The year 2024 was a year full of changes and new paths. After 26 years in a secure employment relationship, I decided to take my career into my own hands. It was a brave step that presented me with challenges, but was also incredibly enriching. The next chapter of my journey officially begins on January 1, 2025 - and I would like to take a look at it with you today.
My personal highlight 2024
One of the highlights for me in 2024 was the moment when I decided to go my own way after 26 years in a secure job. This decision to leave security behind and shape my own future was not easy - but it felt incredibly liberating. I was proud to take this step and felt a mixture of pride, excitement and uncertainty.
But it wasn't just the big decisions that shaped the year. It was also the small, everyday moments that mean a lot to me. For example, that my daughter can come into my "office" at any time while I'm working, or my son's spontaneous FaceTime calls where we just chat for ten minutes. These little breaks bring variety to my everyday life and are a gift that I didn't have in my previous 9-to-5 life.
Another highlight was that I allowed myself not to return to my usual work routine straight away, but instead took the time to think and reflect. The moment when I realized that I now have control over my projects and topics was particularly significant for me. This freedom to invest my time and energy in the things that are important to me is one of the most valuable experiences I have had this year. And yes, not knowing how much money will come at the end of the month is scary after so many years of doing so. You have to face it.
If I had to define a word for 2024
"Change" - this word describes my year 2024 perfectly. After 26 years with a single employer, I have embarked on a completely new path that forces me to learn a lot of new things and at the same time let go of old things. Change means embracing the unknown, and that is exactly what has shaped me. It was a year in which I grew not only professionally but also personally. The change from the security of a corporation to the personal responsibility of self-employment changed the way I think and motivated me to try new things and grow beyond myself.
If I had to define my greatest achievements in 2024
So many that no one would read the blog anymore, but here I look back at the three biggest successes that made me particularly proud this year:
More time with my children: 2024 was the first year in which I was able to consciously spend more time with my children. I went to Ibiza with my eldest daughter - a trip that meant a lot to both of us. I went to Tenerife twice with my son and my other daughter. But it wasn't just the trips, but also the everyday moments that showed me how valuable this time is. I think it's great that I have more flexibility in my current everyday life and can be there for my children whenever they need me - at least so much more than before. These little moments - like shared meals, conversations or just time together - are priceless.
Establishing my own business: Becoming self-employed was one of the biggest challenges of my life. But I am proud that I have laid the foundations for my business consultancy while also working on projects such as "Wood in front of the hut" and property management. It was a year in which I learned something new every day. The path is anything but straight, but every little step forward is a success that I achieve only for myself. It is a new and fulfilling experience that motivates me to keep going.
Personal development: I decided to become a life and social counselor and continue my studies at the same time. Both were decisions that will help me progress over the next two years and open up new perspectives for me. I am particularly proud that, despite the challenges and uncertainties this year, I had the courage to develop myself further and work on my goals - but perhaps that is precisely why.
If I had to define my challenges and learnings in 2024
The road to self-employment is not a straight one. There are setbacks, unexpected obstacles and many moments of doubt. One of the biggest challenges was the realization that things don't always go as planned.
One example is "Holz vor der Hütte". After weeks of work and investment, I realized that the original platform did not meet the requirements. Overcoming this hurdle was frustrating, but at the same time I realized how important it is to remain flexible, find solutions and also to draw on the network to get other perspectives - something that you don't do often enough, as I had to learn.
Challenges are like mistakes: they are opportunities to get better. It's not about being perfect, it's about moving on, learning and getting better every day. Setbacks force us to stop and find new ways - and that's exactly what I've learned this year.
My biggest lesson is that you should always do something on the side when you are employed to reduce your dependency. If I had been working as a life and social counselor alongside my job, as I had been thinking about for years - which would have been entirely possible - then I could have started coaching straight away. But I always put it off because I was waiting for the right moment. Today I know that the right moment would have been five years ago. So I will always keep the following in mind: the right moment was yesterday, the second best is today (I think someone once answered that when asked when the best time to buy stocks is. If anyone knows who it was, please post it in the comments - I don't want to steal any quotes here 😊).
If I had to define my favorite projects in 2024
All my projects have their own charm, but some have given me particular pleasure:
The property management: Building up our property management is an exciting process and I am delighted that we will be serving our first customers from January 1, 2025. It was an intense but also fulfilling time that showed me how much potential there is in this project.
The blog: My blog was one of the projects I had the most doubts about. But now, after several months, I'm proud of how far I've come. It's nice to see how my thoughts are developing and how I can share them with you. Every new comment and feedback motivates me to keep going.
Holz vor der Hütte: Even though this project is currently a big challenge, I am proud that I finally tackled it after years of thinking about it. It is a project that teaches me to be patient while remaining creative.
But what I'm most looking forward to is that my management consultancy will officially launch on January 1, 2025. It's an incredible feeling to know that I can help other people and companies achieve their goals and develop new perspectives.
If I had to define final thoughts
2024 was a year full of challenges, but also full of opportunities. It showed me how important it is to be brave, to make decisions and to keep going despite setbacks. It was a year of growth - personally and professionally. It showed me what I had missed in the past years, but also what I had in those years without really realizing it. It showed me that I have even more potential that I can use and, above all, it showed me that much more is possible than I thought.
I'm very grateful for everything I have already and all the little moments that have come along now. I feel like I've been in an airplane on autopilot for years. Now I'm in a camper van, driving down country roads. There's so much more to see when you're not flying over everything at 550 miles an hour.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I wish you a happy new year full of exciting opportunities and personal growth. Let's create 2025 together!
Best regards,
Uwe
PS: What were your highlights of 2024 and what were your mistakes and learnings?
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