We made it! We’re halfway through the last calendar quarter of 2025. For many, this is the time to double down, drive hard, push through to hit those targets. It’s the run home to Christmas and every bit of activity counts.
I’ve led sales teams for over 20 years, so I know the pressure firsthand. And that lived experience shows up in how I lead and grow my own business today.
This year I want to invite a pause amongst the drive, tenacity and let’s face it… chaos.
Because smart growth isn’t always about doing more. It’s about choosing better.
Gone are the days of limping to the finish line at the end of the year.
Let’s replace that feeling with a sense of accomplishment for what has been achieved and clarity on what’s to come.
Success is a moving target. So is it really worth ‘killing’ ourselves over?
What you wanted two years ago might not be what matters most today.
When was the last time you asked yourself:
- Where am I heading?
- Where do I actually want to head?
- And do I need to course-correct?
This is the work of deep self-leadership.
This is the work of true smart growth.
Because smart growth isn’t just a sexy buzzword. It’s the discipline of growing intentionally … across every part of your life and business.
Career. Leadership. Health. Team. Sales. Yourself.
And it starts with five brutally honest insights.
- Your intuition knows the way … if you’re quiet enough to hear it.
In a world that rewards volume and speed, your intuition is that subtle whisper most people are too busy to notice.
But ignore it long enough, and it’ll scream to get your attention.
Trusting it early and building the space to hear it, will save you from chasing the ‘wrong’ things for too long.
- Discomfort is your gateway to progress.
The toughest decisions are often the most important ones in terms of growth. So instead of ignoring or avoiding them, lean into the discomfort.
Because delaying them only delays your momentum.
Whether it’s shifting strategy, redefining your role, or ending something that no longer fits – growth and discomfort have a symbiotic relationship. You don’t get one without the other.
- Have the right people around you.
It’s important to have the right people in your corner. Yes, you need a cheer squad, but you also need someone who’ll hold you to account. Someone who can hold up the mirror when you need it most, even if you don’t like what you see.
You need teachers and promoters … those who see your potential and foster your growth, especially when you can’t see it for yourself. The ones who believe in you and also challenge you.
One person who does brilliant work in this space is Janine Garner. If you haven’t already, check out her book It’s Who You Know … and keep an eye out for an upcoming episode of the podcast where I’ll be chatting with Janine about how to use your network strategically to fuel smart business growth.
In the meantime, catch up on other episodes of the Smart Business Growth podcast. There’s plenty in there to get you thinking.
- Personal growth drives business growth. Every. Single. Time.
Every leap you want in revenue, team performance, or freedom… starts with you.
Your clarity. Your mindset. Your habits. Ignore your development, and you’ll hit the ceiling fast. Invest in yourself, and everything else rises to meet your next level of growth.
- The vision – and the vehicle might change, and that’s okay!
What got you here won’t get you there. The vision you once chased may need to evolve alongside the vehicle to get you there.
And the vehicle – whether it’s your business model, your role, or even your team – might not be the one to take you forward.
That doesn’t mean it failed. It means you grew.
Growth isn’t always about scaling. Sometimes it’s about shifting.
Earlier this year, I made one of those big, tough calls. The kind of decision that makes your stomach drop and your voice shake. I walked away from a successful business partnership because the vehicle no longer fit the evolution of my vision.
And it’s brought me here. To this moment, to this new season, refined clarity.
Because smart growth demands clarity. Not chaos disguised as momentum.
So as you close out the year (or kick into your next quarter), give yourself the gift of perspective.
Ask the hard questions.
Course-correct, if needed.
And commit to the kind of growth that feels aligned, expansive, and deeply true for you.
If this hit home, I’d love to hear your reflections. DM me, reply to this, or share it with someone who needs this reminder too.
Want to continue the conversation? Check out this podcast episode I recorded on this topic.