Before we close out the year...

Before we shut the lights off on 2025, I wanted to send a quick note to say thank you.

Thank you for opening these emails, replying to them, sharing them, and letting me be part of your week. Writing to this community has become one of my favorite parts of the work I get to do. It keeps me honest, it keeps me curious, and it keeps me grounded.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I call the seven spokes of gratitude. The things that make my life feel full. On the family side, I’m grateful for the people who keep me anchored and remind me why any of this matters. On the work side, I’m grateful for the colleagues who let me show up every day and solve problems for a living. And on the community side (that’s you), I’m grateful for everyone who picked up F*ck Rock Bottom, sent it to a friend, or reached out to share what it meant to them. Knowing the book is helping people has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this year. 

A few highlights from the year:

The book launch. What a ride. The conversations that came out of it really reinforced why being vulnerable and sharing my story was worth it. 

4500 Western. A project that took sweat, patience, and a thick skin. Watching that corner of Raleigh turn into something the community will actually use has been worth every late-night decision and every early-morning call.

Speaking Engagements. I got to speak in a lot of different rooms this year. Some about resilience, some about entrepreneurship, some about commercial real estate, and some about the messy middle where all of those overlap. Every audience taught me something new. 

Burning Man. Let’s just say: you haven’t lived until you’ve had your sense of ego, time, and personal cleanliness all stripped away in the desert at once. Always a humbling, comical, and meaningful reset.

Now I want to ask you something as we look ahead.

What did you enjoy most this year? What resonated? What should I go deeper on next year?

Real estate? Resilience? Entrepreneurship? Failing forward? Family? Community? Something completely different?

Tell me what you want more of, or less of. Tell me what would genuinely help you. Tell me what you’re curious about. Are there any guests, communities, or ideas you want me to explore?

Just hit reply. I read them all.

Thank you for being here. For the support, the honesty, the encouragement, and the conversations. I don’t take it lightly.

Here’s to closing out the year with gratitude and opening the next one with purpose.

– G

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