Lake Bled looked effortless. But I bled sweat and tears.
This week in Slovakia, I visited Lake Bled with a friend. People were gliding across the water, smiling, and rowing with one hand like they were born for it. I told my friend, “Let’s rent a boat. I’ll row, I’ve got this.” The fact was, I’d never used a rowboat before—but how hard could it be?
Turns out, very hard. The oars were stiff, the boat barely moved, and I kept zigzagging across the water like a drunk duck. Halfway to the island, my arms were already aching. After what felt like an eternity—but really was only twenty minutes—we landed on the island. I was ready for a break.
But the break didn’t last long, because we had to return the boat. My friend offered to row, and I heard myself say, “No thanks, I’ve got this.” Somewhere, deep in my brain, I believed that accepting help made me weak.
I grew up with a strong mother who carried her own suitcases and fixed things in the house herself rather than asking for help. That mindset shaped me. So I rowed. And rowed. And rowed. A sweaty mess, water running down my back, trying to prove something no one was asking me to prove.
That’s when I realized: this is how I used to lead Gorilla Stationers in the beginning. Doing it all. First in, last out. Trying to earn respect by powering through everything alone. Believing that, as the boss, I had to look strong and prove it was my business.
It took me a decade to understand: entrepreneurship isn’t rowing harder—it’s knowing when to hand over the oars while still owning the journey.
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Why Clear Leaders Create Confident Teams
One of the biggest myths in leadership is that confidence comes first.
It doesn’t.
Clarity does.
Most leaders don’t struggle because they lack vision or intelligence. They struggle because too much stays unspoken.
Unclear expectations.
Unsaid priorities.
Unaddressed tension.And silence fills the gaps.
Teams don’t need louder leaders.
They need clearer ones.When people know what matters, how decisions are made, and where they’re heading, confidence follows naturally. Execution improves. Trust builds. Momentum returns.
I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having the perfect answer.
It’s about saying the obvious out loud before confusion takes over.Clarity creates confidence.
Confidence creates action.And action is where real leadership shows up.
If your team feels stuck, ask yourself this first
What am I assuming they already know?Chances are, that’s where the work begins.
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I help founders find and manage the right remote talent so their businesses can grow without burning out their teams, or themselves.
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Jungle Book
The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question.
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I Met a Billionaire. Here’s What Really Changed.
Founders think meeting a billionaire will chance their business. I met one. What did it change?” Last week, I spent a few days on Necker Island with Richard Branson as part of an Entrepreneurs’ Organization event. Beautiful setting, incredible hospitality, unforgettable activities. I expected some great insights and learnings from the conversations with Richard himself, an entrepreneur who’s achieved what we all can only dream about. Here’s what I didn’t expect: The most valuable conversations didn’t happen with Sir R, they happened with the other entrepreneurs in the room. People solving problems in businesses with real constraints. People asking the same questions I’m asking. What stayed with me wasn’t a quote from the stage or a moment of brilliance from Sir R. It was the honesty in late-night conversations. The feeling of being seen and understood among peers. The shared challenges and the practical ideas. The feeling of, “Oh, you’re dealing with that, too?” For me, inspiration doesn’t come from proximity to icons, it comes from relatable peers. People who understand my world because they’re living in it. And that’s the reason I keep coming back to EO over and over again, for the peer-to-peer learning that actually changes how I lead. The trip was unforgettable, the setting was surreal, but the real value? → The people sitting next to me, not the one standing on the pedestal. Renie Cavallari Santiago Roa Rebecca Massicotte Jane Bianchini
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