38 Hard-Won Lessons That Could Transform Your Business (And Life)

I just turned 38, and instead of the usual birthday celebration, I did something different. I sat down and reflected on 38 lessons I've learned over nearly four decades of life and business. Some of these insights came from painful failures, others from unexpected wins, but all of them have shaped how I run my business and live my life today.

If you're a coach, course creator, or membership owner who's been grinding without seeing the results you want, these lessons might be exactly what you need to hear.

Your Energy Is Your Most Valuable Currency

Here's something most entrepreneurs get wrong: they think time is their most precious resource. It's not. It's energy.

You can have all the time in the world, but if you're operating at 60% energy, you'll never achieve what you could at 100%. I learned this the hard way during my early business years when I was burning 60-70 hours a week and wondering why I felt like I was running in quicksand.

The solution? Protect your energy like a fortress. For me, that means staying active, maximizing my mornings, and understanding that sleep isn't a luxury—it's a strategy.

Clarity Outperforms Hustle Every Single Time

Picture this: someone is running full speed into a brick wall, convinced that if they just hustle harder, they'll break through. Meanwhile, someone with clarity takes a step back, sees the door five feet to the left, and walks through effortlessly.

I've been both people. The hustler left me exhausted and frustrated. The person with clarity? That's when my business actually started growing.

This is especially critical when it comes to your marketing and advertising. You can spend thousands on Facebook ads, but if your messaging isn't crystal clear and your positioning is off, you're just throwing money at a wall.

You Can't Scale Chaos

One of the biggest mistakes I see coaches make is trying to scale their front-end (more leads, more sales) before stabilizing their back-end systems. It's like trying to fill a bucket with holes in it.

I learned this during my first few years in business. The leads were pouring in, sales were happening, but my systems couldn't handle the influx. The result? Burnout, disappointed clients, and a business that looked successful from the outside but was hemorrhaging internally.

Don't scale chaos. Fix your foundation first.

Your Data Tells the Truth (Even When Your Feelings Lie)

Feelings are valid, but they're terrible business advisors. I've had countless conversations with clients who "feel" like their ads aren't working, only to dive into the data and discover they're actually profitable.

Here's the thing about advertising: there's an uncomfortable period where you're spending money without seeing immediate returns. It might take days, weeks, or even months to see the full picture. Your gut will tell you to panic. Your data will tell you to be patient.

Trust the data.

You Don't Scale Before You Stabilize

This bears repeating because it's that important. I've seen too many businesses try to go from zero to hero without building the infrastructure to support growth.

The result? Overwhelmed teams, disappointed customers, and founders who go from excited about growth to terrified of it.

Stabilize first. Then scale smart.