My 2024 Year in Review (net worth update etc)

My comprehensive year-end review covering personal achievements, business developments, and investment strategies in 2024. I share a detailed breakdowns of my wealth allocation, business portfolio performance, and social media growth. The review emphasizes a shift toward business simplification, increased focus on AI and technology integration, and the importance of building sustainable, scalable ventures. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:25 Biggest wins 05:41 Biggest losses and lessons 11:35 - Q&A from social media 17:47 - Growth across social platforms 24:47 - Wealth breakdown and investments 32:50 - Business updates 48:03 - Productivity gains 50:35 - New insights and learnings Key Points: • Personal milestone of having first child and significant net worth achievement • Business portfolio performance across Late Checkout Agency, Boring Marketing, and other ventures • Portfolio breakdown: 75% stocks, 16% private equity, 7% real estate, 2% crypto • Platform growth across YouTube (11K to 146K subscribers), X/Twitter (361K to 420K followers) • Strategic shift toward simplification and focus on building "skyscrapers, not strip malls" 1) BIG WINS 2024: • Had a baby • Started lifting consistently (+15-20 lbs muscle) • Grew podcast into major platform • Hit personal net worth milestone 2) Portfolio breakdown (fascinating): • 75% stocks • 16% private equity • 7% real estate • 2% crypto Top holdings: • 10% Berkshire • 10% SPY • 8% Apple • 7% Amazon 3) Business Updates: Late Checkout Agency (LCA): • Found their niche: AI interfaces + community products • Booked solid with major brands • Started taking equity deals with billion-dollar companies Boring Marketing & Boring Ads: • Both crushing it • $100M+ in ad spend managed • 76 meetings booked in next few weeks • Unbundling tools for DIY customers • Created Boring Holdings umbrella company 5) Key productivity unlocks: • Switched to Yerba Mate for afternoon energy • Simplified from Notion to Apple Notes • Using Things app for to-do lists • Less tools, more focus 6) Platform Growth 2024: YouTube: 11K → 146K subs X: 361K → 420K followers LinkedIn: 82K → 149K Newsletter: 72K → 120K subs Podcast: 360K → 575K downloads 7) Best decision framework: "Friday Afternoon Test" - Only make big decisions Friday PM when tired - If it still feels right then, it's probably right - Prevents caffeine-fueled impulse choices 8/ MAJOR hiring insight: "Day Zero Integrity Test" • Give unclear instructions for small task • See if they ask questions or just guess • Reveals everything about future behavior 9/ Key lessons: • Trust but verify (especially with remote teams) • Simple over Complex • Double down on what's working • Build skyscrapers, not strip malls • Tech investment over immediate profits 10) 2025 Focus: • Finding long-term business partners • Building more proprietary tech • Simplifying business structure • Going harder on current opportunities • Scaling what works Notable Quotes: "If this scales, do I want to be in that business? If not, what is the business that I want to be in?" "My main mission is to build skyscrapers, not strip malls." Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav) Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/ BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/ Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/