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The Heart & Hustle Podcast
415: Our Annual Review Process - How We Plan for a New Year
00:46:47
On this episode of the Heart and Hustle Podcast we are sitting down and chatting about our annual review process. We want to empower and encourage you while heading into the new year by showing you how we assess our previous year while we also...
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- [00:01]
A
You're listening to the Heart and Hustle podcast. We are your hosts, Evie McLeod and Lindsay Roman. Welcome back to the show, friend. This is about to be a really fun episode that hopefully is empowering and encouraging for you. As we head into another calendar year, we are going to kind of talk about our annual review process and how we assess our previous year and then kind of plan and goal set and strategize for the next year.
- [00:29]
B
And we're going to cover both personal and business kind of all wrapped up in one.
- [00:33]
A
We're just kind of giving a good overview. There's a lot more. Like we could talk about this for a week if we wanted to. Of like the actual deep, deep, deep, deep specifics of like this. Ask yourself this specific question and do this specific exercise and you know, everything. There's like so much that we could really dive into, but we also just wanted to give a really good like, Overview like the 10,000 foot perspective of like, here is the step by step or the approach that we take and hopefully it's really exciting and encouraging for you. So without further ado, let's plan for 2025.
- [01:09]
B
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A
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B
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- [01:55]
A
Hey.
- [01:55]
B
Hey. I'm Lindsay Roman.
- [01:56]
A
And I'm Evie McLeod. And we are family and legacy focused serial entrepreneurs and the founders of the Heart University, a business education company with a mission to help you thrive in your business and life.
- [02:07]
B
Welcome to our entrepreneur cocktail hour where business and marketing strategies meet faith, real talk and raw in life changing conversations.
- [02:14]
A
At the end of the day, we are all in this together figuring out how to navigate the ups and downs, the messy and the beautiful and everything in between. This is a community where you can come as you are, get inspired and walk away equipped to build a legacy filled life.
- [02:28]
B
You're listening to the Heart and Hustle podcast. Welcome to 2025 or if you're listening to this in like a future in June, or maybe you're listening to this at the beginning of 2026 or 2027.
- [02:46]
A
Wow, that's wild. 2027.
- [02:48]
B
Yeah. But you know what, regardless of when you're listening to this, we are actively recording this at the end of 2024. And you're. If you're listening to this when it comes out, listening to it at the beginning of 20. Regardless. We're talking about how to start a new year with clarity and gumption and goals and just. Yes. All the good things.
- [03:10]
A
Intention.
- [03:11]
B
So let's kind of talk first about how we approach. Yeah. What we do to create an annual review plan or like, I guess it's an annual review of the past year to create a like, systematized goal for the next year.
- [03:27]
A
Yeah. So there's a lot. I kind of said this in the intro, but there's a lot that could go into this, including, like, when we talk about kind of how we approach this, we're going to talk just quickly about like the Dream Retreat that Landon and I do. You guys do like kind of similar. And I could. We could spend an entire couple of hours talking about how we format our Dream retreats specifically, like, so there's so much that we could really go into like the weeds on. But we don't really want to do that on this episode because we want to make it very, like, clear, easy to understand and practical. And practical for you to take away and actually do something with today. So hopefully this nails that. But to kind of give like some concepts before we go into like, here's the step by step, here's the three step process of how to plan for a new year.
- [04:09]
B
Because what we're going to give in this three step process takes a lot of time.
- [04:13]
A
Yes.
- [04:13]
B
And so what what she meant by like Dream Retreat is if you're married, this. We recommend doing this with a spouse or a partner where you get together and kind of, you set aside like.
- [04:27]
A
Undistracted time to do what we're going to outline. Yeah.
- [04:30]
B
In the episode.
- [04:31]
A
Well. And also something that Land and I will do. We also won't always because usually going through the full, like, review slash new year goal setting takes us at least a month or two.
- [04:45]
B
Yeah.
- [04:46]
A
Sometimes three, depending on.
- [04:47]
B
What do you do then during the actual Dream Retreat portion?
- [04:50]
A
It's kind of like the.
- [04:51]
B
Is that the end?
- [04:53]
A
It depends. Sometimes it's at the beginning and it's how we kick off this process. Sometimes it's like in the middle of it, and we're like, really pulling things together and assessing sometimes.
- [05:01]
B
Or do you do it in December or January or another time?
- [05:04]
A
We do it usually between December and February.
- [05:07]
B
Okay, okay.
- [05:08]
A
So it just kind of depends for us. But the point of our concept of the Dream Retreat is. Is essentially this concept of like, reviewing the year, assessing how it went, and then planning for the next year. But we try to set aside a time where we can really be undistracted when we do it. Because going through reviewing your year and planning for the next one, like I said, can often take a month or two. And you're doing it in little bits and pieces, like throughout the, you know, a day, an hour here one day and a couple hours here this day and whatever, and life is just happening around it. But we like to set aside time where it's like, no, we are undistracted. We are completely unplugged. We are pressing into worship and prayer over, like, like asking God what he has. And it's just really beautiful and powerful. And it's a fun way for us to set aside and reset. So we really enjoy that. Undistracted, like, step away. This year we're probably going to do a staycation because we've been traveling so much that we are not ready to go anywhere else right now. So we're probably just going to do completely unplugged, distraction free, no work, nothing, like, probably at home. So it doesn't even have to be anything crazy. But we love the concept of a dream retreat. And you can if you want to do this process on the Dream retreat. I just think it might take more time, too.
