Jon Yongfook’s graph nails a painful truth: people only notice the spike, not the slog. On the left, a shiny +509% growth rate. On the right, two years of mostly flat lines and “zero revenue.” Classic highlight-reel marketing.
Why this visual hits hard
This image works because it contrasts perception vs. reality. It gives context to success and rewires how we see “fast growth.”
Why it works
- Visual contrast reveals the hidden grind
- Honest storytelling builds trust
- Timeline context makes the graph human
- Breaks the “overnight success” myth
- Transforms a progress chart into a marketing story
Real-world echoes
- Stripe spent 2 years in private beta before launch.
- Canva took 5 years to reach its first million users.
- ConvertKit sat under $1k MRR for over a year before growing past $1M/month.