What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next: Your Guide to a Game-Changing Year-End Review
As entrepreneurs, moving forward is critical, but skipping the step of reflecting on the past year can hold us back and keep us stuck in unhelpful patterns. Taking time to celebrate your wins, acknowledge challenges, and identify what to do differently going forward, is the foundation for real growth. Here’s how to close out your year with clarity and momentum.
Step 1: Celebrate Your Wins
Before diving into your debrief, take a moment to reflect on the wins that lit you up this year. Go month by month and write down 1–3 things that went well for each month of the last year.
Maybe you brought in a dream client, overcame a fear of public speaking, or streamlined a process that saved you hours each week. Big or small, each win deserves to be acknowledged. This isn’t just about feeling good (though that’s part of it!). Celebrating your wins reminds you what’s working and energizes you for what’s next.
Step 2: What Worked
Now, look deeper. Why did those wins happen? Was it a new habit or strategy? Did you finally get consistent with something that had been on the back burner?
Success is rarely accidental—it’s usually a mix of intentional action and staying aligned with what matters most. Identifying what worked not only helps you repeat those actions but also gives you confidence in your ability to make good decisions.
Step 3: What Didn’t Work
This is the hard truth moment. What fell flat this year? Maybe a launch didn’t hit its goals, or you said yes to too many things and ended up burned out. Be honest with yourself, not as a critique, but as a way to learn.
Ask:
- Were these challenges due to a lack of time, resources, or clarity?
- Did I ignore red flags or push forward when I should’ve paused?
Acknowledging what didn’t work isn’t about beating yourself up—it allows you to break free of patterns that don’t serve you.
Step 4: What Would You Do Differently?
Here’s where reflection turns into growth. Picture one or two of those challenges, and imagine hitting the “do-over” button. What would you change? Would you simplify your approach, ask for help sooner, or give yourself more breathing room?
This step is powerful because it’s not just about the past—it’s about pre-paving better choices for the future. By thinking through your do-overs, you’re creating an insurance policy to avoid the same roadblocks next year.
Why It’s Worth It
Skipping this reflection might feel like saving time, but it keeps you in a spin cycle—like a car stuck in the mud, revving but going nowhere. Investing 15–20 minutes for reflection for each month of the year can make a huge difference. You’ll create fertile ground for your goals, build momentum, and learn more about yourself as a business leader.
It might feel like this step slows you down, but in reality, it propels you forward.
Let’s Do It Together
Reflection can be tough to prioritize, which is why I offer one-on-one end-of-year review sessions. These sessions give you the accountability to carve out time and the insights that come from talking things through with someone who’s been there.
This year, I feel so strongly about the power of this process that I gifted every member of the Momentum Squad a 50-minute session.
Not a member yet? Join now and I will gift you a 50-Minute End of Review Session too. Click here to find out more about The Momentum Squad.
Invest the time to reflect before you jump into goal-setting. It’s the key to breaking free from old patterns, building momentum, and laying a foundation for your best year yet.
