From the outside, it can look like everything’s going great.
But the truth is — even high-performing entrepreneurs go through seasons that are quietly brutal.
I’ve been inconsistent here, and I want to be honest about why.
2025 was hard.
I went through two lawsuits where I wasn’t paid — and while they eventually resolved positively, the process was draining.
At the same time, I was building Chief of Chaos and a partner agency slower than I wanted, trying to do things the right way:
give-first, relationship-driven, long-term.
Finally, I found myself in situations that I was always extending myself to others, but not always getting back similar in return.
2025 I was running a deficit in ALL areas.
Here’s the lesson I had to relearn the hard way:
👉 Giving first doesn’t mean giving endlessly.
If you’re not careful, you can lose energy, time, focus, and peace — and call it virtue.
Three non-negotiables
As I came out of that season, three things became non-negotiable for me:
And safety creates happiness.
Enough to invest where it actually matters — especially family.
And faith in a higher power when the path feels unclear.
If you’re in a tough season right now…
Especially one that feels lonely — you’re not broken. You’re being refined.
Keep going. But do it with clarity, boundaries, and faith.
Happy Friday.
Want more Fridays like this?
Friday with Frary is a quick weekly reset—real lessons from the field, with a bias toward building the right way.

