THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week I wanted to talk about something I believe is one of the biggest game changers we’ve seen since the dawn of the internet - Vibe Coding. Get past the dumb name because there are massive opportunities here for all of you, regardless of your technical background. Let's dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

This quote hits different in the age of AI. We don't need to start with what we know how to build - we can start with the problem we want to solve and figure out the building part later.

WHAT THE HELL IS VIBE CODING?

Unlike having to hire a developer or software engineer to build your app, code your website or develop your game, vibe coding allows you to type your idea to an AI agent that does all of the coding for you.

You prompt. It builds.

I've been using it to build assessment tools, an app that hunts for specific exotic cars, and an app. I'm not a developer, but I'm building stuff that would have cost me tens of thousands to hire someone to build. ⁣

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OVER TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Each of us has a deep understanding of different subjects. How things function at your job/business. An insane level of knowledge of your hobbies. Be it bikes, guitar building, stamp collecting, skiing, motorcycles, history, etc etc etc. Whatever your realm of expertise, or wherever your innate curiosity has taken you in life, you can now create the tools to solve the unique problems in each of those realms.

Chances are, if it’s a frustration for you, it’s a frustration for someone else and that’s an opportunity for revenue. Even if you didn’t want to monetize it, and it just made your life easier, it’s worth it to spend some time learning the world of vibe coding.

My friend Michael built an app to solve a specific problem for musician’s using Ableton. Trying to find the specific session for your 100s of tracks you create can be tough and there wasn’t a good way to preview them. So he built the Live Project Launcher.

START VIBING

Ready to dive in? Here are a handful of tools to start creating with…

1. Replit 
   If you want to skip installing anything on your computer, Replit is your best friend. It's a browser-based coding environment with integrated AI assistance. Their "Ghostwriter" feature is magic for beginners – it can help write code, explain concepts, and fix errors. I built my exotic car finder entirely in Replit.

2. ChatGPT (GPT-4o or 03-mini-high)
   This is my go-to starting point. I use it to brainstorm solutions, generate initial code, and debug issues. The mini-high model is surprisingly capable for most coding tasks and way faster. Pro tip: Be super specific about what you're trying to build and why. Context matters. I built out a new Executive Intake and Assessment Tool with all the backend logic using this. (Thanks Ryan for the tip on mini-high!)

3. Cursor + VSCode
   If you're ready to level up a bit, Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VSCode. It's like having a senior developer sitting next to you, helping you write and understand code. The ability to highlight a section and ask "what does this do?" or "how can I improve this?" is a game-changer. (Michael built his app with this)

4. Claude

   Like ChatGPT, I can brainstorm ideas or have Claude generate code for me to drop into other applications (VS code etc) It’s also great to debug when things aren’t quite working in other applications.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

Pick one annoying manual task you do every week. Something that takes you at least 30 minutes and follows a pattern. Now, spend 30 minutes with one of the tools above describing that task with specific examples. Ask it to create a simple solution that automates part or all of the process.

Even if you only automate 50% of the task, you'll break even on time investment in just two weeks. And more importantly, you'll start building the vibe coding muscle that can transform how you approach problems.

What's one repetitive task in your business that you think could be solved with this approach? Hit reply and let me know – I'd love to hear what you're thinking about automating.

Forward this to someone who's always talking about their app idea but "doesn't know how to get started."

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're tackling something that silently drains your effectiveness as a leader: decision fatigue. Ever notice how your decision quality deteriorates as the day progresses? By the afternoon you’re agreeing to shit you never would have at the start of the day? There's a neurological reason for this, and understanding it can transform your effectiveness and energy levels. Let's dive into why your decision-making ability is a finite resource - and how to stop wasting it on the small stuff.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

YOUR BRAIN'S ENERGY CRISIS

Juggling multiple businesses has been my reality for years - from music production to real estate investing to executive coaching. In the morning, I might be selecting investment properties, by midday reviewing artist contracts, and by afternoon coaching executives through their strategic challenges. I pride myself on being the guy who can switch contexts and make calls in any arena. But by 4 or 5pm, I'd hit a wall. My brain felt like it was wading through mud. I'd stare at a simple email for 15 minutes, unable to decide how to respond. The quality of my thinking wasn't just slightly diminished - I was mentally bankrupt. Sound familiar?

Here's what's happening biologically: Every decision you make depletes glucose and oxygen in your prefrontal cortex - the decision-making center of your brain. Unlike a machine that performs identically all day, your brain's decision quality diminishes with each choice, regardless of size.

The kicker? Your brain doesn't distinguish between deciding company strategy and choosing lunch. Each depletes your decision-making resources equally.

THE HIGH COST OF LOW-VALUE DECISIONS

The average adult makes about 35,000 decisions daily, according to research from Cornell University. For leaders, that number is even higher. Yet most of these decisions don't deserve your limited cognitive resources:

• What to wear

• When to schedule routine meetings

• How to respond to standard emails

• Which basic tasks to prioritize

• What to eat throughout the day

These minor decisions create a "decision tax" that leaves you depleted when facing the decisions that actually require your expertise. The result? Decision avoidance, decision delay, or worst of all, poor decisions on the things that matter most.

This is why “what do you want to do for dinner?” feels like a monumental task for couples as well.

DECISION MINIMALISM: THE ANTIDOTE

The solution isn't making decisions faster - it's making fewer decisions overall.

1. Decision Elimination

• I identified decisions I was making repeatedly and created systems to eliminate them

• Example: I subscribed to Factor for all of our lunches. One less meal I have to think about throughout the day. (and I can keep them under 500 calories)

• Steve Jobs and Alex Hormozi do the same for their clothes. Same outfit every day.

2. Decision Automation

• Create "if-then" rules for predictable situations

• Example: When looking at real estate deals, I developed clear criteria for property evaluation - if it meets X, Y, and Z metrics, we proceed; if not, we pass (ie: metro size, pad count, city utilities etc)

• This removed the need to do a full analysis with each new property

3. Decision Delegation

• Be honest about which decisions truly need your input

• My property management team now handles all decisions under a certain dollar threshold without my input

• I've found 80% of what I used to decide didn't actually need my specific expertise and them waiting on me just slowed everything down.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, try this decision minimalism experiment:

1. Decision Audit: For one day, track every decision you make in a simple note on your phone (ok, not all 35,000 but the ones you notice)

2. Classify each decision as "high leverage" (needs your unique expertise) or "low leverage" (could be systematized, delegated, or eliminated)

3. Choose the three most frequent "low leverage" decisions and create a system to eliminate your involvement

4. Block your calendar to batch similar decisions together (email decisions, people decisions, strategy decisions)

5. Schedule your most important decisions for morning hours when your brain is freshest

The goal isn't to make zero decisions - it's to preserve your limited decision-making capacity for the choices that truly matter. What you decide not to decide is often more important than what you do decide.

Would love to hear from you - what's one low-value decision you could eliminate from your day to preserve mental energy for what matters most?

