Lessons Learned.
Learning lessons and admitting our mistakes are tough to do. However, here is where the gold lies. Here is where the wisdom resides and the learning truly takes place. For the past 5 or 6 years, I’ve done this exercise and have noticed that there are some lessons on repeat. I haven’t conquered those lessons yet and often it feels like I’m at the foot of a mountain trying to climb that lesson again. It can feel daunting. It can also wake you up.
Here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned (some again) in 2024:
1. I’ve grown in my role as a business owner and leader, understand that I need to spend time on the business, not just in it. I’ve stepped up into leadership roles and have people who depend on me, so I need to take this business as seriously as a CEO.
2. That having more space and time for my own growth and spirit has allowed me to do things that have previously scared me. I also realized that I actually get more done when I make time and add white space in my calendar.
3. Having a community of support, like-minded entrepreneurs is a critical part of success.
4. My health matters most. This lesson is one I learn over and over and if I am going to make a change here, I have to prioritize and make time for it and put all the other things around it.
5. I need to make time for fun things and not be so worried. Making time for this is creating memories and that really matters as I have learned we have no idea when our time is up.
6. My business supports my family too.
7. To really grow I must be willing to hear about my faults and blind spots.
8. My voice matters and I can use that for good.
3 Steps to Lessons Learned
No. 1: Write down all of your accomplishments.
Go through your calendar, photos, and planner and write down all you did in 2024. I started doing this after I read The Gap and The Gain by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. It helps you understand how you’ve grown and what you’ve done. We are so often focused on what we haven’t yet achieved or the goals we haven’t yet accomplished, that we forget all the things we’ve done. This can take a toll on our mental wellness and how we feel about ourselves. Taking note of moments you may have forgotten, helps you understand more about yourself and what has lead you to where you are today.
No. 2: What is most important and why?
Go back through that list and write down what really mattered to you, what you are most proud of and why. You can star the accomplishments for a short cut, but I encourage you to take your time, write them out and if necessary come back to it later.
No. 3: What lessons did I learn?
How have you grown or evolved? What did you learn about yourself, your work, your life, situations, etc. Once you’ve gathered your lessons, write down why they are important. This helps you clarify what really matters to you and can give you a direction for the next part.
Enjoy this process and make it special! This information is GOLD for you and gives you a direction for where you want to go and what you want to do with your future.
Now that you’ve reflected. Use this information to set your goals for 2025 and beyond (because I know that some goals span years!). For bonus points, use this process in your business. It’s a goldmine there too.
Be a Champion for your Future Self
If you really want to capitalize on lessons learned, take some time to design the next chapter of your life and work. Connecting with your future self can be a helfpul tool here. If you’d like to listen more about this, check out Episode 4 of the Leadership Break: Becoming Your Future Self – A Path to Leadership Growth.
In this episode, we explore the powerful practice of connecting with your future self—a concept that bridges the gap between your present actions and long-term aspirations.
Whether you’re starting a new year, entering a new season of life, or grappling with a tough decision, this episode invites you to envision your future self and consider what they might need or want you to know today. Through insights and a guided exercise, you’ll discover how this practice can help you gain clarity, reduce stress, and align with your long-term goals.