My 2024 (AI Assisted) Round up

Every year for about a decade years I have written an annual review.

I used to do them for my global fitness business, and then started doing them for my business consulting business. But as I took on a fulltime role in the spring this year, I wondered if I would write one at all for 2024.

I am still running my speaking and consulting business alongside my job.  My work as an Innovation Director is flexible, and I have some legacy clients that I do not want to just drop…plus the variety keeps me engaged.  Almost every full time job I have ever done, I have done so alongside other creative projects, be that writing, speaking, or working as a freelance artist.

The ultimate portfolio career.

This year I have decided to do my review with a twist, writing it in collaboration with ChatGPT who probably knows me just as well as anyone else right now.

With the prompt “Help me write a Spotify themed round up of my year”…it gave me enough inspiration to get started and get something out.

Where these reviews have taken me days to write in years gone by, this one took me just an hour…and was fun too. 

PS…and YES the image above is ChatGPT created, you’d never know right?

🎧 2024: The Playlist of My Year 🎧

This year has felt like a symphony of innovation, growth, and connection—a year where the beats of personal and professional transformation harmonized beautifully. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, and so behind all the gloss and hype of “I’ve had my best year in business EVER” you will find an army of business owners, founders and changemakers riding the waves of highs and lows, building resilience and doing the best they can.

If I was to pick an anthem for this year it would be Kanye Wests “Stronger” a song about bouncing back from challenges and coming out stronger on the other side. What would yours be???

Here’s a look back at the soundtrack of my 2024:

Top Hits 🎤

  • “Innovation in Action”: Joining Oxford Innovation Space as Innovation Director marked a pivotal moment this year. Leading the charge in fostering creativity and problem-solving at a local level once again has been nothing short of inspiring…and a real reminder that I am bloody good at what I do.
  • “Scaling Impact”: Supporting over 100 SMEs with my Business Model on a Page process was a testament to the power of simplicity in creating big results. Each success story added another layer to my belief in structured innovation.
  • “The Solopreneur Dashboard”: (My Best Selling Digital Product) Developing this system back in 2020 was like composing a chart-topping anthem for clarity and action, which this year has helped hundreds of solopreneurs manage their businesses with confidence and ease.

Breakthrough Tracks 🌟

  • “What’s the Big Idea?”: Debuting my new keynote at The HR Indie Conference was a highlight. Testing this fresh perspective on creativity felt both exhilarating and affirming.
  • “Ideas Fest and 100 Selfies”. Attending the UK’s best event for entrepreneurs which involved all of my fav things was a total highlight, bumping into old friends and making many more….the challenge to get 100 selfies across the 2 days was fun.
  • “From Local to Global”: Helping to shape Broxbourne Enterprise Centres in their inaugural year reminded me of my earlier work on regeneration for London 2012—proof that foundational work can set the stage for something remarkable.

Personal Anthems 🎶

  • “Strong Foundations”: Moving home and seeing Rose transition successfully to secondary school were significant personal wins. Returning to financial security and prioritizing health with nearly 2 stone lost, I’ve never felt stronger.
  • “Abundance Abroad”: Taking a boujee trip to Palma with my sisters in April, and a holiday in Turkey with Rose in October reminded me of the importance of celebrating life’s luxuries. A short break to see a client in Cornwall in the summer was epic too.
  • “It’s Okay to Lean In”: Opening myself up to help from friends and peers was transformative. From a tough start in Madeira with my mastermind buddies, where there were lots of tears, to celebrating BIG wins later in the year, the power of community shone through.
  • “We are family” some amazing high moments this year, seeing my brother marry his long term partner of 21 years, and my cousin also get married…and the usual sibling shenanigans with my sister Jennie.

