Coffee, Culture and Curveballs

Author: Ana Roberts

  • From Invisible to Influential: The Power of Personal Branding

    From Invisible to Influential: The Power of Personal Branding

    Brand in a crowd

    There’s a moment every agent faces — that quiet realisation that you are the brand. Not the company logo, not the colour palette, not even the tagline on your email signature. You.

    In real estate, trust isn’t built by corporate slogans. It’s built by faces, voices, and reputations that stand out in a crowded marketplace.

    The No-Name Trap

    We all start somewhere — open houses, cold calls, and borrowed credibility. But staying invisible in an industry built on relationships is a choice.

    When you sound like every other agent (“great service,” “dedicated,” “passionate about property”), you blend into the beige. You become beige wallpaper or a nice warm cup of tea. Forgettable. Replaceable.

    And let’s be honest — no one refers the wallpaper.

    Becoming the Brand

    Your brand is the story people tell when you’re not in the room.
    It’s the way you handle conflict, the tone of your emails, the quality of your listings, the consistency of your word.

    Building it doesn’t mean posting more selfies or slogans. It means:

    • Defining your values and differentiators
    • Knowing your strengths and leading with them.
    • Showing up consistently — online and offline.
    • Educating, not just advertising.
    • Investing in your presentation as seriously as your profession.

    The best agents aren’t loud — they’re clear. You immediately know what they stand for and who they serve.

    The Curveball

    You can work under a brand as this helps but become your own brand. Become the reason why people come back to you or refer you to others.

    When you treat your reputation like your most valuable listing, you start attracting business instead of chasing it.

    Because in real estate, the strongest currency isn’t commission — it’s credibility. Find an agency that supports this and helps you to shine in your difference rather than making you beige or green wallpaper.

  • The Hidden Costs of Staying in Your Comfort Zone

    The Hidden Costs of Staying in Your Comfort Zone

    Comfort zones are lovely places. They’re warm, familiar, and predictable. They feel safe. But do you know what else they are? Useless for growth. Comfort zones are like that soft couch you sink into after a long day — great for a nap, terrible for getting anything meaningful done.

    And here’s the leadership truth nobody really wants to hear: comfort zones don’t pay the bills. They don’t grow your business. They don’t inspire innovation. They don’t stretch your team. All they do is lull you into a false sense of security while the world outside keeps moving, changing, and leaving you behind.

    The tricky part is that comfort doesn’t look dangerous. In fact, it feels like success. When things are running smoothly, when the numbers look stable, when you’ve got a rhythm that works — that’s when the danger creeps in. You convince yourself you’ve “figured it out.” But the moment you stop stretching, you start shrinking. Markets don’t freeze just because you want to take it easy. Competitors don’t pause while you enjoy the status quo. The clients you serve today will expect more tomorrow. Comfort today leads to irrelevance tomorrow.

    Stepping into discomfort, on the other hand, is where the growth lives. Discomfort forces you to learn. It sharpens you, tests you, and makes you rethink assumptions. It might feel like chaos in the moment, but it’s also the spark that pushes businesses to adapt, leaders to innovate, and teams to stretch further than they thought possible. Discomfort is where you build muscles, while comfort zones are where those muscles slowly atrophy.

    Of course, nobody enjoys discomfort. Leaders don’t wake up in the morning saying, “Fantastic, I can’t wait to face something that terrifies me today.” But the leaders who grow know they can’t avoid it. They walk into it, even when their instinct says run. They understand that the uneasy conversation, the bold new strategy, the scary investment, or the risk of trying something new — those are the very things that keep a business alive and thriving.

    Think of every major leap forward you’ve ever made, personally or professionally. Did it come from being comfortable? Probably not. Comfort keeps you where you are. Growth drags you into new, sometimes awkward, sometimes sweaty-palmed territory. The comfort zone whispers, “Stay here, it’s fine.” Discomfort says, “Step out, it’s risky.” And progress lives on the side of discomfort every single time.

    Leaders who cling to their comfort zones risk becoming fossils in their own businesses. It’s not that they lack skill or intelligence — it’s that they stopped moving. And if you stop moving, the world doesn’t wait for you to catch up. The asteroid doesn’t send a calendar invite. Suddenly, you’re a dinosaur wondering how everything changed so quickly.

