Invest in Your Business

Written By Brian McDowell

Are You a 10X Investment?

I live about 3 miles from Oracle’s (former) HQ in Redwood Shores, CA. There is a great story - from the ‘90s - about an Oracle sales rep who did something extraordinary. Facing a pipeline bottleneck, they invested $30,000 of their own money to hire a personal SDR. The result? A 10X return in commissions in the first year, with benefits extending into subsequent years.

A big personal commitment, with an outsized return. It required belief not only in the problem, but in the value of solving it, in their ability to find the right resource, and the outcomes that would be delivered. But it also required them to believe that they should NOT spend their time on that work, and instead get a better result by working the later stages of the pipeline. Fundamentally they had to believe in themselves.

As the year turns over, and you evaluate 2024 and plan for 2025, I challenge you to make an outsized investment in believing in yourself. There are more ways than ever to free up, or amplify, your time, and have an profound impact on personal results. 

Here’s a list of ideas in 4 categories.

1. Personal Growth

  • Subscribing to thought-leadership publications like the HBR, WSJ, or industry-specific journals

  • Investing in targeted education (e.g., AI or business classes at Sectionschool.com)

  • Attending sales and leadership conferences

2. Data-Driven Insights

  • LinkedIn Sales Navigator for advanced prospect research

  • Lead databases like Apollo.io or Cognicent

  • AI-powered data enrichment platforms like Clay

3. Automation and Productivity

  • AI writing assistants like ChatGPT

  • Automated outreach platforms (Waalaxy, Instantly)

  • Calendar management & automation (Reclaim or Toggl)

4. Talent and Support

  • Virtual assistants for administrative tasks

  • Freelance designers and content creators

  • Sales coaching or mentorship programs

I do all of the above, plus another half dozen that are specific to consulting.  

What single investment could transform your results in 2025? Do you believe your time is valuable enough to do it?

Brian McDowell
Next

Building an Elite Sales Team: The Blueprint