• Playing To Win
  • Posts
  • The Best Quarter We’ve Ever Had... Still Isn’t Enough

The Best Quarter We’ve Ever Had... Still Isn’t Enough

Playing to Win

October 30, 2025

newsletter-title

Welcome to the Latest Newsletter
of Playing to Win!

My newsletter is designed specifically to help business owners like you grow your companies with tried & applied bits of business knowledge, all communicated in actionable, bite-sized chunks. I will share insights and advice aimed at enhancing your business operations, boosting your success, and allowing you to focus more on what truly matters. Let's work together to achieve your goals and make your endeavors a reality.

Key Points of the Newsletter

  • CEOs are wired to solve problems, not celebrate wins, and that creates blind spots.
  • Hitting record revenue isn’t the same as hitting the right revenue.
  • Growth reveals both progress and how far you still have to go.

The Best Quarter We’ve Ever Had… Still Isn’t Enough

 
Let’s talk about the real stuff most people won’t say out loud about being a CEO.


We’re pushing hard. Like really hard. On pace to cross into nine-figure annual revenue. That’s the mountaintop most people chase. And yeah, it’s exciting. It’s rare. It’s something to be proud of.

But here’s the part they don’t show you in the highlight reels: even when everything looks like it’s working, your brain still scans for what’s not.

Because as a CEO, that’s your default setting.

You don’t get brought problems when they’re easy. You get them when they’re broken, ugly, painful, and late. And your job is to fix it. So even when your team’s knocking down records, your eyes are trained to search for what still needs solving.

This past quarter was our best revenue quarter ever. That’s not a guess, it’s data. I can pull the report and show you the numbers. Incredible top-line growth. And on one side of the coin, I know that deserves celebration.

But here’s what the other side of the coin says: We’re still not where we need to be.

We’re off pace from our yearly targets.

We’re under-leveraged in a few areas.

We’re leaving value on the table.

And so the tension shows up, this duality of celebrating what’s good, while refusing to settle for less than what’s possible.

That’s the CEO paradox.

It’s not ungratefulness. It’s the drive to be excellent. But if you’re not careful, it can rob you of the joy you’ve earned.

So here’s what I’m working on: celebrating progress and keeping the fire lit for more.

Because growth without gratitude becomes burnout. And gratitude without growth becomes complacency.

We need both.

Stay tuned for more insights in our next newsletter. Remember, it's the small adjustments that often make the biggest impact on your business's profitability. Here's to your continued success!

Stay driven to push your business forward,
Ryan Niddel