Winners focus on what they can build, not what they can lose.

 

1. Fear is the biggest liar in business. Most people let it dictate their future. But fear has never built an empire—bold action has.

2. Failure isn’t final—quitting is. The most successful people you admire? They’ve failed more times than most people have even tried.

3. You don’t need guarantees—you need guts. If you wait until you feel "ready," you’ll still be in the same place years from now.

4. Winners focus on what they can build, not what they can lose. The difference between success and regret is the questions you ask yourself.

Small Business Tax Breaks For This Year

With the IRS announcing the start of the 2025 tax filing season, entrepreneurs and small businesses are turning attention to all the tax information and documentation they need to file. 

               Sample of some tax breaks available to almost every U.S. business

What do business owners want more than anything today?

From what we have seen at Stryde, business owners today prioritize several key areas:

1. Sustainability: Many seek eco-friendly practices and sustainable growth.
2. Digital Transformation: Embracing technology to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
3. Customer Engagement: Building strong relationships and loyalty through personalized experiences.
4. Financial Stability: Managing costs and improving cash flow to ensure long-term viability.
5. Talent Acquisition: Attracting and retaining skilled employees in a competitive job market.
6. Adaptability: Being able to pivot quickly in response to market changes or disruptions.

These priorities can vary based on the industry and specific challenges faced by each business.

Thinking alone is expensive.

 

1. The fastest path to results is launching imperfectly.
   Every messy start gets you closer to a scalable win.

2. Confidence is built by doing.
   You don’t need to feel ready. You need to act.

3. Nobody remembers your V1.
   But they will remember if you never launch at all.

4. Thinking alone is expensive.
   You’re losing deals every time you choose analysis over action.

Just start...

 

1. Most entrepreneurs lose years trying to "get it right" before they start. Smart ones just start.

2. Your fancy PowerPoint and color-coded Trello board don’t raise capital. Conversations do.

3. You can’t perfect something that doesn’t exist. Get it going so you have something to improve.

4. Doing the right work imperfectly beats doing the wrong work perfectly, every time.

Self-employment tax credit.

 

Recently, social media influencers and marketers have been promoting a so-called “self-employment tax credit.” However, no such credit exists. The misinformation has become so rampant that the IRS recently issued a consumer alert. The alert warns self-employed filers of the misleading credit and urges taxpayers to speak with a trusted tax professional, rather than unreliable social media sources.

This is especially important now, with the IRS recently announcing the start of the 2025 tax filing season. The IRS is urging taxpayers to prepare and be aware of changes affecting their 2024 returns, as well as recommending taxpayers create an online account for secure access to tax information.

Regarding the so-called “self-employment tax credit,” what these influencers are actually pushing is a COVID-era tax credit for sick leave and family leave. This credit was available for self-employed individuals who missed time from work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed to function similarly to credits available to employers at the time. These credits allowed employers to offset the cost of paying their employees when they couldn’t work for COVID-related reasons.

The credit, incorrectly referred to recently on social platforms as a “self-employment tax credit,” was claimed using Form 7202. However, this previous credit expired on September 30th, 2021. It may be possible that a taxpayer qualified for the credit in tax years 2020 or 2021 but failed to claim it at that time. If that’s the case, the taxpayer may be able to amend their returns to claim the credit retroactively.

The key to any successful business is understanding your audience and your industry.

 Every profitable business solves a problem or delivers a transformation. Ask yourself:

• What final result or product will my audience walk away with?

• What pain points can my hobby address?

• What does my audience need?

• How can I stand out?

Cutting out a bad habit.

 

1. Audit your habits. What small, daily choices are keeping you in the same cycle? What needs to change?

2. Eliminate one easy-out excuse. Where have you been choosing convenience over progress? Cut it off and commit to real action.

3. Set up one new system. It could be as simple as automating a task, outsourcing something, or creating a repeatable process to save time.

4. Make one hard decision you’ve been avoiding. Whether it’s a tough conversation, a bold business move, or finally cutting out a bad habit—make the call.

Nobody sits on their deathbed wishing they had wasted more time.

 

1. The people who make it big don’t work because they have to—they work because they want to. They love the game. They see work as an opportunity, not an obligation.

