The question your year-end review won’t ask

Passionados, I have some brilliant news!!!

I just opened my Spotify Wrapped and apparently, my musical age is ten years younger than my actual age!! Hilarious!! 🤣

"Wrapped" is one of my fave moments of the year (and yes, I know it's a marketing thing but, I'm here for it!). It is genius because it helps us to celebrate what we've loved in the year. 

We can use the same idea in our work lives.

I'm not talking about the lists of accomplishments (which I know you have, rockstar!) or marveling how you're still standing after a challenging year (I'm sorry if so..)

It's deeper than that; it's more about recognizing the moments, the activities this year that truly lit you up, perhaps in ways you didn't expect.

The work you enjoyed this year may not look important to anyone else. It may not be the #1 line item on your job description.

You might have stepped up, been handed something unexpected, or found yourself using strengths that you last saw in your 20s. You might even have enjoyed it more than you expected...;)

This is why reflection is so important.

(And, I know you may be thinking: Laura, really? You want me to add another thing to my "year end" list?!...)

YES, I DO!! And, here's why:

The clearer and more confident you are about the type of work you love, the easier it is to find it and weave it into your life.

Having this clarity equips you to have better conversations with your leader, so that you get support, encouragement and buy-in for how you want to shape your work in 2026.
 

It's you giving yourself some power back.

So, if you're up for it, here is your reflection exercise:

Ask yourself:

What work moment did you truly enjoy this year? 

In Born to Buzz, I share a story about when I realized I'd laughed more in a single meeting than I had in months, back in a corporate job that was testing me in many (bad) ways. 

It wasn't just the people in the room who made me belly laugh, it was that I was experiencing the type of creative collaboration that I had truly missed. 

So, what is your work moment from 2025? It doesn't need to be belly-laugh related! Try to set aside the any challenges for a minute, and think back over the year to find it...it may be hiding...

How did it feel?

When I speak with audiences and lead team workshops, one of my fave exercises is when we define how passion feels to them. They find one word – yes, just one – for that feeling that only they can describe.

(My word for passion is “fizzy” because that’s what "passion" feels like for me.)

Think about the moment above. How did it make you feel? What word would you use to describe it? (And don't worry if it's a made-up word – it just needs to matter to you.)

How did you help?

Yep, your job description outlines the impact your organization wants you to make. I'd love for you also to consider how you HELPED. Did you bring yourtalents and strengths to work in a different way this year?

How did that go, how did it feel? WHO did you help? All of this gives you clearer language for conversations with your leader, now or in the new year. It helps you talk about not just what you can do, but what you actually want to do, and the contribution that work enables you to make.

Focus on what you love, and let's find ways for you to do MORE of it in 2026!

P.S. Born to Buzz, my bestselling book, has loads of exercises to help you think through what you love. If you haven't snagged your copy yet, here's a link to find it on Amazon, and here's one if you prefer the indie route!

Laura

Founder, Passion Collective