The Vacation That Blindsided Me

Sometimes clarity does not come in a boardroom.

Sometimes it shows up on a beach.

What I Thought Was Happening

I went to the Bahamas expecting rest.

Fishing. Drinks. Sun. Friends.

Instead, I walked into tension I could not explain.

Conversations felt guarded.
Energy felt heavy.
Something was missing.

What Was Really Happening

One of the families on the trip was quietly opening a competing business near ours.

They had already offered 40 of our clients lifetime pricing and steep discounts.

Those clients accepted.

That was the moment I realized comfort had shielded me from competition.

The Turning Point

I called my mentor and told them everything.

Their response was simple and sharp:

Sometimes you need competition. And if you are going to have competition, it might as well be them.

That sentence reframed the entire experience.

Competition stopped feeling like betrayal.
It started feeling like a wake up call.

Why This Matters for You

If things feel easy right now, ask yourself why.

Growth rarely happens in comfort.
Momentum often comes from friction.
Your next level may be waiting on the other side of discomfort.

I will share what happened next soon.

Until then, ask yourself this:

Where have you been playing it safe when you were meant to level up?

In it together,
- Ash