12 Leadership Lessons Learned in 12 Months of Building The Ready Network

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I launched The Ready Network full-time, and what an exciting year it's been.

As I look back at my own growth and the growth of the company over the last year, here are 12 lessons I've learned along the way.

1. Working with people you love and trust far outweighs the work you’re doing.
   The projects matter, but the people matter more. That’s why one of my biggest priorities this year has been building a team and cohort of READY-certified leaders I trust deeply and genuinely enjoy.

2. Managing energy is just as important as managing time.
   You can have the perfect calendar and still burn out if your energy is depleted. Learn what energizes you and what drains you. This is not the same as being good or bad at something.

3. Teams perform better when goals create alignment, not pressure.
   I spent too much of my career taking on the pressure of other people's goals. The healthiest teams I’ve been on, and the ones I work with in my consulting practice, pursue meaningful outcomes together instead of chasing metrics out of fear.

4. Most people don’t actually know what they want.
   And that’s not a failure, it’s a starting point. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is slow down long enough to gain clarity…even when it takes longer than you think. This is where a good coach makes all the difference.

5. AI will only increase the need for human connection.
   I literally could not do the amount of work I’m currently doing without the support of AI. It’s a great time to be alive. Too many people are living in unnecessary fear about “what ifs” with AI. Technology will speed up information, but it won’t replace wisdom, discernment, or relationships. I see that daily in my practice.

6. The mindset of gratitude is a superpower.
   My word for 2025 was gratitude, and there were many days where it was a choice more than a feeling. Choosing gratitude shifted how I led, how I worked, and how I experienced success. And I am grateful for that.

7. Doing things scared is the best way to learn.
   The spirit of experimentation is what moves ideas into reality. Launching the Get Mom Ready Podcast was one of those moments. Too many friends and clients stay stagnant out of fear, when the successful people around us only got there by doing it scared.

8. Your leadership will either propel your mission forward or hold it back.
   And the hard truth is that you get to choose which one it will be. A few months ago, a client was complaining about being too busy, and I told him the only person who could fix that was him. He said I was pissing him off…and then gave me a hug by the end of the meeting. I count that as a win.

9. Processes don’t put us in a box. They steer us toward progress.
   I’ve often resisted processes, feeling like they slow me down or stifle creativity. But then I realized I’ve actually been driven by process my entire career, I just hadn’t named it… until May of 2025 when I created the READY Framework. It’s been a game-changer. It allows me and READY-certified leaders to marry intuition with process, which is where I believe the best transformation happens.

10. The most effective leaders are always getting ready for the next phase of growth.
    They don’t stop, stagnate, or stall. They don’t wait for disruption to prepare. They are constantly working on themselves because they know their floor becomes the ceiling for their team’s growth.

11. A cheap mindset creates cheap results.
    It’s scary to invest in yourself and your business. But every penny saved is an opportunity cost of a penny spent. The line between when to save and when to invest isn’t always easy, but you will rarely regret investing in your own growth.

12. Clarity creates momentum.
    Once people know what matters most, progress accelerates. There is nothing more important a leader can do than fight for clarity. Stop getting stuck in the weeds, and start leading with clarity.

So here are three questions I’ll leave you with:

1. What kind of leader do you want to be six months from now?

2. What’s holding you back from getting there?

3. What’s one step you can take today to move forward?

And two opportunities if you want support:

1. The READY Workshop – Join us April 30th & May 1st for our upcoming READY Workshop, where you’ll learn the leadership system used to guide the five conversations every growing organization must have. Use code READY by April 1 at checkout for $250 off registration.

2. READY Coaching – If you’re navigating a season where you need clarity, accountability, or strategic support, it might be time to connect with a READY-certified coach.

Either way, the goal is the same:

Get ready for what’s next.

P.S. If you’re a mom (or know a mom!) navigating ambition, identity, and leadership, check out the Get Mom Ready Podcast, a passion project I created with three other moms last year to normalize the pressures of modern motherhood.