2024 Goals: Looking Back

Every December, I set my goals for the upcoming year. I print them out and stick them under my monitor where I'll see them every morning. It's a simple trick that's worked really well for me these past few years. Let me walk you through how 2024 went.

Business Goals: Some Wins, Some Lessons

I had three main business goals this year:

1. Amazon Business: My Amazon business crushed it - we hit our $50k profit goal without too much stress, which has been a huge blessing for me and the family.

2. Newsletter Project (Moms Morning Memo): The newsletter (Moms Morning Memo) also went really well. We were shooting for 1,000 subscribers but ended up with 2,000 in just eight months, and nearly half of them were actually opening every email. Sure, I ended up shutting it down later in the year, but I learned a ton about running a newsletter and working with a remote team.

3. Siftbooks: Siftbooks was the tough one. We wanted to grow but stayed stuck at around 20-30 monthly subscribers. Adam and Ty worked hard, but we weren't able to hit the scale we wanted. We figured out we're really good at tackling technical problems and getting stuff done. Makes me think we might be better off helping other businesses with AI and content tools - something that could make money faster and actually scale.

Family Life: Making the Most of Every Moment

This year threw some significant curveballs at my family, particularly with my parents' health challenges. Despite these difficulties, we managed to create meaningful memories and strengthen our bonds.

Family Trips

Two trips stand out from this year:

• Florida's 30A: We rented this big house with my parents and siblings. Pretty special looking back now, since it was our last big family vacation with my dad. Lots of beach time, good food, and just being together.

• Arizona: Quality time with Abbey's family, featuring good food and enjoying the warm weather together.

Being a Giver

I set out to focus on giving back this year, and I'm grateful for the many opportunities to do so:

• Volunteered at church, often lending my truck and trailer when needed
• Arranged special moments with family:
  • Celebrated our anniversary at Snowbird with spa treatments and a nice dinner
  • Created one-on-one time with Beau
  • Supported my parents through their health challenges
• Paid full tithe and contributed to charitable causes

Home Life

I tried to keep a positive attitude at home and treat everyone with respect. Pretty simple really - just trying to be the same person at home as I am everywhere else.

Health Goals: Getting Stronger and Moving More

This year brought a renewed focus on health.

Movement Goals

While I didn't quite hit my 7,000 daily steps target, I made significant progress:

• Averaged 5,829 steps (about 3 miles) per day
• Logged consistent exercise through Peloton:
  • 18 hours running
  • 13 hours strength training
  • 9 hours walking
  • Nearly an hour of stretching and meditation

Nutrition & Heart Health

I dubbed this "the year of meats," focusing on increasing protein intake through more intentional meal planning. While I didn't track specific grams, I consistently prioritized protein-rich foods at every meal.

Heart health became a particular focus:

• Pushed my cardiovascular capacity, reaching new max heart rates (183-185 BPM)
• Improved VO2 max by 5-6 points
• Maintained regular sauna sessions for heart health benefits

What I Learned

2024 taught me that success isn't always about hitting exact numbers - it's about progress and adaptation. While some goals weren't met exactly as planned, I learned valuable lessons about:

• Business flexibility: Sometimes the best path forward isn't the one you initially mapped out
• Family resilience: The importance of making memories while you can
• Health as a journey: Progress matters more than perfection

Looking back, I'm grateful for what this year brought - both the achievements and the challenges. It's been a year of growing stronger in business, family, and health, while learning to adapt to life's unexpected turns.

The goals I set last December served as guideposts, but the real value came from the journey itself and the wisdom gained along the way. As I look toward 2025, I carry these lessons with me, knowing that the best plans are those that can bend without breaking.