Rethink, Refocus, and Follow Up: How to Take Ownership of Your Business in 2025

Jun 30

Good morning and Happy Monday!

Whether you’re easing into your week with a full calendar or taking a quiet moment before things get moving, I want to challenge you to pause and reflect—not just on what’s ahead this week, but on the big picture: your business plan for 2025.

Because here’s the truth…

The market is shifting. Opportunities are everywhere. But if you’re still operating from the same habits and patterns that didn’t serve you last year—you’re already behind.

2025 is expected to be a powerful year for business, especially in real estate, lending, and sales-driven industries. But whether or not you take advantage of that momentum is entirely up to you.

So let’s take a real, honest look in the mirror and ask the hard questions.

Start With the Tough Questions

Let’s get intentional about the direction of your business. Grab a journal, open a fresh doc, or take a quiet walk—but take a few minutes to ask yourself:

Am I repeating habits that no longer serve me?
Am I energized and excited about my work—or just surviving it?
Am I testing and implementing new strategies—or coasting on old ones?
Am I consistently following up with my leads—or letting opportunities fall through the cracks?

Sometimes we keep doing what’s familiar—not because it works, but because it’s comfortable. We stick to outdated routines or marketing strategies, even when they’re not producing results. We avoid change because it feels overwhelming, and we say things like “I’ll get to it next month,” or “I’ll reset after this next deal closes.”

But your business will only grow when you do.

Burnout Is Real—But It Doesn’t Have to Be Permanent

Let’s talk about something we don’t acknowledge enough: this business is hard.

Whether you’re in real estate, lending, coaching, or entrepreneurship—being “on” all the time, managing leads, delivering results, staying visible online, keeping up with market trends, and balancing life outside of work... it’s a lot.

So if you’re feeling tired, uninspired, or disconnected from the “why” behind your work—you’re not alone. Burnout can sneak in quietly when we’ve been operating in survival mode for too long.

But here’s the good news: burnout isn’t a signal to quit—it’s a signal to shift.

Sometimes the solution isn’t to push harder—it’s to realign. To let go of the things draining you and recommit to the parts that light you up. To stop carrying your business like a burden and start building it with clarity and intention.

Your Business Plan Isn’t Just a Document—It’s a Compass

If you wrote a business plan at the start of the year, go back and look at it. If you didn’t, now’s a great time to start.

Ask yourself:

What were my original goals?
What action steps did I say I’d take?
Am I on track—or have I drifted?
Do these goals still excite me?

Your business plan should feel like a compass—something that keeps you oriented toward your vision, even when the day-to-day gets noisy.

But a compass only works when you check it. Otherwise, you might be heading somewhere you never meant to go.

So dust it off. Update it. Make it real. And above all—make sure it reflects the business (and life) you actually want to create.

Follow-Up Is the Lifeline of Your Business

I have to say it, because it’s the thing I see neglected the most—are you following up with your leads?

Like, really following up?

Not just when they respond.
Not just when they’re “ready.”
Not just when you feel like it.

If there’s one thing that separates high performers from everyone else, it’s follow-up.

You can have the best social media, the slickest CRM, and the most well-thought-out business plan—but if you’re not staying in front of your leads consistently, you are leaving money on the table.

Here’s what strong follow-up looks like:

It’s proactive, not reactive.
It’s value-driven, not pushy.
It’s strategic, not sporadic.
It’s personal, not templated.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple rule:
Every lead in your pipeline should hear from you at least once a week.

Even if it’s just a check-in, a helpful article, a voice memo, or a personal note—stay present. Stay relevant. Stay human.

Think in Abundance, Not in Desperation

Another shift we all need to make—especially in slower seasons—is moving from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset.

When you start thinking:

“There aren’t enough clients.”
“No one is buying right now.”
“I don’t know if I can make it this year...”

You start operating out of fear. You get tighter. More reactive. More hesitant.

But when you choose to believe:

“There’s more than enough business to go around.”
“The right clients are already looking for someone like me.”
“Every action I take is planting seeds that will grow”—

You show up differently.

You lead instead of chase.
You create instead of wait.
You trust instead of grasp.

It doesn’t mean you won’t have hard days—it means you anchor into possibility, not panic.

Take Radical Ownership of Your Outcomes

Here’s the hard truth: your success is your responsibility.

Not your market’s.
Not your leads’.
Not your team’s.
Not the algorithm’s.

Yours.

If your business isn’t where you want it to be, take an honest look at what’s within your control:

Have you been consistent with your outreach?
Are you treating your leads like people, not numbers?
Are you dedicating time each week to learn, grow, and refine your process?
Are you getting in front of the right people, or hiding behind “busy work”?

This isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about empowerment.

Because the moment you realize you’re in charge of your own results is the moment you get your power back.

Your Challenge This Week: Reset, Recommit, Refocus

Let’s turn all of this into action. Here’s your 5-part challenge for the week:

Audit your current habits.
What routines are you still doing that no longer work? Make a list. Be honest. Then decide what needs to go, and what needs to evolve.
Check your business plan.
Is it still aligned with your vision? Are you actually following it? Update it or rework it if needed—and commit to using it as your weekly compass.
Follow up with 10 leads.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t overthink the wording. Just reach out with value, clarity, and purpose.
Do something energizing.
Reconnect with the part of your business that lights you up. Record a reel. Host a coffee chat. Teach a mini workshop. Whatever fuels you—do it.
Own your role in your success.
Choose one thing you’ve been avoiding—and take the first step forward. Make the call. Send the message. Start the thing.

You don’t have to do it all perfectly. You just have to keep showing up with intention.

Don’t Miss the Boat in 2025

You don’t need to wait until next quarter. You don’t need to wait for a sign. You don’t need to wait until it’s easier.

Start now.

There is so much opportunity ahead—but only for those who are willing to do the work, stay consistent, and take ownership of their results.

So here’s your reminder:

Stop repeating what no longer works
Take care of your energy
Follow up like your business depends on it (because it does)
Lead with abundance
And show up for YOU

2025 can be your breakthrough year—but only if you decide to meet it with focus, resilience, and ownership.

Let’s go get it.

-AD

Alexa DePaolo