I'm Back!

A relaunch with changes, where this newsletter is headed, and an update on the last 14 months.

Hello!

I missed you.

Fourteen months ago, I wrote about pausing this newsletter. And while I stand behind that decision, I missed it! I missed the creative outlet, the platform that helped me process the things I'm going through, and the many conversations it led to with many of you. I missed it all!

So, I'm going to be restarting this newsletter with a few changes:

1. While I'll typically publish on the weekend, I won't be doing so every weekend. The pressure I put on myself to do so eroded the enjoyment last time. So if I don't have anything to say, or if I'm not mentally in the frame of mind to produce, or if it "feels like a chore," you won't see anything. I know, that's anathema for building a newsletter. But screw that.

2. You'll see a heightened topical business focus. That may not resonate with some of you. In an effort not to pester you, by all means, scroll to the bottom of this email and click unsubscribe if that sounds distasteful. Who wants an unnecessary email? But alas, business is what I think about day and night. Even if I don't want to. And come May (holding dates loosely!), you'll see a rather audacious business-focused "test project" come out with a business partner, one whom I wanted to work with for over a decade. So very excited about it!

Here's a preview of some upcoming newsletter themes:

Company Culture - A business leader I admire recently challenged me on our company culture. Her business over-performs in this realm, and I felt like I've let this slip, especially with the team "in the field." I'll be writing about this journey toward improvement.

Tools - In the last 14 months, I've started using some cool tools, especially in AI. I look forward to sharing these.

Books & Podcasts - These are my two favorite sources of growth and knowledge, and the last year-plus has been filled with epiphanies from these sources.

Business Growth While Profitable - This is the holy grail of small and mid-sized business (SMB) aspirations, and so often, the two seem impossible to exist together. But I'm working on it and want to take you along for the journey.

What Makes a Company Great? - I think about this all the time. Is it the customer's experience? Is it the way the team feels and acts? Is it simply the return (financial and otherwise) for the owner? Is it all of these? I'll be exploring this topic deeply.

The Changing Landscape - The labor market is only getting tighter. "High" interest rates are here to stay, most likely. AI is changing almost everything. It's very likely Gen X will be living to 100+. What does this mean for SMB?

Now, allow me to bore you with a few updates for those who have asked in some form or another. (PS: the following section is MUCH more self-centered than a typical newsletter, so please skip it if you wish. I'm writing this after finishing this newsletter, and it's giving off some narcissistic vibes. Noted.)

Family - They are slaying it! My lovely wife of 21 years is stepping back into the labor force and quickly modifying her tennis skills for the pickleball court. The 70-year-olds are dropping like flies! Our middle daughter is 16 and spreading her wings via the freedom of a driver's license and putting in the work at 5:30 AM swim practices in the middle of February. Our youngest daughter is still in her "horse phase" 7 years later, and it appears to be more addiction than infatuation. Our son departed for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Engineering last September and clearly inherited my rather obnoxious maniacal drive to succeed. It can be exhausting for him, but it's his condition.

Work (OG Business) - Kitchen & bath CRATE recovered from the circus of 2023, and 2024 was an excellent year. The VP of Operations, Jake, is heading into 3rd year at the helm and is thriving. Love that guy! The rest of the team is executing on our Traction V/TO, the market is pretty darn good, and the customer reviews are phenomenal (324 of 325 online reviews are 5-star, with one 4-star.) The ultimate goal of net profitability of 15% is proving difficult, but we're making strides, and I love what I see.

Work ("New Business") - Trinity Builder Solutions is entering its third year and is in that "awkward" stage. Think junior high with braces and your voice changing at the same time. Some days are huge victories, some days feel like "this thing will never work," and many days are both. It's clear that 2025 will require some type of modification to the business model to achieve maximum performance; I'm excited to see what this looks like.

Entrepreneurs Organization (My "Other" Job) - Leading a chapter of 115 incredible entrepreneurs has been a true honor. Also, I am counting the days until I get to hand off this role to an incredible president-elect. The presidency has stretched me farther than any leadership role I've had. But I'm so thankful for what this group has done for me and my family; the last three years of very heavy responsibility are well worth it. The chapter is growing, thriving, and serving its members; for that, I am so proud of this board and its members.

Personal - I've recovered after reaching a VERY low point in Q2 2024. Sometimes, life throws difficulties your way in nearly every aspect all at once, and that's precisely what January of 2023 through May of 2024 was. But I made it, and I'm stronger for it. I learned so much about how dangerous it is to hold things tightly, trying to "control" the uncontrollable. And quite frankly, much of it was about endurance: waking up each morning and deciding to face it head-on, make the best of it, put others first, and ride the wave. My one regret: keeping so much of it to myself. In retrospect, that delayed recovery.

So there is the "State of the Union." If you're still with me and want to receive these newsletters, here's how you subscribe.

Thanks for reading this relaunch post. I appreciate you. In return, please share this with those you know who may be interested.

Blessings to you!

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