Reflecting on 40 Lessons: Looking Back to Move Forward

As we step into 2025, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the journey so far—because sometimes, the best way to move forward is to look back.

This past year has been a whirlwind of challenges, growth, and hard-earned lessons. Starting FemFuel was more than just a leap of faith; it was a commitment to document the highs and lows, to learn in real-time, and to share those lessons with others.

Now, 40 lessons in, I’m realizing that growth doesn’t come from perfect plans or flawless execution. It comes from the messy middle—the times you adapt, pivot, and rediscover your why. Looking back, these lessons have shaped how I work, dream, and show up.

This reflection isn’t just for me. It’s a reminder for all of us: Growth happens when we pause to appreciate how far we’ve come and use those lessons to fuel what’s next.

Let’s dive in Lesson 40: Looking Back to move forward, here the 25 lessons:

1. New Year’s Resolutions Are BS: Focus on Systems Instead : Resolutions fail because they rely on motivation. Instead, I created systems: daily habits that fit my life. For example, saving $48k wasn’t just a vague dream—it was broken down into monthly goals.

2. Dream Big, But Break It Down: Big goals can feel overwhelming until you break them into bite-sized steps. This year, I focused on scaling fast by tackling one milestone at a time, whether it was raising funds or expanding our business network.

3. ?Surround Yourself with Growth-Oriented People: Your circle matters. This year, I surrounded myself with entrepreneurs who inspired and challenged me to think bigger. Being around driven people reminded me that success is contagious.

4. Gratitude Changes Everything: Keeping a gratitude journal made me more aware of the small wins: a productive meeting, an afternoon off with family, or simply good health. Gratitude reframes challenges into opportunities for growth.

5. Stop Glorifying the Grind: I learned that life doesn’t have to feel heavy. Success doesn’t require burnout. Rest, balance, and joy are not only essential—they’re powerful tools for long-term growth.

6. Saying No is a Superpower: This year, I said no to projects and relationships that drained me. It wasn’t easy, but every no created space for a more meaningful yes.

7. Find Your “Why”: Everything changed when I clarified my core values: growth, generosity, and love. Knowing my why helped me filter out distractions and focus on what truly matters. My mission: helping 100000 scaleurs achieve their life goals

8. Build Strong Boundaries: One of my biggest lessons was learning to protect my time and energy. Saying no, setting limits, and walking away from toxic environments empowered me to do my best work.

9. Progress, Not Perfection: I used to beat myself up for not doing things “perfectly.” This year, I learned that even messy progress is still progress. The key is consistency, not perfection.

10. Community is Everything: The women I met this year (thx to #femfuel) —trailblazers, dreamers, and doers—reminded me that no one succeeds alone. A strong network uplifts, inspires, and propels you forward.

11. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: It’s easy to look at someone’s success and feel behind. But comparison is a trap. Focus on your own path—it’s the only one that matters.

12. Confidence is Key: This year, I stopped waiting for “permission” to speak up. Confidence isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about trusting your value and owning your space.

13. Small Wins Add Up: Achievements don’t always come in big, dramatic moments. They’re built in the tiny wins—completing one workout, reading one chapter, or finishing one task at a time.

14. Align Goals with Values: Goals that don’t align with your values are destined to fail. This year, I focused on aligning my work and personal life with what I truly care about, and everything started to flow more easily.

15. You Don’t Need to Do It All: Delegating was a game-changer this year. Letting go of tasks I didn’t enjoy or excel at gave me the freedom to focus on what I’m best at.

16. Celebrate the Wins—Big and Small: I celebrated everything this year: reading 12 books, saving more than I planned, and even small work victories. Celebration keeps you motivated.

17. Rest is Productive: This year, I redefined productivity. Taking a break, unplugging, and prioritizing sleep made me more focused and creative when it was time to work.

18. Life is a Series of Trade-Offs: Every yes means saying no to something else. This year, I learned to prioritize what truly matters and stop trying to do everything.

19. Success Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone: For me, success is waking up excited for the day and going to bed feeling proud of how I spent my time. Redefining success has made my goals feel more aligned.

20. Your Time is a Precious Resource: I treated my time like the most valuable thing I owned—because it is. This meant cutting out distractions, focusing on priorities, and saying no to time-wasters.

21. Integrity Means Walking the Talk: If I preach self-care, I need to live it. This year, I focused on leading by example, whether that meant setting boundaries or being fully present with my family.

22. It’s Okay to Pivot: Letting go of what no longer works isn’t failure—it’s growth. Pivoting is how we realign with our values and move closer to our goals.

23. You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: Prioritizing my well-being—physically, emotionally, and mentally—made me a better leader, friend, and mom this year.

24. Your Environment Shapes You: I worked hard this year to create spaces that fueled positivity and growth—whether it was my home, workspace, or community.

25. Trust Yourself: Self-doubt held me back in the past, but this year, I trusted my instincts more. The results? Better decisions and more confidence.

Final Reflection

This year wasn’t perfect—but that’s the point. Growth isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up every day, learning from the hard moments, and celebrating the wins.

As we step into 2025, I’m ready to build on these lessons and keep growing. What lessons did 2024 teach you? Share them with me—I’d love to hear!

#FemFuel #Entrepreneurship #GoalSetting #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #MindsetMatters