2025 Starts Now: Turning 2024’s Challenges into Strategic Opportunities
This year’s challenges have set the foundation for a stronger future. I’m taking forward the lessons learned and leaving behind what no longer serves my goals.
This blog post explores how to use the lessons learned from 2024 to make informed decisions and set a strong foundation for 2025. It focuses on leveraging challenges and opportunities from the past year as stepping stones toward long-term success. It also highlights the importance of pausing to reflect—not just always looking ahead—but taking the time to take stock and truly learn from the past.
Reflecting on 2024
The photos I captured throughout 2024 provide a great base to reflect on the year. We started the year in Beachport, SA, with memories of windy days, though a quiet morning photo revealed calm waters and serenity. We now end the year at home providing a great opportunity to slow down and to enjoy a decrease in pace.
The year began with cautious optimism. While 2023 provided reasonable rainfall, the sheep industry faced challenges. Our children transitioned to a new school, requiring resilience, particularly for Miss 5, who found the change in environment difficult.
As a family, we created many intergenerational memories, traveling to Mt Barry Station in the far north of SA and enjoying an overseas trip to Bali. These experiences balanced the constant demands of farm work: crutching sheep, lambing, tailing, and shearing. Feeding sheep has been an ongoing task, including supplementary feeding lambs as I write this.
Professionally, Cross Country Management evolved with new clients and the conclusion of work for others. My word of the year, “intent,” guided me personally and professionally, fostering growth and clarity in my values. Exploring the meaning of values like “integrity” helped me understand how interpretations differ and deepened my commitment to alignment in my work.
Opportunities for 2025
Working with clients who share complementary values will remain a priority. Life’s defining moments have taught me that it’s too short to engage in projects misaligned with my values or those of Cross Country Management.
One of the most valuable takeaways from 2024 has been recognising the power of collective effort. Building stronger relationships with peers, clients, and industry networks will be a cornerstone of 2025. Collaboration fosters innovation, and by aligning with others who share similar values, there’s potential to achieve greater outcomes than working in isolation.
What I’m Leaving Behind
The need to do it all. Recognizing my capacity has been a crucial lesson of 2024. I’ve learned that I can’t do everything, and in 2025, I am committing to not working on weekends and respecting my work boundaries. Selecting a word of the year seemed like a good idea but added unnecessary pressure and mental clutter.
Focusing on the negative. Inspired by Chris Davey’s reframing at the WeedSmart conference, I aim to focus on opportunities rather than dwelling on challenges.
Challenges
2024 required making tough decisions with incomplete information. Whether it was adjusting to volatile markets in the sheep industry or responding to the unpredictable weather, the uncertainty reinforced the importance of agility and trusting in informed, yet flexible, decisions. These experiences highlighted the need for balancing risk with strategic foresight, a skill that will continue to shape how I approach challenges in 202
Our farm experienced its lowest growing season rainfall (GSR) on record, leading to severe feed shortages. In September, we made the difficult decision to sell our breeding ewes, a forward-thinking move given the feed outlook. Decisions made in 2024 will impact not just the next 12 months but years to come.
What I’m Taking into 2025
As we welcome the new year, I’m taking:
A trusted coach who has supported me for 18 months, setting the stage for a defining year.
A clear direction, with financial, business, and personal goals written down and shared with my team.
A values-based filter for assessing opportunities, ensuring respect and alignment.
Improved efficiencies through tailored systems, including AI and templates for professionalism and productivity.
By reflecting on the past and being intentional about what I carry forward, I’m poised to enter 2025 with clarity and purpose. Pausing to reflect has provided me with the insight to take strategic steps forward without losing sight of the lessons learned.
Start 2025 with purpose and momentum. Book a discovery call today to take actionable steps toward achieving your goals.