Forward this to someone who might be suffering from decision overload and needs permission to be more selective with their decision-making capacity.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi all!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're diving into a concept that's at the heart of all growth: productive discomfort. I've been thinking a lot about this recently during my climbing sessions, and there's a fascinating sweet spot that exists in our challenges. Too little challenge and we stagnate; too much and we break. But in that middle zone? That's where the magic happens. Let's explore how to find and leverage that zone in our personal and professional lives.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Film director Robert Rodriguez calls this "fear forward" - using the energy of fear as propulsion rather than paralysis. The fear isn't something to avoid; it's the signal that you're onto something worthwhile.

BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE

We've all heard "get out of your comfort zone," but this advice misses something crucial: there's actually a spectrum with three distinct zones:

1. Comfort Zone: Where things feel safe, predictable, and... stagnant. No growth happens here.

2. Productive Discomfort Zone: Where you feel challenged but capable. The butterflies are there, but they're flying in formation.

3. Panic Zone: Where challenges so far exceed your capabilities that learning shuts down.

The magic happens in that middle zone. This is where you're stretched but not broken, challenged but not overwhelmed.

I experience this climbing just about every session. When I stick to routes I've mastered, I enjoy the movement but don’t really develop new skills. When I attempt routes far beyond my grade, I just fall repeatedly (if I make it passed the first couple moves at all). But when I push into routes juuuuust slightly above my current level? That sweet spot of productive discomfort is where all my growth happens.

THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS

This isn't just motivational fluff - it's hardwired into our biology. Our brains physically change when we encounter optimally challenging situations:

• Too little challenge: No new neural pathways form

• Too much challenge: Stress hormones flood the system, shutting down higher learning

• Optimal challenge: The brain releases a mix of stress hormones and dopamine, creating the perfect neurochemical environment for learning

Think of productive discomfort as the brain's favorite growth environment.

CALIBRATING YOUR CHALLENGES

The key is finding the right level of challenge for your current capability. Everyone’s zones are different, and can be wildly different across different areas of their life. You might be comfortable doing 10M real estate deals but totally terrified of the thought of public speaking. You have to calibrate each zone.
Here's how to approach it:

For Yourself:

• Identify your current comfort zone boundary (what feels easy now that once was hard)

• Take one step beyond that boundary (not ten)

• Embrace the discomfort as a growth signal, not a danger signal

• Stay in that zone long enough for adaptation to occur

For Your Team:

• Recognize that each person's zones are different

• Create psychological safety so people can acknowledge when they're in panic

• Create goals to move them forward into the next zone

• Celebrate the discomfort of growth, not just the outcomes

• Allow people to recalibrate when needed

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, intentionally seek productive discomfort:

1. Make a list of three activities in your comfort zone (things you do easily)

2. For each, identify what "one level up" would look like

3. Choose one of these slightly elevated challenges

4. Set a timer for 20 minutes of focused effort in this discomfort zone

5. Afterward, journal about: What did you notice? What resistance came up? What did you learn?

Remember, the goal isn't to live in constant discomfort - it's to intentionally visit that productive discomfort zone, learn what it has to teach you, and then return. Over time, what once caused discomfort becomes comfortable, and your capacity expands.

Would love to hear from you - what's one area where you're currently experiencing productive discomfort? How are you navigating that space between comfort and panic?

Forward this to someone who might be playing it too safe or pushing too hard, and needs to find that sweet spot of productive discomfort.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi all!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're diving into something deeply personal but universally relevant - the lies we tell ourselves and how they keep us stuck. I'm sharing my journey from being a two-pack-a-day smoker to finally breaking free, but this isn't just about cigarettes. It's about recognizing the stories we create that justify our behaviors, limit our growth, and prevent real change. Whether it's a habit you can't kick, a business decision you're avoiding, or a relationship pattern you can't break - the first step is always the same: stop lying to yourself. Let's dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE COMFORT OF SELF-DECEPTION

⁣For years, I was a two-pack-a-day smoker. That's 40 cigarettes. Every. Single. Day.

If you know me now, that seems insane. But it’s true. I had a perfect, rational explanation for each one: the morning cigarettes with coffee (essential), the stress relief smoke (deserved), the celebration smoke (earned), the social smoke (connection), the creative smoke (inspiration), and of course, the "last smoke of the day" (ritual).

I tried quitting multiple times. Patches. Gum. Cold turkey. Each attempt was sincere, and each failure had a perfectly reasonable explanation. "The timing wasn't right." "pro tools rig stops working." "I’m at Abbey Road with Oasis…might as well join everyone else!"

Maybe your self-deception wears a different disguise:

"I'll start the business once I have more experience."
"I'll have that difficult conversation when things calm down."
"I'm not micromanaging; I'm being thorough."
"I work better under pressure, so I'll start tomorrow."

The lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous because they come from the one source we're hardwired to trust implicitly: our own minds.

THE WAKE-UP MOMENT

Everything changed when I read Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking." The book didn't shame me or scare me with health statistics. Instead, it systematically dismantled every single lie I'd been telling myself. That cigarette with coffee? It was actually making my morning anxiety worse. That stress relief smoke? It was elevating my baseline stress, creating the very problem it claimed to solve. Those anti-smoking billboards that made me light up two cigarettes cause it made me feel guilty? I was doing the thing I felt guilty about because I felt guilty?

I’d smoke 2 cigarettes when driving by this sign

The wake-up moment wasn't about willpower. It was about clarity. Once I saw through my own BS, continuing to smoke felt absurd.

This is true for any area where we're stuck: The breakthrough rarely comes from trying harder. It comes from seeing clearer.

THE SELF-DECEPTION DETECTOR

How do you know if you're lying to yourself? Here are some reliable indicators:

1. The "Special Case" Syndrome - Do you find yourself saying, "Yes, but my situation is different because..."?

2. The Moving Goalpost - "I'll do it when X happens" but when X happens, there's suddenly a Y and Z requirement too.

3. The Defensiveness Test - If someone questioning your choice makes you disproportionately angry or defensive, there's usually a lie hiding underneath.

4. The Energy Check - Self-deception is exhausting. If maintaining your position requires mental gymnastics, you might be propping up a lie.

5. The 3AM Test - What does your mind tell you at 3AM when the distractions are gone and it's just you with your thoughts?

6. That’s Just for X People - Do you think certain things in life are only for a class or group of people? Are you limiting yourself from getting what you want?

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, choose one area where you suspect you might be lying to yourself. It could be a habit, a relationship, a business decision, or a belief about yourself.

For seven days, carry a small notebook or use a notes app. Every time you find yourself thinking about or engaging in this behavior, write down your justification for it in real-time. Be brutally honest.

At the end of the week, read all these justifications in one sitting. Look for patterns, contradictions, and emotional triggers. Often, seeing all our excuses collected in one place is enough to break their spell.

The goal isn't to judge yourself, but to see yourself clearly. Because clarity, not willpower, is what ultimately sets us free.

Would love to hear from you - what's one area where you suspect you might be telling yourself a story that's keeping you stuck?

