Six years ago, we walked into a conference with nothing but an idea.
No business… no roadmap… no real plan. Just a feeling that something in our field wasn’t working (and a delusional belief that maybe we could fix it!).
Fast forward to this year… we walked into another conference. Same type of event, completely different season of life.
This time, we showed up as business owners with over six years under our belt running a profitable six-figure company. And asking a very different question:
What’s next?
This trip to Austin, Texas wasn’t just a getaway – it was a reset! A time for us to reflect and a powerful reminder of why professional development for forensic professionals isn’t optional (it’s essential!).
Why We Prioritize Professional Development Every Year
Each year, we make a conscious decision to invest in ourselves and do something intentional for our personal and professional growth.
Sometimes that looks like a conference. Sometimes it’s a bucket list trip. Sometimes it’s both.
But the goal is always the same:
👉 Step away from the day-to-day
👉 Create space to think bigger
👉 Come back better, personally and professionally
Because here’s the truth:
Growth doesn’t happen when you’re stuck in survival mode when you’re buried in your day-to-day, reacting to everything around you.
It happens when you pause long enough and give yourself space to reflect on:
- What’s working?
- What’s not?
- And what needs to change?
For us, this year’s investment led us to Austin, Texas.
Why We Chose Austin (And the Rise Elevate Conference)
When Ashley saw that Rachel Hollis was hosting her first conference in years, it didn’t take much convincing.
The event, RISE: Elevate, was designed for women business owners looking to level up. And without overthinking it, we both knew:
We needed to be in that room!
So we bought tickets the day they dropped. Booked the flights. And started planning the trip.
But what made this trip different wasn’t just the conference… it was what it reminded us of.
The Full Circle Moment: 2019 vs. Now
Then: The Beginning (Charleston, SC – November 2019)
The first conference we ever attended together was a RISE Business conference back in 2019.
At that point, Gap Science didn’t exist yet. Not really.
We had ideas. We had a course we were teaching through another company. But we hadn’t fully stepped into building something of our own.
That weekend changed everything.
We came up with the name Gap Science.
We designed our logo.
We picked our brand colors.
We bought our website domain.
That weekend was the start of everything! And it was also… a mess.
The conference itself was huge! Picture an arena packed with hundreds (if not thousands) of people, multiple speakers, full production with DJ, cameras, giant screens – the whole experience.
And then… our hotel situation.
We originally booked through Priceline, but they overbooked our hotel and we were left choosing between a one-star extended stay motel or the back of Ashley’s van.
We chose the motel. Big mistake. Let’s just say there was visible evidence of previous activity in that room. And not the kind you want to see. As forensic professionals, we noticed everything – hair, used towels, bloodstains. It was the kind of place that makes you question every surface you touch.
Looking back, the van might have been the better choice 😂
Now: Austin, TX (2025)
Fast forward to 2026, this time felt completely different.
The conference was smaller. More intimate. Around 100 people in the room. Mostly women. One main speaker. Just a simple, focused experience with intentional content.
No chaos or overwhelm or questionable hotel decisions (thankfully).
Even the energy felt different.
In 2019, everything felt exciting, hopeful, new. We were in that phase of wanting all the answers – trying to absorb as much as we possibly could, thinking the more we learned, the better we’d be.
This time felt heavier. Not necessarily in a bad way, but in a more honest way.
We weren’t sitting there looking for inspiration or big ideas.
We were sitting there thinking:
- What’s actually working?
- What’s not?
- Where are we wasting time?
- What do we need to stop doing?
And that kind of reflection is uncomfortable. Because it forces you to take a hard look at the things you’ve been doing and admit that not all of them are moving you forward.
But that’s also where the real growth happens.
Same type of conference. Completely different perspective.
What This Conference Taught Us About Leadership Development
One of the biggest takeaways from this experience?
Smaller, more focused environments create deeper impact.
Without the distractions of a massive production, we were able to:
✅ Actually absorb the content
✅ Reflect in real time
✅ Think critically about our next steps
And more importantly, we didn’t wait weeks or months to implementing!
The Most Important Part: What We Did After the Conference
The real work didn’t happen in the conference room – it happened later that night.
We ordered room service, spread our laptops and notes out across our hotel room, and started talking through what we learned.
We sat down and asked:
- What are we doing well?
- Where are we stuck?
- What have we outgrown?
- What needs to change next?
And then we started mapping it out. Not someday or “oh, we can do this when we get home.” Right then.
Because here’s something we’ve learned the hard way:
Information without action is useless.
If you’re serious about personal or professional development, you can’t just consume. You have to apply what you’ve learned.
Making the Most of the Trip (Because It Wasn’t All Work)
Of course, we didn’t spend the entire time working. We made sure to actually enjoy being in Texas!
We took a trip Waco, Texas to visit the Silos created by Chip and Joanna Gaines, and it was exactly what we needed.
Good food with rooftop seating. Fresh air in the garden. Time to wander the shops.
We toured the castle they renovated, which was honestly breathtaking. Everything about the area felt intentional and creative in a way that’s hard to explain unless you experience it.
In the evening, we enjoyed a great dinner and a drink to celebrate at the Red Herring Restaurant & Bar. Then we wrapped up the night by binge-watching the new season of Bridgerton and completely unplugged for a bit.
Simple and relaxing. And honestly? Those moments mattered just as much as the conference itself.
The Biggest Lesson: You Have to Step Away to Move Forward
This trip reminded us of something we wish we understood earlier in our careers.
You cannot grow if you never step away.
We used to think saving our PTO was a good thing. The more we had, the more we felt like we were doing something right. Like we were committed. Like we were proving ourselves.
But really, we were just running ourselves into the ground.
In this field, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of “just keep going.” There’s always more work. More cases. More responsibility.
So you push through. You delay the break. You tell yourself you’ll rest later.
But later doesn’t come. At least, not until your body forces it.
What We See Differently Now
Now, we understand something we wish someone had told us sooner:
You don’t get stronger by never stopping, you get stronger by knowing when to step away for a bit.
Taking time off isn’t a reward, it’s a necessity!
It’s how you reset. It’s how you gain clarity. It’s how you come back with the energy and perspective you didn’t even realize you were missing.
And honestly, it’s one of the most overlooked parts of long-term career growth.
Where We’re Going Next
This trip wasn’t just about reflecting on where we started, it was about getting clear on where we’re going.
We’re not in the same place we were six years ago. And we don’t want to stay where we are now either. There’s another level for us. And we’re ready to step into it.
But this time, we’re doing it differently. More intentional. More focused.
Final Thoughts: If You Needed a Sign, This Is It
This trip to Austin was more than a conference. It was a chance for us to reset, a reminder of how far we’ve come, and more importantly… where we’re going next.
So if there’s something you’ve been putting off, take this as your sign:
👉 Take the trip
👉 Invest in yourself
👉 Step away so you can come back better
And remember staying stuck where you are won’t get you where you want to go. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do… is step away.
