On October 8, we gathered for TAP’s Fall for Small Business®: Be the Catalyst. It was an evening filled with energy, community, and the power of entrepreneurial stories. Visionary leader and Co-Host Elizabeth Gore of Hello Alice reminded us why entrepreneurship matters not only as an engine of economic growth but as a force for opportunity and resilience. And we heard directly from small business owners—Dr. Justin Vaidyan, founder of Arise Physical Therapy in White Plains and Dr. Margaret Barrow of It’s Nola in Brooklyn, whose journeys illustrate what happens when discipline and data meet grit and vision.

Their experiences confirm what I have seen again and again at TAP: resilience alone is not enough. Entrepreneurs need structure. They need measurement. They need the courage to slow down and the clarity to act with confidence. That is what discipline and data provide.

Discipline Anchors Growth

Discipline is not rigidity. It is the structure that allows entrepreneurs to channel passion into sustainable progress. Without discipline, growth is fleeting. With it, possibilities expand. Discipline shows up in the habits and systems that create consistency—regular planning cycles, repeatable processes, and accountability rituals that guide decision-making. It is about how entrepreneurs operate day to day, creating order amid the chaos of building a business.

Consider the journey of Dr. Justin Vaidyan. Justin became a physical therapist to deliver one-on-one, personalized care—a model that was missing in his community. When COVID cost him his job, he chose not to step back but to step forward, launching his own practice in January 2021.

Justin had vision and determination, but as with so many small business owners, the daily pressures of running a practice were overwhelming. He came to TAP seeking clarity on financial projections, cost tracking, and marketing. With the support of our consultants, he developed a quarterly marketing plan, learned to create and monitor budgets, and adopted financial models that allowed him to project growth with precision. As Justin puts it,

This discipline transformed his practice. In 2022, Arise Physical Therapy was a solo operation generating about $27,000–$30,000 per month. Today, it employs three full-time and three part-time staff and generates $65,000–$70,000 monthly revenue—a 141 percent increase. He adjusted his pricing strategy, moving from $150 to $250 an hour, expanded his services to include new therapies, and, most importantly, built systems that give him confidence to keep scaling without losing sight of his original mission: delivering high-quality, hands-on care.

Justin often reflects that entrepreneurship is lonely—that as the “chief everything officer,” he needed guidance and accountability. TAP gave him both. But the transformation only happened because Justin embraced discipline, choosing not to rely on instinct alone but to measure, track, and build systems that sustain growth.

Data Illuminates the Path

Discipline provides structure, and data provides direction. Numbers reveal truths that intuition alone can miss, whether a business is ready to grow, whether pricing sustains profitability, or whether expansion is truly viable. Data is the evidence that grounds vision in reality. It offers insights that guide strategic choices, showing an entrepreneur when a price point can sustain growth, which market is most viable, or when the timing is right to invest in expansion.

Dr. Margaret Barrow of It’s Nola knows this well. What began as a student-loved recipe became a plant-based snack company with bold flavors and national potential. Like many food entrepreneurs, she faced relentless uncertainty, rising ingredient costs, supply chain disruptions, and shifting consumer preferences.

TAP worked with Margaret on pricing, forecasting, and marketing strategy. What set this experience apart, in her words, was the authenticity of the consultants. They let her drive the conversation while holding her accountable. They gave her the tools and confidence to pause, to ask whether the timing was right, and to make decisions grounded in data rather than urgency. When the cost of coconut oil doubled, she resisted the temptation to launch a new flavor simply because it was ready. Instead, she critically examined the numbers and the evidence in front of her, making the harder decision to wait. As she explains, 

Her journey highlights the importance of reliable resources. At TAP, we integrate financial literacy into our work with small business owners, whether through loan readiness programs, forecasting tools, or seminars on cost of goods sold, like the ones we have led at Hot Bread Kitchen (link to Oct 7 post). And there are other trustworthy places to turn, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides guidance on managing finances and understanding the numbers behind every decision.

With the right support, data is not sterile; it is empowering. It gives entrepreneurs the clarity to preserve their vision, protect their future, and lead with confidence.

Catalysts Create Ripple Effects

Both Justin and Margaret remind us that entrepreneurship is never just about one individual. When a founder thrives, the community benefits. Justin’s expansion allows him to serve more patients, hire more therapists, and restore mobility to families across Westchester. Margaret’s steady leadership creates jobs for local interns, mentorship for her students, and inspiration for countless others who see themselves in her journey.

This is the ripple effect of discipline and data. One entrepreneur’s growth strengthens families, employees, and neighborhoods. Their stories show us why small businesses matter—not only as drivers of the economy but as anchors of resilience and community.

Lessons From the Field

At TAP, we have spent more than 62,500 hours side by side with small business owners. The lesson is clear: discipline and data are the catalysts of lasting change. They convert resilience into strategy, and strategy into measurable results.

Elizabeth Gore spoke of her journey from a Texas cattle ranch to the Peace Corps, and then building Hello Alice into a platform serving 1.5 million entrepreneurs. Her message was simple: access to capital matters, but capital without guidance can falter. The pairing of dollars with discipline and data is what creates enduring impact.

Justin and Margaret brought that message to life. Their journeys illustrate that while entrepreneurship may begin with passion, it is sustained by systems. It is strengthened by measurement. It is amplified by accountability.

Be the Catalyst

As I reflect on our October 8th  gathering, I am reminded that being a catalyst is not about a single act of transformation; it is about creating a lasting impact. It is about building the conditions that allow change to multiply. For entrepreneurs, that means embedding discipline and data into their businesses. For organizations like TAP, it means creating the scaffolding—customized consulting, practical tools, compassionate guidance—that empowers small business owners to thrive.

To our partners, funders, and volunteers, the invitation is clear: Join us in being the catalyst. Whether by funding, volunteering, or amplifying these stories, your support ensures small businesses not only survive but thrive. 

At TAP, this is our daily work. But it is also a collective movement. Together, we can ensure that small business owners are not just surviving the next crisis but are positioned to grow stronger because of it.