What are you highs and low for 2024 and hopes for 2025.

I was heading out to my annual Chrissy lunch party today with my hubby (we both have our businesses plus contracting and consulting so we always go for a lunch to celebrate the year. (In case we don't have any other work parties to attend.)

My hubby asked me to think about what are your high and lows for 2024 and hopes for 2025 - to discuss as lunch.

So here goes:

Highs!

1. Tripling my little coaching business 🔥Lady Leadership - helping lots of women in their careers.

It has been 4 years sinces I originially started this business through a pandemic with a podcast to then head into a cost of living crises - so if you were going to choose a time to start a business then this would not be the time. At all. So I am definitely proud that I have done this!! 

Big shout to all the women that I have met and helped this year. It makes me proud to answer questions, give guidance and generally be an ear to listen to womens concerns. 

I personally have learnt so much during this time.  

2. Starting Techboosters and identifying over $2 million in savings for a client. Boom

As I worked in tech and worked as a CIO for the last decade and a half - I also decided to start a tech business with an old colleague this year as well. I am not really one to sit on my laurels - so it was definitely a new challenge that I wanted to try. 

We are very pleased to have sold in some work to clients within 6 months of establishing. We are excited about next year and have a big list of clients to meet with in the new year. It has been fun establishing ourselves and I have shifted into a new mode which is sales and business development. 

3. Taking my horse out showing and getting my cowgirl on 🐎🤠

Since I left permanent employment nearly 2 years ago I have been consisting riding my horse - 4 -5 days a week plus having a weekly lesson during term times. In the last few months - I took my horse to 3 shows and 2 clinics. If it sounds tiring then yep - it is.  

Having a more flexible work schedule, having kids a bit older and a competent hubby has allowed me this luxury. 

Horse riding is time consuming! The care, the riding and then add travelling and camping. But guess what - I love it. I don't even mind picking up horse shit. Yep - when you love something even the shitty stuff can be ok.

Lows! 

1. Moving my dad into aged care. 😢

This was definitely a low light - I am not sure I went into too much detail on this during the year. But my father spent many months in hospital and has now moved into care. Very heart breaking and confronting - particurlay for your own mortality. He is doing much better now so that is good. 

2. Having my accts hacked whist at a Cyber conference 🤷‍♀️

Yep - it happens to the best of us. It wasn't my accounts but rather an assistant that I had been using. The downshot of this was all my posts for the last year on Linkedin have vanished into thin air. Sooooo something to think about in terms of process and back ups for me. 

Hopes next year. 

1. Helping more women grow their careers. Tripling again.

This is what gets me up in the morning and what I love. Helping others with their careers. Lots of exciting things for next year are in the pipeline and I will use the break to get creating. Sometimes though I also need to make sure that a. I am not catching everyone and b. that I also rest and have downtime. 

2. Growing Techboosters to help more customers find tech waste

My business partner and I are really excited about this - we have been creating sales funnels plus also looking at products we can offer to the market. 

3. Getting a ribbon in reining. Locking down.

This one is going to be hard. We are at little league level when everyone else looks like they are ready for the olympics. Reining is hard. It is precise movements at speed. We have a lot of work to do and I also need to trust my horse and let go a bit more. 

4. Support my son in year 12 xx

This is super exciting - I feel like my son is pecking at the right time and has been building to this. He has a plan, knows what to do and now just needs to execute.  He has got this - is how I feel. 

And be a weekend cowgirl 🤠

So I am going to be signing off on the newsletter for a couple of weeks to spend time with family and friends! I hope that you are doing so. 

My action for this week: Enjoy the holidays, relax and be present with the people who you love. xx 

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I am Sam

I help women grow their careers.
I help companies clean up their tech.