Happy Wednesday Reader!

Good morning from Venice Beach!

Today's newsletter is unique – it's not just another one in the series but a reflection of my journey, my first-ever annual review.

Unlike others who journal privately, I decided to share my thoughts with you to make myself more accountable and hopefully inspire you to do your own.

It's a dive into a 4-step reflective journey I've never taken before.

Let's get started.

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Step 1: My Kickstarter

My preparation for this review started already in December last year. I dove into everything about "Annual Reviews,"

• from reading fellow newsletter creators' reflections
• to engage in the 7-day one-word challenge​
• I read Dr. Ali Abdaal's "Feel-Good Productivity" and joined his review workshop.
• Not to mention experimenting with annual review GPTs (you need a ChatGPTPlus account)

I became a pro at knowing how it works in theory, but doing the work of a yearly review of my own is a different story.

Life is busy.

So, I realized the power of community in this process.

That's why I signed up for Tiago Fort's annual guided review weekend workshop.

And this was a good decision because I finally did it (because everybody did it at the same time and I paid for it :-)

And for next year?

I'm considering joining again, either going a weekend away or hosting a desert retreat with fellow solopreneurs to delve deeper into this practice because you need headspace.

I had to pick up kids from ballet classes in between and hopped from birthday to birthday, which could have been a way better setup, but it still worked out in the end, as you can read today - it just took way longer than just a weekend.

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Step 2: Remember Your Moments

To plan for 2024, revisiting 2023 was crucial.

My tools?

Photos, calendars, books, podcasts, articles, masterclasses, and notes.

It was an intense journey through memories, achievements, and lessons, reminding me to appreciate each moment regularly and not wait for a yearly reflection.

It took me way longer than 90 minutes as planned in the workshop, nearly the whole weekend, but looking back, this was the essential part of my annual review to gain clarity for all the next steps that followed.

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Step 3: Connect the Dots

This step was eye-opening. I reflected on the joyful memories -

• Hosting an Innovation Journey for German clients in Silicon Valley,
• Reading all the heartwarming messages from my Future-Ready Woman Community,
• Cherishing the photos of family memories and fun times with friends,
• And I found tons of screenshots showing me an increasing interest in menopause.

I saw how these experiences shaped me, some more nourished than others, but all significant.

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Step 4: Create

Using these reflection points, I've identified the most important key areas for my life to focus on:

1. Business,
2. Relationships,
3. Health, and
4. Personal Growth.

Each has brought me joy and fulfillment, and I'm excited to dive deeper into them in 2024:

In Business:

The journey with my new venture, Future-Ready Woman, has been challenging and exhilarating, like a rollercoaster ride. Each newsletter, event, and masterclass has been a small step in my evolution.

I've discovered the joy of overcoming my fear of public speaking, the thrill of teaching and facilitating, and the satisfaction of growing organically, valuing the journey more than just the outcomes, which I thought for a long time mattered the most.

In Relationships:

Last year has been a deep dive into nurturing relationships.

The best part is that I started by embracing myself more - officially adding "Me-time" to my calendar.

There was also rethinking of old friendships, strengthening family ties, and cherishing special moments with loved ones.

I realized it's about being present in the lives of those who matter most to me, physically and emotionally, but this also means letting go of some not-so-important ones, which is hard.

Time is my luxury good; I have to spend it wisely.

In Health:

Navigating pre-menopause has been a pivotal aspect of my health journey to get back ownership of my body.

Integrating tennis into my routine, exploring mindfulness, and adopting a holistic approach to wellness and nutrition have been transformative.

AI technologies like my Lumen device and my brand-new Evie ring will be instrumental in this journey, offering insights and data to set achievable health goals for 2024.

In Personal Growth:

Embracing the path of a Lifelong Learner, I've transitioned from consultant to creator entrepreneur without realizing it.

The investment in masterclasses and resources to upskill me has been significant, not just financially and time-wise, but also in the community and support they've provided me. I found so many new friends, and they helped me design and facilitate my masterclasses, focusing on authentic human connections.

I double down on this because learning new things excites me and makes me happy.

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As 2024 unfolds, I channel my energy into areas that sparked joy and fulfillment in 2023.

It isn't just a review; It's my new roadmap for an even more vibrant, happy, and fulfilling year ahead.

I'm building on the moments and passions that matter most; you are part of this journey.

I'm curious – what does your roadmap for 2024 look like?

Let's embark on this journey together.

❤️ from Venice Beach

Simone

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