- [06:25]
B
Yeah. What me and Andrew do very similar. We send the children to, like, my mom's house or ideally a situation where we have an overnight, at least one. Ideally more, but. But again, life. So usually one overnight. So we would get like a day and a half, possibly two days and. And similar concept. Whether that, like, whether we send the kids away to, like, grandma's house and then we do a staycation, or we have somebody stay at our house with the kids and then we go to like an Airbnb or something like that. Either way, same principle of, like, trying to get away and focus. Because if we try to do our dream retreat with children running around, then it's just like, well, that's normal life. So it's. It doesn't feel as an intentional or. But obviously it's like distraction free. Yes, that's the main goal.
- [07:15]
A
That's the biggest thing.
- [07:16]
B
But obviously Depending on circumstances, you might not be able to do that. So just take pieces of what we're gonna say, obviously. But try, even if you. If you have kids and you can't get away or don't have a babysitter, especially for overn, have. Try to have like a friend or family or even you could switch with a friend and like, you could watch their kids for a whole day and they could do the same and have a whole day uninterrupted, no distractions, where you can do as much of this as possible and maybe come prepared in a scenario like that where you maybe work through your personal goals and your partner, spouse, husband does their own, and then you come together on your dream retreat. So when we say dream retreat, yes. Ideally you may be like, have a few nights or one night and you go away. But if that's not possible, just take, you know, nuggets of this concept.
- [08:01]
A
Yeah, for sure. One thing that I will say is Lindsay and I have both done a concept of like an annual review for years and years, but our good friend Zim Flores came out a couple of years ago with an actual, like, physical, like, book that is so beautiful and it is so wonderful and it is so thorough. So if you're like, I need and I wanted a piece of paper and I want, like, a full, like, outline written on paper, I would highly recommend it. We'll link it in the show notes. I believe the name of the business is this Holy Homestead. Is that correct?
- [08:41]
B
I thought it was the annual review.
- [08:42]
A
Well, the name of the product is annual review, but I believe it's under, like, Holy Homestead. Annual review.
- [08:48]
B
We will put the link in the show notes.
- [08:49]
A
We will put the link in the show notes. So if you want, like, the next level, it's. It's incredible. Our friends is amazing and it's beautiful.
- [08:56]
B
It makes a great coffee table book.
- [08:57]
A
It is.
- [08:57]
B
Which is currently sitting on the coffee table.
- [08:59]
A
It's like linen and it's gorgeous. The last thing we want to say before we really dive into, like, okay, here's the step by step of like 1, 2, and 3 that we would encourage. We mentioned that this can take a lot of time. I really just want to encourage, don't rush this process. Not to say don't prioritize it, but also be okay recognizing that this probably won't get done in a day, and that's okay. Like, chip away at it. I started this process in mid November of this year. I've started it earlier and earlier in some years. Realizing it just takes Time, especially around the holidays. And, you know, I won't touch it for like a week or two, and then I'll come back and like, dive back in. So just an encouragement, like, be prepared to take time. And then the last thing that I want to say is part of the reason that this takes so much time is because it's such an intentional thing and you're trying to really set yourself in a headspace where you're able to, like, fully lock in and be like, assessing your previous year and then really goal setting and dreaming and envisioning, like, what do I want? What do I need to change? What needs to happen? What are my goals? What are my very specific situation scenarios that I want to occur next year? What do I want my business to be like, in five years? Maybe that's changed. Changed, whatever. There's a lot that goes into it. And so I usually, and I know Lindsay does, too, I spend a good amount of time before I really dive into the meat every time I sit down to do this in prayer and worship, inviting the Holy Spirit in. Obviously not everyone's going to feel the same or have that relationship with God or, you know, believe in God, and that's totally fine. But if you are a believer, I just want to encourage lots of prayer. Lots of prayer. Like, partner with the Lord on this process. And it is so rich and so beautiful.
- [10:48]
B
Ask him, like, God, what do you have for me in 2025?
- [10:51]
A
Yeah.
- [10:52]
B
What do you have for my business? What do you have for my family? Yeah.
- [10:56]
A
Or ask him to highlight things from this past year that were really great, that you want to continue in the next year.
- [11:04]
B
Or to highlight things that we're learning, lessons.
- [11:07]
A
Yeah. Or that didn't work, that weren't aligned, that, you know, we're out of place, that you're like, I. I need to leave that in 2024. I don't want that in 2025. Yeah. Just invite him in, ask him questions, ask him for clarity for, you know, his perspective on things, and he will show up and he will bring it. And it is so powerful to plan and dream with God. Also, if you haven't read this before, I know we've recommended this a million times and this wasn't on our notes at all. But the book Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson is so good. So good. It is like an annual reread for me because it is so powerful and it's just so incred. Incredible. And it actually aligns really beautifully with, like, kind of planning and dreaming and, like, preparing to do stuff in your life. So add that to your book list this year if you think that would also be helpful for you.
