2024 in review: highs, lows, and lessons
2024 has been a transformative year for me, filled with unexpected challenges and remarkable achievements. Just like last year’s review, I’ll be using James Clear’s three-question template:
What went well?
What didn’t go as expected?
What did I learn?
Let’s dig in!
☀️ What went well?
1. We traveled a lot before Zane turned two.
When a child turns two, airlines require you to purchase a separate seat for them. We took advantage of Zane's "lap infant" status and traveled to Malmo (Sweden), Copenhagen, Austin, New York City, Virginia City, Seattle, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Cozumel (Mexico), and Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands).
2. I started my own solo consulting business.
In October, I left my full-time job at Appcues to pursue independent solo consulting. I’ve been thinking a lot about my next career move since the last year.
In my 2023 in review, I shared a quote that resonated with me: Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life. I knew that stepping out of a stable job would be challenging, especially with a young family. But it felt like the right decision for my long-term growth.
In October, I started Delight Path, my solo consulting business. The early results have been promising—I've secured a big client, established a consistent workflow, and maintained a healthier work-life balance. While there's still uncertainty ahead, I'm grateful for the opportunity to build something of my own and help companies improve their product experiences.
3. I’ve stayed healthy and lost 15 lbs.
As I mentioned in my 2023 in review, my dad had an unexpected open-heart bypass surgery. So, I made it my top priority to focus on my health this year.
Through a combination of intermittent fasting with regular weight and CrossFit-like training, I've maintained a healthier lifestyle. I started going to the gym three times a week.
The weight loss has improved my energy levels and helped me keep up with Zane's endless toddler energy. Most importantly, I've developed sustainable habits that I can maintain long-term.
Next year, I turn 40. I want to do a physical challenge. I decided to train for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October. Running has always been challenging for me, but I believe pushing through physical barriers will help me grow mentally as well. I've already started incorporating more cardio into my routine and researching six to eight-month training programs.
If you have any tips about running long distances, I’d love to hear them!
🌧 What didn’t go as expected?
1. I ended The Marketing Powerups Show.
After almost 70 episodes, I decided to end the podcast. I had fun producing a marketing-focused show with a video game theme. While the show generated nearly $30k from sponsorships, I only broke even because I reinvested it to grow my email subscribers through Sparkloop and hire a video editor.
As I shifted my focus away from marketing towards product onboarding and Delight Path, it made sense to wrap up the show. While I'm proud of what I created and the relationships I built, I learned that podcasting requires significant time and energy to maintain consistently. I ran my previous show, Growth Marketing Today, for five years. It’s damn hard to grow one and remain consistent. That’s why I decided not to create another one for Delight Path until I have the resources to create a high-quality show that delivers real value to listeners.
2. I left my full-time job at Appcues.
I really enjoyed working with the folks at Appcues. It was one of the best places I've worked. The team was supportive, mission-driven, and genuinely cared about helping customers succeed.
However, after almost three years, I felt the urge to build something of my own. After discussing with my manager the idea of creating my own solo consulting business, we agreed to part ways amicably—much earlier than I expected. While it was a difficult decision, I'm grateful for the experience and relationships I built there.
One of the last things my boss told me as I departed was that he always saw me as a lone wolf who would eventually venture out on my own. He was right.
3. The ups and downs of running a business.
When I came across this image created by entrepreneur Derek Halpern, it struck a chord. The entrepreneurial journey isn't a straight line upward - it's full of extreme highs and lows.
Some days, I’m excited about starting and building Delight Path. On other days, I regret leaving my stable job. The emotional and mental rollercoaster in the last three months is real.
I know that nothing worth building comes easily. So, I’ve adopted some habits to help me regulate and manage my emotions, thoughts, and energy levels. I meditate daily, journal my thoughts, and maintain a consistent exercise routine. These practices help me stay grounded and focused on my long-term vision. I also regularly connect with other entrepreneurs and consultants who understand the challenges of building a business. Their support and insights remind me that the ups and downs are normal and persistence is key to achieving meaningful success in any entrepreneurial endeavor.
I found Dr. Tara Swart's book The Source particularly helpful in managing these entrepreneurial challenges. She explains how neuroscience can help us rewire our brains for success. Through visualization exercises and understanding brain plasticity, we can build mental resilience.
If you have any other books or resources on building mental resiliency and managing entrepreneurial stress, I'd love to hear your recommendations. Combining scientific approaches with practical tools has been invaluable in navigating this journey.
🧠 What did I learn?
1. Build a personal board of advisors.
As I made the leap to solo consulting, I connected with over 30 successful business owners, agency founders, and consultants. They’ve provided valuable insights into pricing strategies, client acquisition, and business operations. Each advisor offered unique perspectives based on their experiences, helping me avoid common pitfalls and accelerate my learning curve.
One of the things I’m going to start doing is sending out a monthly update email to my board of personal advisors. This will help maintain relationships and keep them informed of my progress, challenges, and key decisions. It's also a way to show appreciation for their guidance and create accountability for my goals.
Having a diverse group of mentors has been invaluable. They've helped me navigate difficult decisions, provided emotional support, and shared practical strategies that worked in their own businesses. Their collective wisdom has become a crucial part of my entrepreneurial journey.
2. Have anti-goals and boundaries.
These boundaries help maintain work-life balance and ensure I stay focused on meaningful projects that align with my values and long-term vision.
One of the things I’m mindful of as I make the leap into entrepreneurship is maintaining a sustainable pace and not falling into the trap of overworking and burning out. I know myself enough to know that if I don’t set anti-goals (things I won’t do) and boundaries, I'll quickly find myself working 80-hour weeks and neglecting my health and family.
That’s why one of the things I did before I started Delight Path was create a list of things I won’t do in the first year of business, including:
Starting a podcast.
Launching a second course.
Creating long-form YouTube videos.
Generating sponsorship revenue from my newsletter.
Producing short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram.
Saying no to these things will help me focus on creating key assets and systems in the business, including:
Writing a new book on B2B product onboarding.
Generating a repeatable demand gen system for my consulting offer.
Nailing my sales process and client workflow.
Building a strong network of partners and referral sources.
Creating templates and processes to streamline operations.
Some goals for 2025
I have three goals for 2025:
Read 50 books (here's my reading list so far).
Send 46 newsletters.
Have virtual coffees with 50 new people.
Run a marathon.
Publish my second book.
🤔 How was your 2024?
How about you?
What’s one thing you’re most proud of accomplishing in 2024?
I’d love to know!
Take 10 seconds to hit reply and let me know. You can also leave a comment on Substack.