It’s that time of year when people are buzzing with excitement about what’s ahead. There’s this anxious optimism in the air — daydreaming about possibilities so close you can almost touch them. If you think I’m talking about the holiday with the big tree and the fat guy in a red suit climbing down chimneys at midnight, you’d be wrong. I’m not trying to be Scrooge, counting coins late on Christmas Eve. What I am saying is that there’s something just as important to us as business owners this time of year — something that deserves to be a holiday on our company calendar: Business Planning. It’s so important we should set aside a full day (or several) to reflect on what we did well this past year and what we must improve going forward. This is what separates the good from the great companies. The average agent from the successful agent. When people plan for success — and aggressively address their weaknesses — it launches them to a different level in their career. And here’s proof: Only about 33–35% of small businesses have a formal written plan… But 71% of high-growth businesses create a strategic plan every year. One of my favorite quotes comes from the British Royal Air Force in WWII — painted on their walls as a reminder: > Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. It’s blunt. It’s true. If you want next year to be great, plan for it. If you’re tired of being average, plan for it. If you want to be in the top 10%, plan for it. No one is going to do it for you. This week, our team is meeting to plan for the upcoming year — and we’ll have a retreat to finalize our calendar, events, and growth strategies. Because if you focus on this principle consistently, it will lead to big returns for you in the future. Success is never accidental. It’s planned. Be Principled, Caleb

In the early 1900s, the British government was in a race to build railroads across Africa. They hired an Irish engineer named John Henry Patterson to lead the construction through one of the wildest, most unforgiving terrains on earth. Patterson wasn’t just an engineer—he was also a sportsman, known for his love of hunting, especially lions. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because his story inspired the 1996 movie The Ghost and the Darkness, based on his book recounting his encounters with the man-eating lions of Tsavo. But beyond the famous hunt, Patterson wrote about many other adventures that tested his courage. On one of those hunts, Patterson and his team had tracked several lions through the brush. The African sun was blazing, the air heavy with tension, and even the most seasoned trackers moved carefully. Traveling with Patterson that day was a young boy named Roshan Khan, his personal assistant, who had never been on a lion hunt before. They crept forward until they could see a large male lion resting under the shade of a thorn tree—its yellow eyes fixed on them, tail flicking, muscles coiled. Patterson raised his rifle, steadied his breathing, and fired. The lion dropped, and a roar of celebration erupted from the native hunters. They rushed forward, singing and shouting. But Patterson knew better. He had seen lions take bullets before. As he stepped closer, his heart pounding, the “dead” lion suddenly exploded off the ground—charging full speed with every muscle, claw, and fang unleashed. Patterson fired once, hitting it squarely, but the beast only stumbled. Before he could reload, it lunged again. For a split second, he thought it was over. He braced himself for the impact of several hundred pounds of fury. Then, at the last instant, the lion veered off—charging instead toward young Khan, who had turned to run. The boy’s scream pierced the air as he sprinted across the tall grass. That brief distraction gave Patterson the moment he needed. He slammed a new round into the rifle, raised it, and fired. The lion collapsed just feet from Khan.

I was nervous. I knew I had to have the hard conversation, but I didn’t want to at all. Honestly, I even tried to push it off on someone else—which was wrong—but that’s how badly I wanted to avoid it. So what issue had me tied in knots for weeks? Good question. I was a new broker at an office we had just taken over. One agent stood out—she had a ton of potential to rise above her current performance. She was sharp, personable, and well-spoken. But every day she came to work in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I knew I needed to encourage her to dress for success—not only because of how others perceived her, but also because of how it could impact her own mindset and confidence. The problem? There’s almost nothing more uncomfortable than a man having to talk to a woman about how she dresses. Be real—when your wife asks how she looks in a new dress, there’s only one right answer: “You look incredible, baby!” But when you’re the leader, you don’t get to dodge the uncomfortable. You don’t get to ignore it. If you want to set a standard and build a strong culture, you have to run toward the tough conversations. Finally, I asked her to step into the office. I began with genuine compliments about her talent and potential, then gently leaned into how her attire might be holding her back. When I finished, I braced myself—I was half-expecting a stapler to come flying at my head. Instead, she smiled and said, “Caleb, you’re right. I never really thought about it that way. I’ll start dressing more professionally.” What happened next blew me away. Over the next few weeks, not only did she dress sharper—she walked taller. Her confidence grew, and by the end of the year, she had her best production year ever. It left me wondering: what if I had never had that hard conversation? How much would I have taken away from her by avoiding what could actually help her grow? As Stephen Covey said, “Holding people to the responsible course is not demeaning; it is affirming.” It shows someone you care enough about them—and that you see so much potential in them—that you refuse to let them stay where they are.

Is there a difference between trust and integrity, and if so, what is the difference?

Just finished up at the real estate convention and wow, what a turnout! One of My Favorite points from today is why do we resist change? Is it from a state of fear? And what are we actually fearful of? I want to know, what holds you back?