- [11:55]
B
All right, we're gonna go through three steps. We have some. Some bullet points and stuff to talk about within each step. But step number one, when you're first starting to create an annual review, you gotta review, right? So first is review your previous year. Now, you can do this in a myriad of ways. I like to put pen to paper or, you know, type to screen, whatever you want to, you know, keyboard to screen. Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to do, format wise. But review everything. Something that I like to do is go through my Google Calendar and my camera roll and sometimes even my Instagram story archive, because sometimes I forget what happened. And those three places specifically help trigger events, seasons, like, practically just almost going through. And like, take your Google Calendar and go on like, a blank sheet, whether it's digital or physical. And almost like, like, write month by month. Yeah, and like, right, like, like January, what happens?
- [12:51]
A
What happened?
- [12:52]
B
What? Yeah, key. Key events. Key things. Whether they're like actual practical, like, events that occurred or like a season of like, oh, I could tell, like, my heart and, you know, this was happening. This was like the theme of January and February or whatever.
- [13:04]
A
My mental health was not doing well in January, whatever.
- [13:07]
B
So go through. So I, I like to first do the practical, like, of, like, okay, what physically happened? Like, oh, I had a baby in March, or, you know, like, we went on vacation in June. Like, write those things down and just helping camera roll, Google Calendar or whatever calendar you use, and your archive on Instagram. Those are the three things that help. Is that anything?
- [13:27]
A
Yeah, exactly what I do.
- [13:28]
B
Okay.
- [13:28]
A
And that's one of those things when you're. I'm, like, this can take time. Like, I want you to imagine going through your camera roll for an entire year. And obviously I'm not saying, like, you're swiping through every single photo, but, like, you're assessing, like, in January, what were the main things that happened? Okay, great, awesome. I looked through my camera roll on my calendar. All right, Now, February, what were the main things that happened? And you're like, as writing it like that in and of itself. Usually for me, it takes at least two or three hours to go through, like, my entire year. Because I really also want to be paying attention to not just like, oh, I went on vacation sometime in the summer and I did this in the spring. Like, no, I want to actually be thinking, like, these were the main key things that happened. It takes time.
- [14:08]
B
So Well, I guess, yeah. When you're writing that, write the events. But then also, I guess we kind of alluded to this. Write how you were feeling or like seasons. Like, like, what was God teaching you that you can tell. And again, like camera rolls and things like that, like, they can trigger. Like, I'll remember. Oh, I was in this place when that was happening. Because, like, your brain just associates things together with those things. But write down how you were feeling. Like your mental health was swamped with.
- [14:37]
A
Work in X month and I was drowning and I felt like I wasn't going to survive. And you're like, oh my gosh, I forgot I felt that terrible for like five months.
- [14:45]
B
Right.
- [14:45]
A
And then you're like, oh, huh, maybe I was overbooking myself. Note. Maybe don't overbook yourself next year.
- [14:52]
B
So you're. But you're basically just creating like a massive review. Yes. Using those three places to, you know, help trigger what you remember.
- [15:00]
A
And writing down key events.
- [15:01]
B
Yeah, writing down key events. Writing down like things that happened. And then business wise, I would also say write down any key moments that happened in business, whether they were good or bad or anything that, that stands out. Like, you rose, you wrote, you rose, you raised your prices and you noticed this. Or you had to lower your prices because bookings were.
- [15:22]
A
Or you hired a team member.
- [15:23]
B
Yeah. Like any, anything of value, not even value, anything of importance that just happened, good or bad. Yeah.
- [15:30]
A
So you really want to sit down, assess your year as an overview, like month by month, and take any keynotes of key takeaways, key important happenings. And then really sit down and write down. You're going to go into these categories, Personal, business, success and growth and failure and falling short. And we'll take failure with a grain.
- [15:48]
B
Of salt because 100%, we're just, we just assigned an opposite of success title to that. But it's more like, yeah, what lessons did I learn?
- [15:56]
A
Yeah, 100. So the personal side of things, really assessing, like, how did I do? And you can go month by month on this. You could go over the year in general, if you want to look at it as a whole, however you want to approach this. And Zim's planner has, well, she breaks.
- [16:12]
B
This up, like, really great.
- [16:13]
A
Way, way, way, way more than we're doing here now. So she has a whole process for you. But like, how did you do mentally? How did you do physically? How were you emotionally, how were you spiritually, how were you relationally? Like, that's all under personal. Like, really assessing each of those areas, like Spiritually, I was not doing well this summer or, like, in August, you know, September, October, whatever.
- [16:38]
B
Well, what I also find is helpful is almost going through your month, like, writing the entire calendar year, like, all 12 months, and then doing the events like we said, but then now going through each of those categories and going mental health. Let's write January through December. Where is my mental health?
- [16:53]
A
Do it on a scale of like 1 to 10, where was I at? Or, you know, there's.
- [16:57]
B
You can obviously do it. But it's helpful to see. To separate those categories and write, like, those months down. It's like, okay, now emotional or spiritual or relational, like, how was my friendship and community in. In, you know, physically?
