As I sat down at my desk one chilly December evening, the soft glow of the lamp casting long shadows across the room, I felt a familiar sense of anticipation.

The year had been a whirlwind—full of challenges, successes, and moments of growth. With a hot cup of tea in hand and my notebook open, I began my annual ritual: asking myself five simple questions to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next.

This isn’t just a routine exercise for me. It’s a way to integrate the learnings from 2024 into my 2025. Over the years, these five questions have become my compass—guiding me to reset, refocus, and make intentional choices about where I spend my time and energy.

Let me walk you through these questions, along with some personal reflections from this year. Perhaps they can help you find clarity as well.

1. What do I want to stop?

The first question forces me to confront habits or commitments that no longer serve my goals. It’s about saying goodbye to things that, while once useful, have become distractions.

For me, it’s saying yes to distracting requests. Whether it’s a side project that doesn’t align with my core focus or ad hoc tasks that interrupt my flow, I’ve realized the power of saying no. Stopping these has helped me reclaim valuable time.

Last year, I realized I was spending too much time micromanaging certain aspects of my business. It wasn’t easy to let go. But once I did, I noticed something interesting: my team stepped up, and I had more bandwidth to focus on strategic priorities.

Ask yourself: What habits, projects, or commitments no longer serve your purpose?

2. What do I want less of?

Not everything needs to be stopped entirely—sometimes, it’s about scaling back.

This year, I realized I wanted less one-on-one coaching. While I love 1:1 coaching, I found that I can only offer so many sessions, which limits my time and the impact I can make on others. In 2025, I will reduce the number of 1:1 coaching sessions I offer and create more space for other forms of transformation, like mastermind groups, training programs, and leadership roundtables.

Take meetings, for example. If you’re in tech or engineering, you know how quickly calendars can fill up with endless meetings. This year, I consciously try to reduce the number of meetings I attend. Instead, I will implement clearer communication channels and empower my team to make more decisions without me.

The result? Fewer interruptions, more deep work, and better outcomes.

Ask yourself: What distractions, lids, or energy-draining activities can you remove?

3. What do I want to keep?

Amidst all the change, it’s easy to overlook what’s already working well. This question helps me identify what’s worth holding on to.

For me, it’s my time with my family. No matter how busy things get, that time is sacred. It keeps me grounded and reminds me of why I do what I do.

In 2024, one-on-one meetings with key team members have always been valuable. They foster trust, alignment, and open communication. Despite the temptation to scale back on these in favor of efficiency, I decided to keep them. And I’m glad I did—those conversations often sparked ideas and insights I wouldn’t have gained otherwise.

Ask yourself: What relationships, practices, or routines bring you joy, growth, or fulfillment?

4. What do I want more of?

This is where things get exciting. It’s about identifying what energizes you and finding ways to do more of it.

For me, it’s developing tools and resources for leaders. Creating frameworks, cheat sheets, and guides not only adds value to others but also fuels my creativity. I plan to dedicate more time to this in 2025.

Last year, I wanted more time for strategic thinking. So, I blocked out ‘no-meeting’ days on my calendar and protected those blocks fiercely. The impact was immediate. I found myself more creative, more focused, and better able to tackle complex challenges.

Ask yourself: What pursuits energize you, challenge you, or move you closer to your goals?

5. What do I want to start?

The final question invites bold moves. It’s about starting something new—something you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t yet.

For me, it’s launching a Leadership Conversations LinkedIn Live Show. It’s an idea I’ve been sitting on for a while, and 2025 feels like the right time to bring it to life. Starting something new always comes with uncertainty, but that’s where growth happens.

Another project I work on is launching a leadership roundtable. I had been thinking about it for months, but something always held me back—time, uncertainty, or simply fear of failure. This time, I decided to go for it. And while it will not be perfect, it will certainly be one of the most rewarding experiences of the year.

Ask yourself: What bold steps, experiments, or ideas have you been putting off that could make a big difference?

These five questions might seem simple, but they hold the power to bring focus and clarity to your life and leadership. Whether you’re leading a team, managing projects, or simply aiming to become a better version of yourself, they can help you reflect and reset.

Here’s my suggestion: set aside an hour this week, find a quiet spot, and reflect on these questions. Write down your answers. Don’t overthink it—just be honest with yourself.

And if you’re open to it, share one of your answers with someone you trust. Even better, start a conversation with your team about what they want to stop, keep, or start in the coming year. You might be surprised by the insights and ideas that emerge.

Leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. These questions have helped me get clear on where I’m headed and how I want to grow. I hope they can do the same for you.

So, as 2024 winds down and 2025 begins to unfold, take a moment to pause, reflect, and reset.

What will you stop, keep, or start?

Kindly,

Florin

Bridging Leadership Gaps