Christmas always brings back memories, and one of my favorite things has been watching my kids experience the ocean in different ways over the years.

Yesterday, a photo popped up in my iPhone memories of my daughter, who is now 15, boogie-boarding a few years back. She was fearless, loving every moment and learning with each wave.

These days, she’s out surfing with her friends, still drawn to the water and the adventure it offers. It reminds us how we grow—how each wave teaches us something new, no matter where we are in life.

Those waves inspired this week’s newsletter, which discusses how we can find balance, adapt, and keep learning from our challenges. 

Let’s paddle out.

1. Riding the Waves: Finding Balance in the In-Between

2. Cultivating Talent: Insights from Innovative Firms 🎧

3. Bookmarks

   1. Data-based Businesses are only in the First Inning

   2. Strategic Consulting Sessions for February

4. Milemarker On the Road ✈️

Riding the Waves: Finding Balance in the In-Between

It’s that time of year—the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The in-between.

If you’re like me, you might be catching up on admin work, fielding a few calls, or just trying to figure out how to balance sustaining your business while giving yourself and your team the space to rest and reset.

This space—the in-between—is where so many leaders find themselves, not just this week, but throughout the journey of building something meaningful.

It’s a tension between rest and ambition, sustaining and scaling, and hoping your efforts start compounding into real momentum.

And here’s the thing: success doesn’t come from avoiding this tension. It comes from learning to live with equilibrium.

The Vertigo of Business

The other day, I spoke with one of our clients who had been dealing with vertigo. She described the disorienting feeling of the world shifting beneath her feet, throwing her off balance.

Sound familiar?

Most businesses experience their own version of vertigo—constant change, unexpected challenges, shifting ground. And much like her recovery, the key isn’t to hope the world will stop moving. It’s learning how to stabilize yourself in the midst of the motion.

Equilibrium, at its core, is about balance. It’s about finding your center, focusing your energy, and training yourself to stay grounded—even when the waves hit.

Building a Strong Core

Athletes know this truth well: your core is everything.

It’s what keeps you steady when things get tough.

It’s what helps you bounce back when you stumble.

In business, your core is your resilience, your focus, and your mindset. It’s the ability to crash with a smile on your face, dust yourself off, and dive back in.

Imagine a kid running out into the ocean with a boogie board, getting knocked down by wave after wave, only to paddle back out again. That’s the entrepreneurial spirit. That’s leadership. And that’s what we’re called to do every day—face the waves, learn from the crashes, and keep going.

Facing the Waves Ahead

The year ahead will bring its fair share of waves. Some will knock us down, and others will lift us higher than we imagined.

Our challenge will be to stay balanced, centered, and focused on what matters most.

For me, that means committing to better equilibrium—for myself, for my team, and for the people we serve. It’s about embracing the in-between moments as opportunities to learn, grow, and prepare for what’s next.

So here’s my hope for you: find your equilibrium, build a stronger core, and train yourself and your team to ride the waves with confidence and purpose.

Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s this: the waves are coming. We get to decide how we face them.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and all the best in the year ahead. Let’s ride the waves together.

________________________

On the Pod: Cultivating Talent: Insights from Innovative Firms

This week on The Connected Advisor, Kyle Van Pelt brings together some of the show’s best moments from 2024 discussing how firms are recruiting and developing their talent. Featuring Seth Merrill, Jeff Casey, Alex Goss, and Patrick Sweeny, this episode dives into how great leaders of great firms tackle different aspects of the war for talent.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:59) - Seth Merrill on what roles he is prioritizing as his firm grows.

(06:03) - Jeff Casey on the process of getting through a transitional season.

(12:36) - Alex Goss on how he sees the industry moving for better outcomes for firms and employees.

(20:33) - Patrick Sweeny on how Apella Wealth developed a unique residency program.

⚡️Bookmarks

Data-based Businesses are only in the First Inning

Synthetic data is one of dozens of examples of data-based businesses that are gaining more relevance in our day-to-day work. From this point forward, we will witness a completely new frontier of data businesses that will fundamentally redefine how we work.

Strategic Consulting Sessions for February

January is fully booked, but there are two strategic consulting sessions are still available in February. If you want to get clear on your technology roadmap, data strategy, or advisor and client experience, now’s a good time to schedule.

These sessions help you align your goals, streamline your operations, and make meaningful progress in 2025. I’d be happy to discuss how I can help your firm create a more focused and effective strategy.

Don’t wait. Let’s get our calendars aligned now to secure your session.

Send me an email if you’re interested: [email protected] 

Milemarker on the Road
Catch my team on the road at the following events or cities:

1. January 10 - Coeur d'Alene, ID

2. January 21 - Charlotte, NC

3. January 28 - New York, NY

4. February 3-6 - Orlando, FL

If you’re in any of those cities and want to arrange a meeting time, reply to this email, and we’ll get something on the calendar.

Jud Mackrill