13 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Before the End of 2023

PodcastMindset

Nov 22

Episode 798: Show Notes

Believe it or not, we are rapidly approaching the end of 2023. You’re probably thinking, how the heck did we get here?! You’re probably considering how you can wrap up the old year and start the new year fresh. You’re also probably wondering: what should I be doing right now to put myself in a good place for 2024?

Personally, I don’t believe that it’s about what you do. It’s more about how you think. It’s about reflection and documentation. That is why, in today’s episode, I share a little bit about the past 12 months at Boss Project and highlight some of our major successes and challenges. I also offer you some critical questions to ask yourself to prepare you for 2024 and help you frame what you want for your future.

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Celebrating the Highs

This year, perhaps more than most, has held some of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Let’s start with the successes. I never could’ve anticipated that, in January 2023, I would be navigating a buy-sell, but that’s exactly what happened! I am so glad to be here, to be leading Boss Project into the future, and I’m grateful that you’re here with me. I have an incredible team that has helped me navigate every change and challenge along the way. I’ve had a lot of fun focusing on visibility, sharing practical tips and strategies with you, and dedicating myself to nurturing channels where I can show up repeatedly.

Finding clarity and going deeper rather than wider has been instrumental for my mindset, keeping me organized, and keeping my team on-task. Shifting our messaging, focusing on a broader audience, being more inclusive, and focusing on writing has also felt really empowering. I’m even working on a book! I haven’t talked about it too much yet because it’s still in the beginning stages, but I look forward to seeing those pieces fall into place. I have numerous exciting collaborations in their early phases and, perhaps best of all, my clients are doing truly incredible things!

Learning From the Lows

While I have so much to be grateful for, I don’t want to ignore how difficult it has been. 2023 was one of the most challenging years of my life. So much felt out of my control and I couldn’t “fix” any of it. Most notably for Boss Project, becoming the sole leader of this company was accompanied by a lot of grief. Personally, my husband and I had to navigate the notorious US healthcare system to care for his grandmother, who broke her hip earlier this year and sadly passed in the summer. Losing a loved one is hard. Losing someone you’ve been a primary caregiver for is even more heartbreaking.

The losses seemed to multiply. We lost pets. I had to let a team member go following disciplinary action earlier this year, which was the right decision for the business, but that didn’t make it any less difficult. All of this has taken a toll on my mental health and I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. I went back on antidepressants in 2023, which has been challenging and triggering, even though I know it’s the right decision for my long-term wellbeing.

This year was hard. It was really, really hard, but I am still proud of it. And you can be too. I don’t know what you’ve been through or the wins and the losses you’ve experienced, but I believe that it’s important to acknowledge those things and give them space; both the good and the bad. Your challenges are just as important as the things you are proud of! Just because you don’t have an amazing sales week or you don’t hit your financial goals, that doesn’t mean you’re not successful. Sometimes, just making it through the week is an accomplishment in and of itself. Sometimes, you need to reevaluate your success metrics.

Reflection Questions to Prepare You for the Year Ahead

Preparing for the future begins with reflection, and there are a number of questions you can ask yourself to help you acknowledge where you’ve been before you move forward. Feel free to pause the episode, journal your thoughts, and put some time and attention into this activity!

From reviewing your own successes and challenges to how you adapted to changing market trends, acquired new skills and knowledge, learned from strategies that didn’t yield the expected results, and took customer feedback into consideration, there is so much you can learn about the future of your business by looking back at what you’ve already accomplished. Of course, how you managed your finances and whether or not you met your financial goals is important, but so are the pivotal relationships you formed and the memorable customer testimonials you received. Perhaps most importantly, I want you to ask yourself this question: how did you prioritize your life while running your online business?

Wrapping up your year is more than just statistics. It’s about taking stock of how you’ve grown. We have a reflection worksheet inside The Co-Op, which we will be adding to in December. Make sure you download what is available right now, add these questions to it, and check in on the group to see if there’s anything else you might want to spend time on. If you’re not yet a member, join today and take the next step in your journey!

Quote This

Your challenges are just as important as the things you are proud of.

Highlights

Celebrating the Highs. [0:14:59]
Learning From the Lows. [0:22:12]
Reflection Questions to Prepare You for the Year Ahead. [0:32:19]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail Pumphrey, the Co-Founder & CEO of Boss Project, has been a driving force in the creative entrepreneur industry since 2015. With a passion for empowering service-based business owners around the globe, she became internet-famous after the launch of the transformative training, "Trello for Business." This innovative system revitalized the operations of over 10,000 business owners, making a significant impact on the online business landscape.

Under Abagail's leadership, Boss Project has been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Marie Claire, INC, and HuffPost. Her twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, is a staple in the business community, continuously topping Business and Management Charts on Apple with millions of listeners from around the world.

Abagail's superpower lies in her ability to break down complex concepts into easy-to-implement, duplicatable systems. As an expert in online sales and a data-driven strategist, she has turned a layoff into a 7-figure work-from-home business. Abagail's mission to help more female founders become financially free, without letting their businesses take over their lives, continues to inspire and guide entrepreneurs on their path to success.