In last year’s annual letter, we declared 2025 the year we were "entering the Pros”, challenging ourselves to be boldly better. With a book set to release in February and most of our revenue goal already under contract, we began 2025 with great anticipation. We were confident in our team and our business, and eager to see how, if at all, our book would change things. We took our theme of Major League ALPs very seriously. But like any team trying to earn its place in the big leagues, we knew it wouldn't happen overnight. 

Have you ever seen someone launch a boat from their lake house, and thought, “must be nice”? I know I have. And it probably is nice, at that moment. But what did it take to get there? How many years of saving? What opportunities were traded for that piece of waterfront property? How many weekends are spent maintaining it? We don’t really know, do we?

Have you ever sat down and thought really hard about what has truly shaped your life, or at least your career? It is easy to take your current situation, and then retrofit a nice story that makes it make sense. But that isn’t the kind of rigorous process that will offer a useful insight – which is what I’ve been searching for lately. 

I recently went for a run with an old friend, and it was great. In addition to it being a beautiful Tampa morning and seeing dolphins along Bayshore Boulevard, we had the chance to catch up and talk about life, real life. The miles went by quickly, and before I knew it, we were back at his house, soaked with sweat, ready to go our separate ways and get on with the day.

I've had so many recent conversations where somebody I care about has expressed how hopeless, flat, and frustrated they feel. In almost every one of these conversations, they’ve cited several disturbing things they've seen on the internet. They're overwhelmed by news, social media, and a wide range of conspiracy theories. At the same time, these people are living lives that are materially comfortable and almost totally devoid of actual difficulty or risk.

We started Applied Leadership Partners a little over five years ago, and since then, we've had countless conversations with people who are thinking about getting into this business, especially former military folks who understandably see leadership development as a natural next chapter. The barrier to entry seems relatively low: if you can speak, teach, or coach, you're in, right?

Not exactly.

Earlier this week, I reacquainted myself with an old frien-emy: Fran.

For those unfamiliar with CrossFit, Fran is a short, classic workout that consists of twenty-one thrusters followed by twenty-one pull-ups, then fifteen of each, then nine of each. And that's it. As Pat Sherwood would say, “couldn’t be simpler”! Most people finish in under seven minutes, and many experienced athletes can complete it in under three. So why am I so sore today and why does the mere mention of this workout induce sweaty palms throughout the CrossFit community?

It’s the middle of my third Maine summer and I've discovered something unsettling about myself: I’m not very good at enjoying summer.  

Here’s a snapshot to help explain what I mean: It's 2 PM on a Tuesday. The sky is that impossible shade of blue, it’s a perfect 78 degrees, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of pine and salt air…through my office window. And here I am, sitting at my desk, staring out at the world like a caged animal, practically vibrating with the need to be anywhere but here.

There's a profound difference between perseverance and endurance, and unless you’re a word-nerd or leadership consultant (I’m both), it is easy to miss. We often celebrate endurance as the ultimate virtue: the ability to withstand anything, to never break, to be invincible. But true perseverance is something else entirely.