A Look Back at My 2023

Buying a Company, Sunsetting a Brand, 6am Wake Up Calls, & Navigating the Adventures of Being a Girl Dad (Chapter 6).

As we stand on the brink of 2024, it’s tradition for me to hit pause and cast a glance back.

It’s reflection time – a deep dive into the whirlwind that was 2023.

Fair warning: this post is unapologetically all about me – my ventures, my family, and the rollercoaster ride I call girl dad’n.

Think of it as a digital time capsule, a public diary, if you will, that I hope becomes an artifact for my kids in the future.

The years, they’re sprinting by, and this is my attempt to match their pace, one memory at a time.

So, here they are – the top moments that defined my year.

Buckle up, and enjoy the read. 

1. GrowthHit’s Year of Efficiency

In 2022, my agency (GrowthHit) crossed some meaningful milestones. We doubled revenues from 2020. We doubled staff from the previous year. But, growth doesn’t come without growing pains.

And, we felt those pains in 2023.

These business ailments came in the form of weaker margins, inefficient processes, and me being more reactive than proactive. We weren’t alone in this sentiment.

From small companies to big companies, the 2022 hangover caught up with companies. Meta’s on Mark Zuckerberg called 2023 “the year of efficiency,” and I’m right there with him (minus the “the”).

For our service based business, this theme means we need to get efficient in how we sell, how we fulfill and how we collect money. It’s that simple, right? Here is what we did:

• Got our AR down with automatic direct deposits.
• Got rid of 3% processing fees
• Switched our pricing model to hourly to never lose money on a project
• Implemented time tracking for our fulfillment
• Audited how we deliver work
• Implemented a formal upsell process to extent LTV
• Started measuring our true CAC (Cost Per Acqusition)

While lots of this is boring, it’s essentially to running a profitable business as we enter the “black hole” of a SMB. (Black Hole = Between 20-100 people.) These tweaks did something monumental: they gave us the power to predict our revenue and, crucially, our margins.

This one skill has made us a more proactive leadership team. That’s exciting because we can focus “on the business” rather than focus on fire fighting “in the business.”

It sounds straightforward, right? But the reality was anything but. This shift brought us months of soaring highs and some break-even lows.

And the hard truth? It led to some unhappy employees, feeling the pinch from reduced hours. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I don’t like that and we’re making it better in 2024.

We grew sales in 2023 from 2022 but the margins and the operations had some highs and lows.

How does this impact me personally?

I’ve dodged the founder mental breakdown bullet so far (touch wood), but don’t get me wrong – the business definitely has its claws in my daily mood. As stress levels skyrocket, it’s not exactly a recipe for Zen. Add to that mix my young kids, who have a knack for 2am wake-up calls. Not a great combo with a brain that’s already in overdrive.

In those late night hours, when the girls drift back to sleep, I make the cardinal sin of a founder – I check my phone. Boom! One email can send me spiraling into a vortex of panic or, on rare occasions, elation. How many times have I found myself wide awake at 4 AM, business worries playing tag in my head? Too many to count.

How do I navigate this?

Avoiding the phone like it’s radioactive, morning workouts, and spilling my thoughts into a journal. It’s a daily tussle that I don’t always win. (We’re not keeping score.) Sure, the business is in better shape right now, but those anxieties? They’re like uninvited guests who refuse to leave my head.

My strategy is all about keeping them in check, one day at a time.

2. Lessons from the $3M Challenge

Last year, our agency decided to crank up the excitement dial: we launched Hit Lab Ventures, our very own startup studio.

To kick things off, we launched the $3M Challenge.

The mission? Simple but audacious: launch and scale three companies to $1M in sales each.

Here’s the lineup: GrowthHit, our agency powerhouse; One Day Design, the productized service secret weaspon; and Handsome Chaos, our venture into the D2C realm.

