183: Lessons from 2024: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next for 2025

As we close out 2024, I’m sharing a deep reflection on the lessons learned this year and how those insights are shaping our strategy for 2025. This process of reviewing "what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next" has become an essential ritual for me — and it’s one I encourage you to try as well. In this episode, I walk you through the highlights of my own year-end review, with ideas you can apply to your creative business.

Here’s a look at what’s inside:

• The Power of Reflection: How to ask yourself the right questions to close out the year with clarity and intention.
• Game-Changing Successes: Why our “done-for-you” resources, like the Ultimate Licensing Handbook, performed so well and how the "time-saving" mindset is shaping our future offerings.
• The Return to Tactile Experiences: As AI and technology continue to grow, so does the desire for tangible, analog, and human-first experiences. From the Immersion Box to Flowery Shop products, we’re leaning into touchable, tangible elements in 2025.
• The 4-6 Month Launch Runway: How our pre-launch strategy (beginning months before launch) has been a standout success, allowing us to foster real connections with our audience.
• What’s Next for 2025: A sneak peek into exciting, yet-to-be-revealed projects that will build on everything we’ve learned this year.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, this episode will leave you inspired to reflect, plan, and approach 2025 with intention. It’s a chance to think about what your biggest takeaways are from this year — and how you can use them to fuel your growth.

As AI rises, so does the desire for more tactile, human-first experiences.

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Year-End Reflection: Taking the time to ask yourself, "What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?" can provide game-changing clarity for the year ahead.
2. The Value of 'Done-For-You' Resources: Our Ultimate Licensing Handbook was a major success, reinforcing the idea that people will pay for time-saving, pre-curated solutions.
3. A Shift Toward Tactile and Analog Experiences: While AI rises, so does the desire for tangible, tactile, human-first experiences — from physical products to personalized customer experiences.
4. The Power of a 4-6 Month Launch Runway: By starting the pre-launch process early, we foster community, build relationships, and create trust before ever asking for a purchase.
5. The Power of Community and Connection: Investing in connection and building genuine relationships with our audience makes a world of difference for long-term business success.

Resources:

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

• The Ultimate Licensing Handbook – A curated guide featuring over 400 fully vetted licensing companies to help artists fast-track their research process.
• Ideas for 2025 – A live-streamed event featuring top creative entrepreneurs and supporting Stu McLaren’s Village Impact charity.

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— LyricsShouldntDoAllTheTalking

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