Turning the Page: Learning From Last Year Without Living in It
- Brian R. Schobel, CPA
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For entrepreneurs, a new year doesn’t just bring fresh calendars—it brings reflection. Last year may have been full of wins, losses, pivots, late nights, and lessons you didn’t ask for but needed anyway. The challenge isn’t whether you’ll remember last year. It’s whether you’ll learn from it without getting stuck in it.
Reflection Is Powerful—Rumination Is Not
Reflection is a tool. Rumination is a trap.
Successful entrepreneurs take time to look back and ask:
What worked?
What didn’t?
What did this experience teach me?
But they don’t replay failures on a loop or cling too tightly to past successes. Dwelling on mistakes drains energy. Living in past wins can create complacency. Growth happens when reflection leads to action, not emotional baggage.
Last Year Was Data, Not a Definition
Your revenue numbers, failed launches, missed goals, or unexpected wins do not define you—they inform you.
Entrepreneurship is an experiment. Every decision produced data. Some outcomes confirmed your strategy; others revealed gaps in execution, timing, or focus. Treat last year like a report, not a verdict. The goal is not to judge yourself, but to refine your approach.
Carry Lessons Forward, Not Regret
Regret is heavy. Lessons are useful.
Ask yourself:
What systems need improvement?
Where did I overextend myself?
What skills do I need to sharpen?
What should I stop doing altogether?
Then let go of the rest. You cannot build the future while carrying unnecessary weight from the past.
Reinvent, Don’t Restart
Turning the page doesn’t mean starting from zero. You already have experience, skills, connections, and resilience. The new year is not about becoming someone else—it’s about becoming more intentional with what you already have.
Refine your vision. Simplify your goals. Focus on fewer things done better. Entrepreneurs don’t win by doing everything; they win by doing the right things consistently.
Momentum Lives in the Present
The only place you can build momentum is now.
What you do today—your habits, decisions, and focus—sets the tone for the year ahead. Progress compounds when you show up daily, even when motivation fades.
Final Thought
Turning the page doesn’t erase the past. It honors it by using it wisely.
As an entrepreneur, your job this year is simple but not easy. The next chapter isn’t written yet—but you’re holding the pen.
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