Welcome to my Year in Review. 👋
This is where I’ll share the good and bad things that happened in my business (and life) during the 2024 calendar year.
I started doing this back in 2018, the year I officially became my own boss.
This year makes seven in a row!
Time flies when you’re having fun, and this year was no exception.
However, the question remains…
Was 2024 a good year?
I guess you’ll have to keep reading to find out.
But first…
Why Write an Annual Review?
Here’s my reasoning:
- To acknowledge what I accomplished: Highlighting the good things that happened can help me build confidence and momentum in the future.
- To review the goals I didn’t achieve and any failures along the way: This helps me see where I need to improve to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Note: Writing these reviews takes a lot of time and effort. But, once it’s complete each year, I’m always glad I did.
A Look Back at My Goals for 2024:
Here are my goals for 2024 that I shared in last year’s annual review:
1. Publish 445 New Articles (On My Main Website)
Content creation was forever changed the moment ChatGPT was released. What once took one (or more) days to write an article can now be completed in minutes.
That is why I initially set a goal of publishing 445 articles this year, which equates to more than one article per day.
But I failed to do so, and here’s why:
Have you ever heard of the leaky bucket analogy?
Basically, a leaky bucket represents a system where valuable resources are lost due to inefficiencies. A leaking bucket will technically never become empty as long as you keep adding water.
However, the losses from the leaks will prevent it from ever reaching its full potential.
(This was my business; a bucket full of holes and leaks.)
Allow me to (attempt to) explain.
My website has over 650 published articles. To be honest, many of those simply were just not very good.
Many were outdated, poorly written, and in desperate need of some TLC.
And this is why my bucket business was leaking!
The low-quality articles were the leaks, causing traffic and engagement to drain away.
I could continue adding water (i.e., creating new articles), but the bucket was never going to stop leaking until I fixed it.
I realized this early on and spent most of the year rewriting old articles instead of creating new ones.
Result: Fail ❌
I only published 118 articles this year, which is far less than the goal I initially set. On the bright side, at least I fixed all the old, crappy articles so that now, my bucket is no longer leaking.
2. Publish 10 New Articles (On This Website)
Another year in the books.
Yet another year of not publishing on this site, lol.
Result: Fail ❌
I always plan to do more with the website, but I never do.
Maybe next year?
3. Publish 208 New YouTube Videos
My initial goal was to publish four videos per week on my main channel.
Unfortunately, I only published a total of 130.
As previously mentioned, I spent most of my time revamping old articles and less time on YouTube. This is ultimately why I failed to accomplish this goal.
Result: Fail ❌
YouTube has started to become saturated with content over the past 1-2 years. This is especially true for faceless YouTube channels (like mine).
This means that now, more than ever, quality is way more important than quantity. And that’s why, in the future, I plan to publish fewer videos, but better.
4. Launch a New YouTube Channel
I’ve already built and grown a YouTube channel to over one million subscribers.
This required that I learn various skills, such as:
- Writing scripts
- Recording voiceovers
- Creating engaging thumbnails
- Writing clickable headlines, etc.
I’ve already proven I know what it takes to build a successful channel, so why not do it again?
Result: Complete ✅
I set a goal to launch a new YouTube channel this year, and I was able to do so.
In fact, I launched not one but two new channels.
They’re both still in the early stages, but I look forward to (hopefully) seeing them grow in the coming months.
5. Launch a New Product
I often talk about writing articles and creating YouTube videos, but that is only a small part of my business.
The ultimate goal is for my followers to find value in my content and trust me as a reliable source in my niche.
This trust allows me to recommend the digital products and courses I created to help them reach their goals.
And this is the primary source of revenue for my business.
Creating digital products and courses allows me to provide deeper value than what’s possible through free content alone.
It’s how I’ve been able to build a sustainable business while also continuing to produce helpful, free resources in the form of articles, videos, and social media posts.
Result: Complete ✅
My goal was to launch at least one new product this year, and I was able to do so. I created a digital course designed specifically for the needs of my followers.
This course resulted from months of planning, research, and development.
Since its launch, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and I’m thrilled to see how it’s already making a difference in people’s lives.
Seeing students succeed because of something I created is one of the most rewarding aspects of running this type of business.
6. Create a New Income Stream
Diversification has always been one of my key business strategies. Relying on a single income stream is risky, especially in the ever-changing world of online business.
That’s why I set a goal to create at least one new income stream this year.
The idea was to build something that complements my existing business while offering a fresh way to generate revenue.
But creating a new income stream isn’t just about making more money — it’s about long-term sustainability, growth, and reducing dependence on any one platform or product.
Result: Complete ✅
My new stream of income is courtesy of Facebook’s Performance Bonus Program. It’s a program that pays you simply for sharing engaging content on your Facebook page.
Once my page was approved, all I had to do was start posting more often, and now Facebook sends me a direct payment every month.
There are actually some people making thousands of dollars per month simply by posting on Facebook. My page isn’t there yet, but I look forward to seeing how this new income stream grows over time.
