"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill
Well, we're heading into the home stretch of 2024, and I'm here to say - what a year! My word for the year, Hippopotamus, has been putting in some serious overtime. Why hippo? Because they're big, tough, and stay calm when wading through the chaos - the exact vibe I was going for this year! Some days I totally nailed it; other days, the chaos won. However, I'm here - still standing.
Let's talk real estate for a second. This year has been a wild one, and not always in the fun "rollercoaster at an amusement park" way. It has been more like the "unexpected detours on a road trip where your GPS keeps losing signal" kind of wild. Deals were harder, the market was unpredictable, and some days felt like I was trying to juggle flaming swords covered in mayo 🤮.
Despite the madness, we hit some major wins! We helped more clients than ever, hit personal records in our business, and made real progress turning our vision into reality. For a year filled with so many challenges, it was also one of our most rewarding yet.
The biggest win was learning how to cohesively work together. Running a business with your partner can be interesting (IYKYK). But we found our rhythm, learned into each other's strengths, and came out stronger for it. That alone feels like a trophy-worthy (or at least nice holiday dinner-worthy) accomplishment.
Of course, there were moments when it felt like an uphill climb in roller skates. (Please tell me I'm not alone?) I know, I know, that's life. And that's why we keep climbing - because the people depending on us - our clients, our friends, our family, each other deserve the best. Every win this year felt a little sweeter because it wasn't handed to us. It was EARNED, hippo-style, by pushing through challenges and keeping the big picture in view.
And let's not forget - the year isn't over yet! There is still time to hit those 2024 goals, tie up loose ends, and set ourselves up for a strong start to 2025. Oh, and I have to pick my word for 2025. I'm taking suggestions because, honestly, "Hippopotamus" is going to be a tough act to follow. Maybe "Octopus"? They're adaptable, multi-task like pros, and a bit mysterious. 🤔 HELP!
In the meantime, cheers to the final weeks of 2024. If you've had a tough year, I see you! If you're still working on those goals, same here. Let's all finish strong, laugh a little (or a lot), and head into 2025 ready to tackle whatever comes next.
