Reflect and Grow: December
Reflect and Grow: December
Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all had a magical holiday (if you celebrate). It’s official, we’re now in that strange part of the year where time doesn’t feel real, and no one knows what day it is. If you work in corporate America, you’ve probably been OOO since sometime last week and are milking every hour of every day until you return in January.
I’ve always enjoyed this part of the year. It gives me the space to slow down and reflect on my personal wins and lessons for growth. Since I’ve been updating you all for almost an entire year now, there isn’t too much new to share today. Instead, I wanted to use this post to walk you through how I prepare myself for a fresh year ahead.
First Things First: Journaling
This should come as no surprise, but before I begin thinking about the year ahead, I take at least one full day to intentionally journal about the year I’ve just had. I apply this practice to both my personal life and my business.
Journaling allows me to be completely honest with myself and helps me set intentional, aligned goals for the year to come. One major realization that came out of this year’s journaling session was the importance of being more selective with the types of clients I attract.
As many of you know, I shifted the focus of my business during the second half of this year. When I first made that switch, I wasn’t very clear about the type of clients I ideally wanted to work with. Because of that, I experienced being ghosted by two potential clients—something that likely could have been avoided had I been more intentional with my time and the projects I agreed to pursue.
It was a learning lesson, and I’m entering the new year prepared to prospect with a clearer and more selective process.
Secondly: Set Milestone Goals for the Year
After journaling, I like to reflect on the year I’ve had and set realistic milestone goals for the coming year. For me, many of these goals center around attracting one to two clients per month and building a consistent, sustainable book of business.
Outside of client prospecting, I’m also planning to push myself creatively by finally trying the whole TikTok thing. It feels intimidating, but I’ve learned that—just like starting this blog, consistency is what makes things feel less scary over time.
Thirdly: Celebrate the Wins
When so much focus is placed on improvement and future goals, it can be easy to overlook how far you’ve already come. This past year, I completed my first official project, interviewed with two local magazines, started this blog, learned about the procurement process, and, most importantly, found my niche.
It’s been a busy year, to say the least, and I often have to remind myself that I’m still very early in my entrepreneurial journey.
One of my favorite ways to celebrate my wins is by taking myself on a solo date. This past weekend, I treated myself to Harumi (if you’re in the Phoenix area, you know). I also love celebrating through creativity. To prepare for the upcoming year, I created a personalized planner and an accompanying notebook. I’m excited to share some behind-the-scenes moments from the planner creation process in the coming weeks!
Conclusion
I’m incredibly grateful that I started this blog back in January. It’s given me a space to document my business journey, reconnect with writing, and build a sense of community along the way.
As I prepare for the new year, I plan to experiment with publishing this blog on Substack in addition to my business website. I’ll also be shifting the Reflect and Grow series from twice a month to once a month to allow for more intention and balance.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read any of my blog posts this year; it truly means more than you know. I’m wishing you all a very happy New Year, and I look forward to continuing to share this journey with you in the year ahead.