    Here’s the other problem: when leaders stay in their comfort zones, their teams do too. People follow the example that’s set for them. If they see leadership avoiding tough calls, dodging risk, or rejecting change, they’ll copy that behaviour. Culture settles into complacency. Innovation stalls. And then leaders start asking, “Why is nobody stepping up?” The answer is simple: because you didn’t.

    Stepping into discomfort doesn’t mean reckless risk-taking. It doesn’t mean throwing everything you’ve built out the window. It means intentionally pushing into spaces that feel challenging. It’s saying yes to growth when no feels safer. It’s setting stretch goals that make the team nervous, but excited. It’s trying new strategies before the old ones stop working. It’s listening to new voices, even when you’re sure you’ve got the answers.

    In practical terms, this could look like:

    • Launching that new service line before you feel “ready.”
    • Hiring for potential and cultural alignment, even if the CV isn’t the most polished.
    • Having the tough conversation with the team member who’s dragging the culture down.
    • Adopting new technology while competitors are still arguing about it.
    • Saying no to a client who doesn’t fit your values, even if it means short-term loss.

    Each of these decisions is uncomfortable. None of them come wrapped in certainty. But each one creates growth. And the cumulative effect of those decisions is what separates businesses that survive from those that thrive.

    The truth is, comfort zones are expensive. They cost opportunities. They cost innovation. They cost momentum. And eventually, they cost relevance. Leaders who wait until discomfort is forced on them often find they’re already behind. Leaders who choose discomfort — who step into it intentionally — are the ones who stay ahead.

    So the next time you feel that knot in your stomach before a decision, pay attention. That’s not always a warning sign. Sometimes it’s the indicator you’re exactly where you should be. Because the place where you feel stretched, where you feel slightly unprepared, where you’re not entirely sure of the outcome — that’s the place where growth happens.

    And if you’re still wondering whether stepping into discomfort is worth it, just remember: comfort zones don’t pay the bills. They never have. They never will.

    So step out. Stretch. Take the risk. Have the hard conversation. Try the new idea. Because the cost of staying comfortable is far higher than the cost of being uncomfortable.

    And besides — nobody ever built an extraordinary business by staying cosy on the couch.

  • Transform Your Real Estate Career: Step Out of Comfort

    Transform Your Real Estate Career: Step Out of Comfort

    Look into the future and be awesome.

    Average is safe. It’s predictable, familiar, and comfortably forgettable.

    And comfort is seductive — it whispers, “Stay here, it’s fine.”
    But the truth? Comfort doesn’t create change. It just keeps you still.

    In South Africa, 10% of all new real estate professionals quit, 87% survive, with only 3% thriving. To thrive, you need to be awesome! What does that take?

    The Trap of Comfortable Average

    It’s easy to be average. You won’t offend anyone. You won’t fail spectacularly. You won’t stretch too far or sweat too much.

    But you also won’t grow. Because growth and comfort never coexist. Growth requires hard work.

    Standing out is uncomfortable. It means trying new ideas, risking rejection, and sometimes walking alone while others stay huddled in the middle. Peers very often reject you because you stand out. As soon as you succeed, they will follow you so do not stress.
    But that’s where greatness begins — on the edge of what feels awkward and new.

    The Power of Little Steps

    You don’t have to leap off the edge from average to awesome overnight. Don’t jump off the cliff. You just need to move — consistently, intentionally, one small step at a time as this will lead to success. Consistency is the key.

    • Try a fresh approach to your next listing.
    • Learn something new about your market today.
    • Warm call everyday
    • Be disciplined
    • Call a client you’ve been avoiding.
    • Ask for feedback.
    • Say yes to something that scares you a little.

    It’s amazing how much momentum a few daily discomforts can create. It takes 21 days to create a new habit so keep going. Try something new and keep at it. What do you want more, average or success?

    The Awesome Mindset

    Awesome isn’t about being the loudest or most confident person in the room — it’s about being the one who cares enough to improve.
    It’s showing up fully, thinking creatively, and giving people a reason to remember you.

    Average will keep you afloat.
    Awesome will take you places.

    The Curveball

    So here’s the challenge: step out of that comfort zone — just once a day. Send the message. Ask the question. Try the idea.

    Because nothing extraordinary ever came from staying comfortable.

    You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be disciplined and brave — daily.

  • Overcoming Fear: My Leap into Real Estate at 50

    Overcoming Fear: My Leap into Real Estate at 50

    Ana Roberts 2025

    For most of my career, I lived and breathed human resources.
    Hard work led to results, results led to recognition, and recognition led to promotion. I climbed steadily, earning a senior position in a corporate world that was familiar, structured, and, if I’m honest — comfortable. I stayed with one organisation due to loyalty and comfort.

