Progress Over Perfection: Lessons from Your Year in Business

The best plans are made ahead of time! Even though 2024 is not over yet, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at the year, assess, and start planning for a successful 2025 now!

In this episode, I list key questions that will help you review your year in business as a business owner and human. Your end-of-year review should not only look at your financials but also your livelihood, because what’s the point of running your own business if you aren’t growing and making positive changes in your life?

You’ll determine what worked and what didn’t in 2024 and use those insights moving into 2025. I share some of my own answers, a few more vulnerable than others, and how I’m using that introspection to inform my business next year.

Some of these questions will be easier than others, but each one is worth taking the time to answer because I believe digging into those can only benefit us in the long run as long as we concentrate on progress over perfection.

Before the end of the year, I encourage you to take time to reflect, question, and assess so you are better prepared for a successful year in business in 2025.

Get your pen and paper ready because this episode has some notes and homework for you to do!

Episode Highlights

Reflect on Your Wins – Discover how to identify your favorite business experiences from 2024, uncover hidden successes, and recognize what truly lit you up this year.
Tackle the Hard Questions – Rebecca challenges you to assess not only what felt easy but also what felt hard in your business—and offers practical insights on how to use this information to create a more aligned and fulfilling 2025.
Financial Clarity Made Simple – Learn how to break down your revenue streams, identify your biggest moneymakers, and pinpoint areas where you’re losing money so you can focus on what matters most.
Plan for 2025 with Confidence – Get actionable steps to start planning for the year ahead, including how to use your calendar as a powerful tool to reflect, refine, and strategize.

Episode Resources

Read the Full Transcript ⬇️

Rebecca:
Hey, hey, hey! It’s Rebecca, and you’re listening to Resilient by Design. Today, I’m going to walk you through how to assess your year. I’ve done similar episodes over the years, and we’ll link some of them in the show notes. These episodes include specific ways to review your year as a business owner so that you can dive into the details.

Rebecca:
But today, I want to focus on the needle movers. There’s so much you can review—financials, profit margins, and all that jazz—but this episode is about your business in 2024. Let’s dive into what worked, what didn’t, and how we’re going to move forward into 2025.

Rebecca:
I recently attended a mastermind event in Nashville, and the second day of the two-day event was entirely dedicated to planning the year ahead. At first, I thought, “Do I really need this? I’ve already started planning—what’s the point?” But it ended up being my favorite part of the event. It forced us to sit down, put pen to paper, and truly reflect.

The facilitator, Amy Porterfield, gave us space to review, answer questions, and gain clarity. I’m going to share some of what I learned from her, along with exercises I’ve done in my business over the years—both professionally and personally.

Rebecca:
So grab a pen and paper—you’ll want to take notes! If you’re driving or out for a walk, don’t worry. You can always come back to this episode. This is a teaching episode, and I hope it inspires you to sit down and do some homework. Get a journal, reflect, and prepare for a fresh start in 2025.

Rebecca:
In the first week of January, we’ll kick off a new season of this podcast with an episode all about planning for the year ahead. But today, we’re looking back. Whether you crushed your goals, barely made it through, or landed somewhere in between, there are lessons to be learned.

Rebecca:
Here’s what I encourage you to do: take some quality time to reflect on the questions I’m about to share. If you’re tempted to skip a question, pause and ask yourself why. That hesitation might indicate an opportunity for growth. Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection. This process might feel uncomfortable, but growth often does.

Rebecca:
Let’s make this the last time you look back so you can truly move forward. Don’t dwell on the negatives, but acknowledge them as learning experiences. If you realize you’ve neglected certain habits—like tracking meetings or finances—use this as a reminder to improve. That way, next year, you’ll have better records and insights at your fingertips.

Rebecca:
Now, let’s dive into the first set of questions. Write these down, reflect on them, and don’t skip anything—even if your response feels incomplete. This is about creating clarity and setting the stage for your best year yet.

Rebecca:
Remember, it’s always about progress over perfection. This exercise is about getting a little uncomfortable, looking at things you’d rather ignore, and uncovering greatness on the other side. Let’s make this count.

Rebecca:
If you’ve done this exercise before, let this be the final time you look back before moving forward. Acknowledge the lessons, but don’t dwell on them. If you’re realizing gaps—like not tracking meetings or finances—take this as your sign to build better habits for the future.

Questions to Assess Your Year

What was your favorite business experience in 2024?
What did you do in your business that you absolutely loved? Was it a project? A client? Did you speak on stage for the first time, or maybe you appeared as a guest on a podcast? Perhaps you took a course that sparked new ideas, or you joined a mastermind that helped you grow.Take a moment to reflect. For example, when I did this exercise, I had to look at my calendar because, honestly, just sitting and thinking wasn’t enough. I keep a very diligent Google Calendar, and I encourage you to do the same. It helps you look back and remember things you might have forgotten.

Rebecca:
For instance, I keep track of all my meetings, projects, and even small wins in my calendar. When I reviewed it, I realized that many of my favorite moments in 2024 were in-person experiences: my meetup with interior designers at the Toronto Interior Design Show, speaking on a panel at High Point Market, working one-on-one with a coach, and attending a mastermind. A lot of my highlights involved connecting with others, often face-to-face.

Rebecca:
So here’s what I want you to do: pull up your calendar and go week by week, starting from January 1st. Write down the experiences that stood out as your favorites—there might be more than one, and that’s okay. This exercise isn’t just about recalling big moments but also about uncovering patterns. For me, the theme was connection. What about you?

Rebecca:
Now, the next question: What felt easy?
What tasks or projects flowed naturally this year? These are the things you’ll want to prioritize and replicate in the future. For example, maybe executing a project with a project manager felt seamless, or collecting payments for consultations was effortless.

