When Loyalty Hurts: Business Lessons From The Worst Breakups

We’re doing something a little different in this week’s podcast episode.

We’re getting real. Like really real.

We’re sharing the hardest moments we’ve had in business. The times we cried, questioned everything, and thought about giving up. And we’re telling you exactly how we got through them.

Because we know you are in it right now.

And maybe hearing that someone else has been through the hard stuff too is just what you need.

Here’s what we talk about in the episode:

First up, the student who broke our hearts.
You know the one. You go above and beyond for her. You give everything. And then she walks away like none of it mattered. That one stung. We cried, we questioned if we were good enough, and we beat ourselves up. But the truth? Sometimes people leave. Even when you’ve done your very best. And it’s not your fault.

Then there’s the mentor we had to let go.
She helped shape who we are. We loved her like family. But things changed. It got toxic. And we had to make the hardest call. To end it. Still hurts to think about. But the lesson? You have to protect your culture. Even when it’s hard. Even when it breaks your heart.

We also talk about when two of our best staff members went rogue on their way out.
Started whispering to parents, throwing their own goodbye parties, and totally ignoring what we asked. It was painful. So awkward. But it sparked a turning point. Hiring an incredible teacher from the US brought a whole new energy into the studio. Honestly? It turned out to be the best thing.

And finally... the $40,000 mistake.
Yep. Bec shares the story of when two lovely ex-staff members took her to court over unpaid super, years after they’d left. And even though they’d been paid well and left on great terms, it didn’t matter. They were never meant to be subcontractors. It was a huge wake-up call. If your teachers work the same day and time each week, they must be employees.
No exceptions. And "but that other studio does it" doesn’t count.

We’re sharing all this because we know how lonely and overwhelming studio life can feel sometimes.

But here’s the thing we want you to remember...

You’re not the only one who’s been through hard stuff.
You’re not the only one who’s cried behind the desk.
You’re not the only one who’s been let down, walked on, or blindsided.

And most of all: you will get through it. We promise.

That’s what this episode is about. It’s raw. It’s honest. And we hope it makes you feel just a little bit less alone.

Click here to listen to now

And one last little thing we’ve been saying lately (shout out to Bec’s teenage daughter)...

When it’s all feeling a bit too much, pause on a positive.
Ask yourself, what good could come from this? What might you learn?

It doesn’t fix it all, but it really does help.

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