Thanksgiving Week Reflections: Failing, Learning, Growing, and Being Grateful

Prior to two years ago, I was someone who mostly always hit my goals. Sure, I occasionally missed, but those misses weren’t because the goals were too big and I gave everything I had. They were usually because the goals were too small, too safe, or I didn’t give them enough focus to matter.

But I have upended that approach.

Every year now, I set a blend of goals: some achievable and important, others important and intentionally out of reach just to stretch me. And something has shifted: I’m no longer afraid to fail. I’m only afraid of not setting goals big enough to force growth.

As I look back on my life, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. But much of it was achievable with steady effort. The season I’m in now is different. I’m learning to embrace the kind of goals where the attempt teaches more than the achievement.

And for that, during Thanksgiving week, I’m truly grateful.

The Year Was Huge - But Only Because I Failed at My Marquee Goals

It would be easy to say the year would have been “bigger” had I hit my top goals. In some ways that’s true.
But in other ways. Not really.
The biggest growth came from not hitting them.

Work: “Double”

My word for the year was Double. As in double the firm’s revenue.

We didn’t double.
That’s on me. As CEO, the failures belong to me. The successes belong to the team.

But here’s what’s interesting: we still grew revenue more than 50% relative to 2024. That’s extremely strong. And I learned more from falling short of the double than I ever would’ve learned from simply hitting it.

Because I learned that you can’t set an outcome as a goal.

You can only set inputs as goals. Which I was really poor at this year but now have a new of approaching goals for next year.
That lesson is also finally being absorbed across our team. Or at least they are beginning to acknowledge it.
And as a result, our thinking as an organization is evolving.

This year we also clarified our purpose, vision, goals, creed, values, mission, and mantras.
We defined what growth means, to each of us individually and to the company.
We strengthened communication.
We defined sales, marketing, and growth more clearly.
We opened our new office, held events, and watched our reach in the community expand.

We took a risk 3.5 years ago, and now we’re a stable, cash-flowing, privately owned, service-first company.

For that, I’m grateful.

Running: “Don’t Mentally Quit”

My other big goal was the Philadelphia marathon. Not just running it, but training for it like never before. Using it to qualify for Boston.
My phrase for the year was Don’t Mentally Quit.
My image was the Boston Marathon jacket.

I won’t be wearing that Boston jacket.
But I lived the phrase.

I ran Philadelphia hard.
I executed beautifully through 15 miles.
Then the nausea hit.
My legs locked.
And I went into a deep, dark pain cave that whispered—loudly—with every step: stop.

But I didn’t.
I didn’t mentally quit.

Those last 11 miles were some of the hardest miles of my life.
And yet I finished with a PR.
I crossed the line smiling, before puking twice. Then some more smiling.

The training, the discipline, the framework I built all year—that was the real win.
I captured the journey in my pre-race letter here:
https://www.memberswealthllc.com/insights/dont-mentally-quit-a-pre-race-letter-to-myself

But what I’m most thankful for?

The time with my brother.

He trained mile-for-mile with me all year.
He beat me on race day—Great job, brother.
You are a runner.
A fast one.
And more importantly, I hope we keep building what this year started.
I love you.
Thank you for the time.

The Big Lesson of 2025

Control of outputs is an illusion.
Control of inputs is everything.

Set some goals you know you can hit. Cause hey, it's fun to hit them.
Set others so big that they stretch you and maybe break you open a bit.
The learning is in the reaching.

And do it all with people you care about.
My word for 2026, by the way: Others.
Everything. Everything is better with others.

Time on this planet is short.
I’m grateful for the time.
I plan to make the most of it.

To everyone who supported my brother and me on our marathon journey… thank you.

To everyone who helped make this a great year at Members’ Wealth… thank you.

And despite all my skepticism about the AI-driven equity markets, thank you to the market gods for delivering a banner year, as up feels better than down. (eek…with a month left to go).

Happy Thanksgiving. I plan to slow down just a bit and spend it with my family and boy is it awesome to have Samantha home from college.

I hope everyone has as much to be grateful for as I do. Go spend the week with others.

Cheers,
Dane

About the Author

Dane Czaplicki, CFA®

Dane Czaplicki is CEO of Members’ Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm serving individuals, families, business owners, and institutions through a comprehensive, values-first approach. With over 20 years of experience, he is committed to helping clients preserve and grow their wealth in a rapidly changing world, bringing clarity and confidence to their most important financial decisions. He believes everyone deserves sound guidance from someone whose interests are aligned with theirs and remains deeply committed to putting service before all else.

Dane received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, hiking and camping, reading, running, and playing with his dog. To learn more about Dane, connect with him on LinkedIn.