2024 Reflections: Challenges, Achievements, and Lessons Learned

As 2024 winds down, I reflect on a challenging and rewarding year. Working across two major markets—the UK and the USA—can present hurdles and opportunities during election cycles. Political uncertainty often causes businesses to delay decisions, yet amidst these challenges, 2024 has offered profound growth, invaluable insights, and achievements worth celebrating.

I am currently in Morocco on my annual working holiday, planning and strategising for 2025 while recharging, enjoying long, serene beach walks and rejuvenating massages and hammam experiences. As 2024 draws to a close, I reflect on a year of unexpected challenges, meaningful progress, and professional and personal growth; this year has undoubtedly been a testament to resilience and adaptability, highlighted in three key lessons I'm carrying into 2025:

·? The importance of celebrating small wins.

·??The necessity of adaptability.

·??The power of community.

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Professional Achievements: A Year of Milestones

Despite the slower pace of decisions for international consultancy and keynotes compared to the bustling activity of 2023, 2024 was a year of meaningful accomplishments.

Here are some highlights:

• Create Positive Performance: Working with a client who faced significant challenges of several underperforming sales reps and an ambitious target of 30% growth. To meet their goal, they needed to hire three elite, productive sales reps guaranteed to perform in the top quartile within 12 months. Leveraging the SCALE process, we replaced underperformers with high achievers who ramped up in record time. Not only did they achieve their growth target, but the client also expressed gratitude, stating they would never return to traditional recruiting methods again. Their goal for 2025 is to assess and align the entire revenue operations to achieve another 30% growth target.
• Scale Your Sales Podcast: Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the podcast now boasts an impressive 274 episodes and is recognised as a finalist for the Top Sales Podcast Award 2024. I'm incredibly proud of the podcast's consistent growth and the valuable insights shared by top revenue-generating CEOs, CROs, and sales leaders. Please continue to support us by leaving a review on iTunes, helping to expand our reach in 2025.
• Revenue Growth Revved Up Newsletter: Launched in January, my newsletter has grown to 1,750 subscribers and published 37 editions in its first year. Writing these newsletters has been instrumental in developing my thought leadership and engaging more deeply with a global audience.
• LinkedIn LIVE Events:?I participated in 18 events on LinkedIn LIVE, diving into hot topics and engaging in discussions with experts. While the ROI is under review, this initiative allowed me to connect with my audience in real-time.

• Keynote Excellence: One of my most nerve-racking yet rewarding moments was keynoting at the Professional Speaking Association (PSA) Conference. Speaking in front of my peers was an intimidating experience, but the positive feedback made it all worthwhile. Let me know your thoughts on my new showreel (watch it here). An attendee remarked in a LinkedIn testimonial, "Janice's talk on how critical customer experience is to revenue attainment was one of the standout presentations of the event, offering actionable advice that I plan to implement in my business."
• Industry Recognition:?Early in 2024, I was honoured with the?RevTech Strategist Award?at the RevTech Summit and later named one of SalesIntel.io's?Top 100 Female B2B SaaS Pipeline Pioneers. These accolades validate the impact of my work in sales and GTM.
• New Representation:?Thanks to the support of my PSA Fellowship, I'm thrilled to have signed with?Inspirational Speakers. My goal for 2025 is to secure a US speaker agency to expand my presence internationally.
• LinkedIn Growth: Growing my LinkedIn following to over 10,500 followers this year was a significant milestone. I aim to increase this by another 50% by the end of 2025.

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Personal Growth: Finding Balance and Creating Memories

On a personal level, 2024 brought opportunities to reconnect with family and prioritise self-care:

• Family Time in America: I began the year with six weeks in the USA, working with five Vistage groups of CEOs before hosting a memorable Christmas with my 88-year-old Dad. Seeing him surrounded by family and declaring it his best Christmas was priceless.
• Mastermind Group: My mastermind group has been a pillar of support, providing invaluable feedback and encouragement. One of my blind spots is that I see the genius in others and can help others activate it. However, I struggle to see it in myself. (Does this resonate with you, or is it just me?) My mastermind group has taught me to see myself through their eyes, appreciate my achievements, and celebrate the small wins.

• Travel Adventures:?Traveling to Japan, planned a Birthday celebration, and it did not disappoint. I'm already planning a return trip in 2026. This experience reminded me of the joy of exploring new cultures and gaining new perspectives.
• Wellness Retreat in Morocco: As the year winds down, I relish this time to think deeply and reflect. Yes, I am at my most productive, but it is when I suspend time and live in the moment to do as I feel. Then, I can transform to another level of being and living.? A month in Morocco, re-balances work with rejuvenation.

Lessons Learned: Planning, Progress, and Perspective

1. Adaptability is Key:?Despite fewer international engagements, I feel I have improved my presentation skills and focused on quality over quantity. Challenges are opportunities in disguise, which can prompt growth and innovation.

Focus on what you have gained rather than what you have lost.

2. Celebrate Small Wins: Reflecting on the year, I realised that small, incremental achievements often lead to significant outcomes and even bigger wins. This time last year, I read the book The GAP and The GAIN by Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy. When you measure how far you have come (GAIN) rather than how far you have to go (GAP), you liberate yourself from feelings of failure and appreciate what you have gained, which inspires further progress. Recommended annual reading ??.

Pause and acknowledge progress, no matter how modest it may seem.

3. Balance Fuels Success: Prioritising family and self-care this year has recharged my purpose, energy and creativity. My mastermind group has been pivotal in helping me gain perspective. With my elderly parents, I have many demands on my energy, and it is easy to get busy - doing. Success isn't just about professional milestones; it's grounded in your WHY the milestones are important, nurturing all aspects of life.

Reconnect with WHY you are doing what you do.

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Final Thoughts

2024 reminded me that success is only sometimes measured by the number of keynotes delivered or miles travelled. It's about growth—professional, personal, and emotional. It's about adapting when the landscape changes, leaning on your community when challenges arise, and celebrating every step forward, no matter how small.

As I look ahead to 2025, I'm excited to build on this year's foundation, leverage lessons learned, and strive for my own growth and excellence.

My mission is to help CEOs gain control of their revenue goals by leveraging data-informed decisions to SCALE elite, productive sales teams and revenue operations, delivering customer excellence and driving sustainable growth.

To those reading this, I hope you incorporate the lessons I have learned into your reflections. Celebrate your wins, adapt to change, and surround yourself with people who inspire you to be your best self.

Here's to an even more impactful and rewarding 2025! Let me know how you plan to embrace the year ahead.

#scaleyoursales #customergrowthexpert #RevTechStrategist #B2B #SalesExcellence

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