You Don't Get the Life You Hope For

Welcome to The Real Work, weekly insights for high-performers and entrepreneurs who've outgrown their current success and are ready to rebuild from their authentic foundation.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Stanley, because your best ideas shouldn't die in the algorithm.

100,000 views on a LinkedIn post I dictated while making my daughter alphabet soup.

That's not a flex. That's what happens when you stop guessing at what works and let a tool do the heavy lifting.

​Stanley is an AI that turns your thoughts, stories, and experiences into LinkedIn content that actually performs. It interviews you to pull out your best ideas, sends you tailored content prompts every week, and helps you sound like yourself instead of a robot.

As a father of four, I don't have time to study copywriting formulas. Stanley lets me create content that gets results while I'm living my actual life.

Try it free for 3 days with my link. And if you sign up, let me know. I'll send you my favorite writing tips I use alongside the tool.

And now, let's get started . . .

You don't get the life you hope for.

You get the life you tolerate.

Most end-of-year newsletters are filled with advice about what YOU should do to live a better life in 2026. Resolutions. Habits. Hacks.

I'm not going to do that.

Instead, I want to share how I actually had a breakthrough year in 2025. Maybe some of what I discovered will help you carry momentum into whatever's next.

The Speaker Reel Problem

Over the past few months, I've been heavily focused on building my speaking career. I started attracting organizers from international conferences and events, which forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth.

My speaker reel wasn't good enough.

I thought it was solid. Until I saw what "good" actually looked like.

A friend showed me her reel. It was incredible. Cinematic. The kind of thing that makes event planners say yes before you even finish the pitch.

It cost her $10,000.

Two problems with that.

First, that's still a decent amount of money to me. Second, I didn't even have footage of my new keynote recorded on stage yet that I could actually share.

I was stuck. But I also knew something else. I was just one speaker reel away from unlocking the next level of my career.

The Unlock

Around this time, I joined a new co-working space. Turns out they have a theater that seats 75 people for events.

Then I attended a mastermind with a few prominent authors and entrepreneurs. One of them made a suggestion that I thought was absurd.

"Why not just host your own event to film your keynote?"

Wait. That's allowed? In that case, I could do this at my new co-working space.

It was like an unlock in my brain. Sometimes the path forward isn't finding the right opportunity. It's creating it.

So I started doing the math. Venue. Food. Videography. It was going to cost thousands of dollars.

That's when I reached out to Stan for help.

Approach With an Offer, Not an Ask

I need to be honest here. I had never done anything like this before.

I've paid to create content. I've invested in my business. But I had never reached out to a company and asked them to sponsor an event. This was completely new territory.

But I also knew that just asking for money wasn't going to work. Most people make that mistake.

So I thought about what I could actually offer.

Stan is a platform that helps creators sell digital products, courses, and coaching. They have an AI tool called Stanley that I've been using to write my LinkedIn content. It takes your thoughts, stories, and experiences and turns them into posts that actually perform. It even interviews you to pull out your best ideas so you're not staring at a blank screen.

So I pitched them an idea.

"What if we host an event where we get creators together in Brooklyn, and you can get footage of them actually using Stanley? Real reactions. Real creators. Live on camera. It's a way for you to show trusted voices endorsing the tool."

They said yes.

And you know what the very first thing I did was?

I hired an event project manager.

I'm serious. Before I booked catering. Before I sent a single invite. I hired someone to make sure I didn't mess this whole thing up. Because getting the "yes" is only half the battle. You have to actually deliver.

Why did this work? Three reasons.

I was clear on what I wanted and why.

I framed it around THEIR benefit, not mine.

There was already trust. One of the co-founders saw me speak two years ago in Boise, Idaho.

And that last part is what stopped me in my tracks.

The Full Circle Moment

That event in Boise? It was the first time I ever talked about losing my son TJ on stage.

It was terrifying. But it was also the moment everything changed for me. My career. My identity. My willingness to be real in front of strangers.

Years later, the founder of a company that watched that talk is now sponsoring an event where I'll record my new speaker reel.

A reel that will help me reach more people. Help more entrepreneurs rebuild their lives. And continue honoring my son's legacy on every stage I step onto.

You can't plan for that kind of thing.

But you can put yourself in position to receive it.

What Actually Made the Difference

Looking back at 2025, four things made all of this possible.

Audacious goals. I decided I wanted to level up my speaking career even though I didn't have the resources to do it the "normal" way.

Clarity of conviction. I knew exactly what I needed (a better speaker reel) and why it mattered.

The right support. I surrounded myself with people who made wild ideas feel possible.

Standards for myself. If I didn't believe I was worth the investment, I never would have asked for it.

That last one is the one most people skip.

You can have audacious goals. You can have clarity. You can have incredible people around you.

But if you don't have standards for yourself, you'll settle for the subpar version of everything. The mediocre reel. The comfortable pitch. The safe path.

You'll tolerate a life that's less than what you're capable of.

And you'll get exactly that.

Your Turn

What's the one thing standing between you and your next level?

Not five things. One.

Now ask yourself. Are you waiting for permission to go get it? Or are you creating the opportunity yourself?

Drop this into ChatGPT:

"Here's a goal I have for 2026: [insert goal]. I don't have the traditional resources to achieve it. What are three unconventional ways I could create the opportunity instead of waiting for it?"

Then pick the one that scares you the most. And start moving.

Here's to building the life you actually want in 2026.

Stay Up,

Terry

Real Quick If you want to try Stanley for yourself, you get 3 days free with my link. And seriously, if you sign up, shoot me a reply. I'll send you my favorite writing tips that have helped me get millions of views alongside using the tool.

One More The event I mentioned is happening in January 2026. If you're in the NYC area and want to attend, stay tuned. I'll be sharing details soon for those who want to be in the room.

Last One If 2025 taught me anything, it's that the right conversation at the right time can change everything. I do 1:1 coaching calls where we cut through the noise and get you unstuck, whether that's around your business, career, or personal growth. Book a call here.​

Find me on Linke​dIn, YouTube, Instagram, or visit my store.

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