"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life."

Author

Benjamin Friedman
November 18, 2025

Morning beehiivcommunity!

This newsletter turns experience into lessons for your startup. As a strategy and execution partner for visionary founders, we help sharpen leadership skills and unlock growth potential.

When Gratitude Leads, Transformation Follows

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” — Melody Beattie

Gratitude is a conscious practice that, when exercised regularly, shapes how we lead and live. While the upcoming holiday means different things to different people, gratitude is something anyone can benefit from. 

Here are three simple ways to build gratitude into your daily routine.

1. Start each morning by writing down one thing you appreciate—big or small. This primes your mind to notice life's gifts as the day unfolds. External pressures, the news, and social media often focus on the negative. Reinforce the positive early to find more of it during the day.

2. Send a thank-you message to someone who made your day a little better. Recognition creates connection, and you'll both feel better for it.

3. Before bed, write down three things you accomplished today. These may be related to family, work, or community. 

When you make gratitude intentional, you'll become more aware of your strength, value, and the opportunities around you.

Automation and AI in the Finance Stack Wrap-Up

A panel of seasoned CEOs and CFOs recently discussed what’s actually working in finance automation—and what to avoid. The consensus: AI and automation are saving teams from tedious number crunching, but only yield real results with careful guidance and targeted review.

Christina Ross, CEO & Founder of Cube, emphasized that the most successful finance leaders don’t just have tech, they have a clear strategy for where technology accelerates impact. “AI will automate pieces of the job, but understanding the business context will matter more than ever.”

Joe Manganelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Amalgam, cautioned against perfectionism in technology adoption. “No product is going to be perfect. But if you find something that is 75% right, you should be implementing that and improving your business.” 

Jennifer Yousem, Founder of I Heart EBITDA, observed that her clients rely on accurate books, but accuracy alone isn’t enough. Today’s finance teams want proof of work and visibility into how the answer was generated, and many tools still fail to meet that expectation.

Matt Novick, CFO at TripleLift, offered tangible examples of AI tools simplifying his workflow. Still, he admitted there’s plenty left to explore and reminded us that the differentiators are strategic clarity, transparency, and a willingness to experiment.

Presented by Build Scale Grow, with kind support from Ramp, MAVI, and Withum. Hosted at JLL.

What if the quietest person in the room is the one who changes the world?

Silent Strength: The Introvert’s Guide to Building Successful Startups is a practical guide for introverted entrepreneurs who want to thrive in the high-energy startup world—without pretending to be extroverted. 

It challenges the myth that only the loudest voices lead and reveals a powerful truth: introversion is a superpower. Drawing on founder stories, research, and real-world experience, Benjamin Friedman shows how to turn quiet conviction into measurable impact. 

You’ll learn how to: 

  • Lead, sell, and fundraise while staying true to yourself 

  • Transform self-awareness into resilience, confidence, and growth 

  • Build balanced, high-performing teams by collaborating with extroverts 

  • Drive business success through deep focus and thoughtful decision-making

Silent Strength: The Introvert’s Guide to Building Successful Startups is due out December 4, 2025. You can pre-order the eBook here, and it will come out in paperback, too. 

Beat the Startup Odds

Nine out of ten startups fail. Imagine outsmarting fundraising stress, unlocking real market traction, and building a powerful team—without burnout.

Since 2019, Build Scale Grow, Inc. has helped dozens of founders beat those odds. We provide rapid, efficient, holistic scaling with deep expertise and valuable industry connections. What We Solve:

  • Stagnant growth and inefficient processes

  • Creating and reorganizing teams (e.g., building Customer Success and RevOps functions)

  • Absence of strategic vision beyond daily operations

  • Limited access to top experts in finance, tech, recruiting, and legal

  • Execution roadblocks and risk management

Have questions? Email us at [email protected] or click HERE for a free consultation.