HNY or WTF will 2025 bring?

If you believe in karma, the second half of the 2020s should improve on the first. But as we wind down from Christmas, the leftover prosecco glasses look half-empty, not half-full. Experts say the best we can hope for in the next 12 months is a slow plod to recovery.

Still, starting a business has always been a lesson in defying the odds. And, while tough times are no doubt ahead, the tougher times look to be (thankfully) behind us. In our recent, end-of-year survey, 49% of SMEs told us they were "Thriving" not “Surviving” as they headed into 2025. That’s a 7% uplift on the year before.??

Yes, it’s a statistic based on sentiment, rather than hard data. But a positive outlook can bring concrete benefits. Optimists have been found to have better mental health and more supportive networks (one to bear in mind if you’re going to a networking event this January).

For those who are struggling to feel cheerful, I find inspiration in the humble New Year’s resolution. It may be tempting to curb this tradition given how unpredictable 2025 already feels. But as Huel’s rise to success shows us, the recipe for a thriving startup can be broken down into multiple, digestible milestones.?

Whether you plan to read more business books this year, or reach for a more ambitious target like embracing Work From Anywhere, remember that small steps, consistently taken, can lead to significant achievements.

Helena Young, Startups Lead Writer

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