#148 Language = Strategy

Featuring: My 2025 Growth Lessons

Author

Dan Healy
02 Dec

Welcome to December!

This week, we’re keeping that energy, but with a twist.

If you remember, earlier this year we introduced a new monthly structure:

  • Week 1 → Growth (brand growth and self-growth)

  • Week 2 → Money (personal finance, business ideas, etc.)

  • Week 3 → AI (tools, hacks, how I’m using it, etc.)

  • Week 4 → Interviews (tying them together through an Interview Series from featured guests.)

And since this is the final Growth Edition of 2025, I went back through every Growth issue this year and pulled my top three lessons — the ones that actually changed how I think, talk, and operate.

Before I jump in - if this email helps you, it would mean the world if you forwarded this email to a close friend or family member that you believe might benefit as well. Thank you.

FLYING Into December With…

 

THE GREATEST GROWTH HITS FROM 2025 🕺 

Looking across all Growth editions, one idea comes to mind Language = Strategy.

Not in the fancy, academic way, that’s Prof Mike’s territory! But in a real-world sense, where the words that you choose shape your outcomes.

Lesson #1: Lead With Value

One thing that’s consistently worked for me whether it’s online or IRL, is keeping one word in the back of my mind: value.

Instead of reaching out to someone with low effort or vague intent, I’ve learned to ask myself:

“How can I help this person first?”

That mindset helped me land a Zoom call with someone who sold a newsletter for millions. I didn’t want to learn how he made millions (call me crazy) but to learn how he built a great product.

When I found his consultation offer online, I applied immediately. But when he replied, he said he was “available for a call only.” I was thinking: “Why only a call……!?!”

As I thought about it, a phone call wasn’t enough for me. I really wanted face-to-face time to ask better questions and build a genuine connection.

So I used a lesson we’ve talked about in previous editions: lead with value.

I decided to walk through his website like an actual customer and noted everything I thought could improve the experience. I looked for friction points, confusing layouts, messaging gaps, missing CTAs. Then I emailed him a concise breakdown of what I found and why it mattered.

Not “here’s my ask.” But “here’s something that will help you.”

He ended up writing back with positive energy, appreciation, and more importantly, several Zoom time slots…

I truly believe because I lead with value (helping him before he helped me), I was able to meet him over a zoom and not only hear is voice via a call.

So the next time you want something whether its advice, an intro, or a meeting, consider flipping the script:

Give first. Then ask. People may surprise you with how quickly they reciprocate. It sure as hell surprised me.

Lesson #2: Selling Yourself Is a Forever Thing

I’ve spent 10 years in corporate and have met hundreds of people internally, externally, at events, online…everywhere.

And after three years of writing this newsletter, there’s a truth that has become impossible to ignore:

We’re all selling. All of the time.

I don’t mean this in the sleazy “buy this car!!” salesman type, but in the identity way because…

  • Introductions are a pitch.

  • Conversation are about positioning.

  • Opportunities depend on how clearly you explain who you are and what you’re building.

And don’t forget the scariest question via the classic:

“SoOoOoO, what do you do?” 😱 

There can be so much to say and the last thing you want to do is ramble and confuse the other party. That is why I LOVE this framework from Daniel Priestly. It’s so catchy and makes it easy to remember for your next pitch.

Here’s the formula.

  • Name: Who you are.

  • Same: Describe what you do in a way anyone gets.

  • Fame: Why you’re credible.

  • Aim: What you’re working on next.

  • Game: Where you’re heading long-term.

This changed how I talk about myself. It’s not intended to impress people, but to help them understand what I’m doing and what I’m after to hopefully support or even collaborate with me in the future.

Here’s my takeaway:

When you talk about yourself clearly, you project confidence and direction. That’s what people remember and that’s how you can create more opportunities for yourself.

Lesson #3: Your Brand is Everything

I’m speaking from experience here. When I started OTF three years ago, I knew one thing:

If I didn’t establish a digital presence, this newsletter wouldn’t grow. Family and friends can support the first few months (huge shoutout to the day 1’s!) but to obtain real reach, you have to step into the public arena. I needed to get this out to other people and it’s not like my wallet had an endless marketing budget, so I needed to go the organic route - posting content across different social mediums.

And what I’ve learned while studying (and practicing) brand-building, it has become a core part of our Growth editions.

Here’s what I’ve done consistently that I believe has made a difference when it comes to branding.

  • I’ve shown up every week for 3 years straight. Consistency can help you build trust with yourself, but also with others.

  • I’ve been documenting, not performing. Sharing real life experiences, real takeaways, and real lessons that aren’t AI-jargon filled.

  • I’ve been clear about what the brand stands for. The pillars are: business, communication, and personal growth. Every piece of content ladders up to them.

  • I treat every interaction like branding. A DM is branding. A handshake is branding. A caption is branding. A conversation with a stranger in line at a coffee shop is branding.

Everything communicates something and the more intentional you are with your words, the more results will follow because…

Language = Strategy.

Before You Go!

Thanks again for reading! Next week, we’ll be back with December’s PRODUCTIVITY EDITION, featuring all things AI.

Let’s end the year strong!

As always, see you next Tuesday 🤝 

Find Dan on LinkedIn

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