Nobody likes screwing up. (At least that’s what most people say.)

But here’s the thing… My biggest wins came right after major screw-ups. And now I’m actually excited when I mess up. Because every mistake is like finding hidden treasure.

Let me share 3 painful (but awesome) lessons from 2024:

First, I said yes to everything. Total disaster. I spread myself too thin, chasing shiny objects instead of focusing on what mattered.

Second, I ignored short-form content like it was the plague. Meanwhile, creators half my age were crushing it on social media.

Third, I abandoned good ideas too quickly. I had gold in my hands but got distracted by the next “big thing.”

Here’s the cool part – each of these mess-ups led to massive breakthroughs. They weren’t failures. They were stepping stones.

And you know what? The same applies to your business. Those “mistakes” you’re beating yourself up about? They’re actually showing you the way forward.

Saying “Yes To Everything…

Ever notice how “yes” is a gateway drug to chaos?

That’s what happened to me. Before I knew it, my calendar looked like a Jackson Pollock painting. Meetings here, favors there, random coffee catchups everywhere.

I was that guy who couldn’t say no. Need help moving? Sure! Want feedback on your 300-page business plan? Of course! Random Zoom call about your pet’s Instagram strategy? Count me in!

My days turned into a circus act. Juggling other people’s priorities while my important stuff collected dust. Know what happens when you try to please everyone? You end up pleasing no one.

The worst part? I kept chasing those shiny objects. New projects, new opportunities, new “game-changing” ideas.

But here’s the thing about saying yes to everything: it means saying no to what matters.

My business suffered. My health took a hit. My relationships felt the strain. All because I couldn’t master the art of “no.”

Then I hit a wall. Literally ran out of hours in the day. That’s when I realized something had to change.

I started being selective. Started protecting my time like a guard dog protects their yard. And wouldn’t you know it? Magic happened.

My focus sharpened. My productivity shot through the roof. My business actually grew faster when I did less.

Want to know the real kicker? People respected me more when I started saying no.

I Ignored Short Content…

Ever done something so dumb you want to crawl into a hole and die?

That’s exactly how I felt after ignoring short-form content for years. My ego told me it was beneath me. (What a moron.)

Here’s the thing: I was sitting on my high horse, acting like I was too good for TikTok and Reels. Meanwhile, these 20-something creators were absolutely crushing it online.

But wait, it gets worse.

One of my random shorts actually hit 600k views. Did I capitalize on that momentum? Nope. I just let it sit there like week-old leftovers in the fridge.

The crazy part? Those “kids” I looked down on were building massive audiences. They were making bank while I was being a stubborn old man about it.

Let me break down my epic fail for you: - I thought short-form was just dance videos - I believed my “sophisticated” audience wouldn’t watch it - I convinced myself it was a waste of time

Boy, was I wrong. Those 60-second videos were printing money for people who knew what they were doing.

The worst part? I knew how to create content. I had the skills. But my pride kept me from adapting to what was working RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

Don’t be like old, stubborn me. The market doesn’t care about your preferences. It rewards those who adapt.

I got distracted by shiny ideas…

Here’s something wild: Most million-dollar ideas get killed before they take flight.

That’s exactly what happened to me back in 2015. I built this teeth whitening website that made $200 every day. Pretty sweet, right?

But instead of scaling it up, I jumped ship. The next “shiny object” caught my eye like a cat chasing a laser pointer. (We’ve all been there.)

Look, I get it. New ideas are sexy. They’re like that hot first date where everything seems perfect. But then you ghost them for the next match on Tinder.

The truth? Most successful businesses aren’t built on revolutionary ideas. They’re built on good-enough ideas that someone actually stuck with.

Take McDonald’s. They didn’t invent the hamburger. They just kept flipping those patties until they got really good at it.

Or Amazon. They started selling books online. Just books! But Jeff Bezos didn’t abandon ship when someone pitched him a “better idea.”

Want to know the real secret to success? It’s boring as hell: Pick something decent and stick with it.

Stop being the person who has a new “game-changing” idea every week. Be the person who makes their okay idea amazing through pure stubbornness.

Cheers,

Chris “Still selling the same stuff since 2019” Reck

P.S. Here are more ways I can help you make your Dent!

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