Rebecca:
Conversely, question three is: What felt hard?
This is where you identify tasks or challenges that drained your energy. For instance, I’ll never forget how setting up ManyChat for Instagram felt overwhelming—it took hours of my time and was incredibly frustrating. While it was rewarding in the end, I learned it’s something I’ll delegate next time.

Rebecca:
These reflections are crucial because they help you identify what you want to lean into and what you want to let go of. If you’re unsure about how you spent your time, use your calendar as a guide. Look back at the actual time blocks you created and adjust them to reflect how your time was really spent. For example, if you planned to record a podcast episode but ended up on client calls, update your calendar to show that. This habit not only keeps you organized but also gives you a clear picture of where your time goes.

Rebecca:
Sometimes, we forget the good things we’ve done or the small wins that matter. Reviewing your calendar week by week helps you rediscover those moments. For example, I once completely forgot about a trip to Costa Rica until I checked my calendar—it was such a fun experience that had slipped my mind!

Rebecca:
So, make a list of your favorite business experiences. What lit you up this year? It could be a project, a new skill you learned, or an event you attended. For me, it was in-person connections, like speaking at events, hosting meetups, and collaborating with other designers. What about you? Is there a theme in your list? Or maybe it’s a mix of unrelated but equally exciting experiences. Either way, write it all down.

Rebecca:
Let’s move on to the next question: What did you love creating, working on, or putting into the world?
This is about identifying the projects or initiatives that brought you joy. For me, it was speaking on a panel at High Point Market, hosting meetups, and working with one-on-one clients. I also loved creating new offers and developing courses.

What about you? Maybe it was launching a new product, setting up a studio, or collaborating with your team. Reflect on the work you enjoyed most and write it down.

Rebecca:
Finally, what do you never want to do again?
This is a big one. Every year, I make a list of things I want to leave behind. For example, I once realized that hosting lunch-and-learns at my office felt like a waste of time and resources. Another year, I decided to stop offering unpaid consultations.

Think about what didn’t serve you this year. Maybe it’s a specific type of project, a challenging client, or an inefficient process. Write it down and commit to letting it go.

Rebecca:
Okay, so those are your first five questions:

What was your favorite business experience in 2024?
What felt easy?
What felt hard?
What did you love creating, working on, or putting into the world?
What do you never want to do again?

Take your time with these. Write them out in a journal, a spreadsheet, or even a Google Doc—whatever works best for you. Once you’ve written everything down, reflect on it. Look back at your calendar and assess how much of your time was spent on what you loved versus what felt hard or draining.

Rebecca:
My guess is that many of you will find the things you loved—the work that lit you up—weren’t the majority of what filled your calendar. That’s what I discovered, and it’s why I’m making some big changes for 2025. I want to focus more on what excites me and brings in revenue, and less on what drains my energy or doesn’t align with my goals.

Rebecca:
Once you’ve completed this reflection, it’s time to dig into the financial aspect of your year. I’m not going to go into great depth here—we’ll cover this in more detail in Designers Room during our December workshop—but I want to give you a starting point.

First, figure out how much money you made in 2024. If the year isn’t over yet, calculate year-to-date revenue. Use tools like QuickBooks, DesignDocs, or even Excel to pull this information. If you’re tracking manually, it might take a little longer, but it’s worth the effort.

Rebecca:
Next, break down your revenue by source. How much came from design services? Products? Commissions? Other income streams? Understanding where your money is coming from is critical. Once you’ve identified your top revenue sources, ask yourself: Am I spending enough time promoting and working on these areas?

Rebecca:
For example, when my team and I did this exercise, we discovered that most of our revenue came from the implementation phase—reselling furniture and managing projects. This insight led us to streamline our contracts and focus more on implementation in our marketing and discovery calls.

Rebecca:
Conversely, take note of what made the least money or where you lost money. Maybe it was a service you offer that isn’t profitable or a process that needs improvement. For example, I once lost money because I trusted someone else to finalize a proposal, and an error slipped through. That mistake taught me to review proposals more thoroughly.

Rebecca:
Another example: my podcast. It’s not a moneymaker—it costs me money for editing, production, and my time. But I love doing it, and it serves other purposes like connecting with my audience and providing value. This year, I realized I could look into finding sponsors to offset some of those costs.

What about you? What are the areas where you’re spending time or money but not seeing a good return? Reflect on these questions and let them guide your decisions for 2025.

Rebecca:
Now, once you’ve completed this reflection, it’s time to ask yourself: Where are my clients coming from?
This is a crucial question for understanding your marketing efforts. Are most of your leads coming from Instagram? Referrals? Your website? Be sure to ask every client how they found you—it’s the best way to inform your marketing strategy.

We’ll dive deeper into this in our Designers Room workshop, but for now, start paying attention to the sources driving your business. It will help you allocate your time and energy more effectively next year.

Rebecca:
I hope this episode has given you valuable insights and actionable steps to assess your year. If you need to, listen to it again, take notes, and really sit with these questions. Once you’ve reflected, let me know—what stood out to you? Were there surprises or things you already suspected but didn’t want to admit?

The facts don’t lie, and your calendar is one of the best tools you have to gain clarity.

Rebecca:
As we approach the end of the year, don’t forget that investing in yourself and your business is one of the best things you can do. Whether it’s listening to podcasts, taking a course, or joining a community of like-minded professionals, these investments can move the needle for you.

For me, one of the biggest lessons in 2024 was how much growth came from the money I invested in masterminds, coaching programs, and professional development.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star review on iTunes. It means the world to me, and it helps the podcast reach more people. I can’t wait to hear about your results and what you’re planning for 2025. See you soon!

November 28, 2024

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