2025: Gratitude, Goals, and Growth
Let’s be real: January is almost over, and the New Year hype is fading. Before we start shouting, “This is my year!”, let’s pause, reflect, and get intentional.
Okay, so January is quickly drawing to a close, and the hype around New Year and those resolutions is perhaps fading. How many have we already broken or forgotten about?
Let's skip the fluff before we start the echo chamber to each other, "This is my year," let the dust settle, embrace recovery and regeneration with friends and family and set yourself up for success.
Start with Gratitude
The first and most crucial step is to take stock of what happened in 2024. Because if you are anything like me, last year was a ride - some interesting wins, some glorious fails and a lot of figuring it out as we went.
Building something from scratch is not a simple task, and here's the truth: no one does it alone. Think about it beyond what worked and what did not, and ask yourself:
Who was there when you wanted to quit?
Who made you laugh when it all felt too heavy?
Who gave you the push you needed—or just quietly believed in you?
For me, multiple people, family, friends, mentors, fellow founders and clients played a role in my 2024 journey, providing support, guidance, skills, and even renewed belief in continuing to pursue those crazy challenges despite the obstacles and criticisms. Before diving into 2025, I recognise the people who had my back last year. The ones who were there when it was not pretty. Because no matter how hard we grind, no one builds anything worthwhile entirely on their own.
Now, let's talk about goals.
2025 may still feel like a blank canvas, but let's not just throw paint on it and call it a masterpiece. Whether you are still pre-seed and flying solo or getting ready to raise your Series B capital investment. Let's get intentional. Ask yourself some tough questions.
What's the one bold move you were holding off because of the fear of failure?
Where do you want to be by this time next year—and what's the first step to get there?
Who do you need to surround yourself with to make it happen?
Irrespective of your goal or goals for your venture in 2025, stay focused, make them specific, avoid burnout, build support, and revert to your original why when things get tough.
Five Quick Tips for setting goals up for success.
1) Be Focused:
Many things will probably pull you in different directions throughout the year. Remember, you cannot do everything, and you cannot be everything to everyone. I did state one intentionally as you do not need 20 goals; you need a few right ones—Prioritise quality over quantity. Focus on what matters most and break it down.
Any big goal can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into smaller, actionable steps makes it manageable. Instead of saying, "I want to grow my startup," try, for example:
Q1: Launch the MVP
Q2: Establish a sales pipeline.
Q3: Onboard my ten first-paying clients.
2) Be Specific:
Nothing fancy. Make your goals specific and measurable.
"Get better at marketing" is not a goal; some say this would be a vague wish. Try, instead: "Run three paid ad experiments and measure return on investment at the end of March."
When goals are clear, they are easier to track, achieve, and learn from. Break them into smaller milestones to track how far you have come. Celebrate the wins—even the small ones—and learn from the stumbles. Achieving traction and progress is better than finding perfection.
3) Avoid Burnout / Avoid the noise
Do not do everything simultaneously. Focus your own and your team's energy on where it counts. It is okay to say no to projects, ideas, or tasks that do not align with your core vision.
4) Build Up your Goal Support
Encircle yourself with a reference group that provides support. Find your people: mentors, co-founders, advisors, or a community of peers who'll challenge and cheer for you. The right people will keep you accountable and remind you why you started.
5) It is all about the Why
Above all, remember the "why." When the going gets tough (and it will), reconnect with why you started. Your "why" is the anchor that keeps you grounded and instils the culture and mindset needed in your team to push forward and achieve progress.
Lastly, Growth
And let us not forget growth; growth is not just about hitting milestones—it is about learning, adapting, and becoming a better version of yourself, even when it becomes uncomfortable and life throws you an impressive curveball. Growth happens in the messy middle, so embrace it.
Now, thank and recognise those who got you through 2024, and here to a 2025 jam-packed packed with big and scary goals, achievable outcomes, showing up for the people who matter and embracing the messy but beautiful journey of growth and venturing.
Comment below what you’re grateful for from 2024 and your number one goal for 2025! Let’s inspire each other to grow and thrive.
