Congratulations, Y’all—We Made It to 2025!

Each new year, we get supercharged with energy and ready to power through those new (or revisited) goals. But before you lace up those brand-new sneakers and put that fresh gym membership to use, put on your listening ears (well, reading eyes) and lock into this pep talk from your Friendly Neighborhood Candice.

Here’s how we’re going to make this year the best one yet:

Be Grateful

Take inventory of your life and your business—not the material things, but the most important things. As the saying goes, you’re already living in answered prayers.

Remember when you dreamt of impacting families and early educators the way you do now? As entrepreneurs, we’re so driven that we’re always chasing the next goal. But that drive can make us overlook the milestones we’ve already reached.

Take some time to slow down and just be thankful for where you are.

Stop Comparing

As a business owner, everyone tells you to mystery shop your competitors or stalk their social media to see what they’re doing. Here’s an unpopular opinion: you don’t need to do that.

It’s easy to look at someone else’s life or business and think they have it all—or, on the flip side, point out all the ways you think you’re better. Truth is, we’re all guilty of this. But when you first had your vision, it wasn’t based on anyone else.

Remember your mission. Your “competitor’s” mission may not even be the same as yours. So, are they really your competitor? And if they do share your mission, doesn’t that make them more of a collaborator? Either way, put on your tunnel vision and don’t let comparisons distract you.

Become Introspective

I talk about accountability a lot, and that’s because I’ve seen its freeing power firsthand. This year will be just like every other year unless you look within yourself and your business and challenge yourself to constantly strive for better.

When things go haywire, it’s easy to blame external factors—but that just leaves you feeling feeble and defeated. Instead, use those coulda, shoulda, wouldas as opportunities for constructive self-criticism and course correction.

Introspection is the first step to leveling up.

Pace Yourself

Rest is productive. Say it with me out loud (for real—you need to HEAR yourself say it): Rest is productive.

Our bodies aren’t cars. You can’t just gas up (or drink an energy drink or pop a caffeine pill) and keep going. If you work yourself into the ground, you’ll never get to see the fruits of your labor.

Most of the deadlines you’re racing to meet are fictional ones you made up in your head. Pace yourself. You’ll get there—and you’ll feel a lot better when you do.

Seek to Give and Receive Wisdom and Knowledge

In 2025, information is more accessible than ever—but so is entertainment. Remember: you can only get out what you’ve put in.

If you spend all your time consuming mindless entertainment, all you’ll be able to do is entertain. But we are educators—we’re called to a higher standard. The good news is that there’s so much entertaining, thought-provoking, and educational content out there waiting for you.

Take a break from funny pet videos every now and then. Instead, consume content (and read books and blogs!) that will challenge your views, inspire you to reflect, motivate you to grow, teach you something new, and expand on what you already know.

Be Kind

Make kindness your status quo. Don’t let the world—or your past experiences—harden you.

Carrying around heavy emotional baggage will leave you tired, weary, and irritable. It affects how you show up in the world, and whether or not you think it’s fair, how you show up determines how people treat you.

Walking around with a chip on your shoulder sets the tone for negativity. But kindness opens doors that a nasty attitude will never even bring you near.

Don’t Stop

Keep moving forward like the road behind you is on fire. There’s no turning back.

At the start of a new year, people make resolutions galore. But most people don’t accomplish their resolutions because they quit when things get uncomfortable.

Here’s something I find fascinating: people will show up to work through grief, low self-esteem, chronic illness, depression, divorces, and even house fires. Yet, those same challenges are used as reasons to quit showing up for themselves.

You are built to overcome. It’s in your nature (that’s why we have fight, flight, or freeze). Just like you push through to go to work, push through to do what you set out to do for you.

Be Original

Every Saturday, my daughters prance around my room in my high heels. They look extra goofy doing it. That’s how silly you look when you try to be someone you’re not.

Keeping up with trends is exhausting—they’re constantly changing. Your desire to do what everyone else is doing stems from the natural human need to fit in. But authenticity? It just hits different.

Keep doing what feels natural to you, and you’ll attract your people.

Practice Holistic Self-Compassion

Merriam-Webster defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Self-compassion is that, but turned inward.

Practicing self-compassion isn’t just about saying affirmations in the mirror (though that’s a great start). It’s about deep-diving into your pain and problems, figuring out what you need, and giving that to yourself—whether that’s a housekeeper or a good crying sesh to let it all out.

As entrepreneurs, we spend so much time solving other people’s problems. Self-compassion is about pouring back into yourself what you give to others.

Stop Gatekeeping

The awesome thing about humans is that none of us knows everything, and we all need each other to grow and improve.

Your instinct to protect yourself and your business from competitors may make gatekeeping seem like a good idea. But gatekeeping does more harm than good. Hoarding information limits you. Sharing it opens doors.

When you share freely, people tend to return the favor—and they’ll connect you with others who can help you grow even more. Remember: Your network is your net worth.

No matter where you are in life or business right now, know this: by this time next year, you could be living life on a whole new level.

Imagine walking into 2026 healed, confident, rejuvenated, and ready to conquer whatever’s next. You might be tempted to work harder this year, but sometimes it’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the inner work to take what you’ve already built to the next level.

I can’t wait to come out on the other side with you. Comment below and share what you’re looking forward to this year!