Here are the best things I read, watched, or listened to last week.

S & P 500 Returns Over Time 📈 Interesting, very interesting.

Always Prepare 🎣Always be thinking, what’s next?

Mood for 2025 🤩 Watch this!

LOL 🤣🤣 What do you think?

Cold Blooded Killer - “the shots wouldn’t stop going in”

Take your brand to the next level with product and lifestyle photography

Aiden White is a Los Angeles–based creative specializing in product and lifestyle photography, as well as short-form video content for personal founder branding and social ads—particularly in the B2C CPG space and for motivational speakers.

Aiden has collaborated with leading brands such as Global Citizen, Capital One, Red Bull, and Hydroflask, and helped elevate the personal brands of notable figures like Ben Nemtin, Lexie Limitless, Tim McGraw, and Charlie Rocket. He is available to travel for projects worldwide.

Aiden is a good friend of mine and he’s helped Tenzo a lot over the years. Email him directly [email protected]

🎯 My Big 2025 Goal: Make Myself Replaceable

I’m not stepping away from my company. I’m stepping up to help it grow. 🚀

For years, I’ve had my hands in everything:

• 🤔 Crafting every product decision

• 📈 Mapping every growth move

• 💬 Talking to every customer

• 🛠️ Handling daily operations like clockwork

But here’s the kicker: If this company can’t thrive without me, I’ve failed as a founder. Period.

🧠 Section 1: Delegation Is Just the Start

Delegation isn’t about tossing tasks over the fence. It’s about building a machine that works without you. 🌍

Great leaders don’t micromanage—they hire people who outshine them. They create teams that make magic happen without needing constant direction. That’s how you build something bigger than yourself.

Here’s the truth: You need to find people who are better than you at certain things. Then? Get out of their way. ✨

This means:

• 🛠️ Letting go of the processes you’ve built from scratch

• 🤝 Trusting others to take your ideas further than you imagined

Sounds liberating, right? Less grunt work, more time for big-picture strategy. But let’s not kid ourselves. It’s hard as hell. Delegation is only the beginning—the real challenge is letting go of your pride.

💡 Section 2: Smash the “Founder Ego”

The hardest part of growth? Admitting you’re not the best at everything. 😬

It’s tough to:

• 📝 Watch others tweak the systems you designed

• 🤯 Acknowledge they might do it better than you ever could

Your founder ego whispers, “Nobody understands this like I do.” But here’s the truth: That mindset keeps you small. Growth doesn’t come from clinging to control; it comes from empowering others to think, innovate, and execute.

When you step back and let your team lead, you’re not losing control—you’re multiplying your impact. 🔄

Humility isn’t weakness. It’s recognizing that leadership is about setting the stage for others to shine. And guess what? When your team thrives, so does your company.

⏰ Section 3: Why Now?

The time is ripe. We have the foundation, the team, and the processes to build something unstoppable. 🌟

Great businesses aren’t built on the shoulders of a single founder. They’re built to endure. To adapt. To thrive long after the founder steps back.

So why now? Because we’re ready. The systems are stronger. The vision is sharper. And most importantly, we’re positioned to scale in a way that doesn’t rely on me for every decision. That’s how a company moves from good to legendary.

Want to know the secret to true growth? Work to make yourself unnecessary. 💪

When your business doesn’t depend on you, it’s agile. Resilient. Built to last.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Build a Legacy

Stepping back isn’t giving up—it’s leveling up.

When you’re no longer critical to the daily grind, it’s proof that you’ve built something solid. Something lasting. Something remarkable. A business that thrives because of the systems and people you’ve put in place.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, it takes guts. But that’s what true growth looks like. 🌱

What’s your big goal for 2025? Hit reply and tell me. Let’s grow together. 📩

Cheers,
Steve

That’s it for this week! Thanks for reading this far.

Peace 👋

Steve

Founder Tenzo & Commerce Chronicles

PS: If you made it this far, feel free to share it with friends!

PSS: If you want to sponsor Commerce Chronicles - we’re offering extremely good starting rates. Hit me up!