Integrating Gratitude and Grit: How a Female Founder is Reimagining Energy

By Georgia Young

When I left my corporate sustainability career to build Rallee Gummies, I didn’t picture myself as a “leader.” I was just someone who wanted to solve the problem of how to feel genuinely energized without relying on short bursts of caffeine or endless cups of coffee.

After years in consulting, working with organizations on ESG and impact strategies, I understood sustainability on paper. But in practice? I was exhausted. My lifestyle was hilariously anything but sustainable. I was living on almond lattes and deadlines, concealing my eye bags and attempting anything to look awake more than I actually felt. That disconnect became the starting point for Rallee- a clean, slow-release energy gummy designed for busy, active people who want to perform and still feel good doing it.

What I didn’t expect was how much the process of building a startup would mirror the product itself: energizing effortlessly isn’t just a tagline, it’s a mindset.

Building with gratitude and grit

When you’re running a lean startup, grit is a given. You’re wearing every hat; founder, lawyer, logistics coordinator, social media manager, customer service rep. You’re constantly solving problems you didn’t even know existed the day before.

But grit alone can burn you out fast. I learned that early. There were moments where everything felt uphill- suppliers backing out, samples delayed, packaging arriving off-spec. It was tempting to spiral into frustration, but somewhere in that chaos, and through setting myself a weekly cry quota, I realized that gratitude wasn’t something to save for when things worked out- it was what helped me keep moving when they didn’t.

Now, I start every day by grounding myself in the progress we’ve made, especially focussing on the small things. A message from a happy customer. A social tag from someone saying Rallee helped them through a long shift (even surgeons). An email from a Pilates instructor wanting to stock us in their studio. Those moments matter. They remind me that we’re helping real people.

That’s the power of gratitude: it keeps the work human.

Slow burn, strong growth

Given my background, at Rallee, we talk a lot about sustainable energy. Not talking about wind and solar but internal energy that lasts, without spikes or crashes. I’ve realized the same applies to how you build a business.

When I first launched, I thought every day had to be a sprint. I wanted to do everything, all at once. Think partnerships, TikTok, retail outreach, new product development. But constant sprinting isn’t sustainable. You end up with a brand that looks busy but isn’t necessarily building momentum. Now, I approach energy like a system. It’s about consistency over intensity. I plan my week around realistic bursts of focus, creative downtime, and space to recharge. It’s just about progress, and it’s what keeps Rallee growing steadily instead of burning out early.

That’s also how we design our product: 100mg of slow-release green tea caffeine, paired with Cordyceps mushrooms and B-vitamins, to create clean, long-lasting focus without the crash. It’s the same philosophy we apply to everything, from how we source ingredients to how we manage our own time and energy.

The real side of running lean

Leading a lean startup isn’t glamorous. You’re making big decisions with limited resources. You’re moving quickly but thoughtfully. Every expense, every supplier, every post matters. Instead of obsessing over what we can’t afford yet (a full team, an office, endless ad spend) I focus on what we can do really well: connect directly with our customers, collaborate with like-minded creators, and build authentic partnerships that reflect who we are.

The beautiful part of being small is being agile. When you’re not bogged down by hierarchy or bureaucracy, you can move fast, test ideas, and actually listen to your community. That’s what makes it rewarding as you see the impact of every decision almost immediately.

TLDR:

It’s not about constant acceleration, it’s about building something that lasts. As a founder, gratitude and grit are what keep me balanced. Grit keeps me building, experimenting, and pushing forward.

Gratitude keeps me grounded enough to enjoy it along the way.

That combination, the balance of drive and appreciation, is what powers both me and Rallee. Because true energy, whether in business or in life, should feel good while you’re creating it.

Georgia Young

Founder, Rallee Gummies

Connect With Georgia

@georgieyoungg

@ralleegummies