2024 in Review

December has arrived, and with it comes the annual tradition of looking back on the year like a Netflix series I’m not entirely sure I’d recommend. 2024, you’ve been a lot. A wild ride. A fever dream. And, truth be told, this year is ending with a solid dose of drama—and not the fun, movie-worthy kind. No, this is the kind of drama that leaves you questioning all your life choices while eating snacks straight from the bag.

Let’s start with work. Spoiler alert: it’s not great. There’s something uniquely disheartening about being in a job that makes you feel like you’re running in circles with no finish line in sight. I’ve always been someone who knows their worth and doesn’t need a constant stream of gold stars. But when you try to lead, raise a concern, or—heaven forbid—sound the alarm, only to get shut down? That’s where the frustration kicks in.

The cherry on top? Being told, “It’s my company, my risk, my liability. Just do it.” Cool. Got it. But then why ask for feedback at all? Is this a game? A test? A misguided attempt to make people feel included while making it abundantly clear that nothing they say actually matters? If the answer is “just do it,” then fine. I’ll do it. But the part of me that genuinely wants to do things the right way—the part that values planning, collaboration, and logic—feels like it’s slowly suffocating. Why are we doing things so recklessly? Why are we not involving others? Is it arrogance? Fear of dissent? A mix of both? Who knows.

And then there’s the corporate nonsense around diversity and inclusion. Let’s be real—it’s all just for show. The buzzwords, the slogans, the performative initiatives? Horseshit. Most leaders don’t want diverse ideas; they want compliance. They want agreement dressed up as collaboration. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if they just said it outright? At least then the rest of us could stop pretending this is anything other than a charade.

All of this has me questioning what I’ve been doing with my time. Why waste energy trying to make sense of leaders who claim to value collaboration but don’t? Why keep pushing for logic and strategy when it’s clear no one else is interested? It’s maddening, really. And maybe a little funny in a tragic, sitcom kind of way.

Here’s the thing: life could be so much simpler if people were honest about their intentions. If someone wants to be a dictator, just say it. Own it. Spare us all the pretense of “collaboration” and “teamwork” when what you really want is to call the shots without interference. There’s something oddly respectable about straightforward arrogance. It’s the faux humility that’s exhausting.

So, as 2024 wraps up, I find myself in a strange place—equal parts jaded and introspective. Work has been a mess, but maybe it’s taught me something. Maybe it’s time to focus less on fixing systems that don’t want to be fixed and more on finding spaces where integrity and competence actually matter. Or maybe it’s just time for a long nap.

Here’s to hoping 2025 brings a little more clarity, a lot less nonsense, and leaders who can cut the crap. And if not? At least there’s wine. Cheers to surviving another year. 🥂