Zero Days Since… We Got Robbed – Ep. 8

Some episodes are fun updates. Some are therapy sessions disguised as business talk. And then there are the episodes that feel like a turning point—the kind where you can hear the story pivot in real time. Episode 8 of the Zero Days Since podcast starts with a title that sounds like chaos—“Zero Days Since… We Were Robbed”—but what you actually get is a grounded, honest conversation about what happens when you do everything “right,” still don’t win, and have to decide what kind of entrepreneur you’re going to be next. This episode has the relatable gut-punch of a pitch competition loss… and the payoff of a massive new chapter: a downtown Tucson showroom and acceptance into New York Fashion Week. That contrast—setback vs. breakthrough—is exactly what makes this one hit. When “Winning” Becomes a Trap: Pitch Competitions, Subjective Judging, and Founder Psychology Jason and Chelsea get into something every entrepreneur learns eventually: judged events can be brutally subjective. The pitch might be strong. The business might be real. The room might even love you. But on judged days, a handful of opinions can decide the outcome—and that can mess with your head if you’re measuring your worth by the scoreboard. And that’s where Jason’s growth arc becomes the heartbeat of the episode. He admits it plainly: he’s wired to “win,” and that drive has powered a lot of progress—but it can also become a source of frustration when the rules of the game aren’t clear. The best part is that they don’t talk about it like motivational poster advice. It’s conversational and real: what it feels like when you’re chasing validation, when a “no” stings, and how you start learning to find joy in the process instead of only in the outcome. That’s the kind of founder mindset shift that resonates with creators, small business owners, and anyone building something in public. From “We Were Robbed” to “We’re Winning the War”: Reframing Loss into Momentum The episode title comes from a familiar moment in the startup world: you show up, you compete, and you walk away thinking… how did we not win that? But instead of staying stuck in the frustration, Jason and Chelsea use that moment as a hinge—an opportunity to zoom out and take inventory of what’s actually happening in the business. At one point, Chelsea drops a line that basically becomes the thesis of the whole episode: maybe you lost that pitch competition—but you’re “winning every thing else.” And then they hit the perfect example of Jason’s internal shift: he jokes about trying to “win” Fashion Week, and Chelsea snaps it into perspective—you don’t “win” Fashion Week… getting in is the win. That’s the transformation, right there. Not “I’ll never care about winning again,” but: I’m learning which wins actually matter. The episode becomes a practical pep talk for entrepreneurs who’ve been knocked sideways by one event, one judgment, one rejection—especially founders balancing ambition with sanity. Downtown Tucson Showroom + New York Fashion Week: The Chapter Change You Can Feel Now the big news—because Episode 8 isn’t just mindset talk. It’s also a major business milestone episode. First: they officially have a showroom in downtown Tucson, and you can hear how meaningful that is—like returning to where it all started. They share the location clearly: the bottom floor of Redondo Tower at Granada and Broadway. They talk about moving in, setting up the space, and building it into a cohesive showroom experience for TimberTote, including an area for custom design and even a setup for 3D rendering. And then comes the “wait—what?” moment: they got the email saying they’ve been accepted into New York Fashion Week as an emerging brand, for September 2026—giving them about nine months to prepare. They also keep it real about what that means: it’s exciting, but it’s also expensive, and it kicks off a whole new set of strategic questions—fundraising, planning, logistics, and what it takes to show up at that level. One of the coolest “next chapter” teases: Chelsea hints that she may start sharing parts of her design process live, and they even float the idea of using Patreon for behind-the-scenes access. This is why Episode 8 works so well as a marketing moment. It’s not just “big announcements.” It’s the full arc: the emotional stumble, the mindset shift, and then the doors opening. The Takeaway: The Real Win Isn’t the Trophy—It’s the Trajectory If you’ve ever felt like you got robbed—by a pitch competition, a judge, an algorithm, a gatekeeper, or just bad timing—this episode gives you something better than a rant. It gives you a reframe: judged events are part of the game, but they’re not the whole game… and they’re definitely not the final verdict on your business. Episode 8 of the Zero Days Since podcast is ultimately about the kind of growth that doesn’t show up on an award certificate: learning how to keep your joy intact, how to measure progress correctly, and how to recognize when you’ve already crossed into a new chapter—even if one room didn’t clap loud enough. And if you’re local? The showroom is a real-world milestone you can support—Redondo Tower at Granada and Broadway in downtown Tucson.If you’re a founder anywhere? The mindset shift is the part you’ll feel in your chest. Now it’s your turn:Have you ever had a “we were robbed” moment—and what did you do with it afterward?