The Compass Hidden in Failure

I still remember the first time I printed packaging for Tidalove. I thought I had done everything right, even stamping chew brush smile on thousands of aluminum tins and pouches with pride. But then I got an email from a lawyer and learned that the phrase had already been trademarked by another company. Suddenly, all that inventory was useless, and I had to start again from scratch. That email from the lawyer… it was kinda scary. I felt embarrassed and panicked. Was I careless? Too unprepared to run a business?

At first, I thought I might have to throw everything away, which felt heartbreaking — not only for my small business but also for the environment. So I promised to fix every single tin and pouch by December instead of wasting them. Thankfully, the other company agreed, and I felt so grateful. Even in that moment, I realized: challenges can be met with responsibility and care.

Reworking the packaging also forced me to sit down and face all the feedback I had once brushed aside. People said the tablets stuck to their teeth, that the aftertaste was odd, even soapy. Back then, I wanted to defend my formula — it was backed by dental research, vegan, cruelty free, and made without harmful ingredients. But this time, with no choice but to begin again, I saw it as an invitation to do better.

So I started over. Wherever possible, I switched to organic ingredients. I replaced the surfactant that caused the soapy taste and tested the flavor again and again — more than ten times. I even asked a dentist to try it firsthand and guide me with real feedback, not just studies on paper.

And yes, there was a moment of hesitation. Would releasing a better version mean my first product was a failure? Then I remembered a line from Seth Godin:

“Life is not about having no failures. It’s about treating failure as part of the process. You don’t need more time — you just need to decide.”

That shifted everything. I realized the trademark issue wasn’t a wall; it was a compass pointing me in a better direction.

Now, as I look at the updated tins and pouches waiting to be filled, I don’t see failure. I see a second chance, built with more care than before.

Maybe you’ve felt this too — that what knocked you down was really just a step up. Sometimes, the thing that stops us is what shows us the way forward.

At Tidalove, that’s the spirit inside every small tablet: a reminder that change doesn’t need to be perfect to matter. It just needs to begin. The new version is launching on October 15. And even if it fails for some reason, I know now that failure itself can become another compass pointing me toward something good.

With love,
Penny- founder of Tidalove 🌊