- [17:08]
A
Like, you were fantastic. Worked out awesome and ate well the first four months of the year. And then it just totally fell off. And you're like, I did nothing. I didn't work out a single time after that. Like, and for you to recognize that, you know, whatever, it's just so powerful.
- [17:21]
B
It gives you a visual map of your year, really, by just writing this down.
- [17:24]
A
Same thing with, like, business. Like, sit down and be, like, financially, bookings, growth, team, you know, what would that be called? Culture. If you have that, if you're looking to build that, like, how was the team culture on a scale of 1 to 10 each month, anything like that, that you can really sit down and assess and be like, how was my business this year? And then also I would put in, like, how did you feel about your business month? So how are you mentally or emotionally on your business or in your business each month? And then success and growth. Do you want to cover that?
- [17:54]
B
Yeah. So go through what you're mainly wanting. I can't talk. What you're mainly wanting to do on this is ask yourself, what were my successes of 20, 24? Were there any, like, what went well? Yeah, I guess when you're thinking about this, go through again all 12 months and assess. Wait, what'd you say?
- [18:13]
A
Like, look through your calendar and be like, what happened in my business? Oh, wow. I wrote a lot. Which.
- [18:17]
B
Which. Creating, like, the calendar list of. And just even understanding your emotional capacity throughout will help for this. But it's like, okay, what went well? You're going to really focus on the good and the things that you want to bring into the next year. Yeah. And really just you want to repeat or take a time to, like, be like, what went well? What do I want to repeat? What do I want more of? Like, these were the good things that happened this year. Let me write them down.
- [18:39]
A
Yeah. And then on the flip side, you're going to look at, quote, unquote, failure or falling short and assessing like, hey, what were some areas or opportunities of growth that I noticed in myself or my business this year?
- [18:52]
B
What didn't work?
- [18:53]
A
What? What did not go well?
- [18:54]
B
What. Less like bumping up against a brick wall, causing friction.
- [18:58]
A
What lessons did I learn? What goals did I fall short of? And this becomes really helpful when you've done these year after year and you can look back at your previous year's, like, annual review or annual planner and be able to see, like, oh, I set a goal for X, Y and Z, and I fell short on X and Z. Um, and you're able to be like, man, okay. I, like, really fell short on those. Like, how did that happen? You know? And really assessing, like, I didn't have capacity. I set all those goals, but I did not have capacity to follow through on all of them. Um, you know, it'll give you a lot of clarity. So really assessing, like, opportunities for growth, lessons learned, things that really weren't aligned, didn't go well, fallen short of goals, whatever that is, and really, like, assessing that. So all of this, again, is. We're trying to give an overview because you could go through this for five hours talking about how to really review a previous year and, like, do it strategically. Right, but that's a good overview. Yeah, that all falls into, like, reviewing your previous year. And that's kind of step one. Like, before you plan for another year, you really have to look back and be like, what did I do this year and what did I like? And not, like, how did it work? Really give, like, a good, like, microscopic view of your year. And then step two, which is to.
- [20:16]
B
Assess the new year that's coming upon you or that you're currently in, or that is next year for us. It's 2025. So once you've done the review for 2024 or your past year, look towards this new year and pull out a calendar. Ideally, like, a calendar that would be all 12 months. Again, whether you want to do this physically or digitally, I almost like printing out physical big month calendars for every single year when I do this. But I also like having it on, like, something where I can see all of the year in one kind of, whether that's digital or physical. And what I want you to do is write down any life plans that you already know are happening in this year. So write down birthdays, write down anniversaries, like it. Those are things that are gonna have something probably attached to them, whether it's like a trip or whether it's just an event of some sort. Like, write them down. Any vacations that you have planned, write them down. Are you pregnant? Are you having a kid this year? If you already know that, write it down. Are you moving, like any life situation that you know of?
- [21:17]
A
Getting married.
- [21:18]
B
Yeah. Getting married. Reunions, like all of that, Write them down in your calendar so that you know when they're coming.
- [21:24]
A
Yep. And if that just is like the 30,000foot view of your next year before you get into like, all right, now here are like a bunch of really, you know, microscopic goals or things. It's like, no, no, no. I'm, you know, having, I'm having a baby in whatever March. I'm going to be completely out of office from February through, you know, April or whatever, March through June, whatever. And you're like, huh, maybe I don't try to book the same amount as I did last year when I'm out of office for three months of the busy season for photographers.
- [21:57]
B
Writing down like your life plan and kind of getting a landscape of your year helps just even with the events and things that will pop up, it helps you assess how you place your goals and how you even dictate your quarters.
- [22:10]
A
Yeah.
- [22:11]
B
Just because, you know, based on what's happening.
- [22:13]
A
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- [25:00]
A
So the next thing we kind of really touched on with reviewing the previous year, but if you haven't already, when you're like writing stuff down, really take the time to look at your assessment from the previous year and be like, what do I want to do differently? What needs to change from what occurred in this previous 12 months? Like assess what you've gone through of like oh my gosh, like I've done this before where I've done my annual review and I've gone through my year of just like key highlights from each month and I literally will look back in, you know, December or January of the next year at the previous 12 months and I will be like how? How in God's earth did I survive? Like how did I cannot believe how much I packed into this year. No wonder I was stressed out of my mind and feeling burnt out, and then I go into assessing the next year, and I'll be like, I don't want to do that again. I did not like that in any way. That was not aligned, that was not sustainable. That did not work. That was way too crazy. So really taking the time to assess and be like, what? You know, what worked, what didn't, what do I want to change?
