The Year That Took Me from Main Character Energy to Needing a Stunt Double

2024, you unpredictable little whirlwind. If I had to sum you up? Q1 was sunshine and rainbows, Q2 and Q3 got messy, and Q4 brought the redemption arc we all needed.

Let’s break it down.

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Q1: Living the Dream (and Booking Holidays)

Ah, the golden start of 2024. You know that moment in a K-drama when the lead character is finally thriving? That was me in Q1.

Work was buzzing, clients were signing on the dotted line, and my calendar had more action than my Netflix watchlist. Corporate gigs? Thriving. Projects? Smooth as butter. And holidays? Oh, they were being planned with the enthusiasm of someone who thought they’d cracked the year already. If smugness were a sport, I’d have been holding a gold medal and giving interviews about my training regime.

There’s something intoxicating about when everything clicks into place. It’s like the universe is finally on your side, whispering, “You’ve got this.” And you know what? I felt like I did. I even started plotting what the rest of the year might look like—maybe scaling up the business, maybe diving into some new collaborations. When the work is rolling in and the holiday countdown is on, the world feels full of possibility.

Lesson from Q1? When things are going well, savour it. Soak it all up. Celebrate every win, big or small. Because, well… you never know what’s around the corner.

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Q2 & Q3: When Life Said, “Plot Twist!”

If Q1 was smooth sailing, Q2 was the iceberg nobody saw coming. Life decided it was time for me to stop feeling invincible. How, you ask? Through a kitchen step, a washing machine, and a ligament that said, “We’re done here.”

It started with an innocuous little trip while doing the washing—a torn ankle ligament that had me sidelined for four weeks. “No gym for you,” said the doctor. I wouldn’t call myself a gym bunny by any stretch, but it’s my mental health sanctuary. Still, it was spring, the weather was warming up, and I figured I’d power through. How bad could it be?

Well, apparently, that was just Act One. By May, I’d graduated from ankle woes to tearing the three tendons that hold your knee in place. Picture this: I’m at an event in London, and I can barely stand. Majorly inconvenient, to say the least. Back to the doctor, who greeted me with, “No gym again, and it’s another 4-6 weeks of rest.”

At this point, “rest” wasn’t just a word—it was a prison sentence. The gym was off the table, walking was a challenge, and I was staring down the reality of being that person who suddenly has a relationship with an ice pack and knee brace and a walking stick that my girlfriends lovingly named Sidney who has been on all my holidays this year !! He is exceptionally well travelled !

Here’s the kicker: 4-6 weeks turned into months. My knee still isn’t right, and, spoiler alert, I never did make it back to the gym. For someone who thrives on momentum, this was a harsh reality check. Work carried on, because, well, life doesn’t stop just because your ligaments have staged a mutiny. But those health struggles forced me to re-evaluate.

That’s not to say Q2 and Q3 were all doom and gloom. There were highs too—some big wins, including my first two large-scale speaking events, which I absolutely loved. Standing on stage, sharing what I know, and seeing those lightbulb moments in the audience? That gave me a buzz like nothing else and I plan to do so much more of it in 2025.

Lesson from Q2 and Q3? Rest is productive. Asking for help is not a weakness. And sometimes, even the main character needs to pause for breath. So, I embraced the art of self-preservation.

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Q4: Hope Is a Thing with Deadlines

Ah, Q4. You sneaky little redemption arc, you. The last quarter of the year showed up like that one friend who’s brutally honest but always has your back. It wasn’t just about things going well (though bless you, universe, for that). It was about remembering who TF I am and what I am an undisputed expert at!

The wins from Q3—the speaking engagements, the continued support from clients—gave me the confidence to start dreaming again. I finally began working on a few new projects and I faced up to the reality that me, the one that preaches freedom, flexibility and fun #triplefeffect was not walking the walk. I hadn’t been having fun I was plodding, I was stagnant.

In October I had my final holiday of the year out in sunny Crete and it was the catalyst for getting 1000% honest and uncomfortable about what was going well, what wasn’t working and what I really wanted from my business moving forward.

And once I began owning the facts, the more I started to feel like myself again. Not in a “Wow, everything’s perfect!” kind of way (let’s be real, that’s not life), but in an “Okay, I’ve got this” kind of way. There’s a difference, and it’s an important one. I have made decisions that feel right, I can’t actually believe I pushed them aside for 18months and decided not to do the thing because someone else was doing the thing (I know I know I can see your eyes rolling from here!!).

Q4 was also a time for reflection. I looked back at the highs and lows of the year, the moments where I thought I’d cracked it, and the ones where I wasn’t sure I’d make it through. And somehow, here I am, wrapping up 2024 with a sense of optimism.

Lesson from Q4? Redemption arcs don’t need to be dramatic. Sometimes, they’re just about showing up for yourself again.

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2024 in a Nutshell

If I had to describe 2024, it’d go something like this: messy, uncomfortable, but ultimately worth it. It reminded me that the hard seasons aren’t forever, that even when things feel impossible, there’s a way through. And, most importantly, that the people and moments that lift you up in the chaos are worth more than any milestone.

Heading into 2025, I’m holding onto that optimism. I’m also setting some firm boundaries with stairs, washing machines, and any other household dangers. Because, let’s face it, I’ve earned a smoother year ahead.

So here’s to 2025. Whatever it brings, I’m ready. But if it wants to skip the Q2 and Q3 chaos this time, I won’t complain.

So join me in 2025 where I will be hosting my first cohort of Cracking the Corporate Code, for all you wonderful creatives, coaches and entrepreneurs who are looking to create a more steady stream of corporate revenue in 2025. Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know all the juicey details.