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're exploring a concept from Nassim Taleb: antifragility. We all talk about being resilient and weathering storms, but what if you could build a mindset and systems that don't just survive chaos—they actually get stronger because of it? That's being Antifragile. It's a superpower in today's unpredictable world. We'll break down how to develop this mindset and why it might be the most valuable skill you can cultivate in 2025. Hope you enjoy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BEYOND RESILIENCE: UNDERSTANDING ANTIFRAGILITY

⁣Most of us are familiar with fragility (things that break under stress) and resilience (things that withstand stress). But there's a third category that's far more powerful: antifragility—things that actually gain from disorder, volatility, and stress.

This isn't just about bouncing back. It's about bouncing forward.

Consider these examples:

• Your muscles get stronger when stressed (within limits)

• Your immune system gets more robust after fighting pathogens

• Some businesses thrive during economic turmoil while their competitors fail

The concept was developed by Nassim Taleb, and it perfectly captures something I've observed in the most successful people I know—they have an uncanny ability to turn obstacles into advantages.

BUILDING THE ANTIFRAGILE MINDSET

So how do you develop this mindset? It starts with shifting your relationship with uncertainty and stress:

1. See stressors as information, not just obstacles When something goes wrong, most people focus solely on the problem. The antifragile person asks, "What is this teaching me that I couldn't have learned otherwise?"

2. Embrace small, frequent failures You should create small, controlled experiments that often fail but provide invaluable feedback. What can you test quickly and with the least amount of downside?

3. Build redundancy and optionality Efficiency is the enemy of antifragility. Having backup plans, multiple income streams, and diverse skills means you have options when disruption hits. What looks like "inefficiency" in stable times becomes your advantage in chaos.

4. Prioritize adapting over predicting Rather than trying to predict exactly what will happen (impossible in complex systems), focus on building systems that can adapt quickly to whatever happens. The goal isn't perfect forecasting—it's rapid response.

THE HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY IN CHAOS

Antifragility isn't just for businesses—it applies to every area of life where uncertainty exists (which is pretty much everywhere).

In Business: When most companies go into defensive mode during economic downturns, truly antifragile businesses recognize counterintuitive opportunities:

• Talent becomes more available

• Competitors become more vulnerable

• Innovation becomes a necessity rather than a luxury

• Customer loyalty becomes easier to earn

• Client pain points become profit centers

In Personal Life: The same principle applies to our personal development:

• A relationship breakup forces you to rediscover parts of yourself that had been neglected

• A health scare becomes the catalyst for lifestyle changes that make you healthier than before

• Losing a job opens doors to opportunities you wouldn't have considered

• Moving to a new city expands your social capabilities and adaptability

I experienced this firsthand after a major personal setback over a decade ago. What initially felt like the worst thing that could happen forced me to develop new skills, deepen certain relationships, and discover strengths I didn't know I had. Looking back, I wouldn't trade that painful experience because the growth it triggered simply couldn't have happened any other way.

This isn't just positive thinking or making lemonade from lemons. It's about structuring your mindset and life to systematically benefit from volatility and unexpected challenges.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, try what I call the "Antifragility Audit." Set aside 30 minutes to evaluate your personal and professional life through this lens:

1. List your fragilities - What aspects of your life or business would be severely damaged by unexpected stress or change?

2. Identify your mere resiliences - What would survive stress but not necessarily improve from it?

3. Find your antifragile elements - What actually gets better when challenged?

4. Create one antifragile upgrade - Take one fragile area and redesign it to potentially benefit from disruption.

For example, if losing a major client would devastate your business (fragility), how could you restructure so that client departures actually strengthen your company in the long run? Perhaps each departure triggers an automatic review process that improves your offering for remaining clients.

The goal isn't to eliminate all fragility (impossible), but to intentionally build more antifragility into your most important systems.

What's one area of your life or business that you could redesign to become antifragile—to actually gain from disorder?

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're diving into a concept I recently heard on the My First Million podcast. "Optimizing for Chicken Slapping" (yes, really), and it comes from a conversation with PayPal co-founder Max Levchin about his company Slide. The idea is: be extremely careful what you choose to optimize, because you can endlessly perfect almost anything—even things that ultimately don't matter. ie: how many chicken slaps or super pokes people are sending on Facebook, from Mexico at 2pm on Tuesdays. Let’s dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE SLAP TRAP

⁣"Chicken Slapping" comes from Slide, a company Max Levchin founded after PayPal. Slide became known for social media apps that let users do things like send virtual "slaps" to friends' profile pictures on social networks. The team got incredibly good at optimizing these interactions—perfecting the animations, improving conversion rates, testing different chicken-slapping approaches to maximize engagement.

Here's the problem: they were getting world-class at something that ultimately didn't matter much. The team could have been using that same optimization talent on more meaningful products or solving bigger problems.

This isn't just about Slide. We all fall into versions of this trap:

• The entrepreneur who spends months perfecting their logo instead of talking to customers

• The writer who endlessly tweaks their website rather than creating content

• The real estate investor who analyzes 100 deals but never makes an offer

The trap is especially dangerous because optimization feels like productive work. It creates the illusion of progress when you might just be perfecting something insignificant.

WHAT ARE YOU OPTIMIZING FOR?

In our coaching sessions, I often see people get caught in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Ask yourself:

1. What am I currently spending most of my time optimizing?

2. If I became 10x better at it, would it fundamentally change my results?

3. Am I optimizing this because it's truly important, or because it's comfortable and gives me a sense of progress?

Sometimes the answer is uncomfortable. I’ve spent plenty of time optimizing distractions. Book ideas, perfecting a coaching program structure, and taking calls with different marketing agencies. When what I really needed to do was have more conversations with potential clients. I was optimizing the wrong thing.

So now ask yourself, what’s the most important thing you SHOULD be optimizing for?

SIGNS YOU'RE OPTIMIZING CHICKEN SLAPS

How do you know if you're caught in a chicken-slapping optimization trap? Look for these warning signs:

1. You're getting incrementally better at something without seeing proportionally better results

2. You've been working on essentially the same problem for months or years

3. The improvements you're making excite you more than your customers or audience

4. You're avoiding bigger, scarier strategic questions by diving into tactical optimizations

5. Deep down, you know you're avoiding something more important

If any of these apply to you, you might be mastering the art of chicken slapping.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, try a simple but eye-opening exercise I call the "Optimization Audit." Here's how it works:

1. Track every task or project you work on this week (tweaking, refining, improving existing things)

2. For each task, ask: "If I got 10x better at this, would it fundamentally change my trajectory?"

3. Identify one optimization task you'll stop doing entirely

4. Identify one completely new area you'll explore instead

The goal isn't to stop all optimization—some things genuinely deserve refinement. The goal is to make sure you're not optimizing chicken slaps while ignoring the bigger opportunities in front of you.

What's one thing you've been endlessly optimizing that you should probably just let go of or call "good enough"?