- [26:07]
B
The other thing, this is more. You could. You could apply this to life, too. But I specifically want to talk about business for a second for my business owners. Is there any. After you've assessed and reviewed the previous year, when you're making kind of light plans for. And we're not talking about goals yet, but when you're making plans for the new year, what adjustments do you want to make for your business specifically? So things like pricing. Are you feeling a disconnect with your ideal client and you're like, oh, okay, I want to maybe alter that a little bit into, like, a different type of person? Or do you want to alter your work hours? Are you noticing that? Are you noticing that the. The, like, you. You're feeling hustle and you're feeling burnt out, and you're just like, I need to calm down. Maybe I take Fridays off, and maybe this year it's gonna change and, like, we're gonna set that, like, something, you know, in work hours. Or do you have a dream to launch a new product or a new service or even a new business this year? Like, is that kind of marinating in your brain at all? Write that down. Like, put all of those, like, different adjustments or plans down on. When you're assessing this new year.
- [27:15]
A
And one thing I will say is assessing or. Or kind of being like, here's some key adjustments. I immediately feel like I've noticed that I want to change next year that will probably be expanded upon or, like, changed or deepened or however you want to say that in the next step, which is setting tangible markers and goals so you don't have to have this, like, perfect. When you're like, these are the adjustments I want to make. It's just kind of like in assessing your new year that you're like, hey, I worked way too much last year. I want to start taking, like, Fridays off, like, immediately. That's in my head. I would really like to make that happen. So you're going to jot it down, or it might be the opposite. You're like, hey, I was, you know, stay at home mom full time for the first time last year, and I realized, like, I can't Squeeze in all the things I need to do in my business just here and there. I have to have a set work time somehow. So I need to make that happen next year. I don't know how, but I need to, you know, whatever. So it might be something like that too. But really just like the key things that you're immediately noticing, like this needs to be adjusted. It's out of alignment. Now step three is where we're gonna really go into even more depth on kind of the goal setting and the tangible milestones or markers that you're going to set for yourself for the new year. Yeah.
- [28:29]
B
So take step one, which was assessing your previous year, and step two, writing out all life plans or adjustments for this coming year. And you're going to kind of combine them or, or remember them or take them. I don't know how to say, like, take them.
- [28:43]
A
Foundation.
- [28:44]
B
That's the foundation to create then, goals for what you actively want your 20, 25 or new year to look like.
- [28:49]
A
Yeah. So we're going to give like a handful of, of topics or key areas that you may want to create goals for in your new year. This is not an exhaustive list. This is not, you know, the full, like, annual review that we do by any means, but hopefully this gives you a really, really good starting place. So we're going to talk about, like, your area of habits, financial goals, business goals, and then like relational or personal goals. Like, and really setting down actual. And the thing. I would encourage actual tangible markers for some of these things so that it feels attainable and not just ambiguous and difficult.
- [29:28]
B
Well, before we even get into that, what is a goal? Like, when we say a goal in order, you can't just be like, oh, I want to work out more. That's not a goal. No, a goal needs to be.
- [29:40]
A
That's like an ambiguous thought.
- [29:41]
B
Yes. A goal needs to be formulated and written in such a way that you can actively say, did that that happen? Yes or no.
- [29:48]
A
Yeah.
- [29:49]
B
And so, like, instead of just saying like, oh, I want to work out more, something that you could say is, I want to work out three times a week for this year. Every.
- [29:58]
A
You could. Also something I would encourage is if you're about to try to start something like new that that may feel difficult or you're trying to start several things new, I would encourage be like, I want to work out once a week for January, twice a week in February, and then three times a week in March.
- [30:14]
B
You, like, lead up to. Yes.
- [30:15]
A
And like, something that feels like, very attainable, especially if you're doing something, like, new or something that, like, requires a lifestyle switch. Yes. Yeah.
- [30:25]
B
Like, there's a habit that is maybe not fun or. Yeah, well, read Atomic Habits.
- [30:30]
A
Like, I also know, like, a lot of us could be like, well, I, you know, I want to. I would love to be booking. This is just like, back to business or something. It could also simply be like, I want. I would love to book, like, $20,000 months.
- [30:47]
B
Are you actually not make that goal in January?
- [30:49]
A
Yeah. Is that. Is that really going to happen, January, when you're actively doing this, like, annual review? Or is that something that you're like, I would love to hear my tangible goals that I'm going to work through in January, February, March, April, and May. So that in July or August, I could maybe be hitting close to that number or, you know, By December of 2025, the end of the year. That's my goal. Like, I want to have hit that by December at some point in year.
- [31:16]
B
So it's even like, you want to make your goals, like, a little bit realistic. Yeah.
