As the year winds down, it’s a great time to pause and reflect—how was your 2024? Was it a successful year for you?
The air is crisp, the leaves have fallen, and Halloween candy is now on sale. We’re approaching the last stretch of the year, and 2025 is just around the corner! But before you dive into planning for the new year, let’s take a moment to evaluate the year that was. How do you define success, and how did you measure it in 2024?
At this time of year, many of us rush into planning for the year ahead, often overlooking the valuable lessons and accomplishments of the past 12 months. While having a plan for the new year is essential, it’s equally important to reflect on what you’ve learned and achieved over the past year.
This isn’t about dwelling on what didn’t go right or highlighting our shortcomings. Instead, it’s an opportunity to gather the lessons we need to grow and move forward in life and business. Let’s explore how you can evaluate your 2024 success and leverage that insight for a strong start in 2025.
What Does “Success” Mean to You?
Success is a deeply personal concept, and its meaning varies for everyone. For some, it might be hitting a financial milestone, like reaching a six-figure income. For others, it could be something as simple as cooking a homemade meal instead of grabbing fast food.
Take a moment now to reflect on what success means to you. What areas of your life do you prioritize most? Is it your career, business, personal growth, or relationships? Once you identify the areas that matter, define what it takes for you to feel accomplished in each of them.
For instance, if your business is a priority, maybe success means increasing your sales by 50% each quarter or finally launching your startup and landing your first client. Remember, success is subjective, and what matters most is how you define it.
Conducting Your 2024 Year-End Success Assessment
Here’s a simple exercise to help you evaluate the past year with more structure. This assessment can be done yearly or seasonally and tailored to different areas of your life, such as business, health, or personal development.
Grab a notebook or open a document and jot down your thoughts on the following questions:
- Did you achieve your business goals?
- List your goals (if you wrote them down). Cross off the ones you’ve accomplished and note the progress made toward others.
- Did you achieve your personal goals?
- Review your personal goals, and reflect on any that you completed or moved forward on.
- What did you learn?
- Whether or not you achieved every goal, there are likely lessons to be learned. Write down what you gained from each experience.
- Did you grow?
- Think about at least one way you’ve grown in both your personal and professional life—whether it’s a new skill, a change in perspective, or a challenge you overcame.
- Did you stay true to your values?
- Reflect on your core values in life and business. Did you honor them this year, or did you make compromises that didn’t align with your true self?
- Did you create lasting value?
- Whether in your personal or professional life, consider the value you’ve created. Even small impacts matter. If you positively influenced someone or made progress, you’ve added value.
Highlight Your “Accomplishment of the Year”
Now, make a list of your top accomplishments from 2024—whether they’re business-related, personal, or otherwise. Did you grow your revenue? Did you hit a personal fitness goal, like running a marathon? Or maybe you started a new daily routine, like cold plunging!
Pick your top 3-5 achievements and share them with friends, colleagues, or on social media so others can celebrate with you. Then, choose the one accomplishment you’re most proud of. It could be a big goal you’ve been working on for a while or something smaller that pushed you outside your comfort zone.
Write this winning accomplishment on a sticky note or create a mini award certificate and place it somewhere you’ll see daily. It’ll serve as a reminder of what you’re capable of as you work toward your 2025 goals.
Planning for a Successful 2025
Now that you’ve reflected on 2024, it’s time to look ahead. December and January are when many of us set our yearly goals and start envisioning what the next 12 months might hold. This reflection process is vital in guiding your planning.
As you set your 2025 goals, consider using the S.M.A.R.T. framework:
- Specific: Be clear and detailed about what you want to achieve.
- Measurable: Define how you’ll track your progress and success.
- Attainable: Set goals that challenge you but are still realistic.
- Relevant: Make sure your goals align with your values and long-term vision.
- Time-based: Give yourself a deadline to stay focused and motivated.
Want to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet? Let’s Chat!
If you’re ready to take your business or personal growth to the next level in 2025, we’re here to help. Schedule a free 30-minute coaching session to see how we can support you in making the upcoming year your most successful one yet.
