As we prepare and set goals for the upcoming year, reflecting on how far you’ve come and where you want to go next as an entrepreneur is important. Join our host, A.J. Lawrence, in this special episode as he shares his top 5 business learnings from the brilliant guests in 2023. Let’s set the tone for a successful 2024.

About A.J. Lawrence

A.J. Lawrence is the Founder and CEO of the award-winning JAR Group, a global growth strategy and management agency. You probably also know him as the host of Beyond 8 Figures. A.J. is a dedicated mentor, growth strategist, and angel investor. He calls himself a “journeyman entrepreneur” because he finds great joy in learning from accomplished experts and finding ways to apply these insights to his life and business.

Having led his award-winning digital marketing agency into the INC. 500 twice and having several 7-figure exits, he knows exactly what it takes to get where he is today. Apart from providing consulting services to his clients, he also gives back and shares his expertise with the community by hosting Beyond 8 Figures and welcoming other inspiring entrepreneurs to the show.

Craft your own entrepreneurial journey in 2024

With the new year just around the corner, ask yourself, ‘Where do I want to be this time next year?’ More precisely, ‘What kind of entrepreneur do I want to be?’ 

Before you write any resolutions and business goals this year, take the time to reflect on lessons, achievements, and failures from 2023. Identify the highs and lows, the opportunities you seized, and the challenges you successfully overcame. Acknowledge the overall progress you’ve made both personally and professionally. This is the perfect time of the year for introspection and past year reflection. Take some rest from hard work and give yourself a pat on the back. And then, it’s time to get to work!

2024 has the potential to be your best year so far, but it’s all up to you. Embrace the learnings from 2023 and stick with us at Beyond 8 Figures – we’re here to share insights, guide, and inspire you with every new episode. 

Key Insights

• Believe in possibilities. Believe you can and you will. As A.J. puts it in this episode, a can-do attitude can weather any storm. So, start consistently working on the belief that you will succeed in your business goals. That’s how you will be able to take the necessary actions to achieve them and overcome any challenges. (02:09)

• Define what success means for you. Success means different things for different people. Defining your version of success is important to set clear goals and priorities. When you have a clear idea of where you’re going, you can better decide on the next steps and build a business that aligns with your values and mission. (04:13)

• Communicate your vision consistently. Setting goals is not enough. You also need to consistently communicate them with your team as you move toward them together. Consistently communicating your vision will encourage your team to keep going and help recognize and celebrate the progress you’re making together, ultimately fostering a resilient team culture. (06:05)

• Invest in your people, and they’ll invest in your vision. It’s no secret that growing your team means growing your company. When you invest in your team’s development, you practically invest in your company’s future. Skilled people deliver better results; that’s a fact. But this kind of leadership goes beyond mere numbers. It inspires and motivates people to drive innovation, work more productively, and ultimately push together toward a shared vision. (08:40)

• Take small steps to achieve big goals. There’s a reason we say ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ Achieving big wins involves setting up the right foundation and making consistent, incremental progress toward your goals. So, take the time to build a strong foundation and a resilient team. Then, maintain your pace; when the right opportunity comes, you'll be fully prepared to seize it. (12:24)

A.J.’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“A can-do attitude can weather any storm. [...] Just consistently work on the belief that you will succeed. That doesn't make it that you will succeed, but it will help when problems come up.” (02:24) 

Connect with A.J.: 

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Resources Mentioned:

• Bakari Akil, Nomad Noir
• Billie Simmons, Daylight
• Ben Kelly, Acquisition Ace
• Mackenzie Drazan, MiResource
• Amit Garg, Tau Ventures
• Maxwell Reed, Kingdom of Something
• Leon Winkes, IWB
• Sid Pandiya, Kona
• Sean Si, Seo Hacker
• Philip Blackett, Dream Business Makeover
• Elliott Holland, Guardian Due Diligence
• Ray Titus, United Franchise Group

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