- [31:20]
A
You want to make sure you're not always missing them. Yeah. Because it's really discouraging if you, like, are looking at your goals every year and being like, didn't do it. Didn't do it. Missed the mark. Missed the mark. That failed. Failed. Like, that's more discouraging than anything. And if you're going through your year, too, not just even reviewing it at the end of a year, but if you're going through your year and you're constantly feeling like you're failing, you are. It's going to mentally and psychologically discourage you and make you not want to continue and not want to even try.
- [31:47]
B
Which I honestly feel like going back to step one of reviewing your year. I think there's something about human psychology that we almost forget the good.
- [31:54]
A
Oh, 100%.
- [31:55]
B
We always. It's like, 100% we forget the good, and we only focus on, like, what went wrong or what goals we missed. And so when you actually review your year and you actively write down those successes and even look at, like, what happened, when you're looking through your camera roll and all those things, it's like, write down the good and praise God for what happened and what did go right and what you did accomplish and, like, take that. That into the new year.
- [32:20]
A
Yeah.
- [32:21]
B
I don't know. Sidebar. Just wanted to make sure that that was. That was said.
- [32:24]
A
Okay, so let's start with habits.
- [32:25]
B
Yeah. So ask yourself when. When you're writing down, like, okay, what habits or what goals with habits do I want to do in 2025 or the new year? What new habits do I want to integrate? And what old habits do I want to change or eliminate? Again, read Atomic Habits. Yeah, there's a lot of good stuff in that book, but the one, like, key factor that I really took away is if you're wanting to integrate a new habit, lessen the friction to actually make it happen. Like, I think an example he says in that book is like, if you want to start running in the morning, set out your shoes and your running clothes like by your bed. So it's like you're eliminating friction so that it's like, oh, if you hit. It's like right there. There's not even an excuse that your mind has to make to like, oh, I have to get up, I have to go into my closet. No, it's like already there. Or attach it to something that you already love doing. An example I could think of is maybe you're the dishwasher. Like, you, you want to have like more of a clean home in your evenings. And it, like, dishes are always piling up when you do dishes. Listen to an audiobook. Like if you love listening to audiobooks or podcasts or something like, hey, podcast, like attach, attach something that you don't want to do that you want to get better at with something that you.
- [33:34]
A
Do want to do.
- [33:35]
B
Yes. Yeah, those are just examples. But okay, I guess in an opposite of like, if you wanted to eliminate something, add friction to it.
- [33:42]
A
Yeah.
- [33:43]
B
So obviously that's opposite of what I just said, but you get it.
- [33:45]
A
Yeah. The next area of like setting a goal or marker in is financial goals. And with this, the more specific and clear, the better. So I would encourage, like, if you're like, I would love to make X amount annual revenue, you know, gross income in my business in 2025. Write down a very specific number. Again, I would really strongly encourage, make that as attainable as possible. Don't be like, oh, I made 10,000 next year. Last year I would love make 125,000 next, you know, or whatever. And you're like, realistically, let me be honest with myself here, sitting, looking at that. I don't know if that's going to happen because I'm also a full time teacher and a part time or full time mom.
- [34:31]
B
Allow yourself the luxury of being pleasantly surprised.
- [34:34]
A
Yes. No, in the future, don't also be like, I made 10,000 last year. I'd love to make 11,000 this year. Like, I'm sorry.
- [34:40]
B
Like, have some faith.
- [34:41]
A
Challenge yourself a little bit.
- [34:43]
B
We're really hitting both sides. It's like don't over strive. Yeah, but don't not strive. Yeah.
- [34:50]
A
Like just make it attainable. I think that's the bottom line.
- [34:52]
B
And pray.
- [34:53]
A
Yes.
- [34:54]
B
Because there's a. There's also sometimes where I'm praying and I feel the Lord lovingly challenging me to boldly go after and, and proclaim something in, in faith. That seems absolutely bonkers. I also, but that's, that's like, that's kind of in. In as I also contrast to like what we just said, but it's like it's both.
- [35:15]
A
And well, as I literally set of like making 10,000 and then jumping straight to 100,000.
- [35:21]
B
You did that?
- [35:21]
A
I did. Literally did that.
- [35:22]
B
You didn't make that your goal or did you?
- [35:24]
A
No, I made, I made. I was going to make. I was going to make my goal 25,000 goals.
- [35:29]
B
Conservative, but liberally pray for more.
- [35:33]
A
So very quick story time. I had made my goal 25,000 after I'd made 10,000 the previous year. And God said, but that's like growth but realistic. Yes, but God said dream bigger. Dream like, like, like double it. And so I put the goal at 50,000. I thought that was ridiculous to jump from a hundred thousand or ten thousand to fifty thousand. By the end of that year I'd made a hundred and I was mind boggled. But that was a whole God thing and a whole God story and there was a lot that tied into that. But just, I just. God can do it. And if you're like pray into it and partner with him and continue to walk your business with him and he will come through for you. So hold this all with a grain of salt, but very specific financial goals will give you a lot of clarity. And what I would encourage is not just an annual re. Revenue goal, but really.
- [36:16]
B
Whoa, sorry.
