Gilded Knight: Reflecting on 2022

There is no universally known playbook for how you close out a calendar year. Often, as the days start to dwindle, you will find organizations, entrepreneurs, and individuals alike, scrambling to perfect what is left of the time they have. While many would have hit milestones, broken barriers, and exceeded their expectations in 2022, others are a lot less enthusiastic about how they are wrapping up. Some are looking back at the goals they had 12 months ago, and what seemed doable in January, now seems impossible to complete in a few days. Some are looking at their revenue projections, and are either feeling deflated or elated with what they have achieved. It can be a time when people have the potential to be overly critical of themselves, and their work, losing sight of what they have accomplished and overcome.

We have to remember we’re human.?

As beneficial as reflection can be, it’s important to extend grace to ourselves and our colleagues, and be reminded that each year is part of a much larger journey. Each day, we are presented with a new opportunity to seize the moment, take what we’ve learned, and look forward with intention.

At the beginning of 2022, I anticipated Gilded Knight would hire its first staff member, triple our revenue year over year, and exponentially grow our client roster. What has happened is something much greater. I have been reminded of how powerful collaborations with values-aligned leaders can be – especially those who are grounded in the principles of integrity, impact, and excellence. That’s why I am incredibly thankful to have formed Gilded Knight’s Extended Family in 2022. While we may not have tripled our revenue from our first year of operation, we have more than doubled it – and in this economic climate, I am grateful that we are healthy and thriving. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned that when building a consulting practice, the quality of your clients is far more precious than the quantity.?

As we enter year three of Gilded Knight, I am thankful for a year of serving these amazing clients, building relationships, and helping organizations and leaders be positioned for maximum impact. Looking ahead, I am reminded that every challenge has an opportunity to be turned into a triumph. You cannot get better at executing any task without being willing to work through the hard things. Attacking hard things helps you reach the next level.

As we move further from the height of the pandemic, and the world becomes more interactive, I am excited to build bigger and brighter connections. Indeed, we must be intentional about maintaining adjusted norms but also be mindful about prioritizing direct and meaningful connections.

I am particularly looking forward to speaking with those of you in my network, both new friends and old, whom I haven’t had the opportunity to connect with during the pandemic. Got 30 minutes? Let’s catch up and schedule a virtual coffee chat in the coming weeks!