Why 2024 Almost Broke Me—and How the 10 Disciplines Helped Me Rebuild
December 31, 2024
Are you stepping into 2025 with the clarity, energy, and peace you hoped for at this time last year? Or does it feel like you’ve been sprinting on a treadmill—moving fast, but never really getting anywhere?
New Year’s Eve always feels like a moment to pause, doesn’t it? A moment to look back at the last 12 months, to celebrate the wins, mourn the losses, and ask ourselves if we’re on the right path.
New Year’s Eve always feels like a moment to pause, doesn’t it? A moment to look back at the last 12 months, to celebrate the wins, mourn the losses, and ask ourselves if we’re on the right path.
The High: A Dream Come True on Stage
Back in the spring, I had one of the proudest moments of my career—
I was the opening keynote speaker at the EOS Conference
. Standing on that stage, speaking to thousands of visionary entrepreneurs, felt like the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and a relentless drive to build something meaningful.
Shortly after, I found myself sharing a meal with Gary Vaynerchuk at his New York City restaurant, doing what Gary calls "caviar bumps," laughing, celebrating, and soaking in the energy of a life that felt like it was firing on all cylinders.
If you had asked me then, I would have told you I was living the dream. But life has a way of humbling us when we least expect it.
Shortly after, I found myself sharing a meal with Gary Vaynerchuk at his New York City restaurant, doing what Gary calls "caviar bumps," laughing, celebrating, and soaking in the energy of a life that felt like it was firing on all cylinders.
If you had asked me then, I would have told you I was living the dream. But life has a way of humbling us when we least expect it.
The Low: The Storm in Late August
Fast forward to
late August
, and it felt like everything came crashing down. Drama erupted in my industry. People I considered friends turned their backs on me. Some actively tried to cancel me.
I felt betrayed, hurt, and isolated. It wasn’t just my reputation on the line—it was my identity, my purpose, and my place in a community I had poured so much of my life into.
I’d love to tell you I handled it gracefully from day one. But the truth is, I was shaken to my core. This was one of those moments where everything you believe about yourself and your path gets tested. And yet, through the chaos, something incredible happened.
I felt betrayed, hurt, and isolated. It wasn’t just my reputation on the line—it was my identity, my purpose, and my place in a community I had poured so much of my life into.
I’d love to tell you I handled it gracefully from day one. But the truth is, I was shaken to my core. This was one of those moments where everything you believe about yourself and your path gets tested. And yet, through the chaos, something incredible happened.
The Tools That Got Me Through:
The 10 Disciplines and the 3 Discoveries
If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve been a student of
Gino Wickman’s work
for years—
Rocket Fuel
,
The EOS Life
, and most recently,
Shine
, which he co-authored with
Rob Dube
.
When Shine came out this year, it felt like everything clicked. The 10 Disciplines —which had been tucked away at the end of The EOS Life —were suddenly brought to life with vibrant clarity and depth.
And then there were the 3 Discoveries: 1. I am Driven. 2. All Decisions are Made from Fear or Love. 3. You Can Be Driven and Have Peace.
These weren’t just nice-sounding principles—they were lifelines. In the middle of my storm, I leaned into this book. I leaned into the group coaching I had started over the summer with the 10 Disciplines program . I leaned into the conversations I was having with other visionaries who understood the struggle.
And somehow, through the noise, I started to hear the stillness again.
The 10 Disciplines That Changed Everything
Here are the
10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy:
1. 10-Year Thinking – Make decisions with a long-term mindset. 2. Take Time Off – Regularly pause to gain clarity and focus. 3. Know Thyself – Understand your true self and your unique abilities. 4. Be Still – Find stillness daily to listen to your inner voice. 5. Know Your 100% – Understand your energy capacity and honor it. 6. Say No… Often – Protect your time and energy by setting boundaries. 7. Don’t Do $25-an-Hour Work – Focus on the work only you can do. 8. Prepare Every Night – Set intentions and prepare for the next day. 9. Put Everything in One Place – Organize your tasks and systems. 10. Be Humble – Stay grounded, grateful, and open to growth.
These disciplines became the guideposts I clung to during the hardest season of my life.
When Shine came out this year, it felt like everything clicked. The 10 Disciplines —which had been tucked away at the end of The EOS Life —were suddenly brought to life with vibrant clarity and depth.
And then there were the 3 Discoveries: 1. I am Driven. 2. All Decisions are Made from Fear or Love. 3. You Can Be Driven and Have Peace.
These weren’t just nice-sounding principles—they were lifelines. In the middle of my storm, I leaned into this book. I leaned into the group coaching I had started over the summer with the 10 Disciplines program . I leaned into the conversations I was having with other visionaries who understood the struggle.
And somehow, through the noise, I started to hear the stillness again.
The 10 Disciplines That Changed Everything
Here are the
10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy:
1. 10-Year Thinking – Make decisions with a long-term mindset. 2. Take Time Off – Regularly pause to gain clarity and focus. 3. Know Thyself – Understand your true self and your unique abilities. 4. Be Still – Find stillness daily to listen to your inner voice. 5. Know Your 100% – Understand your energy capacity and honor it. 6. Say No… Often – Protect your time and energy by setting boundaries. 7. Don’t Do $25-an-Hour Work – Focus on the work only you can do. 8. Prepare Every Night – Set intentions and prepare for the next day. 9. Put Everything in One Place – Organize your tasks and systems. 10. Be Humble – Stay grounded, grateful, and open to growth.