2. “Work-life balance” is a myth when you’re building something great. You don’t see Olympic athletes skipping practice for “balance.” Big results require big focus.

3. Obsession isn’t burnout—it’s fuel. The most successful people aren’t overworked, they’re energized because they focus on what actually moves the needle.

4. The biggest regret isn’t working too hard—it’s looking back and realizing you didn’t do enough when you had the chance. 

Your future self is watching.

 

1. Every shortcut has a cost. The things you avoid today will be the very things that keep you stuck tomorrow.

2. Comfort is a slow trap. The more you choose ease over effort, the harder life becomes in the long run. Success is built in the moments when no one is watching.

3. Habits beat hustle. Working hard is great—but the real game-changer? Setting up systems that keep success inevitable.

4. Your future self is watching. The actions you take today are either setting you up for freedom or frustration. What will your future self thank you for?

You don’t need more money.

 

1. If your money doesn’t have a job, it disappears.
   Unassigned cash always finds a way to get spent, usually on things that don’t grow anything.

2. Most entrepreneurs spend emotionally, not logically.
   They call it “investing,” but it’s just expensive procrastination disguised as progress.

3. You don’t need more money.
   You need better decisions with the money you already have.

4. Asking the right questions before you spend is what separates builders from buyers.
   You either deploy capital with a purpose or watch it vanish chasing validation.

Achieving a goal.

 

Last week, Jessica was feeling stuck.  Here’s what happened next…

Jessica was listening to a podcast and learned about goal resistance.  She realized that her brain was just trying to protect her from feeling stressed or scared. But she didn’t want to listen to that voice anymore. She wanted to write her book!

So, she tried something different. Instead of thinking about writing a whole book, she decided to write for just 10 minutes a day. That’s it—just 10 minutes. It felt so small that her brain didn’t even argue with her.

At first, it didn’t seem like much. But those 10 minutes started to add up. The more she wrote, the more confident she felt. And guess what? The scary feeling went away! Jessica started to enjoy writing again, one small step at a time.

Before she knew it, she had a whole bunch of pages written. She couldn’t believe how much she got done just by starting small.

Jessica realized that the trick to reaching her goals wasn’t about working harder or finding more time. It was about making the goal feel easy and doable. One tiny step at a time.

Here’s a great quote about achieving a goal:

“Little by little, one travels far.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

If you could, please take a minute and think of one thing that you could do now.

Find them.

 

1. Upgrade a skill. What’s one thing—sales, communication, marketing—you could improve that would directly impact your success?

2. Audit your habits. Are your daily actions moving you toward the life you want—or keeping you stuck in the one you have?

3. Surround yourself with higher-level people. Who do you need to be around to think, act, and grow at your next level? Find them.

4. Take action before you feel ready. The best version of you is already out there—but you’ll never meet them by staying comfortable.

Everything external is a reflection of the internal.

 

1. Your bank account reflects your skills. If you want more money, don’t chase dollars—become the kind of person who easily generates them.

2. Success isn’t something you achieve—it’s something you grow into. The version of you who has what you want already exists—you just have to catch up to them.

3. Character beats circumstance. Rich or broke, famous or unknown—who you are when no one’s watching determines what you’ll build when everyone is.

4. Everything external is a reflection of the internal. Change your habits, mindset, and circle, and watch your opportunities multiply.

Energy isn’t infinite.

 

And if you’re pouring it into the wrong places, you’ll stay exhausted, overwhelmed, and frustrated—while the real opportunities pass you by.

I used to believe hustle alone would get me where I wanted to go. If I just worked harder, I’d break through.

But the people who actually scale? They don’t just work harder. They work smarter. They protect their energy like their business depends on it—because it does.

Don’t confuse movement with progress.

 

1. Track your time. For one week, write down every task you do. Then ask: Does this actually grow my business?

2. Eliminate one task that drains you. If it doesn’t generate revenue or momentum, it’s time to cut it.

3. Delegate one responsibility. Find one thing you’re doing that someone else can handle 80% as well as you—and pass it off.

4. Systemize one recurring process. If you’re doing the same thing over and over, create a system so it runs without you.

