A farewell to 2024

How 2024 was the worst year of my life and how I'm working to make sure that never happens again

I don’t know about you, but for me, 2024 has been a wild ride, unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. I’ve made mistakes, trusted people I shouldn’t have, and, ultimately, lost everything: my business, home, and savings. But in sharing these experiences, even if it helps just one person, it will have been worth it.

The first mistake was undoubtedly trusting someone I didn’t know well enough. I assumed that because they were in a seemingly successful position, they knew what they were doing. Big mistake! I invested my savings, maxed out my credit cards, and worked thousands of unpaid hours into a failing business. I learned that handshake deals are no longer enough. A written contract is essential. I also realized I should have done more thorough research, not only into the business but also into my business partner.

My second mistake was not getting back up quickly after everything fell apart. When I lost everything, I had to move back into my mum’s house. It felt like a huge fall from grace. Depression crept in, and before I knew it, I was spiralling downward. In hindsight, I should have fought even harder to rebuild. Instead, I let myself become stuck. I learned that resilience is key when things go wrong, take immediate action to rise again.

Mistake number three: waiting for others to do their job. I relied on others to move things forward, but when they didn’t, I was left waiting. I should have been more proactive and took charge of what I could control, even if it meant going over their heads. I learned that waiting around only delays progress. We all have the power to push things forward ourselves. Why ask for permission? Ask for forgiveness if it’s really that important.

For 2025, I’ve decided to take control of my life, no more letting opportunities slip by or ignoring the things that matter. As we set our New Year’s resolutions, whether it’s to lose weight, get sober, save money, or learn a new language—I challenge you to think about the skills you can develop that will directly impact your future. What can you learn now that will change your life in the long run? The best time to start is always now.

Don’t let past failures keep you down. Sure, you might lose money or time, but the experience you gain is invaluable. So, let’s take the lessons we’ve learned and build something better in 2025.

-Dan