Entrepreneurs rarely discuss the challenging aspects of business. They talk about milestones, new clients and wins. The result is a false picture of how people are really doing. It creates isolation and blinds founders to what is working in the market today.
I was reminded of this at the 2025 DOMINATE Summit, where I spoke on a panel about mindset and adversity. I assumed I was the outlier in the room. I thought most people were sailing ahead without much trouble. I was wrong.
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The more founders I met, the clearer it became. We all face challenges. Many are heavier than what we admit in public. The less we talk about them, the more we fall into a bubble that harms both our mindset and strategy.
What happened
I joined a panel at the DOMINATE Summit that focused on overcoming adversity. Going in, I thought I would share advice, meet a few people and head home. I expected to help more than I learned. The opposite happened.
I heard stories from founders across Tampa Bay who faced major setbacks. Some lost key clients. Some had health issues. Some rebuilt entire companies from the ground up.
One moment stood out. Bridgette Bello talked openly about leaving a secure job to launch Tampa Bay Business and Wealth at a time when local media was struggling. She then faced a cancer diagnosis while building a new publication. Hearing her story made me rethink my own challenges. I had not faced anything close to a fight for my life. She faced both at once and kept her composure.
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I also learned from speakers on marketing, operations and artificial intelligence. I realized that while I was improving my business, I was relying on outdated strategies. Other founders were shifting their entire approach to match where business is heading, not where it has been.
Why this matters
Founders in Tampa become isolated because they are busy. They lead teams. They serve clients. They carry pressure. They stay in motion every day. That work traps people in the same thinking patterns.
When you stay in a bubble, you miss how fast the region is moving. Tampa Bay is home to numerous companies that are adapting at a rapid pace. They are testing new tools, new platforms and new strategies. You do not see that when you are operating alone.
Events like the DOMINATE Summit break the bubble. You meet founders who are open about their struggles. You hear experts who are already living one step ahead. You gain a perspective you cannot get from your desk.
What you should know
You cannot be an expert at everything. You do not need to be. You only need to know where the experts are.
Here is what entrepreneurs should keep in mind:
- Most founders face obstacles you never see
- Strategy gets outdated fast
- Incremental improvement is not enough in a shifting market
- You need voices that challenge your assumptions
- You need examples from people who have tested ideas before you try them
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The competitive advantage comes from evolving before you must. That is impossible if you only listen to your own thoughts and processes.
What is next
There will be another DOMINATE event in early 2026. There are also mastermind groups in every niche and price point. There are podcasts, YouTube channels and newsletters that share practical advice. And TBBW features these voices across its digital coverage, print magazine and live events.
The expertise is out there. The question is whether founders will use it or stay in the bubble that holds them back.
Takeaway
To build a stronger business in Tampa Bay, you need input from people who see the world from different perspectives. You need ideas from outside your routine. You need conversations that bring you back to reality while also pushing you forward.
The message is simple. Get out of the bubble. The people who do will build the companies that win.
