People Pleaser, Reporting for Duty

Let me guess.
You have checked at least one of these boxes before.

You care deeply about how clients feel.
You avoid conflict because you want peace.
You measure success by how smooth everything looks.

I did too.

My Original Definition of Success

When I started my first business thirteen years ago, I thought success meant:

Some money in the bank
Time off when I needed it
Universal approval from clients and staff

If people were happy, I assumed I was winning.

What I did not realize was that I was building a business held together by my nervous system instead of real leadership.

The Cost of Being Liked

That approach led to burnout.
It led to unclear boundaries.
It led to a business that worked only because I was constantly holding it together.

One day, I sat in my car and cried in the parking lot of a building I now own.

I reached out to my first mentor and asked for help.

He sent one sentence that changed how I saw everything. I will share it soon.

Why This Matters to You

I built The Hive so creatives would not have to:

Confuse approval with success
Feel alone when things start to crack
Believe love is a requirement for leadership

You can be kind and clear.
You can be respected without being liked.
You can build a business that supports you, not drains you.

If this resonates, know this.

You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are not alone.

In it together,
- Ash