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're challenging conventional wisdom. We've all heard the advice "follow your passion" countless times, but what if that's actually leading us astray? Instead, I want to make the case for something different: Follow your curiosity. Whether you're trying to find more fulfillment in your personal life or looking to grow your business, curiosity might be the more reliable compass. Let's dive into why curiosity beats passion every time, and how to use it to your advantage.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

CURIOSITY VS. PASSION: WHY ONE WINS

⁣We've been sold this idea that we all have some burning passion waiting to be discovered, and once we find it, everything will fall into place. For most of us, that singular passion doesn't exist or keeps changing.

I spent years in the music industry chasing what I thought was my passion. But when I looked closer, it wasn't passion that got me through the toughest times—it was curiosity. I was genuinely curious about how studios worked, how producers crafted sounds, how the business operated. That curiosity sustained me even when the "passion" flickered.

Passion is fickle. It comes and goes. But curiosity? That's a more reliable engine. You can be curious about almost anything, and curiosity has this magical quality of opening doors rather than narrowing them. Passion is Lust - Curiosity is Love.

WHY CURIOSITY BEATS PASSION IN BUSINESS

Think about the most innovative companies around. They weren't necessarily started by people with a specific passion for their product. They were founded by people curious enough to ask: "What if?"

• Peloton - John Foley wasn't particularly passionate about cycling. He was curious about why boutique fitness classes couldn't be brought into people's homes. That curiosity about combining technology, content, and convenience led to a company that transformed home fitness.

• Slack - Started as an internal tool for a gaming company that was developing a game called Glitch. The founders were curious about better ways for their team to communicate. When the game failed, they realized their internal communication tool was more valuable than the game itself.

The business leaders who thrive aren't necessarily the ones most passionate about their industry—they're the ones most curious about it. They ask questions others don't think to ask. They explore angles others miss. They remain students of their craft long after others have declared themselves masters. They’re interested in the market at large and in their competition.

WHEN CURIOSITY MAKES THE HARD STUFF EASY

When I started exploring real estate as a side venture, I wasn't driven by some overwhelming passion for property. I was simply curious. And that curiosity made all the difference. How were other people making this work? What market does it work in? Can I figure it out?

Those 6am calls to East Coast lenders, agents and contractors? I actually looked forward to them. The weekend research that ate into my free time? I enjoyed it. The complicated financial models? I wanted to understand them.

This is the hidden superpower of curiosity—it transforms "work" into something that pulls you forward rather than something you have to push yourself to do. When you're genuinely curious about something:

1. You learn faster because you actually want to know, not because you have to

2. You see connections others miss because you're exploring broadly, not narrowly

3. You persevere through challenges because you're intrigued, not just obligated

4. You approach problems with wonder rather than frustration

The same dynamic applies whether you're running a company or trying to find more meaning in your everyday life. Passion may get you started, but it's curiosity that keeps you going.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, try something I call the "Curiosity Audit." Take 15 minutes to make two lists:

List 1: What am I actually curious about right now? Think about what websites you visit when no one's looking. What topics make you lose track of time? What questions pop into your head during quiet moments? List at least 10 things, big or small.

List 2: Where am I forcing "passion" without genuine curiosity? Where in your life or business are you going through the motions without that sense of wonder? Where are you doing what you think you "should" be passionate about?

Now the important part: Pick one item from your curiosity list and commit to exploring it for just 30 minutes this week. Don't worry about how it connects to your career or life goals. Just follow the curiosity and see where it leads.

The most successful and fulfilled people I know aren't necessarily those who found their passion early and stuck to it. They're the ones who remained curious enough to keep exploring, learning, and evolving—and who trusted that following their curiosity would eventually lead them somewhere interesting.

What are you genuinely curious about that you haven't given yourself permission to explore?

Forward this to someone who might need permission to follow their curiosity.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All! Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report came out last week. We wanted to explore one phrase that caught our attention - "thumb sucking problems“. In business and in life, the price of inaction is often far higher than we realize. We’ve had a few examples of this in our purview just this week. So, let’s dive in. We hope you enjoy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Charlie Munger, who we lost last year at 99 years old, wasn't one to mince words. In Berkshire Hathaway's annual letters, he and Warren Buffett repeatedly warned about the dangers of "thumb sucking" - Charlie even said, “the cardinal sin is delaying the correction of mistakes.” The metaphor is perfect - like a child sucking their thumb for comfort, we often cling to the status quo rather than make a tough call, even when we know what needs to be done.

THE PRICE OF PARALYSIS

⁣The Berkshire letter reminded us that some of the biggest problems we face aren’t mistakes but the failure to take action.

We see this constantly in our coaching practice - people know exactly what needs to be done but delay for months or even years:

• Putting their idea on the sidelines because they need “more information”

• The underperforming team member who needs to be let go

• The promising opportunity that requires pivoting from the status quo

• The fear of having to change who you are or the people you surround yourself with

The price? It's not just missed opportunities. It's the slow erosion of an organization's culture, or building long-lasting personal regret for never taking the chance. It’s watching others progress while you're stuck in deliberation.

WHY WE SUCK OUR THUMBS 

We find that thumb sucking typically stems from:

1. Fear of regret - We worry more about an action we might regret than inaction we will definitely regret

2. Misplaced hope - Believing a bad situation will magically improve without intervention

3. Conflict avoidance - Delaying difficult conversations that feel uncomfortable

4. Decision fatigue - Having made so many decisions that we lack the energy for one more

BREAKING THE HABIT 

How do the most decisive people break the thumb-sucking habit?

1. Set decision deadlines - Force a choice by creating a timeline: "I will decide by Friday at 5pm"

2. Pre-commit publicly - Tell your team, your family or your friends (or your coach) when you'll make the call, creating accountability

3. Calculate the cost of delay - Quantify what each week of indecision actually costs - Loss of dollars, happiness, did one of your 4,000 weeks go by….again?

4. Create decision rituals - Establish a consistent process for evaluating and making choices - ie: in real estate investing I have “buy box criteria” and if something fits, I at least make an offer.

Charlie had a simple but powerful approach: When you identify a problem, deal with it immediately. And as Warren wrote, "When you find you're in a hole, the best thing you can do is stop digging."

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT 

Identify one decision you've been avoiding. Write it down along with:

1. How long you've been considering it

2. What's stopped you from deciding

3. The actual cost of delay (in dollars, time, opportunity, team morale)

4. Is the decision reversible

5. The worst realistic outcome if you make the wrong choice

Then set a decision deadline for the end of the week. Even if you need more information, decide exactly what information you need and when you'll have it.

Would love to hear from you - what "thumb sucking" decision have you been avoiding, and what's the first step to moving forward?

Forward this to someone who might benefit from a gentle nudge toward action.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All! Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're exploring something that profoundly impacts every leader: the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It's that fascinating part of your brain that determines what you notice and what you miss. But here's the catch - it works both ways, creating either virtuous cycles of opportunity or vicious cycles of limitation. Understanding this mental filter can transform your decision-making, leadership, and even your self-perception. Let's dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE INVISIBLE FILTER

⁣Your brain is bombarded with roughly 11 million bits of information every second, but can only consciously process about 50 bits. That means you're filtering out 99.999% of reality at any given moment. The filter? Your Reticular Activating System.

