The Hashtag I Wish Never Happened (#bringRoniback)

When you’re growing a creative or service-based business, you’ll eventually face one hard truth:
You have to choose between being liked and leading well.

This is a story I never want to repeat... but always share.
It was one of the most pivotal moments of my business.

A staff member quit in front of a room full of clients.
And a few days later, a social media campaign appeared:
#bringRoniback

People were camping out in the comments, asking me to beg her to return.

The 5-Second Backstory

As my business grew, I started hiring.
It was my first time managing people, and I quickly learned it’s not easy.

This particular staff member decided to run the business her way, not the way I had outlined.
She ignored the SOPs. She bypassed the staff agreement.

But I let it go, because she was the client’s favorite.
People were happy, and I didn’t want to rock the boat.

For months, it snowballed.

By the end, there were beer cans in the trash after her Friday shifts.

At a client event, I finally said, “You can’t keep doing this.”
She lost it. Quit on the spot. In front of everyone.

And a few days later: #bringRoniback.

What I Own

I should’ve had the hard conversation the first time she crossed a line.
I should’ve addressed clients directly and said, “Her behavior was not okay and I should’ve said that sooner.”
I should’ve ignored the hashtag.
(Spoiler: I didn’t.)

There’s more. But the real lesson?
I take radical responsibility.
And when I mess up, I take even more responsibility.

If you want to scale past $5k months, you’ve got to do the same.

Avoiding that conversation?
Keeping someone on who’s draining you?
Letting systems slide because “things are fine for now”?
That’s your glass ceiling.

And trust me — you’ll feel lighter the moment you own it.

Today’s Task:

Ask yourself:
What do I need to take responsibility for — and change?

You already know what it is.
That thing tugging at you? That pattern you keep repeating?
Change it. Today.

Big Love,
Ash

P.S. Need help navigating something similar?
Reply ‘leadership’ and I’ll send a voice note your way.