Big Creek Growth Newsletter: Edition #21 🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️☝️

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Year in Review

2024 was unlike any other year I’ve experienced professionally—or personally, for that matter. For starters, I turned 40. While I didn’t worry about this or suddenly start asking Perplexity “top signs you’re over the hill,” it did give me a moment of pause. Age always has been just a number to me, but let’s be honest—it’s also a great scapegoat for forgetting names or suddenly needing a knee brace for “no reason.”

Professionally, the year brought its share of unexpected twists. For the first time in my career, I parted ways with not one, but two employers. Up until December 2022, this had NEVER happened to me. While these changes rattled my personal life a bit, they also forced me to reevaluate what I truly wanted to spend my time and energy on. Strangely enough, I found myself opening my laptop in the mornings, technically unemployed, feeling more energized than I’d been in years. Who knew a blank calendar could be so inspiring?

This renewed energy pushed me to create Big Creek Growth. I wanted to channel over 15 years of professional experience into helping others grow their businesses, customer bases, and teams. At its core, I realized my passion wasn’t just about achieving goals—it was about helping others achieve theirs. While we focus heavily on recruiting, software development projects, and fractional executive placements, I like to think of us as a "Results as a Service" company. If there’s a part of your business you want to grow, we’re here to make it happen—whether that’s through our own expertise or by leveraging our extensive network of connections.

So, here we are at the tail end of an incredibly crazy year for me, and Big Creek Growth is officially off and running. If 2024 taught me anything, it’s that unexpected detours often lead to the best destinations. If you’re looking to grow your business in 2025, let’s connect. I can’t promise I’ll remember your name on the first try (blame the 40s), but I can promise that we’ll get results.

-Adam Viet

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Podcasts I Can’t Live Without

My First Million
Sam Parr and Shaan Puri dive deep into brainstorming new business ideas inspired by emerging trends and market opportunities. Sometimes, they even bring on famous guests to join the fun and add their unique perspectives to the mix. The result? Actionable insights and plenty of laughs along the way. It’s like a masterclass in creativity, wrapped up in a podcast.

Startup Ideas Podcast
Get your creative juices flowing with The Startup Ideas Podcast. Published twice a week, we bring you free startup ideas to inspire your next venture. Hosted by Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout and former advisor to Reddit and TikTok. Subscribe so you don't miss out.

Iowa Tech Podcast
The Iowa Tech Podcast shines a spotlight on the innovation, talent, and transformative ideas driving Iowa’s growing tech ecosystem. Hosted by Kaylee Williams, the podcast features engaging conversations with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are redefining industries like AI, cybersecurity, agtech, and clean energy. Designed for seasoned professionals, aspiring innovators, and anyone curious about technology’s impact, each episode delivers insider perspectives, practical advice, and inspiring stories. Through these dynamic discussions, the Iowa Tech Podcast explores how Iowa is making its mark on the global tech stage and invites listeners to join this exciting journey.

Iced Coffee Hour
The Iced Coffee Hour is a podcast hosted by Graham Stephan and Jack Selby, where candid conversations take center stage. The show features a diverse array of guests, each sharing their unique life journeys, successes, financial experiences, and hard-earned insights. From entrepreneurs and investors to creators and thought leaders, the podcast offers a glimpse into the strategies and stories behind their achievements. With its laid-back vibe and engaging format, "The Iced Coffee Hour" is perfect for anyone looking to learn, be inspired, or simply enjoy a great conversation. Tune in to discover actionable advice, surprising stories, and the occasional laugh along the way.

The Side Hustle Show
The Side Hustle Show is an award-winning entrepreneurship podcast designed to deliver actionable insights you can actually apply. Hosted by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation, the show explores creative ways to earn money both online and offline, covering topics like blogging, freelancing, online business, marketing, sales funnels, investing, and more. With a growing audience of over 100,000 listeners, each episode is packed with practical tips and strategies to help you start and scale your side hustle. No fluff, no filler—just real advice from Nick and his inspiring guests who share their stories and expertise. Whether you're launching your first side gig or looking to take your existing hustle to the next level, this podcast is your go-to resource.

The Tim Ferris Show
The Tim Ferriss Show is a podcast hosted by Tim Ferriss, a bestselling author and self-experimenter renowned for his groundbreaking book The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been translated into over 40 languages. Dubbed "the world's best human guinea pig" by Newsweek and "a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk" by The New York Times, Tim brings his curiosity and analytical mindset to every episode. The show dives into the lives of world-class performers from a wide range of fields, including investing, chess, professional sports, and beyond. Through deep-dive conversations, Tim uncovers the tools, tactics, and habits that drive their success, offering actionable insights for listeners to apply in their own lives. It’s an essential listen for anyone seeking to level up in business, performance, or personal growth.

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Books I LOVED🩵

Read, Write, Own - Chris Dixon
Read, Write, Own by Chris Dixon examines the internet's evolution through three phases: the "read" era of information sharing, the "read and write" era of content creation, and the emerging "own" era powered by blockchain technology. Dixon highlights how web3 can restore the internet’s original promise of decentralization by giving users ownership and economic participation. The book serves as a guide to understanding this transformative shift and its potential to reshape innovation, equity, and growth online.

Hidden Potential - Adam Grant
In "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things," organizational psychologist Adam Grant challenges the notion that talent alone determines success. He presents a framework emphasizing the development of character skills, sustained motivation, and the creation of supportive opportunity systems to unlock individual and collective potential. Through research and real-world examples, Grant illustrates how embracing a growth mindset and fostering resilience can lead to remarkable achievements.

$100M Leads - Alex Hormozi
$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi is a practical guide to generating high-quality leads to fuel business growth. Building on the principles from his earlier book, $100M Offers, Hormozi shares strategies and frameworks that helped his companies generate thousands of leads daily across industries. Packed with actionable insights, the book equips entrepreneurs with tools to create effective advertising and lead-generation systems to scale their businesses successfully.

Linchpin - Seth Godin
In "Linchpin," Seth Godin challenges readers to rethink their roles in work and life by becoming indispensable in any organization. He argues that the most valuable people are those who bring creativity, emotional labor, and unique contributions to their work, rather than just following instructions. The book inspires readers to embrace their potential, take initiative, and become the kind of person who makes a difference wherever they go.

Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink
In "Extreme Ownership," Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share leadership principles forged during their time as Navy SEALs and how these lessons apply to business and life. The book emphasizes the power of taking full responsibility for outcomes, fostering accountability, and building trust within teams. Through gripping stories and actionable insights, Willink and Babin demonstrate how adopting extreme ownership can drive success in any endeavor.

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