Ever buy a new car and suddenly see that exact model everywhere? That's your RAS at work. It’s honed in on the thing you decided was important.

It can also cause holes in your perception. The Show Brain Games ran an experiment where they swapped out a person at a front desk, and only a handful of people noticed. Their RAS was filtering out the routine.

THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

Your RAS doesn't judge whether what you're focusing on is helpful or harmful - it simply directs your attention based on your programming:

The Positive Edge: When you repeatedly focus on strengths, opportunities, and possibilities, your RAS becomes a powerful ally. You begin noticing resources, connections, and solutions that were always there but previously invisible to you.

The Negative Edge: When your internal dialogue revolves around limitations ("I'm not creative," "My team isn't motivated," "This market is impossible"), your RAS dutifully brings you evidence confirming these beliefs. A leader who believes their team lacks initiative will notice every missed deadline while overlooking instances of proactive problem-solving.

The most damaging RAS programming often happens when we tell ourselves stories like:

• "I'm not a natural leader"

• "I always mess up important presentations"

• "I can't compete with bigger companies"

• "Nobody values what I bring to the table"

Each of these statements creates a filtering system that selectively gathers evidence to prove itself right.

REPROGRAMMING YOUR RAS

The good news? You can deliberately reprogram this powerful system:

1. Mind your language - Notice when you use absolutes like "always," "never," or "everyone." These program your RAS to filter out exceptions.

2. Ask better questions - Instead of "What's wrong with my team?" try "Where is my team showing potential?" The question itself directs your filtering system.

3. Create intentional exposure - If you're convinced you can't handle public speaking, deliberately expose yourself to examples of people who overcame this fear. Your RAS will begin to notice pathways rather than obstacles.

4. Capture evidence - Keep a success journal where you document contradictions to your limiting beliefs. This manually overrides your RAS's tendency to filter these out.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

Try this simple experiment: Imagine there's a spotlight that only illuminates evidence of growth - in yourself, your team, or your business. Three times a day, when your phone reminder goes off, turn on this spotlight and write down the first example of growth you see.

It could be as small as someone learning from a mistake or as big as a new market opportunity. By the end of the week, you'll have 21 examples of growth that your brain would typically filter out.

NEED HELP REPROGRAMMING YOUR FILTERS?

Working with a qualified coach can accelerate breaking through limiting RAS filters that may be holding you back. If you've been hitting the same ceiling in your business or leadership, it might be time for an outside perspective.

Book a 30-minute RAS Reset Call - In this complimentary session, we'll help you identify one significant RAS filter that might be limiting your potential and provide a custom framework for reprogramming it.

Would love to hear from you - what's one limiting filter you suspect might be operating in your leadership, and what could change if you reprogrammed it?

Forward this to someone who might benefit from understanding the power of their mental filters.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're talking about something that costs leaders more than they realize - avoiding clarity. We see it all the time in our coaching practice: smart, capable people spinning their wheels because they're afraid to get crystal clear on what they really want. The irony? They're paying a much higher price avoiding clarity than they would facing it head-on. Let's dive in.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The number of times we've seen successful people think themselves in circles is staggering. They believe if they just analyze it one more time, the perfect answer will appear. But here's the truth - clarity doesn't come from more thinking. It comes from taking action and being willing to see the results.

THE CLARITY PARADOX

⁣Here's what makes clarity so tricky - the more successful you become, the more options you have. More opportunities, more directions, more possibilities. Sounds great, right? But there's a dark side. More options often mean:

• More pressure to make the "right" choice

• More people affected by your decisions

• More complexity to consider

• More fear of making the wrong call

So we stay fuzzy. We keep our options open. We avoid committing. And that's where the real costs start adding up.

THE REAL PRICE TAG

When we work with executives, we often ask them to calculate the true cost of avoiding clarity. Here's what we find:

1. Time lost in circular discussions

2. Energy drained from trying to keep all options alive

3. Opportunities missed while staying "flexible"

4. Team momentum killed by changing directions

5. Trust eroded by inconsistent messaging

If you want to avoid these costs, start asking yourself..

• What decision have you been avoiding making?

• Am I facing the costs of staying unclear?

• Who are you trying to keep happy by staying fuzzy?

• What would you do if you had to decide right now?

• What information are you waiting for that you don't actually need?

THE CLARITY CHALLENGE

This week, try something that scares most leaders: Get clear on one thing you've been keeping intentionally fuzzy. Maybe it's:

• A business direction you need to commit to

• A relationship you need to define

• A project you need to kill

• A conversation you need to have

Remember, clarity isn't about being right - it's about being clear. You can always adjust course later, but you can't course-correct if you never pick a direction.

Would love to hear from you - what's one area where you need more clarity? What's been stopping you from getting it?

Forward this to someone who might need a gentle push toward clarity today.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All! Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're diving into something we see constantly with our coaching clients - the challenge of the Second Mountain. You know that moment when you've "made it" but something still feels off? When success doesn't quite feel like you thought it would? We're going to unpack that today and hopefully help some of you who might be feeling the same way. Enjoy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP ISN'T WHAT YOU EXPECTED

⁣Here's something they don't tell you about success - sometimes when you get to the top of the mountain, you realize you're on the wrong one. I learned this firsthand in the music industry. After years of grinding in studios and working with major artists, I had what looked like "success" from the outside. But when I finally took a step back, I saw something interesting: 95% of the big-name producers I had wanted to be like were miserable. They weren't spending time with their families, were always hunting for their next hit, and the hours were brutal. The dream I had chased for years didn't match the reality I found.

THE SECOND MOUNTAIN

In our coaching practice, we see this pattern all the time. Successful people who've been heads down for years finally come up for air and realize something doesn't feel right. They've climbed their first mountain - they've hit their revenue goals, gotten the title, built the business - but something's missing.

Here's what makes the second mountain different:

1. The first mountain is often about what others expect of you. The second is about what you expect from yourself.

2. The first mountain's metrics are clear (money, title, status). The second mountain's success is harder to measure but often more meaningful.

3. The hardest part? You have to be willing to let go of an identity you've spent years building.

THE PERMISSION SLIP

You're allowed to want something different now than what you wanted 5 or 10 years ago. Your wants can evolve. In fact, they should.

Ask yourself:

• If you took away the sunk costs, would you choose your current path again?

• What would you do if you didn't have to explain it to anyone?

• Are you avoiding a change because it's hard to explain to others?

CLIMBING GEAR

The good news? The skills you built climbing your first mountain are invaluable for the second:

• You know how to set goals and execute

• You understand what hard work feels like

• You've built resilience and grit

• You have resources and networks you didn't have before

The challenge isn't your ability to climb - it's choosing which mountain is truly worth your time.

WARNING SIGNS

Not sure if you're ready for a second mountain? Here are some signals we see in our clients:

• Success feels hollow

• You're achieving goals but not feeling fulfilled

• You find yourself asking "is this it?"

• You're more excited about your side projects than your main work

• You're maintaining something rather than building something

Remember, reaching the top of one mountain isn't the end of the journey. Sometimes it's just a better vantage point to see where you really want to go.

