Final Post of 2024: Reflecting on Goals and Growth

Here we are — the final post of the year, and this one feels good to write.

A few months ago, I shared my business goals for the October through December period. Today, I’m giving you an honest update on how close (or far) I came to achieving them.

1. Build an email list of 100 subscribers — Not Complete

To date, I have 49 subscribers. This one was tough. I mean, who really wants another email in their inbox? Through my research on email marketing, I learned how important it is to offer immediate value when people sign up. Right now, I’m offering 15% off (which, let’s be honest, is pretty common), so I’m not sure how much it’s resonating.

In the new year, I want to experiment with fresh ways to provide value. One idea I’m excited about is creating a helpful tool that reminds people of important dates—like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays—so they can plan meaningful gifts before those dates sneak up on them. I’ve got more ideas brewing, so stay tuned!

2. Send 6 newsletters — Complete

This goal felt so good to hit! In fact, I ended up sending 9 newsletters total. Writing came easier than I expected, and I kept finding new topics I wanted to share with you. I definitely plan to keep this momentum going in the new year, but with a little more strategy and planning for each post.

3. Hit a revenue goal of $4,000 — Complete/Crushed

This one’s huge. I hit over $5,000 in revenue—way more than I thought possible. Just two weeks ago, I was only halfway to my goal, so the past two weeks have been wild. It’s made me realize that I can dream bigger when it comes to next year’s financial goals.

To everyone who supported me this season: thank you. Every single sale means more to me than you know.

4. Sell goods in 3 shops — Not Complete (but close!)

This goal’s a bit of a gray area. I’m currently selling in 2 shops, and I’ll be in a brand new store early in the new year. So technically, I didn’t hit the mark, but I feel great about how this one played out. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so I’ll be pitching more shops soon to prepare for that.

5. Create a 2025 1-Year Plan — Complete

I have a clear (and ambitious) roadmap for next year. Here’s a little sneak peek of what I’m aiming for:

• Identify alternative revenue streams

• Increase Instagram followers to 5,000

• Grow my newsletter list to 2,000 subscribers

• Create a digital product

• Further define my niche

• Hit a revenue goal of $52,000

6. Increase Instagram followers to 1,000 — Not Complete

At the start of the quarter, I had around 600 followers. As of today, I’m at 848—just 152 short. I collaborated with my friend Missy for a 12 Days of Giveaways campaign during the holidays, which brought in 100 new followers in just a few days. While I didn’t quite hit 1,000, I’m thrilled with the growth and the momentum I’ve built.

7. Attend 3 markets — Complete

I ended up attending 4 different markets this season. I loved every moment of the experience and can’t wait to continue showing up at markets in the new year.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I achieved 4 out of 7 goals, and I’m honestly so happy with how this season turned out. I always want to set goals that are ambitious and challenging—the kind that stretch me—rather than ones that feel like a walk in the park.

Thank you for following along on this journey and for helping me hit so many of these goals. Your support truly means the world to me. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings.

Wishing you all a beautiful start to 2025. Let’s make it a good one.

Love, Madison