As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to pause and share some thoughts and reflections as we look ahead. Don’t worry—this isn’t just a highlights reel. It’s an acknowledgment of the ups and downs that life and business bring!
Each year, I take a bit of time to look back at both the wins and the inevitable stumbles. This year, the lessons came fast, the failures doubled, and the successes—well, they felt all the sweeter for it.
Looking back, 2024 was a year of bold moves, new experiments, and quite a few “bloopers”!
I kicked off January recording episodes for my podcast, Have Good Ripple Effect. Those early episodes took me three times longer than they do now, but I’ve found the sweet spot between planning and just diving in (Don’t overthink it, Lisa! Be cool…just be cool). Talking to a camera is still a little awkward, but it gets easier every time.
By February, I was hosting my largest Rising Tides Connection Event ever with students—a joy-filled and energizing experience I won’t soon forget. I’m thrilled to share that a few students landed internships through the connections they made. Mission accomplished!
March brought a lesson in the art of being overscheduled (still a work in progress). I dabbled in learning how to launch online products (sneak peek: there’s more to come in 2025!) and set a goal to connect with you more through emails—some of which hit home, while others… let’s just say, I learned a lot along the way, ha!
April was a whirlwind of leadership coaching, speaking for a large health system, and hosting even more events. I even took a social media class to tackle the challenge of ads—a humbling reminder there’s always more to learn. I reached my biggest live audience to date and traveled to Connecticut to speak to a Telecommunications Association, connecting with attendees from ESPN, Disney, and Comcast.
May through July brought more coaching, speaking engagements, and, for any parent out there, the beautiful chaos of summer camps!
In August, I jumped back into podcasting, played around with new content, and made several TV appearances. By September, the pace was in full swing—I spoke with organizations across industries, from court clerks to construction teams.
October brought a memorable student Rising Tides event and a beautiful, joy-filled evening for women in leadership.
Now here we are in December (November was a blur), with my days filled with leadership programs, safety conferences, and even a trip to Los Angeles to speak.
December brings a bit of quiet and time to catch up (is that a thing?!) and reflect.
Looking back, it’s been a year full of learning, failing, and growing. Research shows that people who embrace failure are 60% more likely to persist through challenges—and I can attest to that. I’ve had so many moments of shaking my head, laughing instead of crying, and reminding myself that it doesn’t have to be a home run to be worthwhile and there will be opinions at every turn (and that’s not a bad thing – just keep going).
These days, I imagine myself as a bricklayer—boots, gloves, trowel in hand—laying one brick at a time (skills, experiences, all trial and error), steadily building something meaningful that Has Good Ripple Effect.
As I look forward, I’m excited to keep iterating, learning, and embracing new challenges in 2025. And I’ll be chanting my motto under my breath: I happen to the world, not the other way around.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Now, tell me—what are you dreaming about for the coming year? I’d love to hear your goals, hopes, or even wild ideas.
Here’s to a joy-filled, impactful 2025!
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