Some lessons and takeaways from 2025, in no particular order:
1. If the sales process is challenging, the relationship with the client will be challenging.
2. Number 1 applies to hiring team members too.
3. Your nervous system is part of your strategy. Ignoring it shows up later.
4. If you have to educate your client, it's too expensive.
5. Reputation compounds slowly and quietly. Damage happens loudly.
6. Your competition is not competition, they're your industry educators. The client will ultimately buy from the person he likes most.
7. Clarity at the beginning saves ten conversations later.
8. When someone hesitates to commit, they are hesitating to trust.
9. Most deals get closed after the 6th follow up. Don't give up.
10. If you feel the need to over explain your value, your positioning is off.
11. The way someone enters a relationship is usually the way they stay in it.
12. Most executives work on their personal brand to transition out of their corporate role, not to reinforce their role they're currently in.
13. Do not, I repeat, do not work with assholes. No matter what their name or title is.
14. Everything is data. Pay attention.
15. You are allowed to outgrow environments that once supported you.
16. Momentum is created by finishing things, not by starting new ones.
17. It's hard to see your progress when you always raise the bar. Take time to pause.
18. Stress comes from not finishing things.
19. Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into stress, rage, anger, and judgment. Please go open your crafts drawer now.
20. If David Solomon can run a major business and also DJ, so can you run yours and enjoy your passion. Stop hiding. It's costing you your health.
21. As an entrepreneur, you contain many multitudes and are very multidimensional. Not sharing your gift is counter to your expression and growth.
22. Protecting your energy is a leadership responsibility.
23. Most executives are afraid to be vocal to overtake the voice of the CEO.
24. Very often, 80% of the C-suite wants to be the CEO. They're not vocal about it.
25. Most executives ultimately just want more money. How can you help them?
26. If you are not intentional with your calendar, someone else will be.
27. The work you postpone today becomes the pressure you feel tomorrow.
28. Not everyone deserves access to you. Period.
29. Saying no faster creates better yeses later.
30. Success is not something that just happens, it's something you schedule in your calendar and create time for.
31. Your body always knows before your mind catches up.
32. Intuition is your guide.
33. Many people confuse personal branding with professional branding. Most people, on LinkedIn, have a professional brand. There's not much personal about that.
These are just from the top of my head. There are so many others.
Which ones resonate with you? Or just keep adding to my list.
I'd love to hear your lessons!
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