What’s up, everyone! 👋🏻

Happy (belated) New Year to all of you!

2025 is officially here, and I want to kick it off by letting you into my head a bit—my goals, my challenges, and what I’m focusing on this year. So buckle up, cause you’re getting a backstage pass to my thought process (good or bad 😂) as I navigate health, work, and life in general.

Hopefully it resonates or sparks something for you as you map out your own year. Either way, I’m glad you’re here for the ride.

Health *First*— For Real This Time!

This year, I’m breaking 32-year habits. For the first time since I was probably 15 or 16, I’m committing to a long stretch of no drinking and making health a priority in a way I’ve truly never done before, especially as a working adult. But, I’m committing to a no-drinking Q1.

And many of you know me well: I’m a big tequila guy. I have bottles and bottles of gifted Clase Azul in the background of my Zoom calls because it’s the #1 item most people send to me as a ‘thank you.’ Which I’m never mad about! But when tequila becomes your brand, and your vice, it can be really hard to step away. But this isn’t just me cutting things out—I’m also going to be focused on adding new things in, like consistency with working out and exercise.

Hitting the gym three times a week, continuing to referee soccer matches, and staying more active and healthy overall. We even did a little backyard upgrade at home and built a sauna to go with our cold plunge. It’s all about building sustainable routines that help me show up better for work, for my family, and for myself.

Working Smarter, Not Harder

Work is still a major priority for me, but the way I approach it has shifted. This year, I’m laser-focused on efficiency—doing less while earning more. So, it’s safe to say one of my bigger goals for the year is to get back to my 2022 revenue levels, but without the grind of 100-hour workweeks. Over the last few years, life has thrown a lot of transitions my way, and now it’s time for me to settle again. To focus on how to create more sustainability for myself. It’s about leaning into work that’s fun, comes naturally to me, and delivers big results without feeling the slog of it all. No flying to Morocco for a $1,000 gig or taking on coaching clients at $500 a month with multiple calls per week.

Not that anyone was asking me to fly to Morocco for $1,000, but … you get the idea.

Staying in the Game

Building and amplifying my brand on LinkedIn has felt harder and more challenging than ever. And this isn’t me complaining—it’s just the facts. Maybe my content needs a revamp, or it’s time for me to try something new. Regardless, there are more and more voices out there crowding the landscape and algorithms have a mind of their own, making staying relevant feel like a constant uphill battle. Whether it’s showing up consistently online or finding new ways to add value, I’m keeping my foot on the gas.

So, if you have suggestions on what you’d like to see from me? Send them my way!!

Big Plans and Bold Moves

I’ve got some exciting things on the horizon. For starters, I’m hosting the first-ever European Surf and Sales in Portugal! This one has been a quiet dream of mine, and I can’t wait to see it actually come to life this year.

On the community front, I’m doubling down on growing the Leese 100 VP of Sales group. Right now, we’re at 50 members, and my goal is to max it out at and hit 100. It’s not just about numbers, obviously, but more about building a space where sales leaders can learn, connect, and level up together.

Making Space for Life

It’s not all work, though. The last few weeks of taking a much-needed break, I realized how much I need to reprioritize friends and family in my life. That means more date nights with my girl, more time figuring out how to win in NBA2K25 against my buddies, fewer flights, more intentional travel, and more time with my sons. On the calendar so far? A VP of Sales retreat, a wedding in Australia, a detour to New Zealand (hopefully), and visits to San Luis Obispo, Long Island, New England, and more.

Life over the last decade or so *has* been about the grind for me. But over the last year or reprioritizing myself, my health, my people, and my life around me, I know how much the moments in between matter the most.

If there’s one thread through all of this, it’s intentionality. Whether it’s health, work, or relationships, I’m trying to do less but make it count more. Maybe that’s a theme you’re thinking about, too. If it is, let’s hold each other accountable :)

Here’s to another year of living and figuring it all out—let’s make it count.

— SL