My Lowest Moment—And the Surprising "Thank You" It Inspired
I'll never forget that coffee stop along the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon.
The ocean stretched endlessly beside me, waves crashing against the cliffs. It should have been a perfect moment—one of those rare times when life slows down just enough for you to breathe it all in. But instead of enjoying the view, I was staring at my phone in disbelief.
A Slack notification had just popped up: two longtime clients had suddenly decided to leave. Attached was a cryptic screenshot of a message, partially cut off, but ending clearly with, "we will see you soon."
This wasn’t just any client departure. It was about the fourth sudden exit in a short period. Something wasn’t right. And as I stood there, miles from home, it hit me like a punch to the gut:
I had been blindsided.
Looking back now, I can see it clearly—my own team had carefully timed this drama, knowing that Kara and I were thousands of miles away on our dream trip, completely distracted. The betrayal felt personal, calculated.
From Dream Trip to Nightmare
Instead of savoring the coastal drive, I spent the next few days drowning in confusion, anger, and disappointment. Why was this happening? How had I not seen the signs? And what did this mean for the business I had poured everything into?
I felt defeated. Like the ground had been ripped out from under me. And yet, beneath the frustration, a small but undeniable fire was starting to burn.
The Turning Point
When I got home, I made a decision: I refused to play by the old rules.
Instead of trying to win back clients who had already checked out or patch up a team that clearly didn’t believe in the vision, I wiped the slate clean. I rebuilt everything from the ground up.
I chose to serve a group of people no one else cared enough to notice.
I leaned into a way of doing business that no one else dared to try.
I stopped second-guessing myself and started leading with clarity and conviction.
Personally, I had to heal. And I did it one minute at a time, literally learning meditation 60 seconds at a stretch just to regain control of my thoughts. And through it all, Kara stood by me, witnessing every hard moment, offering quiet support, and holding space for my growth.
It was the hardest season of my life. And yet, today, here’s the part that might surprise you:
I’m Grateful.
To the staff who underestimated me, To the “friends” who walked away silently, To the clients who didn’t have the courage to talk,
Thank you.
Your actions ignited a transformation that made me stronger, clearer, and helped me build a business I’m genuinely proud of.
Would I have chosen to go through that experience? Absolutely not.
But would I change it now? Not for a second.
What About You?
Have you ever faced a moment like this? A betrayal, a setback, or an unexpected curveball that, in the end, pushed you to grow in ways you never saw coming?
I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment below or hit reply—I read every response.
Because sometimes, the hardest moments shape us into exactly who we’re meant to become.
