I was half-checked out in a pre-Christmas break IG story scroll when another creator's voice cut through the almost OOO haze...
She candidly shared that she didn’t think setting goals in January was effective.
As someone who is quite literally hosting an annual brand planning & goal-setting workshop in January (which you can still get for $60 until the ball drops), I perked up. I turned on my audience listening ears (if nothing else, for research purposes).
She didn’t elaborate much (which is a micro lesson for you on why sharing your pov should always come with context… because otherwise, you are just a hot take without any real value #sorrynotsorry) so I was left to read between the lines.
What she wasn’t saying was that she and her audience had probably overcomplicated goal setting which made implementing said goals just feel overwhelming.
Maybe she had tried and failed to make SMART goals and books like The 12-week Year, etc., work for her - and it just felt better at some point to take messy action...
And honestly, I get it.
I spent the first few years of entrepreneurship DEVOURING any type of new year planning content, calendar, and planner I could get my hands on, CONVINCED that this plan for this year would make the difference.
But did I ever follow through on those new year plans, goals, or resolutions yes… and no.
They set me in the right direction. But there was also a lot of FLUFF (aka. wasted time) if i’m being really honest.
In 2024 I shifted to setting (and actually accomplishing) Brand Goals, so in this weeks Newsletter i’m sharing what worked, what didn’t + a new kind of Brand Goal for you to set in 2025.
Anddddd not in an overwhelming - I dont want to stress yet i’m not even back to work yet way.
But in a “wait, this is actually so simple and makes a lot of sense and is completely genius, Catie” kind of way.
2024 vs. 2025 Brand Goals
Discover how to transform your approach to goal-setting in 2025 with a simplified brand framework that actually works, featuring real examples of what worked (and what didn't) for my brand in 2024
Let's be real—if you've spent time in the entrepreneurial space, you've probably tried quite a few goal-setting frameworks, only to find yourself with a drawer full of abandoned planners or perfectly color-coded Notion dashboards that haven't seen the light of day since last February. When setting 2025 Brand Goals, it's time we do things differently.
Here's what I've learned after years of trial and error: when it comes to building a sustainable brand, simpler is almost always better.
Brand Development:
My 2024 Brand Development goal was to create a signature course for my offer ecosystem.
This didn't happen because I wasn't really ready, and my brand refresh snowballed into more of a rebrand. However, this is a great example of a "back-burner idea" that I still want to accomplish as my Brand Development goal for 2025.
Brand Management:
My Brand Management goal for 2024 was to update my website—something that is still in the works (but coming soon!).
For 2025, my Brand Management goal is to relaunch my brand and roll out individual launches for my updated offer suite.
Community Building:
In 2024, my community-building goal was to increase my email subscribers. While I never set a specific number goal, this initiative gained momentum in Q3 when I started talking about my newsletter more consistently and rolled out a new lead magnet, The Rear View Mirror.
In 2025, I want to focus on growing my community by hosting 4 quarterly workshops, starting with The Snowed In Strategy Sesh this January.
Content Creation:
My content creation goal for 2024 was to lean into blogging, but without a clear strategy or dedicated time, my monthly blog posts kept getting pushed aside.
I often found myself overstuffing my newsletter with content that should have been blog posts—I just didn't think I had the time to write them. For 2025, I'm taking a more strategic approach to optimize existing blog posts and publish new ones.
Just For Fun:
New for 2025, I'm creating a Brand Goal that's purely for enjoyment. This isn't about having a rigid plan—it's a permission slip to do something simply because you want to.
I'm drawn to Substack as a platform that fits my natural creative tendencies, and I've been interested in low-cost paid subscriptions for some time. So in 2025, I'm adding Substack to my content mix just for fun.
A brand goal isn't just another item on your to-do list—it's a strategic milestone that moves your entire brand forward. Think of it as your North Star for 2025, helping you filter opportunities and make confident decisions.
The key is simplicity and focus—it's better to achieve one goal well than attempt multiple goals simultaneously.
I broke down each of the 5 kinds of Brand Goals I outlined above and how to transform your approach to 2025 Brand Goals in a new Blog that outlines an anti-overwhelm framework designed for entrepreneurs who want to grow their brands without burning out.
goal setting mistakes & lessons learned this year
In the past, I’ve been the girl who really overcomplicates goal setting, making my plans so detailed - that they are too complicated and overwhelming to execute (plz let me know if you can relate).
In 2024 I was determined not to do this - especially when it came to my brand & business (when I came up with the Brand Goals Framework).
Where I went wrong was waiting to start on those goals.
Instead of biting off more than I could chew in 2024 - I set quarterly “focuses.”
In Q1, I was going to focus on my 2024 Brand Management goal of Brand & Website updates - but when that snowballed into a way bigger project than I initially anticipated, Q2 - Q4’s goals got pushed off.
Instead, this year - I am working on my different Brand Goals throughout the year & creating a strategy for how I will accomplish each from the get-go.
If you want to learn all about how to set your 2025 Brand Goals & Map them out in your IRL calendar, Join me on January 15th for The Snowed In Strategy Sesh.
In this workshop, I'll walk you through exactly how to
- Set goals for your brand
- Map them on a life first calendar
- and Outline your quarterly launch calendar
All in less than two hours + in a notion database that you can use to keep your brand on track for the rest of the year.
Plus - you’ll get a 30-day action plan template (that you can re-use at the start of every month) that helps you break down your big brand goals into monthly actions you can actually tackle to help keep your brand on track.
And because I am confidently stepping into my brand mentor role this year + want to join the ahead-of-the-curve club - you get till V-Day to submit your brand goals, calendar, and your first 30-day action plan in Slack for 1:1 feedback.
And I didn’t even mention that you can still get the Early Bird discount (saves you $40) until the ball drops (after that, the workshop will be full price, though).
A Few More Resources To Help You Get Ready For 2025
|
|
FREE MINI-COURSE
DIY end-of-year brand audit
Learn how to audit your audience, content, and impact to create data about your brand that can help you make strategic decisions moving forward.
|
|
|
2025 PLANNING CHECKLIST
that's a wrap on 2024
Click for instant access to a Notion to-do list of everything I recommend you do at the end of the year to prep for the next.
|
|
|
MORNING PAGES & AI PROMPTS
annual brand reflection & roadmap
In 5-morning page sessions, you’ll transform your scattered brand ideas into an aligned vision for 2025 to stop putting your brand on the back burner and start taking focused action with the strategic foundation you need to create a data-backed plan for the year ahead.
|