Would love to hear from you - have you ever reached a goal only to realize it wasn't what you really wanted? How did you handle that transition?

READY TO CLIMB YOUR SECOND MOUNTAIN?

You starting to look at the second mountain? Feeling stuck or a little directionless? Book a meeting with us now and let’s get you on the path to climbing the next mountain.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we want to dive into something that holds a lot of people back. The idea that you’re not smart enough. Thinking you’re not smart enough or don’t know enough to try the thing you really want to do can hold you or your business back from true success. We hope this might shift your perspective and maybe give you the confidence to try something you’ve been holding off on. Enjoy!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I don’t normally elaborate on the quotes but this one was about me so here we go. Before I bought my first deal I was struggling with a bit of analysis paralysis. At the time, I thought all investors were super savvy and way smarter than me. I was analyzing deal after deal and kept talking to people about them. A friend, who had some investing experience under his belt, and who was probably tired of hearing me talk, said that line to me.

I realized I had to push the fear aside and jump in. Having the courage to get started changed my life. Later, I realized that while yes, there are some insanely smart people doing very big things, some of the flippers making fat piles of cash were going on gut feel alone. They couldn’t analyze a deal on an Excel sheet to save their lives. I wouldn’t recommend that, but I’d take a little bit more of their courage to go for it.

So my question to you this week is… Where are you holding back because you don’t think you’re smart enough?

WHEN YOU REALIZE PEOPLE AIN’T ALL THAT

Getting a seat at the table is tough but don’t be surprised once you get there that the people you put on a pedestal, aren’t actually that impressive. Pay attention to the ones that are and follow their patterns.

IF YOU’RE SO SMART, WHY AREN’T YOU HAPPY?

I love this video from Naval but there are a couple things I’d add to it.

• Being smart and seeing behind the veil can lead towards a negative attitude of not trying. You have to be smart enough to see that won’t lead you to be happy.

• Action leads to results. If you’re putting yourself out there, making moves and learning from your action, eventually it will lead to success….and hopefully happiness with yourself for making the moves.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we’re taking a dive into AI. More specifically AI agents. While no one can really predict where AI will take us, we’re looking at how to implement it into our lives and businesses in beneficial ways. We hope you enjoy, and if you’re using AI agents in an interesting way, we’d love to hear about it!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

WHAT IS AN AI AGENT?

⁣AI agents are the next evolution out of LLMs. (Large Language Models) Rather than just being able to answer questions based on information in their modeling, agents are able to expand their reach. They can search outside sources, analyze data, integrate with other platforms and, the exciting part, they can start to do tasks for you.

AI agents are in their infancy but the possibilities of what they’ll be able to do seems endless. We want to harness the power of these agents to help us live better lives and run our businesses more effectively.

You can use them as personal assistants, researchers, fitness and nutrition guides, customer support agents, social media planners and SEO specialists. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We hope you take some time this week to think through where an AI agent could benefit your life or your business.

THREE AGENTS WE’RE PLAYING WITH

1. Sintra - How cute are these little workers? Sintra AI agents are a suite of employees you can use to help level up your business. They have agents dedicated to SEO, Copywriting, Social Media, Biz Dev etc etc etc. The AI has a built in “Brain” that learns more and more about your business as you answer questions to help refine how they work. They’re not perfect, but we’ve found them to be a huge help with SEO, brainstorming ideas, adjusting copy and planning out social media.

2. Replit - Replit went from being a coding translator into a full blow AI developer agent. Want to build an app? Build an integration between platforms? Create an SMS text workflow? For very little money, you can now have your own developer. Replit isn’t super straight forward. Having some knowledge of coding helps but even if you have no technical background, with enough trial and error you can build a product of your own.

3. OpenAI Operator - Ok, I’ll confess that we haven’t signed up for this yet but thought it was worth highlighting since it just launched. Unlike most AI Agents that integrate with other platforms through APIs, Operator is browser based, meaning it searches the web and controls functionality on pages more like a human would. It can search recipes, add the ingredients to instacart and prompt you to check out with payment. It’ll book your travel and you can input your preferences so that it remembers moving forward. (non-stop only, aisle seats, no red-eye flights etc) From what we’ve seen, it’s still not perfect and can’t do things like rearrange files on your computer but this is gen 1 and definitely worth keeping an eye on. For an AI agent it’s kind of expensive at $200 a month but that’s still cheaper than a personal assistant.

FINAL THOUGHTS

AI is one of the most interesting, scary and complex topics facing humanity today. Anyone that tells you that they know exactly where it will lead us is lying. We take the position that it’s better to understand new technology and leverage it in our favor than to avoid it. You’ll have to do your own analysis on what that looks like for you. But just like when computers and then when the internet was invented the people who embraced it, did far better than those who hid away from it.

We also have a strong belief in humans. As a species, we’ve adapted to new challenges, threats and hardships over and over again. The complexity of the human mind and the creativity that comes with that will be almost impossible to replace.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. Welcome to “Quitter’s Friday”. Technically it’s the second Friday of January but we postponed this letter due to the fires in LA. They call it Quitter’s Friday because most people give up on their New Year Resolutions just TWO WEEKS into the year. In fact, a study done at the University of Scranton shows that 92% of people don’t achieve their goals. But that’s not you, right?

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

WHAT ARE YOU QUITTING EVERY DAY?

It’s easy to chat about New Year’s resolutions or goals that you’ve given up on but I want to discuss another form of quitting. A type of quitting that I believe is far more detrimental. It’s the idea, the adventure, the experience, or the product you quit every single day because you never get started.

Most people quit their dreams either out fear or thinking that you’ll get to it “someday”. Then someday passes you by.

I’ve seen insane results from our clients that have put off an idea for years and years by just getting started.

So, my question to you is…… What have you been quitting by never getting started? 

WHY GOALS FAIL

Let’s take a look at the key factors that go into giving up on your goals or failing to hit them.

1. Lack of Clarity: Many goals aren’t specific enough. Vague goals lead to vague results. “Be more successful” or “Be Healthier” lack the clarity you need to succeed.

2. Insufficient Planning: Without a clear plan, it's easy to get off track. Goals need actionable steps to be achievable. Failing to plan, is planning to fail.

3. Waning Motivation: Initial enthusiasm can fade over time, especially without quick wins or visible progress. You have to want your goal enough to stick through the hard.

4. No Accountability: Without someone to keep us on track, it's easier to let commitments slide.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

1. Understand Your Motivation - It all starts with WHY. You need a driving factor behind your goals to help you push through when things aren’t new and exciting.

2. Systemetize Them: We implement an OKR system into all our goal setting because it give us and our clients a clear plan and benchmarks to achieve along the way.

3. Break It Down: Divide your main goal into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to track progress.

4. Celebrate Small Wins: Keep motivation high by recognizing and celebrating small achievements along the way.

5. Build Accountability: Share your goals with a friend or a coach who can provide support and hold you accountable.

READY TO START THAT GOAL YOU’VE BEEN PUTTING OFF?

