Why This Work Exists
Originally written: 04January 2021
For the past two years, this space has been written almost entirely by Evan—documenting the rigorous engineering journey behind MyHerculead through the lenses of mechanical systems, testing philosophies, and the long, slow arc of invention. This year, I’m stepping in. I am choosing to write here not because the core of our work has changed, but because the story itself has naturally widened.
At home, we live with a small pack of rescue animals who are truly our fur children. Each one arrives with their own unique history, sensitivities, energy levels, and specific needs. Walking them together isn’t just a simple convenience problem; it is a safety problem, a behavioral problem, and deeply a trust problem. That reality is exactly where the idea for MyHerculead begins. The concept didn’t come from a sterile whiteboard in a studio. It came from the messy reality of tangled leads, sudden lunges, crossed paths, and those quiet, frustrating moments when you realize existing tools simply weren’t designed for real life—or for real animals.
At the same time, we’re quietly building something else alongside our product development work: a privately funded animal sanctuary called Ruby’s Ark. This is a place deeply rooted in physical rehabilitation, endless patience, and long-term care for animals who don’t always fit neatly into traditional adoption pipelines. It isn't some corporate brand initiative or a marketing tactic. It is a profound life responsibility we’ve chosen, and it shapes how we think about safety, design, and physical stewardship every single day.
Where Evan naturally focuses on how mechanical systems behave under sheer force, my focus is on how they feel under stress—emotionally, physically, and intuitively. Together, that creative tension shapes everything we build at The Hartful Company. So starting right now, you’ll be hearing more from me here about design, animals, care, creativity, and the quieter, more human motivations that sit right behind our inventions. It is the same work and the exact same standards, just viewed through a wider lens. Welcome to 2021.
— Elysia
