If you could go back to January, what would you tell yourself?

As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons 2024 handed me—some with a bow, others more like a slap upside the head. 😅 

This newsletter is part celebration, part reminder (to myself and maybe you, too) of the things I want to carry forward into 2025.

From systematizing my chaos to building a community that actually has my back, these lessons came at a cost but are worth celebrating. So grab a cozy drink, settle in, and let’s dive into the year’s top takeaways—and I’d love to hear yours, too!

In this newsletter:

• Essay: A Love Letter to the Lessons That Shaped Me in 2024

• Candid News: Challenges and Reviews!

A Love Letter to the Lessons That Shaped Me in 2024

As 2024 wraps up, it's time to reflect on the rollercoaster we've all been on. This year has been a mix of triumphs and trials, each teaching us invaluable lessons. Here are my top three takeaways from 2025—shared candidly, as a love letter to my future self (as I know I tend to be forgetful after long holiday).

1. SYSTEMATISE YOUR SH*T!

If your processes live solely in your head, they're not serving you well. Constantly rethinking steps drains your energy and makes delegation a nightmare as your team grows. Document and automate your workflows, so you can execute tasks seamlessly without the mental gymnastics of recalling each step every single time.

Building habits around action reduces the mental load of figuring out the 'how' every single time.

2. Community Over Competition

Entrepreneurship can be an isolating journey. This year, I launched the Candid Community, joined a mastermind group with fellow female entrepreneurs, and embraced collaborations with those I once viewed as competitors. Opportunities abound, but they required stepping out of my comfort zone and into collective spaces. In 2025, I aim to keep community at the heart of my endeavors to amplify efforts, reach, and credibility.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

3. Be Guided by Intuition, Not Fear

Every significant misstep I made this year came with a gut feeling—a flutter of unease that I misinterpreted as excitement. I've often leaned into fear to prove I can overcome it. And while I did, it often led to unnecessary pain. Moving forward, I vow to listen to my body's signals, discerning their true meanings. This means more meditation, less social media, and stepping away from the hustle to actually live my life.

It won't always be easy, but it will save me from the chaos of misaligned choices and allow me to gracefully say "no thank you" to what doesn't serve me.

Now, I challenge YOU to write yourself a love letter for 2025!

What were your big lessons in 2025? If you’d like an accountability buddy, just hit reply and share at least one lesson you're celebrating and want to remember as we move into 2026.

Candid News:

🎄 Can you believe it’s already December?

As much as I’d love to channel my inner overachiever and send you a newsletter on Christmas Day… let’s be real: by that time my brain will have logged out for the year. So, this is your official heads-up: no newsletter on December 25th—unless Santa decides to take over for me. (Unlikely. He’s too busy systematising his toy production. 🛠️🎁)

Community Catalyst for Growth Challenge 🚀
This month, we kicked off our biggest group challenge yet: the Community Catalyst for Growth challenge! 🎉 

We’ve been discussing goals, analysing audiences, and swapping ideas about the amazing work everyone’s doing. The best part? We’ve been mapping out how to engage with communities in 2025 to make marketing easier and a whole lot less dependent on social media. (Less doom-scrolling? Yes, please. 🙌)

It’s not too late to jump in! We’ll be collaborating throughout December, so if you’re interested, sign up and join the fun.

A Small Favor (and a Big Thank You)
If you’ve been enjoying this newsletter, please take a moment to review it. 🌟 

Your feedback not only helps us spread the word, but it also showcases the impact we’re making together. And as a little “thank you,” I’ll be giving away a FREE 1-hour consult to one lucky reviewer. I’m sure that will help you kick off your January planning with a bang!

Here’s to squeezing every bit of magic out of these last few weeks of 2024!

You’ve got this. 💪😉