We’ve been tracking every twist and turn of this journey, and 2023 was a rollercoaster of triumphs and setbacks. Let’s break it down:

• GrowthHit: We hit this one awhile ago!
• One Day Design: Made a dent with $250K.
• Handsome Chaos: Well, let’s just say it’s on pause… for now. (I blame manufacturing.)

The catch with the $3M challenge? Well, it turned out that none of the companies were right for building in public. And here’s the twist: we can’t spill all the beans on GrowthHit’s victories (client confidentiality is a thing), and the other two ventures? They either didn’t quite take off (looking at you – manufacturers of hair product) or ended up being absorbed by GrowthHit (One Day Design is the best lead gen for our agency).

So, what’s next for the $3M Million Challenge?

Plot twist: we’re rebranding it as the 1 Company Challenge.

And guess what? There’s a new player entering the game. Stay tuned as we gear up to grow this fresh venture…

3. We Bought a Company

It happened! We finally acquired a company.

GrowthHit acquired Neat Apparel, a sweat-proof clothing brand.

Why Neat Apparel?

Here’s the scoop: they’ve got this mind-blowing patented fabric, originally cooked up by a PhD for military use to keep soldiers dry. Now, it’s saving everyday heroes from the dreaded sweat stain – whether you’re nailing a presentation or braving a first date.

We didn’t just take their word for it; we tested these shirts ourselves. Enter the Water Balloon Challenge, starring yours truly. (Side note: After watching the video, you’ll get why my influencer career never took off.)

But that’s not all. We hit up 50 of Neat’s customers to get the real deal on these shirts. The feedback? Through the roof.

Take Maxton, who said, “Your product has been a game-changer. Now, I wear my clothes confidently without fretting over sweat stains.”

Heading into 2024, our mission is to turbocharge Neat’s growth. And guess what? We’re spilling all the beans over at the GrowthHit Blog. Think of it as a remix of our $3M challenge, with a fresh twist.

See our latest posts right here.

4. Speaking at VC Firms, Fortune 500 Brands and 24 Startups

This year I did a grand total of 18 speaking gigs.

From a deep dive presentation at Techstars Seattle to a workshop to 40 Fortune 1000 brands, I attempted to deliver the goods on growth marketing while not speeding through my words or mumbling.

I’m pretty sure I fumbled that first one.

Connecting with Other Founders

This was my 3rd year in EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization), a group for founders doing 7-figures or more in annual sales. I continue to see the value in rubbing elbows with other entrepreneurs. The stand out moment? We did a retreat in Whistler, Canada that involved sharing business war stories over shots at an ice bar and zip-lining at 40 mph. (RIP my new sunglasses after that last one.)

Here’s a snapshot of some highlights:

5. The 6:00 AM Club

Let me drop a secret from my personal playbook – my dual-purpose lifesaver: physical and mental fitness in one go.

My routine? A non-negotiable regimen of four 30-minute HIIT sessions every week.

Here is how it works: It’s 6 AM, and the last thing I want is to leap out of bed for a date with burpees, especially if ACDC is in the mix. But, it’s a game changer for the whole day.

Pre-sweat session, I’m just a regular guy, bogged down by a cocktail of lethargic-ness, dread, and the constant Sunday Scaries of a founder.

Post-workout? I transform. Suddenly, I’m a modern-day Greek God in Vuori sweatpants, ready to tackle the day’s chaos – be it the school drop-off, an avalanche of Slack messages, or the unexpected client fire drill.

It’s wild how a tiny bit of exercise can flip your mental script.

Last year? I hit 174 workouts. And you bet, I’m gunning for that number again in 2024. Watch this space.

6. This is 40!

This is a video of an impromptu speech I gave at the birthday party my wife threw for me.

I’m 40.  Like 40 years old.  We’re talking four decades.  Michael Jackson’s Bad, Weezer, and Eminem were CDs that made the rounds on my trusty 5-disc CD changer as a youth. 

Little sidebar – my 6 year-old daughter said I look 37. So, I have that going for me.