Free yourself

 

1. Working harder isn’t the answer. If effort alone created success, every overworked entrepreneur would be rich. Smart strategy beats brute force every time.

2. You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself. If your business relies on you being involved in every task, you don’t own a business—you own a job.

3. Eliminate, delegate, automate. The highest-level business owners don’t ask, “How can I do more?” They ask, “How can I do less while achieving more?”

4. 
   

5. Success happens when you free yourself up to focus on what actually matters. If your time isn’t spent on high-level strategy, growth, and revenue-generating activities, you’re stuck.
   

   Ready to get unstuck? Read the full breakdown here.

If you don’t control where your energy goes, someone else will.

 

1. Being busy isn’t the same as being productive. A full calendar and long workdays don’t mean progress. If your effort isn’t generating real results, it’s wasted energy.

2. Your energy is your most valuable resource. If you’re spending it on tasks that don’t actually move your business forward, you’ll burn out long before you break through.

3. Your customers don’t care how hard you work. They only care about what you deliver. If you’re focusing on effort instead of outcomes, you’re missing the point.

4. If you don’t control where your energy goes, someone else will. Whether it’s distractions, low-value work, or people pulling you in every direction—if you don’t protect your focus, you’ll never scale.

$2.6B Dollar Settlement Closing Soon

Billions are awarded in class action lawsuits every year—and most qualifying businesses never file. A major Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) settlement is now open for claims, along with dozens of others. From software fees to shipping surcharges and credit card overcharges, you may be entitled to thousands in unclaimed settlements. We make it easy to discover what you're owed and file with no risk, no hassle, and no legal fees.

Note: This most recent major settlement involves healthcare providers who billed Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) on behalf of their patients from 2008 to 2024.  

Just a few weeks ago, BCBS settled litigation against them with a payment of $2.8 billion.  This money must now be completely distributed to hospitals, healthcare systems, physicians’ groups, etc.  The deadline to file is July 2025, but, if you do not file on time, you’ll get zero from the $2.8 billion account. 

Check Yours Now

The cost of waiting.

 

1. Say yes to an opportunity you’ve been hesitating on. No more “thinking about it.” Make the move today.

2. Make a decision—any decision. Big or small, train yourself to act instead of overanalyze.

3. Do something uncomfortable. The biggest growth comes from the moves that scare you the most. Pick one and do it now.

4. Write down the cost of waiting. Look at what hesitation has already cost you in time, money, and opportunity. Then decide if you’re willing to keep paying that price.

5. 
   

Your future is being built right now!

 

1. Hesitation is expensive. Every time you delay a decision, you’re not just losing time—you’re losing momentum, money, and opportunities that may never come back.

2. Perfection is an excuse. If you’re waiting until you feel “ready,” you’ll be waiting forever. The most successful people act first and adjust later.

3. Decisions compound over time. It’s not one big move that changes everything—it’s the consistent, disciplined choices you make daily that determine your future.

4. Your future is being built right now. Whether you realize it or not, today’s choices are shaping your next year, your next decade, and your entire financial trajectory.

Most people think hesitation is harmless.

 

A little delay. A little overthinking. A little “I’ll do it later.”

But here’s the truth: Indecision is costing you.

The opportunity you almost took—but didn’t.  The investment you thought about—but hesitated.  The move you planned to make—but never did.

It feels like nothing in the moment. But those almosts add up—and one day, you wake up realizing that hesitation has quietly kept you stuck.

When did you last stand at a fork in the road, knowing your next step would change everything for your business?

 

Picture two paths—one paved and beautiful, and the other uneven and covered with underbrush. You’re at a crossroads and must make a choice. Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” inspires you to follow the path many do not take.

The final stanza says this:

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

The difference between those who bounce back and those who stay stuck? Action.

 

1. Audit your income skills. If you had to make money fast, what’s the one skill that would get you there? If you don’t have one, learn one.

2. Build your cash flow muscle. Find a way to make an extra $500 this week outside of your job. Sell, flip, hustle—prove to yourself you can.

3. Expand your network. Connect with someone who’s ahead of you in business and start building a relationship.

4. Stop waiting to feel ready. Make a move today. Take a risk. Start something. You’re never going to feel 100% ready—success rewards action, not hesitation.