- [36:18]
A
Lindsay's just spilling coffee over here. Annual revenue goal. And then also I would encourage to break that down into, okay, what does that look like for my business as monthly gross revenue? And then what does that look like for me as a monthly income? Like what do I want to be taking out for my business every month? Those really clear, tangible numbers for you is going to be so healthy and so empowering for you to be able to be like, like each month throughout the year. January. How did I do? Oh my gosh. I actually like, My goal was 4,000 in January. I hit 8,000. I had double the revenue that I planned. That is just like such A great tangible like mile marker or assessment piece for you throughout the year. So really break down your financial goals. Don't just be like throwing out an arbitrary annual number. Really break it down into really tangible bite sized pieces.
- [37:09]
B
And kind of along with that, the next one is business goals. I feel like that kind of of coincides really nicely with financial goals. Like things to think about is number of clients or sales that you want every month or every quarter. Every year. I like to break it down like she said, if I want like, oh, okay, I'm just gonna use wedding photography as an example. Maybe you want to shoot 20 weddings this year. Break that down into how, how many ideally would I love to shoot in, you know, each month or whatever.
- [37:38]
A
One thing I also do with a lot of my coaching students, when we talk about they're like, well, you know, maybe like 20 weddings a year. And I'm like, awesome, Cool. So what is your wedding season for where you're located? Yeah, for most of us it's like April or May through like October, which is usually about like 8ish months out of the year. So I'm like, okay, 20 weddings divided by 8 months. Like that's looking like, you know, whatever. And it's whatever they might mean that.
- [38:03]
B
You would have none or low amounts in the other.
- [38:07]
A
And it's just even assessing because I'll have some people be like, oh, I could handle XYZ number. And then I'm like, okay, let's break it down based on, on typical wedding season. And then it ends up being like a wedding every single weekend. And they're like, oh, I don't love that. Oh, I don't like that. I can't do that. You know, child, that's why that affects.
- [38:23]
B
The pricing conversation so much. Because it's like, oh, I want to.
- [38:26]
A
Your income goals because some sometimes you need to recognize like, hey, no. Based on how much I can or am willing to work. I. I won't hit X number.
- [38:36]
B
Yeah. So these, these go inside everything.
- [38:38]
A
Everything connects.
- [38:39]
B
They, they connect. So talk through what's my number of clients or sales that I this year per month? Any new projects that I want to start doing or is there any. This kind of goes earlier with like any adjustments that you want to make in your business. But is there any big adjustments that need to be turned into like a practical goal? Meaning like, is there, do I need to rebrand? Do I need a new website? And I can register that like when I'm doing my annual review and be like, okay, this is the year that's going to happen. Let me put down a goal so that it is. I have a new website by April 1st. That's going to be my goal. Or, you know, whatever it is. Just write that. Write any of those adjustments down that can translate into tangible goals and write those down.
- [39:17]
A
Yeah. And then the last area that we're going to talk about is the relational or the personal goals and really go back and assess how you felt or were doing personally, physically, mentally, relationally, whatever, in the previous year, month by month, and assess any areas that you're like, I have a new goal or a new marker that I want to set. And maybe it's, you know, something to do with your marriage. And you're like, I want more communication in my marriage. I feel like we didn't, you know, talk as much as we could have. What's a tangible goal for that? That maybe it's like, hey, I want to do the Sunday evening, like, weekly planning meeting with my spouse or like a.
- [39:51]
B
Like a weekly date night stay in. And we. And we do that. Yeah. Again, it's combining something that maybe you don't want to do, like, planning. That sounds boring. With like, a date night. Maybe you have, like, five kids, and that's not an option. Put them to bed. Have date night. Yeah. And have cocktails. Okay.
- [40:06]
A
Yeah. Like, do something fun.
- [40:07]
B
But maybe you equally have the golden, like, not drink alcohol mocktail. Okay, sorry.
- [40:13]
A
Whatever it is, make a tangible goal marker is kind of what we're, like, harping on here. So whether it's, like, personal, like something, you know, relational with, like, your marriage, or maybe you're like, hey, I don't really have that many friends. I am, like, holed up. I feel lonely at home with my kids, or I'm just a slave to my business or whatever it is. And you're like, I. I want friends and I want good friendships. And you're like, I need to make time for that, therefore, like, I need to have an actual tangible goal. I want to make two good friends this year. And then you could also break that down even further. Like, how am I going to do that? And it's like, I'm going to invite someone over once a month. I am going to, you know, join one or two groups or activities or something that's happening.
- [40:54]
B
I can meet people.
- [40:55]
A
Yeah. So break that down into very tangible goals. And then I know we talked about, like, exercise, maybe, like, exercising is a goal again, we talked about, like, breaking it down into very attainable, like, breakdown, easy to accomplish. And that's not to say that you couldn't jump right in. I just don't want you to feel like you have to. And that's the only way. It's all or nothing. Like, it's not if.
- [41:15]
B
If you do jump right in. I recommend doing it with friends.
- [41:18]
A
Yeah.
- [41:19]
B
I'm using the example because we're. Our friend group usually does 75 hard at the beginning of the year.
- [41:24]
A
Yeah.
- [41:25]
B
And I find that when you are doing something that's more 0 to 100, it's easier to do that when you have a community and it's like, camaraderie and you're all doing it together versus just by yourself. Yourself.
- [41:34]
A
And there is an element with going all in that it's so extreme that it shakes you up in such a way that's like, whoa, okay. Like, this is very different. And you're like, almost more like you're not on autopilot in your life in a lot of ways. And it kind of forces you to be like, I'm doing this. But having the accountability is, like, so powerful.
- [41:56]
B
So it helps it to actually stick.
- [41:58]
A
Yeah. So really set those relational personal goals. Those are just a couple examples. Like, obviously, your relational goals or your personal goals are all gonna be completely dependent upon you, but.
- [42:08]
B
Well, hopefully that gave you kind of an overview. So just to review. Step number one was to review your previous year. Previous year. And write down all the things that happened. I'm looking at our notes. Hold on.
- [42:19]
A
Make sure we see it right.
- [42:20]
B
Yeah, I know. So personal. Which is mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and relational business goals. Write down your successes from the last year. And then write down your things that didn't work. I'm gonna say that nicer or falling short of, like, what did I try that didn't work? What were the lessons that I learned? And then step number two was to assess your plans for the new year. Write down life events, birthdays, holidays, all the things that typically will happen. And then assess any adjustments that you wanna make in business and in life honestly. And then step number three is to combine those two and set tangible markers and goals based on those two categories of assessing and kind of figuring out what want, what do I want to do more of what I want to do less of, what do I want to change from this last year?
- [43:04]
A
And breaking those down into very clear, like, habits, financial goals, business goals, relational goals, personal goals, spiritual goals, and making them incredibly clear, attainable, and, like, measurable.
- [43:18]
B
Yeah.
- [43:19]
A
Do not forget to make it an actual. Like, you can say yes or no, done or incomplete. Like that is going to be the difference for having goals that you actually accomplish is being able to actually measure them. So beautiful.
- [43:31]
B
We hope your 2025 is off to a great start or whatever year you may be listening to this also.
- [43:37]
A
I just kind of want to subtly pitch because I know setting like creating goals and then actually having like the strategy that goes with it, like I want to do this but like somehow there's can sometimes be like a little bit.
- [43:50]
B
It can be hard to like take what we just said and then be like, okay, that's great but like how do I actually apply this or implement it to my life?
- [43:57]
A
Yeah. And this is obviously we're heading into a new year. There's a lot that's, that's going on and planning for a whole new. It can feel overwhelming and a little daunting and going through this whole process can be, you know, a good undertaking and then actually like implementing it and being like, I want to make X revenue this month and increase this and raise my prices. I need to like prove more value in my business. Like there could be stuff that you're feeling like, like this is overwhelming. I, I'm just going to blatantly pitch. Lindsay and I both do one on one business coaching and we do this.
- [44:27]
B
All the time with students weekly.
- [44:30]
A
Like over and over and over with students, stuff like this, giving them goals, giving them tangible markers, helping them with strategy in their business.
- [44:38]
B
Sometimes I think you need, you can do this yourself. Not saying you can't do any of this by yourself, you absolutely can. But sometimes it's helpful to have a third party that does it isn't know it like you do isn't in it like you do just like do look over and give you a strategy of like, okay, well why have you thought of this? Have you thought of this? Why are you doing this? And they're like, oh, I don't know.
- [44:57]
A
Yeah.
- [44:57]
B
Oh, I just, I was too close to it. I couldn't see.
- [44:59]
A
When you're so close to it, sometimes you. It's very. It can be difficult to see the bigger picture or to understand. Like you're in the maze and you're like, I don't know the exit route here or I don't know the fastest way to get through this maze. Whereas somebody coming in from a helicopter is able to be like, turn left, turn right, turn left. And it's just so powerful. We both love coaching. I don't feel like I've ever actually like blatantly pitched our coaching before, but.
- [45:23]
B
I think we've talked about it, but.
- [45:24]
A
Like, this just felt like the episode.
- [45:26]
B
For the time and for strategy and for growth and for clarity.
- [45:29]
A
We're just, we want to see you succeed. That's why we do this podcast, is why we do everything that we do with the heart, with our personal coaching, like, all of it. But I know heading into a new year and, you know, trying to change things up and grow and feel more sustainable in your business, like, it's not overwhelming you or running your life, like, it can sometimes be really helpful to have somebody come alongside. So if you want someone like that and you are feeling ready to just, like, have the accountability and the support and the strategy and the outside helicopter perspective, we are here for you. And if not, that's not your season, that is totally fine. We are still here for you on the podcast.
- [46:02]
B
We're here for free content that we're giving you right now.
- [46:04]
A
Heck yeah. We love you and we are just proud of you and all you're doing. And we are excited to see what 2025 holds for you.
- [46:11]
B
And if you got a lot out of this episode, share it with your friends. Post it on the gram on TikTok, all the places. I don't know if you can.
- [46:18]
A
That was so millennial.
- [46:19]
B
Yeah, it was so millennial.
- [46:20]
A
I'm so sorry.
- [46:21]
B
That was just like, hopelessly the gram.
- [46:23]
A
Hopelessly sad.
- [46:25]
B
Anyways, we love you and we will see you on the next episode.