How To Make 2024 Great
5 things to think about
For many, this is the last full work week of 2023. If you’re like me, you become especially thoughtful and reflective at the end of the year. Here are some thoughts I’ve had at this time in years past.
Wow, this was a challenging year! I’m glad it’s almost over.
I’m so ready to decompress and get some rest.
I got a lot done this year. Even though it was exhausting, I’m proud of my accomplishments.
I’m going to make next year better than this year.
Can you relate?
From my vantage point as a startup advisor and exec coach, 2023 was a challenging year for a lot of folks. The tech sector took a huge hit with layoffs. Company valuations continued to drop. Funding was more difficult to secure. And inflation seemed to hit every corner of life.
Here at the end of 2023, we’re having a rally in the market. It appears interest rates might begin to drop back down next year. It’s not yet clear if inflation will stabilize, but the market seems to think it will. And we’re all ignoring the election for now. 🫣
Even with the continued uncertainty, I remain hopeful for a great 2024. I’m hoping for a soft landing on the economy, and I’m hoping we see tech start to bounce back.
But being ever the practical person, I’d like to capitalize on this thoughtful time of year and give you some things to think about for 2024.
Take a moment to reflect on 2023: the good, the bad, the indifferent. Write up a summary of your year and sit with it.
What three things do you want to accomplish in 2024? When you get to the end of next year, what will success look like for you?
What is one single thing that you must change in 2024 to make your life better? What are you avoiding right now that you need to address?
What needs do you have for 2024—in your professional life, in your personal life, and in your community? List them out. What conversations do you need to prepare for in January that will help address those needs?
Finally, what is one small discipline you can start in January that will make a difference in your day-to-day life?
I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. It feels good to write them, but by the end of January, they’re typically forgotten. So I hope these five questions will inspire you to tee up a great year.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!