Twenty years. It feels surreal to even write those words.  As I started reflecting on everything this milestone means, I realized this wasn’t just a celebration of Hype. It was a celebration of the person I became because of Hype.  Instead of writing another anniversary post, I found myself imagining what I’d say if I could sit down with my 25-year-old self—the young woman who had just taken a leap of faith with a dream, a lot of determination, and absolutely no idea what the next twenty years had in store.

This is that letter…

Dear 25-year-old Dayna,

Twenty years ago this week, you did something that would change your life forever.  You took a leap and started Hype.

Honestly, if someone had told you what the next twenty years would look like, you probably would have laughed. You certainly never imagined staffing thousands of events across the country, leading an incredible team, becoming a wife and a mom to two amazing boys, surviving a global pandemic, or celebrating twenty years in business.

At 25, you thought success was about building a company that filled a need in the industry and proving you could make it.

At 45, I realize success was never just about solving a problem. It was about creating opportunities, building a place where people wanted to belong, and discovering that, somewhere along the way, the company was quietly building me too.

People ask me all the time what the secret is to making it twenty years. Well, there isn’t one. There isn’t some magic formula, a digital program, podcast, or business book that has all the answers.  The journey has been exciting, stressful, rewarding, humbling, messy, fun, exhausting…and without question, one of the greatest adventures of my life.

Looking back, there are so many things I wish I could tell you. Not because I’d change the journey—I honestly wouldn’t—but because you spend far too much time worrying about things that never deserve your energy.

So, if we could sit down together over a cup of coffee today, here’s what I’d want you to know (and maybe these lessons will help some others reading it today).

First…get ready for the ride of a lifetime.

I know you love adventure, so buckle up. This one is going to be the biggest adventure of them all.  It will test your resilience. It will humble you. It will scare you. It will push you farther than you ever imagined possible.  And it will be so worth it.  One day you’ll realize the goal was never just to build a successful business. It was to build a meaningful life. Everything else was simply part of the journey.

And while we’re at it…stop worrying so much.

You’re going to lose sleep over decisions that won’t matter five years from now. You’ll get physically ill from the stress. You’re going to think every mistake defines you and every setback means you’re failing.  It doesn’t.  Most things have a way of working themselves out. Keep your integrity. Work hard. Treat people well. The rest usually falls into place.

You’re also wrong about what success is going to look like.

Right now, you think success means bigger brand deals, bigger clients, bigger revenue, and bigger milestones.   You’ll accomplish those things, and they’ll feel great.  But twenty years from now, they won’t be the first things that come to mind. Success will look like building a business while becoming a wife and a mother.  It will look like never borrowing money, never carrying debt, and never missing a payment in twenty years.  It will look like creating a place where people genuinely enjoy coming to work.  It will look like watching coworkers become lifelong friends.  It will look like clients becoming family.  Those are the things you’ll be proudest of.

There are two seasons I wish I could prepare you for.

The first comes in 2015, when your business partner decides it’s time for a different chapter. There isn’t a dramatic ending or a falling out. It’s simply the moment you realize the business you’ve built is now yours to carry.  You’ll wonder if you’re capable.  You are.

The second comes in 2020. One week your calendar is full.  The next, it’s gone.  Every event is canceled. No revenue.  No roadmap.  No idea when the industry you love will come back.  It will be the hardest year of your career.  People will ask if you ever wanted to quit.  The answer will always be no.  You’ll be scared.  You’ll lose sleep.  You’ll question everything.

But quitting never becomes an option.  You’ll simply figure out the next step…and then the one after that.  That’s what resilience actually looks like.

Never be afraid to ask for help.

For far too long, you’ll think being a good leader means having all the answers and doing it all.  It doesn’t.  Some of the strongest leaders you’ll ever meet are the first to admit they don’t know everything.  Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you in the areas where you’re not.  Don’t be intimidated by experts.  Hire them.  Learn from them.  That’s not weakness.  That’s leadership.

And speaking of important decisions…

Marry the guy.

