As we rapidly approach the end of 2019, and the end of a decade, reflection is natural and I am certainly not immune to it. In fact, I pretty much consider it essential, and that’s not only my marketing background talking. It’s coming from a personal place as well.
In marketing, reflection is essential so that we can learn from what we’ve done previously in campaigns, apply the good stuff to the next campaigns and drop the bad stuff. Basically, it’s a learning experience. This same principle can, and should, apply to personal growth as well… because at the end of the day, how will we ever know we’re getting better? We deserve to acknowledge and celebrate our wins in business and life, and we owe it to ourselves to acknowledge and learn from our losses.
So this review of 2019 will be a mixture of personal and professional reflection, as it should be!
This year started off turbulent from the get go. I lost both of my grandmothers in the very first quarter, after a long list of health complications that carried over many years. Though I signed a couple of new clients in the first half, I was dissatisfied with the general direction my business was taking, and that flowed over into personal dissatisfaction. My motivation and my mental health suffered as a result of all this, and ultimately so did my business growth.
Somewhere in the middle there, I travelled to Malaysia which was an amazing experience (you can check out the photos on my personal Instagram if you’re interested). I very happily turned 30 (I feel like I’m aging well into my personality!), and I quit fast fashion, making a stronger commitment to sustainability and zero waste.
After a rebrand, I signed more new clients that were exclusively for web design, which was and still is my big vision for my future. Still, I didn’t hit the income goals or client number goals I had set for myself and I felt like growth was an uphill battle.
But, I was determined not to give up. Despite everything, despite the setbacks and self doubt, I knew I hadn’t tried everything. More than that, I knew more than ever, that working for myself and growing a strong sustainable business that helped womxn make a difference in the world, was exactly what I wanted to do. So I asked for help. I started seeing a therapist and I signed up with a business mentor / coach. It’s only been a few months since I started with both, but the changes to my mental health, my motivation and my optimism for the future has been amazing.
At the end of this year, I’ve been a vegetarian for over a full year now. I’ve hit a few personal goals in fitness, learnt more new things than I can count, and I’ve made some really amazing new friends.
Despite this year’s turbulence, I know that the good must come with the bad and vice versa. Without adversity, we don’t have growth. I have learnt this year that it’s OK to ask for help and it’s OK to not hit all your goals. Comparison is the thief of joy; I know we hear that all the time but it’s worth saying again. Everyone is on their own journey that we ultimately know nothing about.
For the first time in a long time, I’m going into 2020 with optimism and hope and motivation for what’s next. I’m healthy and happy and excited for what 2020 brings, good and bad.
How was your 2019? What are you looking forward to in 2020? Let me know!
Cheers,
Laura x
[RELATED] Giving Myself Permission to be Imperfect
[RELATED] 3 Easy Ways to Set Boundaries in your Business