Let us help. We’ve help clients launch products, books, get out of debt, grow millions in revenue and build their dream lives. Don’t wait for someday to come. It’s up to you to start and we can help get you there. Book an intro call now.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. I woke up in a mood, so get ready. I had a whole other Level Up Letter planned for today but scrapped it. This is more important right now. (don’t worry, I’ll relate it to life and business as well)

For all the LA Family….we love you, we’re here for you, reach out if you need help. To those in the BBM community that have already reached out and stepped up. YOU ARE ALL HEROES IN MY BOOK. I was moved to tears yesterday seeing Angelenos mobilize to the point where people were redirecting donations because certain shelters had too much already. This is far from over so LET’S GO!!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BE USEFUL OR STFU

⁣The fires have brought out the conspiracy theorists and the internet is running rampant with amateur sleuths right now. I don’t care what side of the political aisle you land on, posting unconfirmed theories and rage bait doesn’t help.

This happens inside personal relationships and businesses as well. Starting that text thread with your coworkers to talk shit about the boss or your other coworkers is a waste. Spending time gossiping about the neighbors or what the Kardashian’s are up to is useless.

You might have an opinion on a topic but unless you have deep knowledge or first hand experience, it’s just an opinion. It’s like saying you can speak fluent Mandarin after one lesson on DuoLingo.

Look, I get it, we all need a little vent session or a distraction from time to time but before you hit send, before you strike up that next convo, maybe take a second and ask yourself….

• Is this useful?

• Is this true?

• Am I adding value? (to myself, my friends, my family, the company)

• How does this help move things forward?

ACTION OVER WORDS

I’m tired of “thoughts and prayers”. Not bashing anyone’s religion or their practices and if that’s literally all you’re able to contribute, then great. But that wouldn’t fly at work, it doesn’t get you closer to your goals, and it doesn’t help situations like the one LA faces today. So here are 4 different types of action you can take.

• Money - There are few problems so big that money can’t fix them. I know not everyone can do this but even $5 is better than “thinking about you”.

• Time - You don’t “get time” you “make time”. I don’t care if this is for workouts, building a product, researching deals, running a side business or volunteering. Make the time for the things that are important (especially family and friends) and if you have the time to volunteer, please do so.

• Knowledge - If you are the person that fully understands the pieces of how things work, sharing that knowledge with others is invaluable.

• Connections - You might not be the person with the deep knowledge to get a project done but you can still make a HUGE impact by putting the right people together.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I know our BBM community is always looking for ways to provide value so I’m putting together a few things here but there are SO many organizations rallying together right now that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Feel free to reach out directly as well and I can help point you in the right direction.

• Housing - If you know anyone displaced and needs somewhere to go or are looking for a long term rental there are a couple options.

  • 2-1-1 and AirBnB.org have partnered together to get 1 free week for people that needed to evacuate.

  • LA Real Estate Agents have come together and compiled a list of all their long term rentals (both unfurnished and furnished) - You can access it here.

• Cash Money - for most organizations this is the biggest need. They’ll need to buy more supplies after the physical donations stop rolling in and things like surgeries for pets or outside services for transportation etc all cost $$. If you want to donate to GoFundMes for fire victims, send me an email directly. There are scams going around so make sure the one you’re donating to is the legit one.

  • Pasadena Humane Society 

  • LAFD 

  • (see the MALAN list below as well)

• Physical Donations and Volunteering - Tons of organizations are looking for clothing, personal hygiene items and gear for front-line workers as well as people to help sort items, cook, do transportations/pickups/drop offs.

  • MALAN has put together a sizable list of organizations and what they need.

• Reach Out - People are going to need an outlet to process this. Even if they weren’t directly impacted, most of LA is evacuation ready. Bags packed, waiting for that alert to hit. I’ve personally filmed everything in our house and had to decide what we’re going to put in the car if we need to go, and what we’d have to say goodbye to. It’s not a comfortable feeling but at least we have the time to do it, unlike so many of our friends.

Love to you all. Stay safe!

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Happy New Year All!
Welcome back to your weekly Level Up Letter. We hope you all were able to take some downtime over the holidays and reset. 2025 is here and the ‘New Year, New Me” hype is in full swing. We wanted to take a look at a few things we’re doing this year to hit our big goals and not be the people that give up three weeks in. We hope they help you hit yours too. Enjoy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BIG A## CALENDAR

We ordered a BIG A## CALENDAR from Jesse Itzler this year and so far we’re digging it. The idea is to put all your most important things on your calendar NOW so life doesn’t “get in the way” later. The big trips, sales conferences, weekend adventures, date nights etc. Put it all in there. Jesse makes sure he puts his Misogi on there for the year as well as 6 mini adventures so he can look back at a life filled with things he did, not things he wished he had done.

Your business should have it’s yearly and quarterly planning cycles, off-sites, events and any standing meetings built into the calendar as well. There should be no question from you or your team when things are happening so they can all plan accordingly.

MAKE IT BITE SIZE

We always break down our big goals into OKRs. (Objectives and Key Results) This takes that big goal for the year and breaks it into Quarterly chunks. You then take it even further into the milestones you need to hit along the way. This system works for the biggest companies in the world like Intel, Google and TikTok as well as solo-preneuer businesses. And better yet, it works for your personal goals too.

If you haven’t set OKRs before, or need a refresher book a session with us now.

KEEP IT FRONT AND CENTER

One of the biggest mistakes we see with New Years Resolutions or these big goal declarations, is that people forget about them. You have to have something to keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. Literally. You need your prefrontal cortex engaged.

Here are a few ways to keep it front and center.

• Write your top goals on paper and post them on your bathroom mirror, your desk or taped to your computer.

• Automate reminders. Put it in the calendar or automate ChatGPT to prompt you

• Get accountability - Hire a coach or get an accountability partner but make sure someone is helping you stay on track.

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we wanted to give you a few ideas on how to close out the year and set yourself up for success after coming back from the holidays.

Will try and keep it short and we won’t have a letter next week. Going to take our own advice and prioritize some down time. We hope you’re all able to do the same. We’ll see you all back in 2025!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

EOY CLOSE OUT

⁣The last thing we want after coming back from the holidays is a bunch of unfinished stuff waiting for us or a ton of clutter blocking the way for a clean start. Here are a few quick ways to set yourself up for success in the New Year.

• Mass Delete - Dump those emails. You know all those flagged emails you’ve been sitting on? That folder of you’ve been throwing everything into that you’ll get to “someday”? Time to let it go. Give it a quick once through or just DELETE ALL

•  Clear The Desk - The last thing you want to come back to in the new year is a bunch of crap you’ve left sitting on your desk for two weeks. And let’s be honest, you’ve probably had it there longer. Don’t just toss it in the drawers. Take 30 minutes and clear it out.

• Close The Books - This goes for business and personal. Every transaction should be accounted for, you should know exactly what you need to draw down, what you can write off, what you can invest and how to reduce your tax burden. Don’t make it a guessing game or a scramble in the New Year.

