👋 Hi! I'm Dan. I help entrepreneurs and creatives do the work that only you can do. If that sounds good, let's go! 🚀

Hi Reader,

Happy week after Thanksgiving in the US. I feel like everyone has a bit of holiday hangover.

We have a lot of great content this week. Here's the rundown so you don't miss anything:​
💭 Lessons learned: Speedrunning You Goals
⏱️ My Next Webinar
📝 A Great Podcast Interview
🖤 Some Favorites

Let's get into it!

Lessons Learned

I ran a marathon a couple weeks ago.

No training. No preparation.

I decided 5 days before. Just went out and did it.

Here’s why:

I’ve been thinking about 2025.
About big goals and what’s possible.

Most people spend months preparing for a marathon.
They follow a plan.
They build up their mileage.
They do all the “right” things.

There’s a lot of wisdom in that approach.
You shouldn’t run a marathon without prep.

But here’s what I knew:
- I could run 20 miles without dying
- If I could run 20, I could run 26
- Starting was scarier than finishing

Like many things, starting is better than perfecting:
Relationships. Business. AI.

So I went out slow. Really slow.

Each mile was a gift to my future self.

As I got into the upper miles & legs started talking to me, I thought: “Thank you, past Dan, for starting slow.”

And that past self echoed back:
“Thank you for not quitting.”

For me, the challenge is a messenger.
And the race's message was clear:

You’re alive.

You’re more capable than you think.

And you’re so freaking lucky.

Why am I sharing all of this?

Because your biggest goals for 2025.
The goals the keep you awake at night.
They’re closer than you think.

The gap between wanting and doing is often just a decision.

Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t wait for perfect conditions.
Don’t wait for someone to tell you you’re ready.

You’re more ready than you think.

What’s your marathon? What goal are you pushing to “someday”?

Maybe it’s learning AI. Maybe it’s running 26.2 miles. Maybe it’s something entirely different.

But someday could be today.

My Next Webinar

Two years ago, I was burning out.

Managing a 12-person team.
Running multiple software products.
Drowning in administrative tasks.

Today?​
I do more with a team of 4.

The difference?​
AI systems that actually work.

I'm sharing my journey from overwhelm to optimization at the Pod Profits Summit.

You'll learn how to:​
• Build systems that scale
• Protect your energy
• Create content that converts

It's free to attend. Plus there are a TON of other great presenters.

Register here. You can always watch the replay if you can't catch it live:
​https://podprofitssummit.com/registration-summit?am_id=dancumberland5752​

BONUS: After you register, hit reply and let me know. I'll send you my POWER prompting cheat sheet.

A Great Podcast Interview

Had a blast being a guest on the Level Up Creators Podcast this week! We dove deep into my journey as a founder and how I've learned to leverage AI and smart systems to scale without the burnout.

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I shared openly about how I'm navigating the entrepreneurial path while slow traveling with my family, and even revealed how we use AI to make decisions about where to live (sounds wild, but it works!). We talked about breaking free from conventional wisdom to design a life that actually works for you.

For my fellow founders feeling stretched thin—trying to grow your business while having a life—I shared the exact workflows and mindset shifts that helped me get unstuck and move forward with clarity.

Really enjoyed the conversation and hope you'll find some actionable takeaways for your own journey. Give it a listen and let me know what resonates with you!

Listen in here:

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Favorites!

A few things I'm into right now:

💪 Hyrox

I'm competing at Hyrox Atlanta in April, and can't wait.

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It's like CrossFit meets endurance racing. Sounds perfect for me!

It combines 8 kilometers of running with 8 functional workouts. Think sled pushes, burpee broad jumps, rowing, and more. It's a great test of both strength and stamina.

Can't wait!

🐌 Freshwater Snails

A friend here in Mexico gifted us some freshwater snails. I've never had water bound pets. And these are facinating and fun! They love to eat cucumber and other veggies. They get around remarkably fast. In general they're lots of fun to watch!

This isn't one of ours, but they look just like this:

Your Turn!

Anything great you've been enjoying? Hit reply and send it along! I'd love to know. Seriously.

9,500+ people are getting this email, and I can count on one hand how many responses I usually get. You have the chance to change that! Hit reply. Tell me what's good!

Yours in meaning making,