When Strategic Losses Set You Up to Win Bigger

Playing to Win

November 04, 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

  • Not all losses are setbacks, some are strategic bets on future growth.
  • Front-end investments don’t pay off in Q1, but they define your trajectory in Q3 and beyond.
  • Influencers in fitness are underleveraged, and we’re doing something about it.

When Strategic Losses Set You Up to Win Bigger

Let’s get real: profitability isn’t where I want it to be right now.

And yeah, I know exactly why it’s off. It doesn’t mean it’s not frustrating—but it’s not a mystery either. It’s intentional.

I’ve chosen to take a short-term hit in Q1 to position us for serious upside down the line. We’re investing hard—front-end loading the effort, cash, and energy—into growth that won’t show up on a spreadsheet until Q3. But when it does, it’ll hit like a sledgehammer.

That’s what real leadership looks like: making moves today that don’t pay off until tomorrow, knowing full well the scoreboard won’t reflect it yet.

At MIT45 and Uprising, we’re not just managing revenue—we’re managing the balance between profitability and purpose. We’ve aligned with 32 incredible athletes who represent our values in the health, wellness, and fitness verticals. These aren’t just brand partnerships—they’re a declaration of how we play the game. Long-term. Strategic. Relationship-first.

Now, I’ll be honest—the fitness influencer world has been dealt the short end of the stick for too long. Especially in this space, athletes are treated like marketing ammo: “What have you done for me lately?” One bad day and it’s game over. We don’t buy into that mindset. We believe loyalty compounds just like interest does.

That’s why we’re doing things differently. We’re investing in the people behind the platform. We’re choosing to bet on humans, not just metrics.

Are we “profitable enough” right now? Maybe not by the traditional playbook. But we’re not playing by those rules. We’re building something that lasts.

So if you’re staring at your numbers and wondering why they aren’t where you want them—ask yourself this: are you playing to win now? Or playing to win big later?

Because sometimes, real growth means taking a hit today to own the board tomorrow.

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