Like every year, of course.
But, I can’t say I’m sad to see it go. =)
2018 was a year of immense opportunity and some pretty wild successes, including hitting some financial goals that had previously — and for a long time — eluded me. (Translation: I’d never made the goal NON-NEGOTIABLE before this year. Once something is non-negotiable, it ALWAYS comes to pass.)
BUT, it was also a year of traumas…
new and (very) old.
It was a year of feeling battle-tested,
pressed on every side,
and let down… big time.
It was a year of hard reconciliations,
and equally hard goodbyes… as well as
personal — and professional —
disappointments.
There were many days when I wanted to crawl back under the covers and just have a good, long cry. There were days when I did exactly that. =) Unapologetically. Invisibly. Healing in silence and solitude, as is my way.
Still, even during the storm that was 2018,
I met a lot of my goals.
I showed up in ways I was and am proud of.
I stayed the course,
I kept the end goals in mind,
and stayed IN INTEGRITY with my daily actions.
Still, I was able to impact thousands of women,
many of whom have been kind enough to share with me the impact I had on them. I have cherished their wins, prayed over their losses, and cheered them on in my heart. Some I have met in person… others I still have to meet. Their words, I have “treasured up in my heart,” using them as fuel when I needed to — really — dig deep to keep serving others.
Overall, 2018 was amazing.
I suffered a lot, yes…
but I also grew a lot.
And I learned the pride — and profit– inherent in
the artist showing up for her art..
the messenger showing up for her message…
the leader showing up for her people….
REGARDLESS.
And if I take NOTHING ELSE from 2018,
this will serve me in ways I can’t even begin to imagine in 2019.
What it boils down to is this:
Consistently showing up for my work,
as if
SUCCEEDING
and ACCOMPLISHING
was my ETHICAL obligation.
Because that is EXACTLY what success is…
An ethical obligation.
In 2018, I said YES to my goals.
And my goals,
despite EVERYTHING that “popped up”
said YES to me.
Tomorrow is my first official day back “at work.”
I am ready. More ready than I have EVER been.
The fire is burning DEEP in my bones,
and I am changed.
I am more determined,
and more knowledgeable…
Armed with ALL that 2018 taught me,
about business,
about people,
about life,
and about leadership.
So, 2019…
I am IN.
I’m ALL THE WAY in,
in a way that I didn’t even know was possible before 2018.
And, I’ve already said YES to some pretty outrageous goals which I will create — no matter what — on your watch.
Because I NOW KNOW what it is to FULLY back myself,
to face multiple storms SIMULTANEOUSLY with an unflinching eye locked on my target, and I learned that I could STAY THE COURSE.
no
matter
what.
=)
Bottom line: The old tricks don’t work on me any more. THAT, 2018, is what I’ll forever be grateful to you for bringing me.
Who ELSE is raring to go into the new year?
P.S. Did you grab your copy of the BEST of 2018? You can grab it HERE.
