What Worked This Year (Even If It Didn’t Look Like Success)

Growth doesn’t always look productive until you look back

As the year winds down and the noise quiets just a little, I’ve been thinking about how quickly we are to label things as a win or a failure.

If a launch didn’t hit the numbers, a plan changed midstream, or something you were excited about didn’t take off, it’s easy to file it under “didn’t work mentally.” But that’s rarely the full truth.

Some of the most valuable work we do in business doesn’t show up as revenue right away. It shows up as clarity. As confidence. As better boundaries. As a clearer understanding of what drains you—and what actually moves the needle.

In gardening terms (you knew this was coming), not everything you plant is meant to be harvested. Some things exist to condition the soil. To show you where the sun hits. To teach you what not to plant there again.

This year may have provided you with insights rather than income in certain areas. And that still counts. Those lessons are compost, not waste. They’re what make next year’s growth stronger and more intentional.

So before you rush into goal-setting and planning for what’s next, take a moment—especially tonight—to ask yourself:

• What did I learn that I didn’t know a year ago?

• What am I better at now, even if it felt uncomfortable?

• What worked quietly in the background?

That reflection is work. Important work.

You don’t have to force meaning out of everything, and you don’t need to tie this year up with a perfect bow. Just notice what served you, what didn’t, and thank it all for the information.

Next year will grow from here.

Let’s grow. 🌱