If you’ve been wondering why things have been quiet with Carolina Storm lately—you’re not wrong. After launching the organization in March 2025 (following nearly a year of planning), we hit some bumps in the road. While I knew going in that this project would take time and money—and that it wasn’t going to be profitable right away—there were still a few challenges I didn’t fully anticipate.

Here’s a transparent look at what went wrong, what I’ve learned, and what we’re doing next.

The Biggest Mistakes We Made

Mistake #1: Signing 6-Month Contracts Without Clear Expectations

We signed 6-month agreements with both players and content creators, but we didn’t outline clear performance or participation requirements. That meant we were essentially locked into these deals unless both parties agreed to part ways—and in several cases, that led to misaligned expectations and limited accountability.

Lesson learned: Future contracts will include specific, measurable requirements for practices, competition participation, and general involvement.

Mistake #2: Management Dropped the Ball

In the beginning, our management team seemed promising. They were enthusiastic, responsive, and aligned with the vision. But a few months in, communication fell apart. Tasks weren’t being completed, requests were ignored, and ultimately, I had to let them go.

Lesson learned: Going forward, I’ll be more selective with leadership roles, and I’ll set clearer expectations from the beginning—with regular check-ins to stay on track.

Mistake #3: Underestimating the Budget

I launched Carolina Storm knowing it wasn’t going to turn a profit quickly. But I didn’t set aside enough money to execute the full vision I had in mind. Rather than overextend or seek outside funding too soon, I decided to scale back and focus only on what I could realistically support.

Lesson learned: Start small, build smart, and scale with intention.

The New Plan: Focused and Intentional

We’re not giving up—just recalibrating. Moving forward, Carolina Storm will focus exclusively on our Rocket League team. Here’s what that will look like:

• Hiring a Coach/Team Manager: This person will be responsible for running weekly practices, managing tournament signups, and recruiting new players.
  
  
• Structured Player Contracts: All future contracts will include clear expectations for practice attendance, event participation, and communication.
  
  

Competitive Focus: We want our Rocket League team to compete consistently—not just show up, but show up prepared.

Moving Forward

At the end of the day, this experience has been a reminder that every venture comes with a learning curve. And that’s okay. I didn’t start Carolina Storm expecting everything to be perfect—I started it because I believe in what we’re building.

Mistakes were made, but they won’t be repeated. We’re moving forward with more structure, clearer expectations, and a renewed focus on what makes this fun and meaningful.

Here’s to the next chapter of Carolina Storm. 🚀