In 2017 I met Mia, a hairdresser reaching retirement age, who never learned to swim. Mia, sought my coaching after getting inspired watching an old swim client of mine show Mia her newly learned swimming abilities.

I saw that Mia could blow bubbles and float on her stomach, but her right leg would stiffen and lose its ability to kick; likely because she stood on that leg to cut people’s hair. Her leg would tire so much that it tricked Mia into thinking she would not be able to breathe properly, and she'd quit. "What could I do!?"

I decided to not just grab one, but two kickboards and it was at that moment that the idea for Dual Boards, a Maryland 2020 invention, was born!

About 2 months after Mia’s lessons were over, I got a postcard in the mail - it turned out Mia spent her summer of 2017 swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The postcard was a Thank You card I keep to this day, and when entrepreneurship gets tough, I remember Mia, and others, and it all becomes worth it!