Most e-commerce stories start with product-market fit. This one started with Frodo. On this episode of Check-In to Check-Out, we talk with Kyle Cole, co-founder of The Hero’s Journal—a journaling brand built on the idea that life gets easier when you start seeing yourself as the main character. What started as a nerdy side project turned into a seven-figure DTC brand powered by story, community, and a refusal to send boring emails. Kyle opens up about: Accidentally going viral during quarantine with a “Quarantine Quest” Scaling fulfillment from garage to 3PL—and the painful (but hilarious) budget mistake he made What every e-commerce leader gets wrong about community building How to forecast without deluding yourself Why the best marketing emails sometimes have no CTA If you’ve ever tried to justify a warehouse lease based on “the traffic you're manifesting” or had your team melt down over a 3PL gone rogue, this one’s for you. It’s funny, vulnerable, and weirdly practical. And yes, we talk about iOS 14. Perfect for: Directors of E-Commerce, DTC operators, brand builders who think “community” isn’t just a Slack channel Listen in and remember: you are the hero. Just maybe... also the operations oracle.