72 Comments

I read your whole article and I loved the risks you took. You wrote

“Turned away a lot of fractional client work. The money was tempting but the cost to my time and energy was not”

I consult people for a living and the decision to honor yourself and to focus on your time and energy is something most people aren’t willing to do. You clearly have the drive and trust to achieve your dreams and goals. Keep going and keep posting.

Expand full comment

Thank you 🥹. I learned this lesson the hard way in 2023, by never turning down opportunities and finding myself in a position where I was contracting 7 days a week. It's the fastest route to burnout, no fun!

Expand full comment

Reading your January hopes for 2024 gave me chills. Talk about manifesting your dreams. I'm always so impressed by your bias for action—it's clearly your superpower! Congratulations on an incredible year.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much Emma, and it's been the BEST working with you this year. I'm obsessed with your writing, you have a real gift. I can't wait to see where you take things in 2025 ❤️

Expand full comment

Right back at you! Thanks so much for everything ❤️

Expand full comment

I love your 2024 journey, you've inspired and motivated me to record my own journey next year. Any tips on doing research to uncover pain points? I have some ideas but would love some pointers ☺️ thanks so much for sharing your progress, wins, worries, and decisions so openly!

Expand full comment

Amazing! You should definitely do it. It was a lot of fun writing this post and going through my journal and monthly reviews. A real trip down memory lane 😂

I'd keep your research relatively light touch and perhaps start by talking to 5 or 6 people who you think are your target customer or audience. Ask them what problems they're experiencing, what their biggest challenges are, where they're coming up against obstacles or roadblocks. Ask them how they've tried to overcome these challenges so far and what has and hasn't worked. You'll get a lot of great insights that will help inform your products or services, or even your content. Hope that helps!

Expand full comment

Awesome! That helps a lot, thank you Anna 🙏

Expand full comment

Anytime ❤️

Expand full comment

Congrats on crushing 2024, Anna! Love seeing the monthly progression and how open you've been throughout. Your posts have been super inspiring to follow. Hope I'm sharing similar wins next December–looking forward to seeing your growth in 2025!

Expand full comment

Thanks Rohan, appreciate your kind words! I've always promised myself to be really transparent and build in public, so it's nice to hear that my (over?)sharing has had such an impact. 2025, here we come!

Expand full comment

Wow - thanks Anna for sharing the path you've walked and the things you've discovered. the "showing up online and writing no matter what" was what I really needed to hear, have a wonderful festive season celebrating hitting all those goals!

Expand full comment

Thank you! And yes...if people take anything away from this post I hope it's to start sharing their ideas and stories online. It's truly changed my life this year.

Expand full comment

Thank you Anna for your inspiration! Congrats on an incredible year for you!

I loved reading this round up, and you've helped me keep going within my own business on so many occasions when I've read your posts and dug deep.

I'm in my first year of my online business, after moving it online. It was the best, most scary decision I made and I'm so glad I did! I'm learning that backing yourself is the way forward!!

Here's to an epic 2025 for us !!

Expand full comment

Congrats on making that massive, scary decision! How good is it on the other side!? And thanks so much for those lovely words, it means a lot. Here’s to an EPIC 2025 for all of us!

Expand full comment

I’ve been following you for a few months now, and you are truly inspiring! Thank you for sharing your journey and congratulations for a successful 2024 🥳 It is very much deserved. Can’t wait to see what next year brings you. I look forward to your updates!

Expand full comment

Thanks Dana, I really appreciate your support and encouragement! Hope you have a fabulous Christmas / holiday break 🫶🏼

Expand full comment

This is not a little stack, but THE stack to read for anyone who wants to thrive in their career! Your writing has had a massive impact on people like me this entire year.

Thanks for continuously sharing. 🙏🏼 can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for you.

Expand full comment

😭😭😭😭 thank you so much, this means the world. It's been awesome becoming internet friends this year!

Expand full comment

Super inspiring! Wishing you all the best for 2025

Expand full comment

Thank you ❤️. I hope you have a wonderful holiday break!

Expand full comment

So expansive! Can't wait to see what unfolds in 2025 for you. x

Expand full comment

Thanks gal. Appreciate you!! ❤️

Expand full comment

You are an inspiration, Anna. And thanks for making sure your newsletters are free. And you truly provide value for people like me who are wanting to reinvent fractional work and building a brand.

Looking forward to your contributions this 2025.

Expand full comment

Thanks Teki ❤️. I really agonised over whether to turn on paid subscriptions but I think (at least for the foreseeable future) that keeping this as a free resource is the right thing to do. I hope you have a nice break! See you in 2025 🫶🏼

Expand full comment

Whohoooo!! 🔥🔥 Massive congrats, and so freaking well deserved!

Expand full comment

Thank you 😘

Expand full comment

Congratulations Anna! And thanks for sharing all of this. Always look forward to your updates and insights.

Expand full comment

You're so welcome Anya. Keeping it real over here, always!

Expand full comment

Thank you for your refreshing and insightful transparency! It’s a huge expander for me (and I’m sure others). Congrats on all the big and little wins!

Expand full comment

It's amazing hearing you say this, because one of the intentions I'd set after running my portfolio career research was to share my wins (and lessons) more transparently. So many people couldn't see the pathway to a sustainable portfolio career and I wanted to help them expand their perspective and realise the opportunity. If I've done this, then I'm stoked!

Expand full comment

So so happy for you and thanks for sharing what you've learned along the way 🥰

Expand full comment

Thanks Sarah!

Expand full comment

Congrats on an epic year Anna - I have loved following along for the journey and how I could apply a portfolio lens to my own career. Thank you for your honesty, insight and clarity. Enjoy a restorative break!

Expand full comment

Thanks Amy! I love that you've really embraced the portfolio career mindset and it's changed or expanded how you've thought about your own business. So good! Excited to see what's to come for you in 2025. Have a lovely break 😊

Expand full comment