Merry Christmas and a look back at 2024
Merry Christmas!
I’m taking a few moments out from our family celebration to write to you — it’s a special one for us this year.
For as long as I can remember, we’ve celebrated the holidays at home, surrounded by our children and parents. But this year has brought big changes. Over the past year, both Thelma and I have lost our parents, while our daughter Amy got married and started life in her own home.
So, for the first time, we’re celebrating Christmas at her house, alongside our son, his wife, and our delightful two-year-old granddaughter, Eve.
It’s a momentous shift — Thelma and I have now stepped into the role of the eldest generation. And instead of hosting, we’re the guests! It’s the first Christmas in decades where we haven’t had to plan a menu or spend days cooking.
It feels strange, of course, but there’s something beautiful about seeing family traditions pass to the next generation.
This experience has reminded me that life is always evolving, whether we’re ready for it or not. Change — both joyful and bittersweet — is inevitable.
As business owners, we know this better than most.
Markets shift, technologies advance, and unexpected events often force us to adapt. As I mentioned in my last email, the world feels particularly volatile right now, and this uncertainty will likely impact all of us in 2025.
The same applies to our roles within our businesses. As our companies grow, our responsibilities evolve, too — mine certainly have over the past few years.
As we step into the new year, I encourage you to embrace change and work with it, not against it — just as we’ve adjusted to our evolving family traditions chez Mumford.
The question isn’t if change will come, but how we’ll respond. The more agile we are, the stronger our businesses will become.
I’ll write more about planning for change in January — keep an eye out for those emails!
Before we welcome 2025, I wanted to share some of the most popular content we published this year. These blogs tackled some of the biggest financial management challenges and opportunities for business owners:
- Numbers don’t lie, but… – Numbers tell a story, but not always the whole truth. This blog explores why some of the metrics you rely on may not be as meaningful as you think. [Read it here.]
- A waste of your time – A financial lesson from Seth Godin, one of the most insightful marketers and business thinkers. [Read it here.]
- Lessons from the $25 million deep fake scam – Too many businesses underestimate this growing risk. Don’t be one of them. [Read more here.]
- From father to business owner: A journey of letting go – Inspired by my daughter Amy’s wedding, this personal piece ties back to my thoughts above on change and transition. [Read more here.]
- How to see into your financial future – Cash flow can feel like a dark art. So, can you really forecast your finances? [Read the piece here.]
- Big corporations use scenario planning – so should you – Learn how scenario planning can transform your financial strategy. [Find out why here.]
- Make your bank manager your best friend – If you haven’t spoken to them recently, here’s why you should reach out to them soon. [Read the piece here.]
If you have a quieter moment over the holidays, I hope you’ll revisit these. They’re packed with insights that will remain just as relevant in the year ahead!
Finally, thank you for being one of my readers this year. I hope you’ve found a few nuggets that have helped your business in a tangible way — or at least sparked some new ways of thinking about how to build a sustainable, profitable company that you love.
I’m always grateful for your thoughts and feedback, so please don’t hesitate to write back. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or ideas for future topics, just hit reply and let me know. I love hearing from you!
Wishing you a joyous Christmas, a peaceful holiday season, and a prosperous New Year.
Yours,
Garry