Seriously.  This one you’re going to get exactly right.  People spend a lot of time talking about choosing the right business partner.  Choosing the right life partner matters even more.  Stu will celebrate every win, steady you through every challenge, and believe in you on the days you don’t believe in yourself.  Entrepreneurship doesn’t just affect the person who owns the business.  It affects the entire family.  You couldn’t have picked a better teammate.

One lesson you’ll learn over and over again is this:

Hire people who care.

You can teach skills.  You can teach systems.  You can teach processes.  You can’t teach someone to genuinely care.  They’re the ones who give a damn.  The ones who show up.  The ones who care about the client, the team, and each other.  Protect those people. They’re rare. Those people who become part of Hype’s family are your “WHY” and the reason to keep going on the hard days. You will imprint on them for life and they will do the same to you.

And speaking of hiring the right people, here’s another…

Hire your best friend.

People will tell you it’s a terrible idea.  They’ll say business and friendship don’t mix.  They’ll be wrong.  Some of the greatest gifts Hype will give you won’t be clients or awards.  They’ll be the friendships you’ll build along the way. You’ll laugh together.  Cry together.  Celebrate weddings, babies, birthdays, promotions, and incredible milestones.  You’ll walk through loss and life’s hardest seasons together.  Don’t be afraid to build a business with people you love.  It will become one of your greatest blessings.

Don’t forget to have fun along the way.

Though this is something you have always lived by (from early on in life), and sure, business is serious.  But you don’t always have to be.  Dance at the holiday party and your employees’ weddings.  Laugh until your stomach hurts.  Make the silly videos.  Take the team trip.  Take the picture.  Celebrate the wins.  Twenty years later, some of your favorite memories won’t have anything to do with contracts or revenue.  They’ll be about the people standing beside you.

Keep saying yes to hard things.

Go rafting in the Grand Canyon.  Climb the mountain.  Take the trip.  Do the thing that scares you.  Those adventures won’t distract you from becoming a better leader.  They’ll help create one.  Every challenge outside of work will remind you that you’re capable of more than you think.  Business will continue teaching you that same lesson every single year.

And never stop saying thank you.

One day you’ll realize that no one builds something like this alone.  Be generous with your appreciation.  Celebrate your people.  Tell them when they’ve made a difference.  Gratitude isn’t just something you’ll feel.  It becomes something you practice.

And then there are two little boys you haven’t even met yet.

They will change everything.  You’ll worry sometimes that building a business means you’re taking something away from them.  I hope one day they see the opposite.  I hope they see a mom who chased a dream, kept her word, worked hard, treated people with kindness, and never stopped believing in what was possible.

Jackson and Cole, if you ever read this…

Thank you.  Thank you for sharing me with Hype over the years.  Thank you for cheering me on, even when work meant long days, weekends, or another flight.  Thanks for jumping in to help when I needed you.  More than anything, thank you for reminding me what really matters.  I hope watching this journey has taught you that it’s okay to dream big, work hard, take risks, and build a life you’re proud of.  But I also hope you’ve always known this; no accomplishment, award, client, or milestone will ever mean more to me than being your mom.

And finally…

Twenty years ago, you thought you were building an event staffing company.

You weren’t.  You were building a life you couldn’t even imagine yet.  You were building friendships that would last decades.  A culture where people would feel like they belonged.  A team that would become family.  A place where people could build careers, confidence, and lifelong relationships.

And somewhere along the way…all those people quietly built you too.

So, before I go, there are a few people I need to thank.  To everyone who believed in Hype…thank you for trusting me and walking in this journey with us.  And finally…

To that 25-year-old girl who decided to take a chance on herself…

Thank you.

You had no idea what was waiting for you.

And honestly…

I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Take the leap. Trust your heart. Love your people. Stay true to who you are. The business will be successful because of it—but the life you build along the way will be your greatest accomplishment.

With gratitude,

Your 45-year-old self

P.S. Here’s to the first twenty years… and to whatever adventure comes next. I have a feeling the best is still ahead.