    It wasn’t ideal, but it was known. And known feels safe.

    Then life did what it does best — it disrupted the plan. A curveball. Big one! Circumstances changed, and suddenly, comfort was no longer an option.

    At 50-plenty, I made a choice that terrified me: I left what I knew and stepped into real estate — an industry I had zero experience in. No track record. No handbook. Just a clear vision, strong values, and a fierce determination to figure it out.

    The Steep Learning Curve

    The learning curve wasn’t just steep — it was vertical. Every day demanded discipline, focus, and humility. I had to build credibility from scratch, learn legislation, processes, new systems, navigate new challenges, and adapt to a world where results were instant and visible. I was doing this from the front, not as an agent but as a franchise leader. I knew many people were waiting for me to fall.

    But with integrity, innovation, and excellence as my anchors, the impossible started becoming achievable. Slowly, a business began to grow — one built not just on numbers, but on people, purpose, and principle.

    The Power of Choice

    Change is uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s terrifying. There were moments I wanted to run back to what I knew — the safety of the familiar, the predictability of the old routine. But every time I looked back, I reminded myself: comfort is not the same as contentment.

    Today, I’m where I truly want to be — leading a business that reflects my values, surrounded by a team that shares my vision, and proving (mostly to myself) that it’s never too late to reinvent your path.

    The Curveball

    If you’re standing at the edge of change — take the leap.
    It will be scary. It will be messy. But it will also be extraordinary.

    Because sometimes the hardest choices carry the greatest rewards.

  • Coffee, Clients & Chaos

    Coffee, Clients & Chaos

    If you’ve been in property management longer than a week, you already know this truth: no two days are ever the same. Just when you think you’ve got the day planned out — the calls logged, the inspections scheduled, and the emails (almost) under control — the phone rings.

    And that’s when the chaos begins.

    It might be a tenant reporting a geyser that’s burst at 7am on a Saturday. Or a landlord who suddenly wants to “pop in” during a lease inspection because they’ve just remembered the curtain rods are sentimental. Or maybe it’s the contractor who swears blind they’ll be there at 9am, only to arrive closer to lunchtime… two days later.

    Property Management

    Property management is coffee in one hand and chaos in the other. And between those two things lies the real skill of the job: perspective.

    Because here’s the thing: chaos itself isn’t the problem. Curveballs are part of the territory. Things break. People forget. Life happens. What makes or breaks the experience — for tenants, landlords, and yes, for your own sanity — is how you respond.

    Some practitioners treat every curveball like a catastrophe. They panic, they scramble, they pass on the stress to everyone else in the chain. And suddenly, what was a small bump becomes a full-blown crisis. Others, however, shrug, sip their coffee, and tackle it calmly. Same problem, totally different outcome.

    And the difference usually comes down to culture and mindset. If your culture says “we solve problems, we stay professional, and we treat people with respect,” then chaos doesn’t define you — it just tests you. It becomes a chance to prove your value. Tenants remember the agent who answered the call and sorted the issue. Landlords remember the practitioner who kept their asset protected without drama. And everyone remembers the practitioner who lost it completely — for all the wrong reasons.

    Property management isn’t glamorous. It’s often thankless. But it’s also one of the most human sides of the property game. You’re dealing with people in their homes, landlords with their investments, and service providers trying to juggle five jobs at once. Things will go wrong. But how you show up in that moment — whether you fuel the fire or calm it — is what sets you apart.

    So, when the chaos hits (and it will), take a breath. Take a sip of coffee. Remind yourself: this is part of the job, not a failure of the job. Then roll up your sleeves, find the solution, and remember that today’s chaos is tomorrow’s story — and maybe even tomorrow’s referral.

    At the end of the day, coffee keeps you awake, clients keep you busy, and chaos keeps you sharp. The trick is not to avoid the chaos, but to manage it with enough perspective that when you put your head down at night, you can say: “It was messy, but I handled it.”

    Because in property management, you don’t get to choose the curveballs. But you do get to choose how you swing at them.

  • Why Businesses Must Embrace Change to Survive

    Why Businesses Must Embrace Change to Survive

    Because coffee is essential for survival, culture makes or breaks a business, and life… well, life always throws a few curveballs.

