It took me three years — and more than half a million dollars — to learn this lesson. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the biggest business mistake I’ve ever made: ignoring my gut, following “expert” advice, and paying the price. We’re diving into what happens when you give away your power for credibility, why trusting yourself is the best business strategy, and how to rebuild self-trust after a big mistake. If you’ve ever been told, “That’s just how it’s done,” this episode will remind you that sometimes the best thing you can do is trust your instincts — even when it goes against the norm. You’ll learn: Why “industry standard” doesn’t always mean right for you The true cost of outsourcing your power How to rebuild self-trust in your money and business decisions In this episode: 00:00 — The mistake that cost me $500,000 03:00 — What it means to sign with an agency or network (and why it’s risky) 05:00 — Losing transparency and control in my own business 07:00 — When credibility costs more than it’s worth 08:30 — The moment I realized I’d given away 40% of my revenue 10:00 — The danger of doing things just because “that’s how it’s done” 13:30 — What running everything in-house has taught me 14:00 — The deeper lesson: self-trust, transparency, and ownership 16:00 — How to support independent creators and shows like this one 17:00 — Learning from mistakes without shame 17:30 — The challenge: where can you trust yourself more? Want more resources from this episode, like our FREE money quiz, tools, or challenges? Head to https://www.herfirst100k.com/ffpod Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/herfirst100k Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices