2020 year end review: Ups and downs

16 Dec

What a year it has been. If you told me a year ago what things would look like today, I wouldn’t have believed you.

It’s the end of one crazy calendar year for me, both personally and professionally. In all honesty there have been lots of lows and few highs.

Every business should do quarterly and annual performance reviews. Since starting my own business a few months ago, I am carrying on this practice for myself.

Due to this year being so out of kilter, this is more of a personal reflection. My aim is to make 2021’s reviews more business orientated.

I usually base reviews around the following questions and apply them to a marketing strategy and tactical activities.

Here we go…

What were your goals at the start of the year?

To keep doing great work in my travel industry job; to have an amazing wedding and to generally enjoy the pre-wedding buzz and honeymoon. Oh, and to do Joe Wick’s 90 Day Plan.

Where are you now?

I didn’t get married - that got postponed until 2021. I didn’t ace it at the travel job, instead I got made redundant due to COVID. I started my own marketing consultancy business after a period of furlough. It’s building well and I’m working towards a reality rather than a fantasy of how I want to work and live.

What has gone well?

Getting through 2020 with good health and finances intact. Starting my own business and attracting great clients. Understanding contracts, tax and business admin. Working from home - I’ve always been an advocate for it and I was already doing a couple of WFH days a week in my last job. Doing several great training courses. Meeting loads of new, inspiring people in the last eight months who have shown me what is possible. That would never have happened if it wasn’t for starting Soleil Marketing.

What could have gone better?

Other than losing my job, a close family member to COVID and postponing my wedding, not much! Maybe my commitment to doing Joe Wick’s 90 Day Plan - I gave that up a month early. Generally I’m just grateful for where I am at this moment in time.

What have you learnt from this year?

Life can change quickly. Control is an illusion - you can only control one thing: The actions you take. Keep looking forward, but live for today, not tomorrow.