Turning 40 does bring some introspection. Sometimes, I catch myself feeling like I’m behind in life’s race, like there’s more I should be doing, some untapped potential I’ve left on the shelf.  Whatever “potential” even means?  It’s not like I should have been Zuckerberg or Lebron. Okay, maybe a touch of Lebron. 

But, I do know this. When I pause to take stock on my little life, I see my incredible wife, who still finds humor in my mix of lame and hilarious jokes. My daughters, their smiles lighting up my world as they sprint towards me at school pickup. These little moments make me realize: I’m exactly where I need to be.

This is the point when I talk about a life lesson or something.  Wait, what’s the lesson?  I don’t know.  Here’s a shot: If you pour everything you’ve got into your family and loved ones, that’s where real fulfillment lies. Everything else? That’s just the cherry on top.

Plus, I still have time to catch Zuck and the King James. 40s the new 30. 

Behind the Scenes Video: Here is a video of Greyson (best man!) that flew in from Paris to surprise me at my party by . . . jumping out of a cake. Well played!

7. #GirlDad Life (Chapter 6)

Here’s the deal: I’m rocking the Girl Dad title with pride, Mariah Carey in the car and rainbow toe nail polish on my feet.

As it stands, I’m the dad to a dynamic duo: a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old. And let me tell you, that old saying about parenting hits the mark – the days are long but the years are short.

In my quest to guide these little humans, I’ve zeroed in on a few core values I want to instill.

Here are my top picks, the ones I voice whenever they will listen:

1. Grit: It’s all about bouncing back. Failed that math test? Shake it off and hit the books again. That’s the spirit.
2. Empathy: It’s the ‘walk a mile in their shoes’ approach. Disagree all you want, but understanding is key. We’re steering clear of any ‘Mean Girls’ scenarios here.
3. Humor: Life’s going to throw curveballs. We can either cry or crack a joke. In our house, we pick laughter – it’s the better medicine.

So, how am I bringing these values to life? I don’t have a billboard, yet. So, I’m opting for the ‘Lead by example’ parenting playbook. Ask me in 10 years how it went.

And now, for the annual rundown:

We’ve had a year crammed with activities – basketball, ski lessons, soccer, tee ball, piano, gymnastics, and bike camp. Phew! It’s been a whirlwind of discovery, laughter, and maybe a few scraped knees, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

We even left the house, got in our car seats, and set sail for places like Alaska, Seabrook, Suncadia, San Diego, Leavenworth, Cali, Austin, and down the street to Magnolia Summerfest!

Here is our 2023 photo album:

8. Marriage Hack = Concert Date Night

Alright, let’s talk about navigating the high seas of marriage while juggling a full house and careers. With two hardworking parents and a couple of high-energy kids, our days are more jam-packed than a rush-hour subway.

The casualty in this whirlwind? Quality time with my better half.

So, how do we dodge becoming just glorified roommates?

The answer is simple: Concert date nights.

Here’s our strategy – when spring rolls around, we dive into the upcoming concert calendar and go on a ticket-buying spree. No second thoughts, no hesitations. And guess what? We’ve never once looked back with regret. (Well, maybe the Ringo Starr tickets.)

Check out the lineup from this year’s musical escapades:

• O.A.R.
• Counting Crows
• Goo Goo Dolls
• John Mayer
• Vance Joy
• Ryan Hamilton (Not a band but every bit as entertaining!)
• Barenaked Ladies
• Semisonic
• Madeleine Peyroux

And on nights when the stage is not an option, we pivot to Plan B: An Italian dinner. We aren”t picky. We just require dim, cozy lighting, endless glasses of wine, and anything (and everything) smothered in Nutella.

It’s our little slice of marital bliss in the chaos of everyday life.

Most underrated show: OAR

Show that Brought all the Feels: Counting Crows

I hope you enjoyed this summary of 2023.

If you’re not 100% over my ramblings? Here is a look back at my 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Hope you have some time to reflect as well.