I lost $1.5M because I ignored my gut

Everything was fine for my company, Single Grain Marketing. Clients were coming in, and the team seemed solid.

But behind the scenes?

I was stretched thin.

I stopped checking the dashboard. I handed over the keys—and fully abdicated, rather than delegating. I assumed the systems would handle it. 

Big mistake.

One Monday, a key team member took urgent leave.
Then another one resigned.
Then another.
A week later, I got a call from a lawyer.

Turns out, someone on my team was poaching employees—and clients.

That one decision cost me $1.5 million. And I have to rebuild from scratch.

Here’s what I learned (so you don’t have to):

• You can’t outsource leadership.
  Don’t confuse delegation with disappearing. Leadership requires visibility and consistency.

• Inspect what you expect.
  You can still trust your team—but you need checkpoints. Don’t hand over the keys and walk away.

• Culture is your moat.
  If you’re not hiring based on values, you’re asking for trouble. Skills matter, but alignment is everything.

• Focus is your force multiplier.
  I had too many bets going at once. Now, it’s one big bet at a time—and that clarity has made us faster and harder to shake.

But most importantly:

You have to trust your gut.

If you ever find yourself in the same spot—own it, learn fast, and rebuild stronger.

To building high-value teams,
Eric Siu

P.S.

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