I lost my first business in the blink of an eye. And in this episode, I’m sharing that story.    As some folks may know, I used to publish a premium newsletter for stock market investors in the late ’90s and early 2000s. I gradually built up a loyal following of over 800 people, pulling in hundreds of thousands in annual subscriptions. But the business relationship I had with my partner at the time just wasn’t a great fit, and poor communication slowly eroded our dynamic. One Monday, I got a phone call that shook me to my core: My partner was starting his own business and taking our subscribers with him. Just like that, everything I’d been building for 8 years evaporated.    This time period was one of the most difficult in my life. Yet now I look back on it with a smile. At that moment, I already had an inkling of what I might do next. But I had no idea just how much success – and mind-blowing impact – I would get the great privilege of experiencing in the years to come.   Key topics discussed:  My First Business: How I started my first business from scratch, and the nature of the dynamic between my partner and me at that time.  The Big Moment: One phone call was all it took to dissolve an 8-year working relationship and erase my entire working income. I unpack what that felt like.  The Next Chapter: The seeds of what was to come were wrapped up in that fateful moment, and I share how I strategically pivoted to the next stage of my career.    Key takeaways:  Business challenges big and small can be seen as opportunities to grow and adapt – if we approach them with a resilient, positive spirit.  My network of fellow entrepreneurs was my life raft, and there’s no way I’d have been able to push through without them.  Overcoming challenges is like lifting weights. The more reps we get in, the stronger those muscles get. And tackling small challenges prepares us for the big ones.     Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to http://DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco   More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com  Jeff’s YouTube channel -  https://www.youtube.com/@productlaunch Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to send us a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!   THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.   Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even feature your review on the show!