7. Read at Least 35 New Books
Here is a list of every book I read (or listened to) this year:
🔥 = Highly Recommend
- Get It Done Now! [Audiobook] 🔥
- The Millionaire Master Plan [Audiobook]
- Non-Negotiable
- Leadership [Audiobook]
- The Hard Way
- Life Changing Secrets from the 3 Masters of Success [Audiobook]
- Freakonomics
- Super Freakonomics
- The Greatness Mindset
- The Power of Discipline [Audiobook]
- Personal Success [Audiobook]
- Personal Success Made Simple [Audiobook]
- Master Your Goals [Audiobook]
- Poverty, Riches, and Wealth [Audiobook]
- Mastery [Audiobook]
- Focal Point [Audiobook] 🔥
- The Four Agreements [Audiobook] 🔥
- Supercommunicators [Audiobook]
- The Setup [Audiobook]
- Rich AF [Audiobook]
- Napoleon Hill’s Philosophy of Success [Audiobook]
- Be Quick – But Don’t Hurry! [Audiobook]
- Playing With Fire [Audiobook]
- Be a People Person [Audiobook]
- Die With Zero [Audiobook] 🔥
- The Energy Bus [Audiobook]
- Free to Focus [Audiobook]
- Never Eat Alone [Audiobook]
- The Mountain is You [Audiobook]
- You Become What You Think About [Audiobook]
- An Effective Life [Audiobook]
- The Secret of Think and Grow Rich [Audiobook]
- Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire [Audiobook]
- This Year Will Be Different [Audiobook]
- You Turn [Audiobook]
Result: Complete ✅
I read (or listened to) 35 new books this year, which means that I was able to accomplish this goal.
Over recent years, I’ve been consuming many more audiobooks than physical or Kindle books, thanks to Audible.
8. Travel to Two New Countries
This year, I traveled to:
- Turkey
- France
- Italy
- Vatican City
- Mexico
Result: Complete ✅
Traveling to new countries allows me to experience different cultures, try incredible food, and see the world from new perspectives.
This year, I was fortunate enough to explore five countries, including four I had never visited before: Turkey, France, Italy, and Vatican City.
(yes, Vatican City counts as a country)
Exploration not only inspires me personally but also sparks creativity for my work. Where should I go in 2025?
9. Travel to 4 New Cities in the United States
Here are the cities I traveled to this year:
Bold = New
- New York City, NY
- Keystone, CO
- Oxford, MS
- Tunica, MS
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Las Vegas, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Columbia, SC
- Gainesville, FL
Result: Complete ✅
I took trips to ten different cities this year. Six of the ten were new, so I easily accomplished this goal.
Which new cities should I visit next year?
10. Complete at Least 500 Workouts
If you’re doing the math in your head, you may have noticed that my goal for workouts exceeded the total number of days in a year.
This means that I needed to complete two or more workouts on several days throughout the year to achieve this goal.
Result: Complete ✅
I completed a total of 602 workouts this year, meaning that I easily accomplished this goal.
This wasn’t difficult at all, thanks to my standing desk and treadmill pad that allows me to walk 5-6 miles every morning while getting work done on my laptop.
For it to count as a “workout,” I must complete at least 45 consecutive minutes of intentional physical activity. And yes, this includes walking.
11. Check at Least 10 Things Off My Bucket List
Several years ago, I started a bucket list to focus on the experiences and long-term goals I want to accomplish.
This year, I was able to check off several things, including:
- Travel to Europe
- Take a multi-week vacation
- Take a trip via train
- Visit Italy
- Visit France
- Visit Turkey
- Visit New York City
- Visit Keystone
- Eat macarons in France
- Eat pasta in Rome
- Eat at a Michelin-star restaurant
- Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain
- See the Roman Colosseum
- Watch Ole Miss play at South Carolina
- Watch Ole Miss play at Florida
- Take a cold plunge
- Do 2,000 pushups in a day
Result: Complete ✅
I was able to check 17 things off my bucket list, easily exceeding my goal for the year.
My Goals for 2024:
Here are my goals for the coming year:
- Publish 327 new articles (on my main website)
- Publish 3 new articles (on this website)
- Publish 156 new YouTube videos (both channels)
- Create a new income stream
- Read at least 35 new books
- Travel to 2 new countries
- Travel to 4 new cities in the United States
- Attend 2 business conferences
- Complete at least 500 workouts
- Take profits
- Purchase a short-term rental
- Check at least 10 things off my bucket list
I like sharing my goals publicly to hold myself accountable, knowing that this transparency significantly boosts my chances of achieving them.
Each month on the 1st, I take time to review my progress, ensuring my goals remain top of mind.
This consistent reflection keeps me focused, motivated, and on track to accomplish everything I set out to achieve by year’s end.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for spending a few moments of your valuable time reading my 2024 Year in Review.
Hopefully, something I shared can help or inspire you in some way.
As we close the chapter on 2024 and look ahead to 2025, I’m reminded of the lessons learned, the goals achieved, and the areas where there’s still room to grow.
Simply by reading this to the end, your support means the world to me and continues to drive me forward.
Here’s to setting bigger goals, embracing new challenges, and making the upcoming year even more impactful.
Wishing you success, growth, and happiness in the year ahead. Cheers to 2025!
Written by:
Brant Reader
Brant Reader is a serial entrepreneur who runs a portfolio of websites and grew a YouTube channel to more than one million subscribers. He is passionate about health, fitness, investing, traveling, and helping others do the same.