Milestones that Matter: Celebrating Progress and Persistence in HastingsNow’s Journey| Ep.08

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Historical Context – The Power of Milestones

Humans are hardwired to mark milestones – anniversaries, grand openings, first dollars earned pinned on the wall. These moments serve as both celebration and compass, reminding us how far we’ve come. In business history, surviving the first year was often the toughest; those that did would ceremonially burn the mortgage or throw a “mortgage burning” party once debts were paid. For small businesses, every anniversary is a victory. Statistically, only about one-third of new businesses make it to their 10th anniversary bls.gov, so longevity itself is an achievement. HastingsNow, the local media venture, is no exception. Co-founder Ashley proudly shares, “In March we celebrated HastingsNow.com’s 13th year on Facebook, and we’re still at it – updating and innovating along the way.” Pause to consider that: 13 years continuously engaging the community on social media. In the fast-changing digital landscape, that’s like a golden jubilee! Many remember when HastingsNow started as just a Facebook page (circa 2012), posting feel-good local news and business shout-outs. To still be going strong in 2025 – through all of Facebook’s algorithm changes and the rise of other platforms – speaks to an ability to adapt and persistent community support.

Present Milestones – Apps, Revenue, and Resilience

Peter, the other co-founder, enumerates a string of milestones they’re celebrating right now: “being on the homestretch of releasing our Local Pigeon MVP app… HastingsNow.com existing (after some rough startup hurdles)… rallying the troops… repeat customers and growing sales revenue, new services…” There’s a lot to unpack, and each part tells a story of perseverance. The Local Pigeon app is perhaps the most exciting new milestone – it’s the tech product HastingsNow has been developing to amplify local “soundbite” stories (short audio posts) in a dedicated feed. Peter’s tone suggests they’ve been working on it for a long time (“a long time coming”), which is common in tech projects. The homestretch implies the minimum viable product is nearly ready for beta testing. That’s a milestone because it transitions HastingsNow from purely a content service to a tech platform. If launched, Hastings could have its own community storytelling app – a rare asset for a small city.

Then, the simpler yet profound milestone: “HastingsNow.com existing.”. It might have seemed uncertain at first (hence “rough and tumble navigating startup hurdles”), but now it’s stable. The site hosts their blog posts, podcasts, and local brand stories – essentially serving as a central hub after years on disparate social platforms. Getting it off the ground and populated with content is indeed worth celebrating. Add to that repeat customers and growing sales from their services (like helping local brands with storytelling, marketing, AI images, web design, etc.). Repeat business is a huge vote of confidence – it means HastingsNow isn’t a one-time curiosity but an ongoing partner to local businesses. It also ties directly to sustainability of the venture: increased revenue and new services mean they can keep innovating and serving the community. This momentum is reminiscent of a startup hitting key metrics, like gaining its first 100 customers or reaching profitability. In fact, psychologists Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, in researching workplace motivation, found that the single biggest motivator is making progress – even small wins – in meaningful work edgeforscholars.vumc.orgedgeforscholars.vumc.org. Each of these milestones, from launching an app beta to getting a second project from a client, fuels the team’s enthusiasm to push further.

Why Celebrating Matters – Psychology of Small Wins

Celebrating milestones isn’t just about indulgence or nostalgia; it has real psychological and practical benefits. When Ashley says, “I look forward to continuing to learn about local brands and documenting them along the way with our storytelling services,” she’s expressing a growth mindset oriented toward the future, but rooted in the joy of what’s been achieved so far. A milestone like 13 years on Facebook also signals trust and consistency to the community – it says HastingsNow.com is not a fly-by-night project, but part of the town’s fabric. This builds credibility; people know they can count on HastingsNow to share local updates, year in and year out. On the personal side, celebrating a win like shipping a new service or surviving a tough year boosts the team’s morale. Organizational behavior studies indicate that recognition of small wins can significantly improve employees’ inner work life and motivation edgeforscholars.vumc.org, edgeforscholars.vumc.org. HastingsNow.com’s team is small (essentially the two co-founders and collaborators), but the principle is the same – taking a moment to acknowledge “we did this” strengthens their resolve for the next challenge.

Philosophically, milestones also offer a chance for reflection and storytelling. HastingsNow.com, being storytellers by trade, surely appreciates this. Each milestone becomes a story to share with their audience: “Remember when…?” They can reminisce in a blog post about the early days (“throwback to our first ever Hastings local news post in 2012!”) and contrast it with how far the local digital scene has come. It personalizes their brand. It’s also something the community can latch onto. Long-time followers feel a part of the journey (“I’ve been following since year 5!”), and new ones see a track record. Oprah Winfrey once said, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” brainyquote.com In business terms, that might translate to a virtuous cycle: celebrate success -> build confidence and goodwill -> invite more success. HastingsNow.com’s leaders seem to intuitively get this, mixing gratitude for what’s done with excitement for what’s next.

Local Impact – A Community Milestone as Well

HastingsNow.com’s milestones aren’t isolated; they reflect the community’s journey into modern storytelling. When HastingsNow.com started 13 years ago on Facebook, local news was mostly in the Hastings Star Gazette (the traditional newspaper). Over the years, HastingsNow.com became a new voice – informal, immediate, interactive. The community’s engagement (likes, shares, comments) was the fuel that kept it going. So that 13-year milestone is collectively owned in a sense by all who clicked and commented. Likewise, when the Local Pigeon app soon rolls out, it will become a tool for the community – a place where residents and businesses create new milestones of their own (the first post to get 1000 listens, the 50th business to join, etc.). Peter’s rallying cry about “rallying the troops” suggests they’re bringing together collaborators, perhaps local writers, photographers, or even high school media interns. That network is itself a milestone: HastingsNow.com started as two individuals and grew into a small ecosystem of local content creators. Each person involved is a multiplier for community storytelling.

In broader community terms, every service HastingsNow.com expands into is a gap filled. For instance, if they started offering Amplify (perhaps an advertising or content boost service) or Local Voices podcast seasons, those new services mark milestones in local media diversity. HastingsNow.com reaching year 13 or launching new services isn’t just a business success; it’s a milestone in Hastings’ information landscape. The leaders in City Hall or local nonprofits likely take note because a healthy local media is a community asset.

Lastly, celebrating these milestones in public (as they often do on social media or on the website) sets an example for other local entrepreneurs. It silently gives permission to others to cheer for their own wins. Perhaps a bakery will celebrate 5 years in business with a customer appreciation day, or a salon will post about serving their 10,000th customer. HastingsNow.com’s tone of “we made it, thanks to you all; onward we go!” creates a culture where success isn’t bragged about but shared humbly. In a town of our size, that camaraderie matters. It turns individual milestones into community pride points. We all root for the beloved restaurant’s anniversary or the school team’s championship – and now, we also root for our scrappy local media startup hitting its milestones. Because their story is part of Hastings’ story, each victory lap they take is one the whole town can feel good about. As the saying goes, “Success is a journey, not a destination.” HastingsNow.com’s journey – marked by the guideposts of years and new ventures – continues, and Hastings is coming along for the ride, celebrating every step of the way bls.govbrainyquote.com.

Lock and Dam Eatery proudly celebrates their 10th Anniversary in the heart of historic downtown Hastings, Minnesota, marking a decade of serving the community with great food and memorable experiences. Image credit: HastingsNow.com/peter

Sources: HastingsNow Co-founders Interview; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on business survival bls.gov; Teresa Amabile’s Progress Principle via EdgeforScholars edgeforscholars.vumc.orgedgeforscholars.vumc.org; Oprah Winfrey quote on celebration brainyquote.com.