As the year winds down, it’s tempting to charge ahead and focus on the next big thing. For us, entrepreneurs and CEOs, that’s in our DNA. We’re wired to build, push, and dream about what’s next. But before you rush into planning for the new year, let me challenge you: take time to pause, reflect, and really digest what this year taught you.
This isn’t about feeling warm and fuzzy or beating yourself up over mistakes. It’s about looking back with clarity so you can move forward with purpose. If we don’t take stock of what worked and what didn’t, we risk repeating the same cycles—or worse, missing out on the insights that could transform how we lead and grow. Here’s my end-of-year process. It’s raw, personal, and practical—because I believe both are necessary to lead well.
1. Start with Gratitude (Even for the Hard Stuff)
This might sound cliché, but it’s where I begin every year-end review. I sit down with a notebook, take a deep breath, and write down what I’m grateful for—big wins, small victories, even the struggles. Why the struggles? Because they shaped me.
This year, I learned to lean into the challenges instead of running from them. At Boken, we had projects that didn’t go as planned, clients that pivoted unexpectedly, and moments where I questioned if we were on the right path. But those moments forced me to adapt, to rethink how we serve, and to grow as a leader. Gratitude shifts your mindset from “What went wrong?” to “What did I gain?”
Action Step: Write down three wins, three lessons, and three moments that stretched you this year. Celebrate them all.
2. Audit Your Time and Energy
If you’re like me, your calendar gets hijacked by the urgent instead of the important. This year, I realized I was spending too much time on operational details and not enough on vision and growth. That was on me.
The end of the year is a perfect time to audit how you spent your most valuable resource—your time. Did you focus on the things only you can do as a CEO? Or were you stuck in the weeds?
Action Step: Block out an hour to go through your calendar. Look for patterns: What drained you? What energized you? Where were you most effective? Use this to plan your ideal time map for the year ahead.
3. Look at the Data, but Listen to Your Gut
As a CEO, I love metrics. They give us clarity and direction. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. This year, some of our best decisions at Boken came from trusting instincts—not just dashboards.
Review your KPIs and financials, but also reflect on the intangibles. Did you feel aligned with your mission? Were your team and clients energized by what you’re building?
Action Step: Ask two questions: (1) What do the numbers say about our growth, profit, and impact? (2) What does my intuition say about our direction and culture? Trust both.
4. Face Your Failures with Brutal Honesty
Failures are uncomfortable to revisit, but they’re also goldmines of growth if you’re willing to look. This year, I took risks that didn’t pan out. A few projects fizzled, and there were moments I realized I didn’t communicate the vision clearly enough. That stung.
But here’s the thing: failure is only final if you don’t learn from it. When I looked closer, I saw patterns—moments where better systems or clearer boundaries could have made the difference. Those insights will shape how I lead into next year.
Action Step: Identify your three biggest failures this year. Write down what caused them and one change you’ll make to prevent a repeat.
5. Reconnect with Your Why
It’s easy to lose sight of why you started. Between deadlines, hiring, and putting out fires, the mission can get buried under the grind. But your “why” is the heartbeat of your business.
This year, I made it a point to regularly revisit Boken’s purpose: helping startups and brands create categories that change the world. When things got hard, that “why” reminded me why the work matters.
Action Step: Write a one-sentence mission statement for your company. Post it somewhere you’ll see it daily as you head into the new year.
6. Plan Boldly, but Stay Flexible
After reflecting, it’s time to look forward. Set ambitious goals, but hold them loosely. This year taught me that adaptability isn’t optional; it’s critical. Industries shift, clients evolve, and what worked last year might not work next year. That’s why strategic planning needs room for pivots.
At Boken, we’re not just setting targets for revenue or growth. We’re asking: How can we create breakthroughs for our clients? How can we lead in ways that inspire? Those questions drive our goals.
Action Step: Identify three non-negotiable priorities for 2024 and three areas where you’ll allow room for experimentation or change.
7. Make Space to Recharge
Finally, don’t forget this: your team, your clients, and your company need you at your best. That means making space to recharge—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
For me, that looks like stepping back, spending time with family, and carving out moments of quiet reflection. It’s in those moments I find clarity for what’s next.
Action Step: Schedule a “CEO retreat” in January—even if it’s just a day—to unplug, reflect, and dream about the year ahead.
Final Thoughts
Reflection isn’t just a box to check—it’s a leadership discipline that creates clarity and momentum. The lessons from this year will fuel your growth next year, but only if you take the time to process them.
As you close out the year, remember: success isn’t just about hitting numbers. It’s about becoming the kind of leader who learns, grows, and builds something worth passing on.
Here’s to a bold and purpose-filled year ahead.
– Chris Loope
CEO and Founder, Boken
