Pay attention to how many times this week you’re going to hear expressions like, “Leave the past in the past,” or “Look ahead and not back.” Everyone will be encouraging one another to look forward to 2025 and what the new year holds.
I get all of that, but a major opportunity is being overlooked.
All year long social media users post memes with inspirational quotes. Only they know if they're actually walking the walk or if they just talk the talk. You might actually be able to find out because posts of that nature will probably hit their peak this week as everyone tries to encourage one another to “make 2025 your year.”
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If you can’t look back now on all that you accomplished in 2024, then when will it be alright to reflect on all that success?
Guests on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast are often heard saying that they just want people to feel something when their original songs are played. But guess what? You might have moved someone just enough this year to have gotten them to take some small action. And a whole bunch of those added up over the last twelve months are something to be proud of.
In my case, someone listening to the podcast gives me a sense of pride because out of all the shows out there, that one person – often times in another country – chose to press Play on mine. Or someone spent time reading one or more of these blogs that I post every Monday. Or they watched a video on the Now Hear This official YouTube channel. For that matter, they could’ve engaged with any one of our social media platforms. Opening and reading the weekly e-newsletter is time they devoted to Now Hear This instead of somewhere else. Perhaps they booked me to speak or attended a talk I gave somewhere.
That’s how granular you should look for your wins. Yes, there were much bigger success stories in 2024 for Now Hear This, including new clients landed and the results that we got for all of our clients. But don’t put pressure on yourself to think that this calendar year was only a success if you hit one certain major goal. The fact is that you did accomplish a lot.
While it’s great to get testimonials from people or, say, recommendations on your LinkedIn profile, or comments on your social media or even just a pat-on-the-back email, you can look back throughout all the time and work you put in and find plenty of outcomes that you’re proud of that others might not notice.
Let’s come at this from a different perspective.
Perhaps you disagree with what I have presented up to this point. It’s okay. I’m a big boy. I can take it. And not everyone has to agree with what I write and post every week. I’m not naïve enough to think that legions of people are one hundred percent in agreement with all of my blogs.
But consider this. If you think it’s foolish to look back throughout 2024 and count something small such as, say, someone buying me a coffee as a ‘win,’ then think of the mindset that you have already put yourself in. I don’t want to call it combative, but rather, pessimistic, Debbie Downer, as they say. In other words, you’re heading into the new year with a bad attitude.
Get your mind right. Look at the glass as half full. Yes, set higher goals for 2025. By all means, work harder (I know, I know, “No, work smarter, not harder”) and aim to reach new heights. Walk with confidence and a can-do attitude.
The wrong attitude will not get you far, unless, that is, you’re trying to fall deeper into a dark hole.
Congratulations on all that you’ve done in 2024. I hereby give you permission to take a step back and admire all that you accomplished. As Richard Dreyfuss said to Bill Murray in the movie, “What About Bob?” take a vacation from your problems. Enjoy these next couple of days of transitioning into 2025, which I encourage you to enter with optimism and enthusiasm.
Thank you for any time that you gave to me and Now Hear This over these last twelve months. As you just read, it did not go unnoticed, and I can assure you that it’s by no means taken for granted.
For twenty years I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Let’s get on a short call together so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.