25 Things That Built My '25

Today's read time: 4.38 minutes

We’re roaring into the last quarter of 2025, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s kept me going this year; what’s challenged me, refocused me, and helped me grow. It’s been a big one: more clients, a bigger team, and a whole lot of hard lessons about leadership, marketing, and mindset.

If you’re a builder, a leader, or a business owner who’s running full tilt toward what’s next, this one’s for you. Here are the books, podcasts, and tools that kept me moving in 2025.

Books That Shifted My Thinking

1. Give to Grow – Mo Bunnell: I’ve read this more times than I can count. Sales used to make me feel like I needed a shower. This book helped me see it differently. It reframes sales as service, growth as generosity, and relationships as the real ROI.

2. Hidden Potential – Adam Grant: I’m endlessly curious about what makes people tick. Adam’s take on motivation, grit, and growth gave me a new lens for understanding talent and potential.

3. Let Them – Mel Robbins: Change is hard. Growth means not everyone comes with you. This one gave me permission to let go, with grace.

4. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz: There’s comfort in realizing no one has the perfect playbook. Entrepreneurship is messy, and this book makes that okay. One of my favorite sections? "Don't punk out and don't quit."

5. The Common Path to Uncommon Success – John Lee Dumas: A powerful reminder that success doesn’t happen solo. Mentors, community, and accountability matter. We all start from a place of doubt, this book makes that path a little less scary.

6. Fierce Conversations – Susan Scott: We need more conversations- I believe that. Most of the friction and frustration we experience at work can be solved by having a conversation. Scott walks you through 7 steps for having conversations that improve performance, relationships and outcomes.

7. Day Trading Attention – Gary Vaynerchuk: A masterclass in cutting through noise and showing up authentically. When I start overthinking marketing, Gary reminds me to stop chasing algorithms and start creating connection.

Podcasts I Keep Coming Back To

8. This Past Weekend – Theo Von: Pure chaos and laugh out loud funny. Theo interviews everyone from Bernie Sanders to a random Amish teenager, and he’s a master at curiosity. Listen, this isn't a business podcast but I keep going back for the entertainment and the lesson in the art of asking really great questions.

9. Modern Wisdom – Chris Williamson: Chris’s newer direction leans health and psychology, but his ability to host a meaningful conversation is unmatched. Not every episode these days is the self-development vibe I'm searching for BUT I think that Chris demonstrates a intellectual curiosity that's contagious. Just scroll through and find an episode that scratches that self-development itch.

10. Big Deal – Codie Sanchez: My favorite “get your head in the game” listen. I want to grow up and be Codie Sanchez. She is sharp, direct, and always about action. She's unapologetic about pursuing business success. I wish it was a daily podcast.

11. The Diary of a CEO – Steven Bartlett: Heavy hitters. Big stories. Massive perspective. This isn't a how-to guide, this is more big-picture success inspo.

12. The Game – Alex Hormozi: When I need to quit whining and execute, I turn on Alex. He’s surgical in focus and allergic to excuses. He's a gym bro and weirdly, that's part of him charm.

13. WorkLife – Adam Grant: For when I want to understand the “why” behind workplace behavior. Every episode feels like a college lecture. When I'm searching for deeper conversation I always seek out Adam.

14. Entrepreneurs on Fire – John Lee Dumas: Energy, inspiration, and practical business talk. I dip in when I need to reignite my spark.

15. The GaryVee Audio Experience – Gary Vaynerchuk: I like Gary because he get's to say *uck on air and noone blinks an eye at him. Gary has no use for BS and his general advice of "If you want it- go do it." turns out to be pretty useful.

Newsletters Worth Opening

16. 3 Minute Monday – Chris Williamson: Short, sharp, and thought-provoking. A quick reset for your mindset. So while I don't listen to every on of Chris' podcasts these day, I do read his newsletter every week.

17. Leanne Hughes’ Newsletter: Leanne is a facilitator, author, and thought breeder. Her aura is technicolored. I don’t know how she does it. She's a fantastic storyteller and every time I read her stuff, I think bigger.

Tools That Simplified My Year

18. Asana – The reason our projects stay on track (and I stay sane).

19. Fathom – My AI notetaker, meeting recorder, and brainstorm catcher.

20. ChatGPT – My idea partner, research assistant, and late-night sounding board.

Partnerships that we couldn't live without:

21. Faulstich Printing – Faulstich is an incredible partner. Their pricing beats anyone in the region, and their customer service is unmatched. Truly a printing partnership we’re grateful for.

22. Mad Goat Coffee –They don’t know they’re in partnership with us but maybe one day they will. We brew their coffee daily and use their space for sessions, meetings, and the occasional mental reset.

23. Vermilion River Beer Company  – They do know they’re in partnership with us. Yes, they serve the best beer in town, but they’ve also poured me some of the best business advice I’ve ever received. Pete is a small business guru and he truly wants small business to win in this community. His advice always seems smarter after the second round, weird.

24. Rossi Studios  – A year ago, there was one photo of me buried on our website. Now, we do quarterly branding shoots with Angela Rossi. She’s talented, kind, and somehow makes the process fun. If you need headshots or brand photos, she’s your girl.

25. Van Hyfte Grant Lab  – Nicole Van Hyfte is a good friend and an incredible grant writer. Before 2025, I’d written exactly zero grants. Now, thanks to her, we’ve secured funding for professional development, workforce initiatives, and capital projects. If there’s money out there, she’ll help you find it.

2025 has been a year of forward motion. A year of testing limits, building trust, and learning how to grow without burning out. Every one of these resources met me somewhere in that process, helping me work smarter, think clearer, and lead better.

If you’re looking for the next right resource, start with one of these. Then go do the work.

And if you find something that belongs on next year’s list, I’d love to hear it. Drop me a note.