A 2025 Year-End Reflection
A 2025 Year-End Reflection
As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself feeling something simple and profound:
I love what I do.
I don’t take that lightly. I know how rare it is to wake up every day energized by your work, especially work that is hard, human, and deeply consequential.
What drives me isn’t just the economics of business, though those matter. It’s the opportunity to help leaders build organizations where people love what they do, love the people they work with, and feel proud of the impact they make in their communities. Organizations where the business is under control, not consuming every waking hour of a leader’s life. And yes, where people are compensated fairly for meaningful work.
What could be better than that?
That belief continues to fuel me. And in reflecting on this year, I’m deeply grateful for the chance to keep doing this work alongside exceptional people.
Gratitude, First
I won’t rehash what I shared around Thanksgiving, but it matters to say again: I’m deeply grateful for my family, my clients, my colleagues, and my friends. None of this work happens in isolation. The trust and partnership I experience daily is something I never take for granted.
Building in Public
One of the meaningful milestones of the year was launching the Simple Leadership newsletter.
It started as an opportunity to expand my reach beyond the leadership teams I coach in my private practice and to share the lessons I’ve learned over the last decade with a broader audience.
The response has been positive, but what surprised me most is how much I love to write. I enjoy capturing hard-earned lessons and sharing them in ways others can actually use.
Each time someone tells me an article or post helped them avoid a mistake, gain clarity, or accelerate their business, it creates energy. It reinforces why I’m doing this. For that, I’m grateful.
Client Wins That Matter
This year brought many moments worth celebrating, not because of the numbers alone, but because of what those numbers represent.
One client began our work together at $1M in revenue. This year, they sold after scaling to $150M. Beyond the financial outcome for the owners and leadership team, that journey created over 350 jobs. That’s making a dent in the universe.
Across many quarterly check-ins, I heard a consistent refrain from leaders: “I’m more at peace.” They’re clearer on their roles, confident in their teams, and no longer feel like the business owns them. Instead, they’re in control, and progress is no longer accidental.
I also watched leaders navigate genuinely difficult external pressure. From tariff impacts in retail and CPG, to teams disrupted by ICE raids, to leaders guiding their people through the uncertainty and disruption of the Los Angeles wildfires, these weren’t abstract challenges. They were personal, at times frightening, and had consequential impacts not just on jobs, but on people’s lives. What stood out was how many leaders stayed grounded in their North Star, resisted panic, made long-term decisions under pressure, and finished the year stronger than expected. That’s leadership with grit.
Letting Go to Go Further
A recurring theme this year was founders realizing where their greatest contribution truly lies.
Several leaders came to see that their highest value wasn’t running the day to day, but inspiring others, building critical relationships, and shaping the future of their industries. Some stepped back from leading day to day to do the work they genuinely love, and there’s something worth celebrating in that too. They trusted others and brought in experienced operators to run the business.
The results were powerful. The organizations thrived. Cultures strengthened. And it reinforced something I believe deeply: you can bring in outside leadership that honors core values, elevates the team, and takes the organization to the next level without damaging culture or demoralizing people.
It’s been a privilege to work alongside these leaders and watch teams rise together.
When Simplicity Wins
One of the most consistent shifts I’ve seen this year is simplification.
Many clients entered the year distracted, overextended, and pulled in too many directions. Through disciplined focus, they clarified what truly mattered. Decisions became simpler. Energy returned. And the results followed, personally, operationally, and financially.
Even when leaders stumbled, they learned. Real-world lessons like hiring too fast, misaligned values, unclear expectations, and measuring the wrong things became tuition paid, not failures. When clients aren’t winning, they’re learning. And learning done well becomes a win over time.
Closing the Year
As I look back on 2025, I feel proud. Not because everything went perfectly, but because the work mattered.
I’m grateful to the leaders and teams I had the privilege to serve, and to everyone who took the time to read and reflect alongside me this year.
I’m carrying those lessons forward and staying committed to building businesses that are clear, durable, and genuinely great places to work. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn, evolve, and build momentum in 2026. I’m honored to have you here.
