Yes, I think we pulled out hair out a lot waiting for that moment. "If we just get that blog to cover us or if only had that big partnership". We'd get spikes every now but no silver bullets. Steady compounding growth won it for us in the end.
I've always thought startups has to have this hockey stick growth, because if we're going to fail, it's better to fail fast than spend another year not growing rapidly.
But where would you draw the line? Would having a growth that generates enough revenue to cover operation cost enough?
That said, most startups experience plateaus and dips. These are the moments that truly test the fortitude and resolve of the team.