What do cocktails, confidence, and a pandemic pivot have in common?

April Wachtel.

This week’s episode is part cocktail nerd-out, part entrepreneurial masterclass. I sat down with April—founder of Cheeky Cocktails and former Bacardi ambassador—to talk about what it really takes to build a brand from scratch. Spoiler: it’s not perfection. It’s persistence.

April’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and raising a glass to imperfect action. She spent years in the hospitality industry—teaching cocktails, consulting with major brands, bartending, and testing ideas. And when COVID hit? She launched Cheeky in four days from her apartment, designing labels, juicing citrus, and bottling mixers by hand.

Let’s just say this isn’t your average founder story.

The Myth of the Aha Moment

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was April’s honesty around how long it really takes to find “the idea.” She doesn’t believe in a single lightning-bolt moment. She believes in testing, learning, pivoting, and listening to the market.

Her first mixer company? She ran it for nearly five years—even though it wasn’t working. When she realized it wasn’t serving her or her customers, she did what so many entrepreneurs fear: she scrapped it and started over.

And that’s where Cheeky was born.

Why Imperfect Action Wins

April isn’t just smart—she’s scrappy. She launched Cheeky with no outside funding, relying on a COVID relief loan, clever marketing, and a whole lot of hustle. Today, Cheeky is in over 1,300 accounts, with hundreds more on the way. And guess what? She’s still the only full-time employee.

We talked about:

• Why visibility is an act of service, not self-promotion

• How to separate your ego from your business success

• What to do when trolls show up (because they will)

• The power of showing up—even when you don’t feel ready

April also dropped serious gold about how one simple cocktail tutorial exploded to 150K+ views. It’s not magic. It’s method—and it’s available to all of us.

Raise Your Glass to Growth

Whether you’re launching a new idea, dusting off an old one, or just trying to show up more boldly… this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone. Growth is messy. Business is personal. And visibility? That’s leadership.

Grab your favorite glass, press play, and get inspired to take your next brave step.

Save 15% off your order from Cheeky Cocktails:

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