Review 2024 so that you can prepare for a great 2025!

There’s never enough time to do the things I feel I need to do and want to do. So, I try to mash more into already busy days. The busy work pace means I don’t always have a good strategic think before embarking on another quest.

As we stand on the precipice of 2025, I’m getting ready for that good strategic think, and I invite you to join me starting with a recap of last year.

My friend and fellow keynote speaker (her focus is on teams, leadership, and change), Natalia Cohen, told me about her practice of conducting year-end reviews and sent along her questions for us to ponder:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿?

Hmmm… this is a good one because I’m not in the habit of celebrating achievements (and this is something I want to get better at.) Less than two years ago, I published my first book, Elevating Engagement, and I’m super proud. It is in the hands of thousands of people (nearly 4,000), and I’m delighted when someone tells me how the book has helped them improve engagement.

What am I most proud of this year specifically? It was the 36 Elevating Engagement keynotes and 21 workshops I gave. 2024 was a good year! 😄

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘆?

I enjoy inventing. Creating the Member Engagement Labs, trying new bits in the keynote, and writing The Guide to Shape Your Community’s Culture—creative mode is when I’m my happiest. This year, I’m leaning into more invention because I’m developing a facilitated program so leaders can focus on engagement strategy, a consulting program, and a virtual workshop. More soon!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

Ooop! I don’t have a mantra. I will put this question in the back of my mind, and maybe something great will pop out. 🧐

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳?

Well, this is a total work in progress, but I’m a bit of a perfectionist. My perfectionist tendencies can get in the way of getting things done, so I’m trying to balance high output with my still high standards.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳?

I learned that once I reach a certain level of proficiency at a skill, that skill becomes fun. Professional speaking is a great example. Ten years ago, the thought of taking the stage - even a very tiny stage made me weak in the knees. Now it is fun! (Who would have thought?)

I’ve started filming short weekly videos, and each one takes a lot of time at this early stage. However, as I become more proficient, I hope each one will go a little faster, and soon, they’ll become more fun, too.

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Another friend of mine, Jen Lewi, executive coach & career strategist, asked me this question:

What is your word for the year?

The idea is to pick a guiding word that comes to mind and reminds you of what is essential when things get busy, off-kilter, or complex.

Last year, my word was “professionalize.” For me, that word meant creating processes and hiring a team to support the business as it rapidly scaled.

This year, I’ve been playing with a few words. One is “creativity.” It reminds me to spend much more time creating, inventing, and trying new things, which is my happy place 🥰.

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Are you on a roll? Check out Tim Ferriss’s Past Year Review process. Or the YearCompass for a very comprehensive review and planning process.