182: From Reflection to Results: My Step-by-Step Year-End Review Process

In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how I prepare for Stu McLaren’s annual “Ideas for 2025” event, but even more than that, I’m walking you through the process I use to review my entire year. This reflection practice has become one of the most impactful parts of my year, helping me close out the current season with clarity and step into the next one with intention.

If you’re ready to learn how to thoughtfully reflect on your wins, challenges, and key lessons from 2024 — and use that insight to shape your 2025 — this episode will guide you step-by-step. Whether you’re running a creative business, managing a team, or growing as an entrepreneur, this process will help you extract meaningful lessons, amplify your wins, and create a clear path forward.

Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll learn:

• Set the Stage: How to create an environment for deep reflection (hint: it doesn’t happen at your everyday desk).
• Gather the Data: The key metrics to collect from revenue reports to customer feedback, and how I use AI to analyze it all.
• Celebrate Wins: How to capture the big and small wins, including a unique way I use Google Docs to track them all year long.
• Analyze Challenges: A gentle approach to reviewing what didn’t work without being overly self-critical.
• Extract the Lessons: How to identify takeaways that can shape your future goals and plans for the next year.
• Plan for the Future: How to narrow your focus and share the lessons with your team (or the people who support you).

This episode will leave you with a framework to make reflection a powerful tool for growth. Get ready to end your year on purpose and step into 2025 with clarity, confidence, and vision.

Clear your desk, clear your mind, and give yourself permission to pause and reflect. This doesn’t happen by accident.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Intentional Reflection — How taking a day to reflect on your year can bring clarity and focus for the year ahead.
2. Data-Driven Decisions — The exact metrics to review, from revenue and customer feedback to marketing performance and team insights.
3. Tracking Wins with a Team — How we use a single Google Doc for team notes and an internal team newsletter to track our progress all year long.
4. Facing Challenges with Curiosity — Why approaching obstacles with curiosity (not judgment) helps you extract meaningful lessons.
5. Lessons for 2025 — How to extract key insights from your year and use them as a filter for every decision you make in the next year.

Resources:

Here are a few key tools and methods mentioned in this episode that you might find helpful:

• Google Docs — Used to track team meeting notes and an internal newsletter throughout the year.
• ChatGPT — Used to analyze large amounts of text and extract key highlights, major wins, and big moments from team documents.
• Revenue and Marketing Metrics — Review stats from platforms like Kajabi, ConvertKit, and ad performance from platforms like Facebook/Instagram Ads.

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Review of the week: 

IN AWE AND SO GRATEFUL!

Do not hesitate to turn on this podcast! I have been and continue to be incredibly impressed by Bonnie. She shares everything she knows and is so approachable and genuine. It's not a surprise that her business is thriving. She is thoughtful, engaging, and striving for excellence in all she does! What an incredible mentor for so many, including me. She values everyone and encourages people at every stage. I listen to this podcast most when I am on my stationary bike or taking a long drive. Knowing I 'get' to listen propels me to get on that bike everyday and exercise - and - there is NO dread when I have to take a long drive alone - I have the BEST company - Bonnie! Learning from Bonnie and her team has been beyond a blessing. Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing your talent with the world!

— Ekett

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