One Party, One Ask, and Two Predictions

This week's newsletter is a little different.

No tactics. No charts. No deliverability rabbit holes.

Just three things I want to share: a story, an ask, and two predictions.

Let me tell you about the company holiday party that ended with me getting assaulted and firing someone on a rooftop bar.

Early years of building my company. Small team—just 7 of us. Holiday party time.

One employee showed up EARLY at the office… already intoxicated.

Red flag #1. But we thought, “It’s the holidays. Let’s make this work.

We headed to dinner as a team. The employee was belligerent from the start. We immediately cut him off from alcohol, trying to keep things under control.

Dinner ends. And here’s where we made the WRONG decision:

We walked downtown to the local watering hole thinking we could still salvage some team fun.

We continued not ordering drinks for him. Thought we had it handled.

Then we spotted him across the bar… getting shots.

Things escalated FAST.

He started a full-blown confrontation with my co-founder.

Yelling in his face. Calling him an a-hole. Just complete nonsense pouring out.

We decided enough was enough.

Time to walk away and cut this off.

We walked up TWO flights of stairs to the rooftop, trying to get away from the situation.

He RAN UP AFTER US.

The profanity-laced tirade continued.

He was now chest-to-chest with my business partner, talking absolute $h1t right to his face.

I stepped in between them, trying to diffuse the situation.

He turned on ME.

That was it. Last straw. I fired him on the spot.

Before I even knew what was happening, he reached back and slapped me across the face as hard as he could.

The thoughts racing through my mind:

Every fiber of my being wanted to reach back and knock him out.

But then reality hit:

I couldn’t risk destroying it all in one moment of rage.

I looked him straight in the eyes and said: “Have a good night.”

My partner and I walked out. Got in a taxi. Left.

The employee had no money. No credit. Nothing.

Text after text started coming to my business partner (his direct report):
“How am I supposed to get home?”

We sent him a taxi. 🚖

THE NEXT DAY…

Begging for his job back.

Obviously, assaulting ANYONE at work is zero tolerance. Especially when it’s the OWNER.

Hard no.

YEARS LATER:

He continued reaching out to my business partner, who had been his mentor when he worked for us.

My partner never let the relationship come back, but he always responded kindly, offering advice when asked.

With all the company parties happening this season:

✅ Be safe
✅ Be respectful
✅ Enjoy the team building

⚠️ But be careful for the darkness that tries to creep in

One night can change everything—for your business, your team, and someone’s career.

Sometimes the hardest leadership moment is the one where you DON’T react the way your emotions scream at you to.

🔥 What’s YOUR biggest holiday company party fail?

If you've gotten any value from this newsletter—even one insight that helped you think differently about email, growth, or deliverability—I have a small favor to ask.

Would you leave a quick testimonial?

👉 https://wins.audiencebridge.io/

No polish needed. One sentence is more than enough.

We're building Audience Bridge in public, and real feedback from real operators means a lot—to the team, to future clients, and to me.

Thank you.

Tomorrow at 12pm EST, I'll be speaking at the Future of Newsletters event alongside other industry builders.

👉 https://futureofnewsletters.com/

I'll be sharing two predictions for 2026—specifically around how newsletters, engagement signals, and deliverability are about to change faster than most people expect.

If you're building or scaling an email audience, it's worth your time.

Going to blow your mind tomorrow,

Chris Miquel

P.S. That employee? I hope he learned something from that night. I know I did. The most important leadership moments happen when no one's watching—or when everyone is, and you have to choose who you want to be.

BEFORE YOU GO