2024 was a rollercoaster year for me—personally and professionally. I made a mistake that cost me over $125,000. My goal with this post is to help you avoid making the same ones.

Here are the four biggest business lessons I learned the hard way—and how you can use them to grow your agency without burning through cash.

1. Not Every Opportunity Is a Good Opportunity

One of the biggest mistakes I made this year was investing in a new software tool without validating whether it was right for my market. It wasn’t about the product—it was about the timing, the execution, and whether my audience actually wanted it.

Key takeaway:
Before adding any new product or service, test it. Run small experiments. Talk to your audience. Give it away for free. You need proof before you build.

2. Timing Is Everything

I launched something new at the worst possible time—when I wasn’t lean enough to take the risk, but not flush enough to absorb the blow.

There are two ideal times to experiment in business:

• When you’re just starting out (you have nothing to lose)
  
  

• When you’re at your peak (you have the capital to test and pivot)
  
  

Worst time? The middle. That’s where I was.

Key takeaway:
Validate the what, but don’t forget the when. Strategic timing can make or break your new offer.

3. Hiring the Wrong People Will Kill Your Growth

I’ve long been a fan of virtual assistants and remote hires, but I learned that not every role can be outsourced internationally—especially high-touch roles like U.S.-based sales.

You can’t train cultural nuance. I tried. It cost me over $70,000.

But when I finally brought on the right commission-based sales rep, things changed fast. The right hire brought new energy, better conversion rates, and stronger team morale.

Key takeaway:
Match the role to the region. And don’t sleep on commission-based talent—they're hungry, motivated, and can grow with you.

4. You Need to Separate Acquisition from Fulfillment

For too long, I ran everything myself—ads, sales, fulfillment. That worked when I was just starting, but it killed my ability to scale.

Here’s what changed my business:

• I built an acquisition team: solely focused on leads, sales, and outreach.
  
  

• I built a fulfillment team: focused on client delivery and results.
  
  

• I added team leads over each side, reducing overlap and confusion.
  
  

When I finally saw someone else close a high-ticket offer I built? That was the moment I knew I could scale.

Key takeaway:
Don’t be the bottleneck. Build systems. Assign ownership. Create clear lanes.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Avoiding Mistakes—It’s About Learning From Them

The reality is this: you will make mistakes. You’ll hire the wrong people. Launch too early. Miss market signals.

But if you reflect, learn, and adapt—you’ll grow. I’m still learning. I’m still investing. And I’m still building.

My challenge to you:
Don’t make the same $125,000 mistake I did. Ask questions. Test ideas. Hire smart. And build lean.

If you’re an agent or business owner looking to grow smarter in 2025, Agent Lead Lab is here to help.