As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come.

What worked in 2024?  What could have been better?

This was our year of traveling across the country — from Illinois to California — to be in a place where my husband Joel always wanted to live.  He had always dreamed of living in California, and now we’re renting a home and “trying it out…”  We’ve had ups and downs, but I don’t regret one minute. 

It has been wonderful to experience a new place… and venture forth into a dream.  

You deserve to take steps toward achieving your dreams too.  

Take time during this holiday week to assess your journey.  Doing that not only honors your efforts but also shines a light on the path ahead.

As you envision a bright 2025, remember — grow your business with your stories.

Your stories are uniquely yours. They set you apart in a world full of choices.

Sharing your story authentically can connect you to your ideal audience, build trust, and inspire action.

Here are my tips as you reflect on the past and step forward into 2025.

• Celebrate Wins and Lessons Learned:Take stock of your biggest achievements and challenges in 2024. What stories shaped your year?
• Whether you overcame obstacles or achieved milestones, these experiences are the foundation of your brand’s narrative.
• Identify Your Audience’s Needs:Consider your ideal audience.
• What resonated with them this year? Were there untold parts of your story that could better align with their values or inspire them?
• Set Story-Driven Goals: For 2025, plan ways to weave storytelling into your strategy.
• Create content that highlights your mission, showcases client transformations, and emphasizes the difference your business makes.
• Amplify Your Reach: Use storytelling across platforms.
• Write a blog, host video interviews, or engage on social media to share authentic, relatable moments that connect with your audience.

Until then… Have a happy, healthy holiday season…. and know this — I BELIEVE IN YOU!

NOTE:  Years ago, I got to hear the late poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou speak at an event.  What a “WOW” experience!  Her personal stories were riveting.  The crowd hung on every word.  You could hear a pin drop.

Did you know that Maya Angelou stopped speaking at age eight?  She had been molested by her mother’s boyfriend.  When Maya spoke up in court, that boyfriend went to prison.  He was killed shortly after his release. Maya thought her voice had killed him, and she became afraid to speak.  It took almost five years to eventually heal.  Maya shared her story in the book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Ultimately, her voice became one of the most important voices in American literature.  

Maya said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

As you take time now to reflect and embrace your story, you’re setting the stage for your own future growth.  I’m happy to serve as your guide.

Let 2025 be the year when you bring YOUR story to life!

To Your Success, 

Lynn Sanders