The End is Here - 2023 Out... 🎉🎉

REFLECTING ON THE YEAR

Every December, I find myself taking a long, hard look in the mirror—and I’m willing to bet I’m not alone.

Did I accomplish the goals I set for myself and my business?
Was I the best father, husband, and friend I could have been?
Did I do right by those around me?
Did I truly take time to help others and make them better?

Personally or professionally, none of us are perfect. But in my opinion, taking the time to reflect is a must for anyone who wants to get better. Without taking the time to look back, you can’t identify what worked, what sucked, and what needs your attention (and intention) going forward.

Don’t get me wrong; reflection isn’t a pity party of woulda, coulda, shoulda; it’s a strategic exercise that sets you up for future success.

5 Things 2023 Taught Me

Lessons and experiences that I'm using to make 2024 great.

Skills are transferable

Many of the same things that made me successful as a VP of Sales and CRO are the same things that have propelled the growth we’ve seen at Revenue Reimagined. To maximize this advantage, consider evaluating your own skills to identify how they can be similarly leveraged in new, innovative ways within your current role or to start that side hustle you've been dreaming about.

The algo sucks

There's been way too much focus on LinkedIn in 2023, with everyone vying for the same audience in the same echo chamber. Owned media, and innovative content are a must for 2024 success. At RR we are shifting our strategy towards creating and promoting high-quality owned media to stand out and effectively reach our target market. While LinkedIn will always be a part of this, our recommendation to others is not to rely 100% on the LI algorithm.

If it’s not a HELL yes, it’s a HELL NO

'No' means no. 'Maybe' means no. 'HELL YES' means yes. If Dale and I are not 100% in about moving forward with anything RR-related, we pass. Before jumping at your next opportunity (or more frequently, favor or request), ask yourself: "Does this align with my goals, visions, and objectives? And "By doing this, am I doing right by both my partners/stakeholders and clients?" Remember the opportunity cost: everything you say yes to means saying no to something else. Choose wisely.

Collaboration is king

I give Dale all the credit here: let’s face it, Revenue Reimagined never should have been born given the intense competition out there, which in my experience gets you nowhere. Emulating folks like Jared Robin who excel in collaboration, we should all focus on working together rather than in opposition, to create a more synergistic and successful business environment.

Operate > Consult

Why do we win? Simply put, our clients are tired of consultants who provide nothing more than a fancy PowerPoint and spreadsheet at the end of an engagement. Our clients want “hands-on” operational support and that’s what we give them. We are their “GTM Special Ops” team. All of this to say, let the lessons of 2023 position you for an even better 2024.

All of this to say, let the lessons of 2023 position you for an even better 2024.

LISTEN UP

What the Heck IS RevOps? 🤔 ft. Sid Kumar | Revenue Reimagined Ep. 024

Forget what you've been told: there's no such thing as alignment between sales <> marketing <> customer success.

Shocked? I used to preach "alignment" too— then I learned a better way.

In our final podcast of 2023, Dale and I sit in rapt attention while Sid Kumar, SVP of RevOps at HubSpot, breaks down:

1️⃣ Exactly what RevOps is and what it isn't
2️⃣ Why it matters to EVERY organization (no matter how young or mature)
3️⃣ How any revenue leader or founder can diagnose and fix their revenue engine

and, why focusing on alignment in go-to-market (GTM) winds up being a distraction, and why collaboration (Dale's favorite word) across departments is the way.

Prior to joining HubSpot, Sid was the Head of Field Sales Operations for Amazon's AWS - a $30B line of business 🤯. So... I think it's safe to say he knows a thing or two

If you only listen to one of our 2023 episodes, it should be this one. This episode was so important and insightful that Dale and I were in the same room for it.

AND... one lucky subscriber is going to win a FREE GTM/RevOps strategy session with Sid. Want in? Make sure you're on our list by signing up for the Revenue Reimagined newsletter if you haven't already.

CONTENT WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF

As a newsletter author myself, there are very few newsletters I actually take the time to read each week. Why? Most of them just rehash the same posts and topics I see on LinkedIn each and every day. Sahil Bloom's Curiosity Chronicle is the rare exeception. offering weekly, high-value content focused on helping others build a high-performance, healthy, wealthy life.

Let's face it: there are lots of ways to go out there and make a ton of money, but—and I'm talking to you, founders—if you're not taking care of yourself, you're on the fast track to burning out. This week, Sahil dropped his 2024 Annual Planning Guide which provides (1) a simple goal-setting framework, (2) four system-building mental models, and (3) a strategy for tracking and adjusting throughout the year.

As you know, I don’t recommend anything I don’t use myself, so go check it out here. You won’t be disappointed.

BONUS: FIVE PREDICTIONS FOR 2024

1. Content creation is king. The days of traditional outbound are over. You’re going to see a massive increase in both people and companies creating high-quality content.

2. The 5-9 becomes the 9-5. People’s side hustles are going to become their primary source of income. The rise of “fractional” is just starting. I expect to see fractional shift to many more types of roles next year.

3. Your personal brand trumps your resume. It used to be that your LinkedIn or your resume was everything. Those days go away. Your brand, your network, and your content are how you will be evaluated against others.

4. Lean and mean for the win. I’ve been saying this for a while, but the days of growth at all costs are done. You’re going to see lots more bootstrapping, sustainable, and steady-growth companies.

5. AI rules the world. AI is going to continue to bring unprecedented change to everything we know. ChatGPT is just the beginning. We’re about to experience disruption like we never have before.

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