122. A $4 Million Loss and Building a Legacy

podcast Aug 12, 2025

Some stories are hard to tell… but they shape everything about who we are and how we build.

In this episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal experience, one I’ve never shared publicly at this level, about my family’s $4 million loss and how it’s fueled my mission to help visionary entrepreneurs build legacies that last.

From the American Dream to Heartbreak

My parents came to the U.S. from Poland with limited education, no English, and an unshakable work ethic. They built a business worth $8 million — pure grit, late nights, and doing most of the work themselves.

In 2008, they sold it. Shortly after, they divorced and split the money. My father took his share back to Poland, entered a business partnership… and within 90 days, the entire $4 million was gone. We didn’t even know until five years later — at his funeral.

That loss wasn’t just about money. It was about years of sacrifice, health, and relationships, gone. It was about the shame he carried, and the legacy he thought he’d failed to leave.

The Trigger That Brought It All Back

Recently, something in my business shook me — seeing the name of my Aligned Business Blueprint program used by someone else.

It was a small thing on the surface, but it stirred up that old wound. The fear of losing something I’d poured my heart into. The reminder that protecting what you’ve built matters, legally, structurally, and energetically.

Why Big Visions Need Strong Structures

If you’re here, you probably have a big vision too. The kind that changes lives. The kind that scares you a little.

Here’s what I’ve learned: big visions require big foundations.

Legal protections (trademarks, contracts)
Business structures that can hold growth
The right people and support to scale sustainably

Because when you’re building a legacy, it’s not just about creating something beautiful — it’s about making sure it lasts.

Playing Small is No Longer an Option

This experience made me realize: I’d been holding back. Playing small to avoid risk. But your mission isn’t served by shrinking.

My father’s story gave me the drive to build differently, with impact and protection. To help other visionaries do the same.

If you’ve ever felt that pull to create something bigger, this episode is your permission to go all in. Protect it. Build it. Live it.

Listen to the full episode for the whole story and the lessons that can change the way you see your business and your legacy.

P.S. Take my new Aligned Biz Quiz! To help you find out if your business model is aligned with your design (and what to do if it’s not). It’s live now and it’s so good.

Get the quiz here!
https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/hd-quiz

Resources:

Apply for the next round of ABB:

https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/blueprint

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https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/hdlibrary

Get your personalized Entrepreneur by Design HD Report:

https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/business-report

Schedule a Human Design for Business Reading:

https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/hdreading

Interactive Human Design Chart:

https://www.spiritualbusinessincubator.com/hdchart