For most of my life, I didn't trust anybody but me. Relying on me, and only me, was how I stayed safe. And without realizing it, I built my first business the exact same way.

In this episode, I'm getting into how I baked myself into every part of a business that was built to run on its own, why I kept doing it even when I knew better, and what a study about IKEA boxes and Lego sets taught me about why we can't let go of what we build.

Because the systems in your business are your people. They're what hold you up when you can't. But only if you let them do their job.

WHAT WE GET INTO

• Why relying on me, and only me, became my version of safety
• The people who carried me through losing my dad, and what they taught me about letting people in
• How one VA mistake became my "proof" that I couldn't trust anyone
• Baking myself into a business that was built to run without me
• Why I believed the value was me, and why so many of us measure worth by how much of ourselves we pour in
• The IKEA effect, and what happens when we keep taking apart what we built
• Why this podcast is the system I'm learning to trust right now

COME FIND ME

Instagram: @stephnemchik
Website: www.stephnemchik.com

DISCLAIMER: A NOTE ON THE HEAVIER STUFF

We talk about mental health, grief, addiction, SA, and suicide here, and I share tools and resources that have helped me over the years. None of it is professional advice or guidance.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support. In the US, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for mental health and substance use support, or find a therapist through the Psychology Today directory at psychologytoday.com. Outside the US, contact your local crisis services.