Winding Down for the Holidays: Reflections from My First Two Months as a Startup Founder

As the year draws to a close, I find myself in a rare, quiet moment—a pause amidst the whirlwind of building a business, navigating high-stakes litigation cases, and, most importantly, redefining what balance means in my life. Starting a business is as much an exercise in resilience as it is in strategy, and my first months as a founder has been no exception. Yet, as the holidays approach, I’m reminded that resilience isn’t just about powering through; it’s about knowing when to rest, recalibrate, and reconnect.

When I launched Right Forensics two months ago, I knew the stakes were high. I’ve spent countless hours helping clients untangle digital mysteries, manage crises, and achieve justice. The work is as rewarding as it is demanding. In the heat of a litigation case, it’s easy to forget that the deadlines we chase aren’t the only ones that matter. But as the year turns, I’m reminded of another clock—the one ticking away on the precious moments I have with my family.

This holiday season, I’m making a conscious effort to slow down and savor those moments. There’s something profoundly grounding about sitting at the dinner table with my kids or walking through a snowy park with my spouse, free from the buzz of notifications and to-do lists. These moments are fleeting, and they deserve my full attention, just as much as my clients do.

That said, winding down doesn’t mean stopping entirely. In fact, setting the stage for 2025 begins now. The pause of the holidays provides the perfect time to reflect on the year’s achievements and challenges. It’s a chance to dream big, recalibrate goals, and ensure that the foundation I’m building is sturdy enough to support what’s to come.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be thinking about how Right Forensics can grow in ways that stay true to our mission—expanding access to justice while fostering a sustainable, people-centered approach to the work. I’ll also be planning how to make the most of new opportunities and partnerships that have surfaced this year, ensuring that our work in 2025 is even more impactful.

For now, though, I’m letting the chaos settle. I’m leaning into the warmth of the season—the quiet mornings, the laughter of loved ones, the joy of stepping away just long enough to remember why I do this work in the first place.

To my fellow founders, practitioners, and clients: take the time to rest, too. Building something meaningful requires that we stay whole, and there’s no better time than now to restore what the year has taken. Let’s not forget that as much as we’re building businesses, we’re also building lives.

Here’s to a restful holiday season and a bright start to 2025. May the year ahead bring us all closer to the people, dreams, and moments that matter most.

With Warmth and Peace,

Jerry Bui, Founder & CEO, Right Forensics