    Doing things the way they’ve always been done is comfortable. It’s familiar. It doesn’t ask too many questions, doesn’t demand too much effort, and lets everyone get on with their day without rocking the boat. It’s the business equivalent of ordering the same takeaway every Friday night — no surprises, no stress, and no chance of discovering something new.

    The current way is proven, right? It got you this far. And yes, it requires less effort than sitting down to rethink how things could be better. But here’s the thing: “the way it’s always been done” has one big problem. At some point, it stops working. Dinosaurs did things the same way for a very long time too… and we know how that ended.

    It’s easy to confuse “what worked yesterday” with “what will work tomorrow.” Businesses fall into this trap all the time. They perfect their systems, they polish their processes, and then they stop looking ahead. For a while, the results keep coming in, and everyone pats themselves on the back for sticking to the formula. But then the market shifts, technology evolves, customer expectations change — and suddenly the formula isn’t delivering. The dinosaur is still stomping around proudly, but the asteroid is already on the way.

    Courage

    Clinging to old ways feels safe. Innovation feels risky. It requires energy, creativity, and often investment. And sometimes it fails — which is terrifying for leaders who are trying to protect the business. But the bigger risk is not failing at innovation. The bigger risk is failing to innovate at all. Because in business, standing still is not neutral. Standing still is falling behind.

    The danger is subtle at first. Maybe you lose a deal to a competitor who’s adopted new technology. Maybe your once-loyal clients drift toward someone who offers a slicker, more modern service. Maybe your team feels frustrated because they can see the world moving on, but leadership won’t budge from “the way we’ve always done it.” Eventually, the gap grows too wide to ignore. And what used to be a strength — your consistency, your predictability — becomes a weakness.

    This is why leaders need to resist the comfort zone. A comfort zone is a great place to rest, but it’s a terrible place to build a business. Innovation doesn’t mean reinventing everything overnight. It means having the courage to ask uncomfortable questions. Is this process still working? Is there a smarter way to do this? Does this strategy prepare us for the next five years, or just get us through the next five months?

    And let’s be clear: not all traditions are bad. Some old ways survive because they really do work. But they only stay effective because someone, at some point, checked whether they still made sense. The key isn’t to throw everything out; the key is to keep testing what you’ve got against the world you’re operating in. A business that refuses to test its assumptions is a business that’s waiting for extinction.

    So yes, doing things the way you’ve always done them is easier. It’s the low-effort, low-risk option. But easy doesn’t build the future. Easy doesn’t differentiate you from competitors. Easy doesn’t inspire your team or excite your clients. Some leaders build teams around this and think they are doing a fabulous job. Easy is just… easy. And in business, easy almost always comes before irrelevant.

    The challenge

    The challenge for every leader is to balance the comfort of what works with the curiosity of what could work better. To resist the temptation of sitting in yesterday’s success and instead keep asking what tomorrow demands. Because in the end, the businesses that thrive are the ones that evolve. They adapt, they innovate, they embrace change. They don’t wait for the asteroid.

    The leadership lesson is simple: don’t be a dinosaur. Respect the past, but don’t live in it. Keep moving forward, even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially if it’s uncomfortable. Because discomfort is the sign that you’re growing, while comfort is the sign that you’ve stopped. And in business, once you’ve stopped, it’s only a matter of time before you’re nothing more than a fossil.

  • Why Company Culture Beats Strategy Every Time

    Why Company Culture Beats Strategy Every Time

    You’ve probably heard the line: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s one of those quotes that gets tossed around in boardrooms and LinkedIn posts. But here’s the thing — it’s true.

    Now, don’t get me wrong. Strategy is important. Without it, you’re like a GPS with no destination plugged in — plenty of maps, but no idea where you’re going. But culture? Culture is the fuel in the tank. Without it, the car isn’t going anywhere.

    Culture is how your team behaves when nobody’s watching. It’s the vibe in the office, the way your people talk to clients, and the unspoken rules about “how we do things around here.”

    If your culture is toxic, even the most brilliant strategy won’t stick. It’s like planting a beautiful garden in concrete — you can water it, fertilise it, talk to the plants if you want… but nothing’s growing except perhaps the weeds.

    On the flip side, if your culture is strong, your strategy finally has the soil it needs to take root and grow.

    Culture doesn’t just “happen.” It’s shaped — by values and brand identity.

    • Values are your non-negotiables. The things you stand for.
    • Brand identity is how those values show up to the world. It’s not just your logo; it’s the promise you make to clients — and how your team lives that promise daily.