Collaborations and Crescendos 🎧

  • “Focus on Collaboration”: Attending the launch of Amy Rowlinson’s Focus on Why felt deeply rewarding, knowing I played a part in shaping her journey.
  • “The Power of Ubuntu”. Supporting my friend and client Stacy Moore as she scales her Ubuntu Network…and being booked to open the years proceedings at an event in January 2025
  • “Tech Connections”: Partnering with Google and stepping into the world of angel investing and larger tech companies expanded my horizons. Running a mastermind with Dutch entrepreneurs brought international work back into my orbit—a reminder of the abundant possibilities that arise when work meets pleasure.
Low Moments 💩
  • Having to come to terms with the fact I have been an “Excel Avoider” most of my life, but am slowly making peace with the software (have only cried once) now that I use it daily
  • Getting frustrated at the ADHD diagnosis process in the UK...which is particularly difficult if you have….you guessed ADHD
  • My dear, dear friend of more than 40 years passing away and a reminder to try and always find the joy in life

Lessons Learned 🎓

  • “Back Yourself”: Embracing my natural ability as an ideator gave me the confidence to innovate boldly.
  • “STEM Is the Future”: Diving into the world of science, AI, and tech reminded me that my value isn’t in understanding every detail but in helping founders overcome common business challenges.
  • “Empower Others”: Realigning my work to focus on upskilling changemakers and remembering that impact doesn’t always require me at the coal face.

By the Numbers 📊

  • 30+ articles published
  • Over 100 SMEs impacted through my endevours.
  • £100K+ in combined earned revenue, with additional benefits and perks (who knows maybe one day that dreaded bounce back loan will be paid off)
  • 7 Dutch entrepreneurs supported through my international mastermind.
  • 44 books read or listened to, Tilda is Visible, Nexus, Rebel Ideas making the top 3

On Repeat 🔁

  • Authenticity, fairness, and empowerment were the themes of the year. Whether it was addressing social mobility with a local charity or streamlining my consulting offerings, staying true to these values shaped every decision.
  • My strengths of Ideation, Activation, Futurist, Significance and Influence being showcased over and over again
  • AI became a game changer, not just for marketing but for overcoming executive functioning challenges tied to ADHD and perimenopause.
  • Fun an games with my STEM obsessed daughter who excelled in her recent Bebras computer science test (coming in the top 25% of the country), and received a number of awards in her first term at secondary

Looking Ahead 🔮

2025 is all about turning up the volume.  I have a book I am working on. I’m relaunching my speaking career, aiming to reclaim the international stage as a thought leader in creativity, innovation, and social mobility. Another key focus is bringing in the right kind of support—building a team that enables me to scale without sacrificing balance. Continuing to excel in my role at Oxford Innovation, putting Broxbourne Enterprise Centres and their customers on the map, as a region of innovation, creativity and hope for the future of entrepreneurship in the region. 

As always, I’d like to say a few thank yous (and I know this is NOT the Oscars). I have an incredible network of business buddies, peers and friends who have helped me navigate the harder times in my entrepreneurial journey. This year for the first time in more than a decade I also have work colleagues which is fabulous, and a network of delivery partners and stakeholders and customers that I grow ever fonder of. 

Here’s to creating the next great playlist in 2025. What’s been the soundtrack of your year?

 
 

Julie Creffield is an expert on Innovation, Ideas and Entrepreneurship. A business strategist with almost 30 years of experience, having worked with thousands of clients from large multinationals to micro-businessess and everything in between. She is known as The BIG Ideas Lady helping everyone from global brands and local leaders to make impactful change through thinking differently, and taking inspired action. She is a keynote speaker, author and consultant, and works as an innovation director for Oxford Innovation Space with ambitious SME’s across two sites in Hertfordshire/London where she is based. 

need a strategist to help you create your plan for 2025? and maybe even get some early results?

I help ambitious small business owners to get clarity on their business model, confidence in their action plan, so that they take fearless consistent (ish) action, that builds credibility and turns on the taps of cashflow.

We start with getting all of your ideas out of your head and into a cohesive brand and business model on a page…I mean if you can’t sum up what you are doing in one clear visual, my guess is you are REALLY making it hard for yourself.

Book a call