Perspective: Use It or Lose It | 20 Years… and Still Going

We were overwhelmed by the kind words and well wishes from everyone who joined us for our 20th Anniversary Party—and even from those who couldn’t make it. One former customer said, “Wishing you 20 more years!” I smiled and thought, that’s kind… though maybe 5 more sounds a bit more appealing.

Milestones like this stir up a flood of memories, emotions, and connections with people you haven’t seen in years. One guest was the person who hired me for my last “real job” before starting this business. We shared a great laugh—funny how time smooths over the rough spots and makes the good moments shine even brighter.

My son Shane Flannery, now 23, had some great conversations at the party—with familiar faces and new ones. It was meaningful to watch him reconnect with someone he first met a decade ago. At the time of our 10-Year Anniversary, Shane was just 13 (see picture).

And then there’s Septembre Flannery. She is the reason any of this was possible. Twenty years ago, she told me to “go for it,” and her steady support has been the foundation for everything good that’s come since—namely, Shane, Hannah Flannery (back East working her Summer Internship at Lincoln Financial), and Flannery Sales Systems. Thank you, Septembre.

The business is strong. I love what I do. The outcomes we help our clients achieve are genuinely inspiring. So yes, you’ll still find me trapsing through airports, off for the next Workshop to share ideas that are shaped by team members Malinee Churanakoses and Tom Martin, and doing the work that matters most: helping teams grow and thrive.