Everything I learned in 2025

What a crazy fucking year.

I vividly remember this time last year sitting in this same office chair, writing an email about what I learned in 2024. I was fired up, motivated, convinced I was about to have my best year ever especially after what I thought was already one of my best years.

God had other plans.

2025 humbled me in ways I never saw coming. I made less money than I ever thought I would. Watched opportunities I was "guaranteed" to get slip right through my fingers. Built partnerships I believed in that completely crumbled. Chased things I was convinced I wanted, only to realize they were never mine to begin with.

And through all that bullshit? I learned more about myself than any "good year" could have ever taught me.

Here are the 8 lessons that changed everything:

1. What's Written Will Never Miss You

Starting this off a little sentimental, but this year was driven by faith more than anything else. I've never felt more attached to Allah, never prayed the way I have, and never trusted the process more than I did this year.

When I say I trusted the process, I mean I stopped chasing these vanities the world has to offer. Not because they're out of reach. Not because "I don't care."

But because I truly understand now that what's mine will never miss me.

I cut people out I thought I couldnt live without. A deal that looked like it would 10X my networth went south. I watched opportunities I was "certain" about evaporate.

And you know what happened? Better things came.

Things I wasn't even looking for. Things that aligned perfectly with where I actually needed to be.

What's written by the man up there is going to happen no matter what.

My job isn't to force it. My job is to please Him, keep Him first in everything I do, and trust that the destination He has for me is better than anything I could plan for myself.

2. With Hardship Comes Ease

No matter what religion, God, or worldview you believe in, you need to understand that EVERYTHING is temporary. The hardships. The wins. The struggles. Everything.

Naval says "All benefits in life come from compound interest - money, relationships, habits." But what he doesn't say is that pain compounds too. And when it does, it prepares you for the ease that's coming.

I spent the first half of 2025 eating shit. Business slow. Partnerships failing. Money issues I never thought I'd face. I felt like I was grinding harder than ever with less to show for it.

Then I stumbled across a play that made up for it all. Not because I got lucky. But because I stayed in the game long enough for the right opportunity to find me.

I learned: The universe tests your patience before it rewards your persistence.

Learn to anticipate the good in every situation, because it WILL come - when you're ready for it.

3. Nobody, Nothing Is Irreplaceable

I got attached like never before this year. To money. To people. To ideas. To businesses. To lifestyles. To things I thought made me happy.

But it was all a high.

After making absurd amounts of money in 2022, 2023, and 2024, I thought 2025 was going to be a record breaker. I got to a point mentally where I was attaching my self-worth to the amount of money I had, the people I was around, and the things I owned.

And I fucking hated it.

I was never that type of person. I was never money-driven. But money did change me, and not in the way I wanted.

Then I lost some of it. Not all of it, but enough to shake me. And you know what happened? I realized I didn't need half the shit I thought I did.

It took me going through hell to figure out what heaven meant to me. And the life, the pace, the journey I'm on now is exactly what I've been asking for my whole life.

5. Patience Is Your Competitive Advantage

One of the most frustrating things about being an entrepreneur building something long-term is not being able to move at the speed you want.

As the men we are, we set hard deadlines. We have strong visions. But they get shifted and held back because of the lack of resources or talent around us.

And that's actually one of the biggest things i learned to understand and accept this year.

Your ability to be patient and confident while working through these frustratingly slow times will either help you become sharper or absolutely destroy you.

I wanted to move 10X faster than I could this year. I wanted results yesterday. But the universe forced me to slow down, move at a new pace, and trust the timing.

6. Boredom Breeds Results

When life starts getting boring, that's when you should get excited.

Gym every morning. 8:30 at the desk. 10pm sleep etc. Same work same bs..

The days that feel the same are the ones stacking into something great and you only realize that in hindsight

While we’re chasing the next dopamine hit, the beauty of life is embracing the monotony of mastery.

That "boring" routine is actually your competitive edge. Do the boring work that compounds.

7. Fear's a Bitch (But So Are You)

The most famous quote about fear, written by Marianne Williamson, is:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us."

We're all afraid. Afraid to take big leaps alone. Afraid to start something hard. Afraid to let go of someone we love.

This year showed me the light. It showed me the courage and strength I have in me to deal with whatever gets thrown at me.

8. I'm an Asshole (And I'm Cool With That)

When you speak the truth and have no filter, some people can't handle it.

You shouldn't give in and change yourself for the world. Make the world understand who you are.

This year, I stopped apologizing for being direct. Some people call it being an asshole. I call it refusing to waste anyone's time especially my own.

I speak direct. I say it how it is. Take it or leave it.

I decided I'd rather be called an asshole and be myself than be liked and be fake.

A year ago I wrote to you excited about what was coming.

This year I'm writing to you grateful for what came - even the shit that hurt.

A lot of us are so consumed in this never-ending grind and chase for status and money that we forget that the best life is a life where you can enjoy the imperfections and find the good in every bad situation.

Be grateful. Appreciate the little things that money can't buy. Because those are the things that truly matter.

God's timing is the best timing. Everyone has their own path. You gotta trust the one you're on.

2026? I'm not making visions boards and writing big dreams. I'm just showing up, trusting the process, and letting what's written find me.

Happy new year.
Yours truly,
Moe