These disciplines became the guideposts I clung to during the hardest season of my life.
A Coffee with Gino—and a Renewed Purpose
It’s Not About Hustle—It’s About Amplification
For most of my life, I thought success meant grinding harder, scaling faster, and hitting bigger goals….climbing the mountain
(Hint: there is no mountain it is all just a journey)
10X. 100X.
But what I’ve learned this year is that hustle without alignment leads to burnout.
And here’s the thing: Gino and I aren’t saying you shouldn’t aim for big things.
In fact, we believe something even bigger—we believe that if you have peace and you have drive (because drive isn’t something you can acquire—it’s something you’re born with), you can achieve 1,000X.
When you have clarity, energy, and peace, everything else gets better:
● Your business grows. ● Your relationships deepen. ● Your health improves.
You become a better leader, a better spouse, a better parent, and—most importantly—a better version of yourself.
10X. 100X.
But what I’ve learned this year is that hustle without alignment leads to burnout.
And here’s the thing: Gino and I aren’t saying you shouldn’t aim for big things.
In fact, we believe something even bigger—we believe that if you have peace and you have drive (because drive isn’t something you can acquire—it’s something you’re born with), you can achieve 1,000X.
When you have clarity, energy, and peace, everything else gets better:
● Your business grows. ● Your relationships deepen. ● Your health improves.
You become a better leader, a better spouse, a better parent, and—most importantly—a better version of yourself.
Take the True Self Assessment
As we step into 2025, I want to offer you something simple but powerful: a chance to pause, reflect, and take a step toward clarity.
The True Self Assessment is a free tool that helps you understand where you are today—where you’re aligned, where you’re off track, and where you have an opportunity to grow.
�55357;�56522; Take the True Self Assessment Here
When you’re done, let’s talk. I want you to email me and let me know which area in your life you will be working on in 2025. For me it is #4 Be Still
The True Self Assessment is a free tool that helps you understand where you are today—where you’re aligned, where you’re off track, and where you have an opportunity to grow.
�55357;�56522; Take the True Self Assessment Here
When you’re done, let’s talk. I want you to email me and let me know which area in your life you will be working on in 2025. For me it is #4 Be Still
Free Shine Book Giveaway
I’d also love to send you a copy of Shine to kickstart your journey into the 10 Disciplines.
�55357;�56538; Fill Out This Form to Get Your Free Copy of Shine
�55357;�56538; Fill Out This Form to Get Your Free Copy of Shine
Listen to Podcast with Gino Wickman
Listen to the episode where me and Gino talk about the 3 discoveries.
Here’s to a year of clarity, growth, and freedom. Happy New Year.
– Benny
Here’s to a year of clarity, growth, and freedom. Happy New Year.
– Benny
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September 11, 2025
Charlie Kirk — a young man who built one of the most powerful youth movements in America — was assassinated in front of thousands at a rally. A sniper, 200 yards away, silenced a voice mid-sentence. And in an instant, we were reminded of the fragility of life, the cost of vision, and the high price of freedom.
August 25, 2025
I used to think winning was about stacking more wins. Build it. Grow it. Repeat. Lately, I’m a lot more interested in how we build without breaking the people we love — including ourselves. This week on Big Fish Cares , I sat down with Jonathan D. Reynolds (CEO, Titus Talent Strategies ) to talk about purpose, fatherhood, faith, and the simple truth he keeps coming back to:“Most company problems are people problems.” The 15-year-old question At 15, Jonathan asked his parents what he was “created to do.” Their answer: live in the service of others . He didn’t love that answer then. He lives it now — helping leaders find the right people, and helping people find the work they’re built for. That turned into a business and a calling. My advice would be: if you’re still waiting for a lightning-bolt purpose, serve where you stand. Purpose shows up when your service gets specific. For-profit, for good Titus calls itself for-profit for good: build a healthy company and use the profits to help those who need it most. They set a goal to give $30M by 2030 and are already about 70% of the way there . That’s not performative — that’s operationalized generosity. What I would recommend: design comp plans and culture like a family you’d be proud of. Jonathan’s team incentive started as his kids’ allowance…and it works. Leading at work vs. leading at home We talked about the gap a lot of us feel: Compassionate at work, impatient at home. Driver in the office, bulldozer in the living room. Jonathan built a transition ritual before walking through the door — slow down, ask better questions at dinner (“What was the hardest part of your day?” “What brought you joy?”), and be there. That’s leadership too. When you can’t fix it Jonathan’s parents have been detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan . No charges. No clear path. He stood outside the White House with his daughter asking for help. Impossible to carry — and yet this line anchored him: “I can’t control that. I can control my trust. I can control my love. I can control whether I get bitter.” Stay low. Stay humble. Control what you can control. That isn’t a slogan. It’s survival for leaders getting hit by real life. Try this week One conversation: name a “people problem” you’re avoiding and address it directly. One boundary: pick a start/stop for work and keep it. One practice: give something away (time, cash, credit). Open hands move resources faster. If you’re carrying a lot right now, you’re not alone. The goal isn’t a perfect life. The goal is a grounded one. Listen to the episode: Apple Podcasts If this resonated, come do the work with us inside The Pond — founders who want growth and peace in the same breath











