Welcome back to The 2x2 - the ultimate newsletter for independent consultants.
I made some predictions and resolutions in our first article of 2025
Some held up better than others. A few surprised me. Some I got completely wrong.
Let’s see how well I did.
My 2025 Predictions: 60%ish Right
Here’s what actually went down:
There won’t be much change in the economy at all. Check, I was right. What we saw was what everyone got.
This won’t be the year when AI will make a material difference. Still right. MIT reports that 95% of business AI initiatives fail. The human capability to change their behavior isn’t there.
Elon Musk is going to get sick of politics. I was also right. He’s back to sleeping in offices outside the EOB.
The Houston Rockets are going to win the NBA championship. I got this one wrong, but I BELIEVE!
Keenan Reid Strategies will grow by 125%. DEFINITELY wrong on revenue, but it was our best year in strategic advancement. We’re leaving on a solid foundation for the next decade of growth, with a health core consulting biz, a productized service tested and ready to scale, a budget-friendly nearshore pilot live and a solid B2B marketing foundation.
My 2025 Self-Evaluation: 60%is Again!
Last year, I also cooked up a game plan for my fellow consultants.
Let’s see how I measured up to what I recommended you do.
Raise Your Rates: KRS raised rates at the rate of inflation. We are already on the high end, because my team is ahmazing. We lose projects because we’re priced too high but make up the margin on wins.
Make 100 calls: Nope. I maybe did 25 all year. A clear opportunity for next year.
Learn to Say No: I learned to say no when I was eight months old and never looked back. Although, I said yes to a few pitches this year that were outside our core capability and wasted time and effort. Next year, I will be more clear with myself.
Track Your Time Better: I’m master-level here already.
Set Clear Boundaries: See #3. I live for boundaries.
Refresh Your Toolkit: Yes, I invested time and travel funds to get deep into AI and automations, to grow with our clients and streamline our internal operations. My best investments were to attend Microsoft Ignite and to take days over the summer to learn how to write webhooks and connect MCPs with Make.com trainings.
Fix Your LinkedIn: I put Lemlist in place to automate outreach, and tightened our message to our KRS and The 2x2 ICPs. My personal LinkedIn grew 2x: from ~1700 followers to ~3500.
Celebrate Every Win: I have the entrepreneur’s curse. As soon as success is achieved, it becomes meaningless. I am addicted to the pain of building.
Diversify Your Income: This is in progress. We launched new offers at KRS, we launched a few paid documents at The 2x2, for which we’ve made a total of $2.65. However, I did set a target and start tracking the recurring, passive income I need to cover our monthly expenses. We are halfway there.
Reconnect With Your Network: I may not have finished all 100 calls, but I managed to reconnect with many, many people! Hi if you are reading this.
Not bad.
How did you do with yours?
2025 Consultant Bingo: No Full Card, But I Got a BINGO
I introduced the consultant bingo last year for us to have fun with our work.
I didn’t get a full card, but I got a BINGO.
Are you interested in something like this for 2026? Let us know.
What The 2×2 is Doubling Down On in 2026
Looking back helps us see what’s worth carrying forward in the future.
That’s why in 2026, my mission to help you move up and to the right stays the same.
What’s changed is how much easier it is to access the tools and ideas that support you and your work.
Over the past year, we’ve been quietly putting structure around The 2x2:
A refurnished, simpler site (so you can easily find what you need).
A searchable library with everything we ever published (more AMAs and strategic frameworks coming soon).
A podcast with stories from consultants who made it work (plus the occasional business nerd stuff from yours truly).
And yes, I still believe there’s room for a middle-aged lady in the business-nerd pod-dom.
Lastly, there are a couple of long-requested tools out in the wild.
the Rate Calculator, still in the beta phase so please leave us your feedback.
the Contract Template we’ve used to price and secure over $10M of work at KRS.
They’re here to be used, tested, and improved.
If you have any questions or requests, feel free to let me know.
Remember, the path to success is paved with continuous learning and embracing fresh perspectives.
Let's stay connected, share ideas, and elevate your consulting business.
Stay curious, friends.
The 2×2 is brought to you by Keenan Reid Strategies
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