    When your values and brand are clear, your strategy has direction. Without them, you’re just another business chasing targets with no real differentiator.

    Here’s where most businesses stumble: tough times hit, and suddenly the temptation of “easy wins” takes over.

    • Drop prices just to land clients.
    • Take mandates for properties that are unlikely to sell. Lots of listings make us look busy and successful.
    • Copy what the competition is doing.
    • Cut corners.

    And yes, the numbers might look good — for about five minutes. But in chasing easy wins, you risk blending in. You become just another face in the crowd. And in business, especially real estate, if you’re the same as everyone else… why should anyone choose you?

    Differentiators are the Secret Weapon….Your differentiators are what make you stand out. But here’s the catch: differentiators only work if your team understands them and lives them. If even one person doesn’t buy in, the cracks show. And clients notice cracks faster than you think.

    A sustainable business isn’t built on one-off wins; it’s built on consistency. Quick profits are great for bragging rights, but repeat clients and referrals are what keep the lights on long-term.

    Sustainability means sometimes saying “no” to a deal that doesn’t align with your values. It means prioritising the brand’s reputation over short-term numbers. And yes, it means you’ll sleep better at night — which is worth more than a quick commission any day.

    Wrapping it up

    At the end of the day, strategy is what you plan. Culture is what you practice. And practice beats plans every time.

    If you protect your culture — through hiring, decision-making, and client service — your strategy has the foundation it needs to succeed. If you compromise on culture, even the best strategy won’t save you.

    Leadership lesson: Don’t hire anyone who doesn’t align with your differentiators and values. If you make a mistake and recruit someone who is not aligned, the culture will spit them out. The cost of a misaligned hire lasts far longer than their tenure. The right culture lasts long after the storm has passed.

  • Is Real Estate Just a Numbers Game — or Is There a Different Way to Win?

    Is Real Estate Just a Numbers Game — or Is There a Different Way to Win?

    Numbers racing the clock
    Photo by Black ice on Pexels.com

    For decades, the real estate world has celebrated the numbers game.More listings. More calls. More showhouses. More deals.
    The hustle was the hero.

    But somewhere between the spreadsheets and the “how many units this month?” updates, we started losing something — the why.

    The industry is changing. And maybe, just maybe, “more” isn’t the metric that matters anymore. It may just be time to stop chasing numbers and chasing the clock

    The Old Game: Volume Over Value

    The old playbook said success was about scale: hit targets, close deals, repeat. It rewarded busyness over brilliance and equated activity with achievement. Service was forgotten as the next deal was chased.

    But the truth? Chasing numbers alone is exhausting. You end up managing chaos, not growth. You lose the spark that made you love property in the first place — the human connection, the creativity, the joy of helping someone find their space in the world.

    The New Game: Quality and Innovation

    Real success today looks different. It’s not in the number of listings you post, but the experience you create. It’s not how many doors you open, but how meaningfully you open them.

    Innovation isn’t about tech alone — it’s about thinking differently.
    About refining every touchpoint, from how a tenant logs maintenance to how a landlord receives their statement. About delivering peace of mind, not paperwork.

    The same is true for sales.

    Quality and innovation turn transactions into relationships and agents into trusted advisors. That’s where longevity lives.

    The Sweet Spot: Blending Heart with Strategy

    Data still matters — of course it does. But data without direction is just noise. When numbers serve your purpose, not the other way around, you’ve found the balance.

    So maybe the question isn’t “How many properties did you rent this month?” Maybe it’s “How many people would choose you again?”

    The Curveball

    The agents and agencies that thrive in the next decade won’t just be the ones with the biggest portfolios.
    They’ll be the ones who innovate with empathy, serve with substance, and play the long game — not the numbers game.

    Because in real estate, as in life, quality isn’t a statistic. It’s a standard.

  • The Art of Recruiting the Right People

    The Art of Recruiting the Right People

    Everyone is unique. Find the right match for your culture.

    Because coffee is essential for survival, culture makes or breaks a business, and life… well, life always throws a few curveballs.

    Recruiting isn’t about filling seats. It’s about shaping the future of the business. The people you bring in define the culture, the reputation, and the ability of the business to grow. Which means every hire is either a step forward… or a step back.

    And let’s be honest: we’ve all had that one hire who looked fantastic on paper but turned out to be about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. That’s why the rule is simple: don’t just hire smart people — hire the right people. Experience in the industry can be the biggest setback when trying to move forward.

