I bought a firm 14 days before our busiest season. Instead of staying at my desk, I went to Costa Rica.

I’ve spent the last 8 years of building brands and running a firm, but I always kept my creative side (media company) on the shelf. I thought I had to choose.

About 6 weeks ago, we closed a major business acquisition. The timing was objectively terrible: we finalized the deal 14 days before the start of our busiest season of the year.

Instead of locking myself in the new office to "grind," I did the opposite. I took off to Costa Rica.

My Mantra: If you buy a business but can't choose your view, you didn't buy an asset. you bought a job.

I spent my mornings in Costa Rica dialing in the back-end systems and doing 1-on-1s with the new team. I spent my afternoons surfing and resettting. By "choosing the view," I wasn't avoiding work, but instead preparing my brain for the 16-hour tax-season grinds that were waiting for me back in Colorado.

What I’m doing differently this time:

• Documenting the Mess: Zero "polished" success stories. I’m filming the reality of the acquisition and the transition.
• Systems over Presence: Proving that a well-built firm should run whether I’m in the office or in the water.
• The 10-Year Rule: Realizing that "Finding Freedom" isn't a destination, it's an autonomy you have to claim and... well I'm allowing things to take time.

I documented the first 30 days of this transition in a new series and you can catch that here: https://youtu.be/qsgmZLtKWjw