Your Career Year in Review: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next

angelle50
Dec 8, 2025
2 min read

It’s that time of year. Businesses are closing their books, CEOs are reviewing performance, and strategic plans for the new year are being mapped out. But have you done the same for your career?

Treat your career like a business—you are the CEO, and your time, energy, and skills are the assets. Reflecting on the past year with intention can give you clarity, momentum, and a plan to hit the ground running in the new year. Here’s how to do it.

1. Celebrate Wins – “What Worked”

Companies track wins so they can replicate and scale them. You should do the same for your career. Take a moment to acknowledge what went well this year.

Ask yourself:

Which projects or achievements made me proud?
Which added the most value?
What new skills, knowledge, or experiences did I gain?
Where did I stretch myself?
Which connections or relationships positively impacted my career growth?

Think of it as your personal career performance dashboard—highlighting wins big and small. Even small wins matter here, because they’re still part of the next level of growth.

2. Identify Lessons – “What Didn’t Work”

Just like businesses review which strategies underperformed, it’s important to assess what didn’t work in your career this year. This isn’t about blame or regret—it’s about learning and course-correcting.

Reflection prompts:

Which goals, strategies, or habits didn’t produce the results I wanted?
Where did I get stuck, and why?
What patterns or behaviors should I leave behind next year?

Frame setbacks as lessons for the next “fiscal year” of your career. Every misstep is data to be analyzed—you just need to interpret it to make smarter moves next year.

3. Plan for Growth – “What’s Next”

CEOs use year-end insights to plan their next moves—allocating resources, setting priorities, and defining metrics for success. You can do the same for your career.

Look at this as building the Product Roadmap for your professional goals.

Ask yourself:

What skills or experiences will give me the highest return on my career next year?
Are there specific skills I need to develop to achieve my goal?
What are the latest developments in the market?
How will I expand my network, visibility, and influence in my field?

Align it with your strengths, values, and market opportunities so your next moves aren’t random—they’re designed.

4. Bonus Reflection Exercises

Journal prompts: Write down your wins, lessons, and goals for the next year.
Ask your “board of advisors”: Mentors, colleagues, or trusted peers can provide perspective on what worked and where to focus.
Conduct a personal SWOT analysis: Identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats—just like a company would.
Celebrate small wins: Don’t wait for the “big moment.” Recognize progress along the way.

5. Conclusion – Treat Your Career Like a Business

Your career deserves the same attention and strategy that a CEO gives their business. Reflection + Strategy = Growth. As you close out this year, take time to review, celebrate, and plan.

And if you want help turning reflection into results, that’s where a structured approach like the Career as a Service (CaaS) Offer Accelerator comes in. Together, we can map your wins, learn from setbacks, and design your next career year so it’s purposeful, visible, and unstoppable.