• Clear The Closet - Not suggesting you have time to Marie Kondo the entire house BUT you can take 15 minutes and clear the closet. Maybe it’s time to donate all those things you haven’t worn in over a year. There’s probably someone that needs it more than your closet does.

We hope these help set you up for the New Year. Shoot us a note if you do any of them!

BOOK A GOAL SETTING SESSION NOW

Ready to kick 2025 off right? You need to get your plan in order now. Book a 1×1 goal setting session with us and we’ll get you setup for success in 2025. In this 90 minute session, you'll learn the three essential elements to accomplishing your goals. We'll train you on a highly effective goal setting system. (the same system billion dollar businesses use, modified for your personal life). It includes your own personal goal setting templates and workshop time to set your own personal 90 day goals.

p.s. This session would make a great holiday gift for that someone in your life that’s impossible to shop for but needs some help with their goals.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
It’s been a full year of writing “Here is your weekly Level Up Letter” each and every week. We can’t believe 2024 is about to end and we’re on already on Vol 52. For this week, we’re ending the same way we started. With The Year End Review. This is something we do personally each and every year as a way to reflect and prepare ourselves for the year ahead. The template and steps are below as well as a couple of extras.

Thank you all for being part of this journey with us in 2024 and we wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BUT FIRST!!…..JOIN US FOR OUR YEAR END MIXER!

If you’re in LA, please join us for our End of Year Mixer Wed, Dec 18th. We’re using it as an excuse to bring people from all our worlds together. Music, tech, coaching, real estate, climbing, SCUBA etc etc etc. Come out, meet some incredible people, celebrate the end of 2024 and set a theme for 2025. More announcements to come but RSVP now!

YEAR END REVIEW TEMPLATE

We created a free template for you all to use for your own Year End Review. Click the button to grab yours.

STEP 1: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE

This is essentially the Tim Ferriss Year in Review Method. It’s a great starting place for a quick, systematic way to look back on your year.

• Calendar Review: Go through your calendar from the last year, looking at every week.

• Positive/Negative Review - Write down any people, activities or commitments that triggered peak POSITIVE or NEGATIVE emotions in their respective columns.

• Do an 80/20 analysis - What were the top 20% of things in the POSITIVE column? Do more of these! What were the worst 20% in the NEGATIVE column? Do far less or even better eliminate these for the coming year.

STEP 2: SEVEN QUESTIONS

Next we want to dive a little deeper and ask ourselves more personal reflection questions. We found this framework from Sahil Bloom a great way to uncover more of how we’ve grown, struggled or held ourselves back.

1. What did I change my mind on this year?

2. What created energy this year?

3. What drained energy this year?

4. Who were the boat anchors in my life? (people that drag you down)

5. What did I not do because of fear?

6. What were my greatest hits and worst misses?

7. What did I learn this year?

STEP 3: START WITH THE END

Now that you’ve had time to digest your year you can start to look ahead. Imagine you’re doing this same process a year from now. What do you see yourself accomplishing? Who are you spending your time with? What does your life look like exactly a year from today? We map it out in the “5Fs”

1. FRIENDS - Where are your relationships a year from now?

2. FAMILY - What has changed or progressed in your family life?

3. FAITH - What are you doing for your personal/spiritual/mental wellness?

4. FITNESS - What does your health look like a year from now?

5. FINANCES - Have you progressed your income/investments/savings?

Once you know where you want to be in a year, you can start to map out those quarterly goals.

BOOK A GOAL SETTING SESSION NOW

Ready to kick 2025 off right? You need to get your plan in order now. Book a 1×1 goal setting session with us and we’ll get you setup for success in 2025. In this 90 minute session, you'll learn the three essential elements to accomplishing your goals. We'll train you on a highly effective goal setting system. (the same system billion dollar businesses use, modified for your personal life). It includes your own personal goal setting templates and workshop time to set your own personal 90 day goals.

p.s. This session would make a great holiday gift for that someone in your life that’s impossible to shop for but needs some help with their goals.

THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we’re looking at spaces inside the normal set of rules that you can find margin. We’ll explore a few specific areas but these margins can be found in all aspects of life and business. To help us with our margins….please click the sponsor and support us writing this every week. We hope you enjoy!!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE RULES: GUIDELINES, NOT GOSPEL

Rules exist for a reason—whether it’s to maintain order, ensure fairness, or standardize processes. In real estate, for example, zoning laws and lending standards create boundaries. In the music industry, royalty splits and distribution models govern the flow of income. These frameworks are vital, but they also leave room for interpretation, adaptation, and sometimes reinvention.

The key is understanding these rules intimately. You can’t outmaneuver a game you don’t fully understand. But once you do, you’ll start seeing opportunities where others only see restrictions.

Here’s a truth: Rules aren’t always about what’s allowed or forbidden. Often, they simply shape the path most people take—and where the crowd goes, opportunity gets crowded.

FINDING THE MARGIN: PLAY INSIDE OR FLIP THE SCRIPT

Finding a Niche Inside the Rules Sometimes the most overlooked opportunities are hiding in plain sight, deep within the system. For example:

Real Estate: Investors make money in the margins playing by the rules and it’s done across the board. (LTR, STR, multifamily, industrial etc.) If I want to buy a rental property, I need to know that I can rent the house for more money than I spend on all my expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs etc) - This also defines my margin by buying in locations with a price-to-rent ratio where that’s possible.

Exotic Cars: We all know that cars depreciate like crazy right? Eventually that Honda Civic will go to zero because they keep making new ones and there were millions of your same model already. BUT the same thing is not true for Exotic cars. There is a margin for cars with limited supply. After the initial depreciation, there’s a good chance you could buy an exotic and sell it for the same price, slightly more or slightly below what you paid for it. IF YOU KNOW THE RULES.

Breaking the Norm, Not the Law This is where innovation lives. When you challenge the "normal" way of doing things, you can often carve out an entirely new path. For instance:

• Uber: The taxi industry was a fortress of regulations and medallion systems that made entry difficult and kept prices high. Uber didn’t break the law but reimagined transportation by leveraging technology to connect riders and drivers directly. By bypassing traditional dispatch systems and embracing ride-sharing, Uber transformed not just how people get from A to B but how they think about owning a car or using public transit.

• AirBnB: Hospitality used to mean big hotels and standardized experiences. Then came Airbnb, which flipped the script entirely. Instead of building hotels, they created a platform for homeowners to monetize their extra space. By working within (and sometimes challenging) local regulations, Airbnb democratized travel accommodations and opened the door to more personal, cost-effective, and unique stays.

Both of these companies have since helped rewrite laws and regulations to allow for these new industries to thrive and be safe and compliant.

ASK YOURSELF: WHERE’S THE GAP?

Here are a few questions to help you uncover opportunities in your own industry:

• What are the “rules” everyone blindly follows?

• Where do those rules create friction, inefficiency, or unmet needs?

• How can you simplify, specialize, or reframe the value you bring within this structure?

READY TO LEVEL UP?

Looking to Level Up your life or your business? Find out more about how we can help through our Coaching, Mastermind Groups or Consulting services.