S&P 500 Index Average Annual Total Returns

This chart hits hard: miss just 10 of the S&P 500’s best days in 30 years, and you lose more than half your returns. Miss 30? You’re down 83%.

Marketing analysis

In marketing, this is the same as dropping out too early. Many campaigns fail because brands quit before compounding kicks in. Growth happens in spikes—those “best days” of viral reach, killer ROI, or high conversions. If you’re not around when they hit, you miss the magic.

Why it works

• Consistency compounds results.
• Patience beats timing.
• Big wins often come right after down periods.
• The math of missing out is brutal and visual.

Examples

• Dollar Shave Club’s viral video came after two years of slow grind.
• HubSpot blogged daily for years before ranking exploded.
• MrBeast uploaded 100+ videos before one went viral.
• Nike’s early failures didn’t stop it from becoming a $180B brand.