Hey {{ First Name | friends }},

Tumbling. Disoriented.
You can’t tell which way is up.
Your lungs tighten, and the instinct to panic kicks in.

That’s what it feels like when you go over the falls surfing — thrown by a wave’s full force, at the ocean’s mercy.

The worst part isn’t the wipeout.
It’s when you finally claw your way to the surface — only to see another wave about to crash down on you.

The first time it happens, it’s pure terror.
You fight, you thrash, you burn up your energy.

But seasoned surfers — and resilient leaders — learn something different:

You can’t stop the ocean.
You have to move with it.
Stay calm in the chaos.
Find your bearings.
Focus your effort.

Today, in life and in business, the ocean is only getting rougher.

The waves are building:

It’s not just an unusual season.
It’s a new climate.

I saw this firsthand at Flashfood. When COVID hit, we lost nearly 90% of our revenue in just two weeks.

Instead of waiting for it to pass, we made the hard call to reduce company-wide wages — a move that allowed us to survive.

Six months later, we made every team member whole — and paid a bonus to thank them for weathering the storm.

Hesitation may have cost us the company.

In the ventures and companies I’ve helped build, it was rarely the calm periods that determined success.

It was who found clarity — and moved deliberately — inside the churn.

The leaders — and companies — who thrive won't be the ones waiting for calm seas.

They'll be the ones adapting their stance, reading the horizon, and paddling into the next break.

Where in your life or work are you fighting the ocean...
when you could be learning to surf?

Where might staying calm — even when tossed around —
be the strongest move you can make?

The waves aren’t stopping.
But neither are you.

See you next week. 🌊

Thank you for sharing — building this momentum together each week matters. 🌊