I’ve always believed birthdays are like a personal New Year. They’re a natural moment to reflect, to reset, and to realign—not because life slows down (mine rarely does), but because the milestone itself invites clarity. 

This month I turn 43. And while the pace of my life and business doesn’t exactly pause, I do pause long enough to look back at what I’ve learned—and what I want to carry forward. 

Last year, I shared 42 life lessons with you, and the response was incredible. This year, I’m keeping the tradition alive, but with more shape. I’ve organized my lessons into three categories that reflect where I spend most of my energy: business ownership, personal growth, and parenting & life. 

Here are my 43 lessons at 43—the wisdom I’ve earned, the reminders I need, and the truths I keep coming back to:

Business Ownership 

1. Action changes everything. 

2. Trust is your greatest currency. 

3. Perfectionism will strangle your growth if you let it. 

4. Hire slowly, release quickly—but always with dignity. 

5. Boundaries protect your business as much as your personal life. 

6. Say “no” more often so you can say “yes” to the right things. 

7. Leadership is presence, not position. 

8. The right clients energize you; the wrong ones drain you. 

9. Invest in your team—it always multiplies back. 

10. Someday is today. 

 

Personal Growth 
11. Done is better than perfect. 
12. Your energy tells the truth before your words do. 
13. Self-discipline is the highest form of self-love. 
14. Trust the timing of your life. 
15. One day or day one—you choose. 
16. You cannot heal the parts of yourself that you hate. 
17. When you love yourself, your taste in people changes. 
18. You don’t outgrow people—you outgrow versions of yourself. 
19. Be intentional with your mindset; it shapes your reality. 
20. Your presence is your power. 
21. You’re allowed to change your mind. 
22. Patience is an action. 

Parenting & Life 
23. Love people where they are. 
24. Spend time with the people you love—you won’t wish you had sent one last email. 
25. Boundaries are a reflection of your self-worth. 
26. Give yourself room to be human. 
27. Fortune favors the bold. 
28. Teach your kids that failure is learning. 
29. Presence over productivity, every time. 
30. At the end of the day, connection matters more than achievement. 
31. Temporary. Everything. 
32. Lead your family with the same clarity and kindness you bring to work. 
33. It’s not about balance—it’s about priorities. 
34. Patience with your kids is equal to patience with yourself. 
35. Don’t push the river; allow yourself (and them) to evolve. 
36. Be bold enough to bet on yourself—your kids are watching. 
37. You can’t miss what’s meant for you. 
38. Courage expands your life. 
39. The obstacle is the way. 
40. One honest conversation can change a relationship. 
41. Gratitude shifts everything. 
42. Life is both fragile and resilient—treat it like both. 
43. Presence is the legacy you’ll leave. 

Birthdays may not slow me down, but they do give me a chance to take stock. A chance to look at what I’ve learned, what I’ve let go of, and what I want to create next. 

So, as I step into 43, I’m choosing to treat it like a new year—one where these lessons aren’t just words, but practices.