Playing the Long Game as a Founder | The WIP by OrangeWIP

Founders are often taught to chase clarity like it arrives in one perfect moment. But real clarity does not work that way. It shows up in pieces while you are already moving. It reveals itself in patterns you keep noticing, tension that refuses to resolve, and decisions that suddenly feel heavier than they should. Those signals are not noise. They are direction.

The leaders who grow are not waiting for certainty. They stay aware. They move with intention. They let small insights guide the next step instead of forcing answers that are not ready yet. When you practice noticing what is shifting, you make cleaner decisions, lead with steadiness, and keep momentum even when things feel messy.

Clarity is not a breakthrough. It is something you build in real time, and it becomes one of the strongest advantages a founder can develop.

01/13 - Caffeinated Conversations: Work Healthy with WorkHealthy SC

01/14 - Breakfast Briefing

01/14 - MPCC After Hours

Can patience be a competitive advantage in a world obsessed with speed?

Lael AnnMarie, founder of EcoLux Goods, built a sustainable luxury product from one broken experience and scaled it while still working behind the chair in her salon. She gets real about manufacturing chaos, ethical sourcing, long hospitality sales cycles, and the internal work required to stop forcing outcomes that were never aligned. Hear how she turned chaos into clarity and why building what matters always outlasts chasing momentum.

Is your voice missing? Speak Up.

Do you have an entrepreneur story to tell? A point to make? An idea to share? We want to hear from you! Sign up to be a Hello Chaos guest today.

You could say that Ben Moore has always had the heart of an entrepreneur. It began in high school, when he started a computer business, repairing computers and providing technical support. This initial venture laid the foundation for his future endeavors and instilled in him a passion for problem-solving.

After high school, Ben attended Clemson University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. This led to work as a contract designer, collaborating with numerous companies and gaining valuable experience in automation and product design. This period allowed him to develop his skill set and acquire knowledge in various fields. Although he often worked behind the scenes, his contributions were instrumental in helping companies achieve patents and scale up their operations.

For the next stage of his journey, he transitioned from contract engineering to starting his own business, SC Machine Works, which focused on low- to mid-volume complex machining. He recognized a need for technology-forward machine shops in his area and aimed to provide innovative solutions.

This venture eventually led him to sell the business and pursue a new opportunity in the packaging industry. In late 2015, he started a new venture that initially explored various forms of packaging, including reusable plastic packaging for mushrooms.

The Greenville Chamber plays a bigger role in Greenville’s business ecosystem than many founders realize.

It is not just a networking organization. It is a connector between entrepreneurs, policy, and long term growth. Through programs like Leadership Greenville and the Minority Business Accelerator, the Chamber builds cohorts that turn into real relationships and lasting support systems. On top of that, their advocacy work helps business owners understand how local and state policy decisions impact their companies and how to engage with elected officials in meaningful ways.

If you are building in Greenville and want stronger connections, clearer context, and a seat at the table, this is a resource worth exploring.