Reflection: The Secret Weapon for Success in 2025

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." – John Dewey

As the year winds down, I can’t help but revisit this quote and think about how much truth it holds—especially in the fast-paced world of real estate and investing. Experience alone doesn’t lead to growth; it’s the time we take to reflect on those experiences that reveals the lessons, opportunities, and clarity we need to move forward.

For me, reflection became a game-changer early in my career. I remember hitting a plateau in my fourth year in the business—I was working harder than ever but felt stuck. I didn’t know how to scale the way I wanted and work less. Instead of blindly pushing forward, I made the bold (and expensive!) decision to attend Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery Event. Through the reflection and thinking exercises, I gained clarity on what truly mattered in my business. That’s when inspiration struck: what if I created property videos for investment properties instead of spending endless hours on in-person showings?

I ran the idea by a couple of my bigger investor clients, and, to my surprise, they were just as excited as I was. That year, I sold more properties while working fewer hours. I broke through that plateau and built a much more sustainable business model—one that has now inspired hundreds of other investor-focused agents across the country. The breakthrough didn’t come from doing more; it came from stepping back, reflecting, and making small but intentional changes that aligned with my goals.

Now, as 2025 approaches, I encourage you to carve out time to reflect on your own journey. What worked well for you this year? What didn’t? Where did you invest your time, energy, and resources, and what kind of return did you see? This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about aligning your actions with your bigger goals.

Here’s a simple reflection activity to get started:

1. Wins and Lessons: Write down your top three wins from this year. Then, note the lessons you learned from them.
2. What to Let Go Of: Identify one habit, activity, or expense that drained your time or energy without significant results.
3. Focus for 2025: What’s one area of your business or investments where you want to double down next year? Write down the first three steps you need to take to make that happen.

Remember, reflection isn’t just looking back—it’s about using the past to intentionally shape the future. Here’s to making 2025 your most focused and successful year yet.