24 Lessons from 2024
As trite as it may sound - and that everyone is saying it this time of year - but 2024 was… a year. I actually don’t have the words to describe it because there was SO much good and also some of the toughest challenges I’ve faced yet. One day I’ll be ready to share all of it when I am on the other side, but there were many times I needed to dig deep, like really really really deep to keep going.
It was the first time in my entrepreneurial career that I seriously thought about quitting. That broke my heart… but I was serious. There were times where my marriage was tested far beyond what I thought we could handle and I felt it was all my fault. I cried not just little tears but scream-sobbed until I was out of breath more times than I have probably ever.
AND I experienced some of the best personal and professional goals that I busted my ass for. I had a banner year with AvEq. Became partner in a brand/client that I fully believe in. I showed more than I have ever in my life and won my first circuit championship. I dove deeper into my marriage and invested in time with friends and family. I had a LOT of fun.
There is still plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of work to be done and along the way, of course I have learned a lot. So here you have it - 24 lessons from 2024.
Consistency means more than working hard: Hustle is overrated if it’s not sustainable. Show up, even on the dull days, because steady beats sprinting every tim
Money Matters: It’s not about having loads of it—it’s about knowing where it’s going. A little financial savvy today saves a lot of stress tomorrow.
When something doesn’t work out, it is making space for the things that will: Closed doors are just reroutes. Trust that what’s meant for you won’t miss you.
Say ‘yes’ a lot… but make sure you say ‘no’: Opportunities come from being open, but boundaries protect your energy. Master the art of the selective "yes."
When you feel like you can’t give anymore, do less or do different: Rest, reset, and try a new approach—this hasn’t failed me yet.
Don’t stop: Success loves the long game. Even when progress feels invisible, trust the seeds you’re planting.
Keep reading: Not all reading needs to be productive. A good book is time away from a screen, learning new words and allowing your creativity to come alive. Make time for it.
You have to do the things you don’t want to: Growth hides in the discomfort. Keep doing the hard things and you’ll feel unstoppable afterward
Time-box your wallowing: Bad days happen—just don’t unpack and live there. Give yourself 15 minutes to sulk, then move on.
Mouth tape is a game changer: Just… trust me.
Take the pictures, even if they aren’t perfect: Life isn’t an Instagram feed. Snap the blurry, goofy, candid moments—they’re the ones you’ll treasure.
Learn to LOVE failure. The more you do it, the better you get at it
Everything, and I mean everything, is figure-out-able
Don’t stress over things you can’t change: Save your energy for what’s within your control
There is a difference between moving quickly and being impulsive: Momentum is good; recklessness isn’t. Pause just long enough to think before you leap.
Ask for help/let others help you: People want to support you—let them.
Become aware of your flaws; be friends with them and don’t waste time trying to ‘cure’ yourself of them - you can make improvements, but being honest about what you’re bad at is important
Relationships change over time - let them. Some drift away, some circle back. Trust that the ones who matter will stay in your orbit.
You don’t have to have the answer right now: Sit with the uncertainty; the answers will come.
Be creative and silly and weird - good ideas come from it. At the very least, you’re having fun.
Practice making mistakes - i dont mean do it on purpose, but just go with it. Gain the confidence that you can come back from any mistake. Don’t wait to be perfect. Don’t wait at all.
Connecting with people can be simple. Texts, DMs, quick notes make a difference.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. Get comfortable being bad at something in order to get good at something.
Change is hard and uncomfortable. Just accept it and do it