    Culture is like Wi-Fi: you can’t always see it, but when it’s weak, everyone notices.

    A company’s culture is the invisible framework that drives how people think, act, and treat clients. When someone aligns with that culture, they amplify it. When they don’t, they disrupt it.

    The best hires see their career as an ongoing project, not a final product. They’re the ones who read, ask questions, seek feedback, and occasionally send you an article at 11pm because they’ve just discovered a new trend (you can curse them for the late-night email, but you’ll secretly admire it too).

    A team made up of these kinds of people raises the bar for everyone else. Growth-minded people are contagious — in the best possible way.

    The business world changes faster than the hairstyle choices of a teenager. If your team can’t adapt, you’ll be stuck playing catch-up.

    The right people don’t just tolerate change — they lean into it. They’re the ones who suggest smarter ways of doing things, who aren’t afraid of new tech, and who look at disruption as a chance to get ahead. The wrong people, meanwhile, will still be clutching their flip phones while the rest of the industry moves online.

    It’s like dating…

    Recruiting is like dating — if you rush it, you’ll regret it. Filling a vacancy with the first available option usually ends in heartbreak (and possibly legal fees). Be intentional.

    • Hire for values, not just skills. A great CV means nothing if the values don’t line up.
    • Ask culture-driven questions. “Tell me about a time you chose long-term gain over a quick win.” If they stare blankly, you’ve got your answer.
    • Look for curiosity. People who ask good questions in an interview are more likely to keep learning.
    • Test resilience. Ask how they’ve handled failure or change. If they’ve “never failed,” either they’re lying, or they’ve been asleep for most of their career.
    • Don’t rush. A short vacancy is less painful than a long-term mistake.

    The right hire is like planting a tree: the benefits grow over time and provide shade for years to come. The wrong hire is more like planting a weed: it spreads quickly, chokes the good stuff, and takes forever to remove.

    The impact of recruiting the right people shows up in team energy, client satisfaction, and business sustainability. And the impact of hiring the wrong ones? Let’s just say it’s the gift that keeps on giving — and not in a good way.

    Examine the detail.
  • What You’ll Find Between the Coffee and the Curveballs

    What You’ll Find Between the Coffee and the Curveballs

    Because coffee is essential for survival, culture makes or breaks a business, and life… well, life always throws a few curveballs.

    Every good series needs an introduction, so here’s mine. It’s not a blueprint, not a textbook, and certainly not a “10 steps to guaranteed success” kind of thing (if only it were that simple). This is just me — sharing what I’ve learned, what I’ve messed up, what I’ve tried, and what I’ve seen in business, leadership, and life.

    The series is called Coffee, Culture & Curveballs for three reasons:

    1. Coffee is essential. Without it, most of us wouldn’t make it through the first email of the day, never mind a board meeting.
    2. Culture is the heartbeat of any business. It’s what keeps strategy alive, teams motivated, and clients coming back. Get it right, and everything flows. Get it wrong, and… well, you’ll be needing more coffee.
    3. Curveballs are inevitable. Life, leadership, real estate, business — they all have a way of throwing surprises when you least expect them. Some you swing at and miss, some you connect with beautifully, and some smack you square on the head and leave you dazed for a bit.

    I’m not writing this series because I have all the answers. Far from it. If leadership has taught me anything, it’s that nobody really has it all figured out. We’re all just trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again. But along the way, I’ve read books that made me rethink everything, worked with people who taught me lessons (sometimes the hard way), and lived through experiences that were equal parts humbling, frustrating, and funny in hindsight.

    Some of what I’ll share will be lessons in leadership, some in running a business, and some in just navigating life when it feels like the universe is throwing curveballs faster than you can duck. I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d never, ever do again (consider this a gift to your future self).

    You’ll find stories about hiring the right people, protecting culture like your life depends on it, stepping out of comfort zones, avoiding the dreaded “rotten apple hire,” and the ongoing battle of resisting easy wins when the long game matters more. And yes, there will be dinosaurs, apples, and the occasional dodgy metaphor involving Wi-Fi.

    This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. It’s about leading in a way that balances business goals with human realities. And it’s about remembering that coffee, culture, and curveballs aren’t just catchy words — they’re the daily reality of anyone trying to lead, grow, and survive in business. So grab a cup, settle in, and join me for the ride. I can’t promise I’ll always be right, but I can promise it’ll be honest, light-hearted, and hopefully useful. And if nothing else, at least you’ll get a laugh or two along the way.