Hi Playmakers,

If you only judged success by what people post online, you’d think everyone is winning.

Perfect launches. Clean growth curves. Effortless momentum.

What you don’t see are the missed deadlines, the false starts, the decisions that didn’t work, or the seasons where progress looks quiet instead of impressive. Social media doesn’t reward those stories, so most people never tell them.

This year, I had plenty of wins. But I also had failures.

And since highlight reels are everywhere, I want to share the part that usually stays off the feed: My 2025 #FailWall

These are my five biggest failures this year, and what I’m changing because of them.

Failure #1: Taking On Too Much
I overcommitted.

I had big, ambitious plans to do everything and grow all my platforms. Yes, I did grow a lot, but I launched too many projects at once and paid for it (like the podcast I launched while pregnant and had to put on hiatus). Some things moved forward. Others stalled.

What’s changing: Fewer projects. More depth..

Failure #2: A Work Environment That Went Sideways
I tried to build a new office and a home addition. It turned into a disaster and is now in litigation.

Your environment matters. When it’s unstable, everything else suffers.

What’s changing: I rushed and under-vetted the builder — one reference wasn’t enough. I prioritized speed over diligence, and it cost me time, energy, and focus. Going forward, I’m being far more scrutinizing before committing to anything that affects my environment or how I work.

Failure #3: Diluting My Message
I tried to adapt my voice instead of trusting it.

It never works. When you’re not passionate about what you’re writing, people feel it. But when you start to try to be everything for everyone, you lose the plot.

What’s changing: Expect a much tighter focus in 2026. My North Star is back.

Failure #4: A Flat Net Worth Year
This one stung.

For the first time since I was 25, my net worth didn’t meaningfully grow. I invested heavily in upgrading my home and my life, and I took time off while pregnant and raising my baby. Those gains won’t show up immediately, but they will compound over time.

Still — oof.

What’s changing: This was a gentler coast year. 2026 is about growing big again.

Failure #5: Waiting Too Long to Make Hard Calls
I delayed decisions I already knew the answer to because I didn’t want to deal with the fallout or the pain of changing them. This was in both my personal and professional life.

This is a classic issue for an ADHD entrepreneur like myself. Still, that hesitation cost me time, energy, and focus.

What’s changing: I’m becoming ruthless about failing fast and moving on. Comfort is no longer the goal.

Here’s the point:

Highlight reels distort reality. They make normal seasons of consolidation, recovery, or recalibration look like failure. They’re not.

If this year felt slower or messier than you expected, you’re not behind. You’re just in a chapter people don’t post about.

Thanks for being here for the real version.

Jenny

P.S. If you’re up for it, show me your 2025 #FailWall and tag me on LinkedIn.

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Congratulations to my top women founder story of 2025, Mira Murati!

Born in Albania and trained as an engineer, Mira Murati helped build OpenAI into the most powerful AI company in the world. But when the mission shifted, she made a rare move in tech: she walked away.

Today, she’s building Thinking Machines Lab with a singular focus on aligning AI with human values.

Meet Mira Murati.

Find one place you’re spending time or money, like success is guaranteed.

Trim it by 20%. Reallocate that time or money toward something that compounds quietly.

That’s how long-term winners think.

Your 2026 plan need this inspo from Jesse Itzler:

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