high-performing work that helps our clients succeed.

Here’s to continued growth, strong partnerships, and the next chapter!

By Virginia Quiambao Arroyo and Amanda Roberts