WrapUp2024: The Kill Switch to Happiness!
I lost it all, then found myself before it was too late!
“The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and endure much.” — William Hazlitt
For the past three years, I’ve made it a tradition to publish an end-of-year “Wrap-Up,” sharing my journey, reflections, and the lessons learned. This year, I almost skipped it. 2024 felt heavy. But then I came across Oje Ojeaga’s article on 2024 and it reminded me why I keep this tradition alive. (You can find it here.)
Oje, my mentor, adviser, and friend for the past four years, has guided me through some of the toughest moments in my entrepreneurial journey. His words reignited my resolve to share, even when the year has been so challenging.
Despite the heavy losses 2024 threw at me, I can’t break tradition now.
The Struggle for Happiness
When SentientXT launched, I envisioned it as a key player in Africa’s creative economy, built on my lifelong passion for creating transformative ventures that shift culture forward. It was my way of rising from the ashes of a past failure(Ballgecko), returning to what I love most: using creativity to change people and the world for the better.
From the start, our mission was clear: to craft work that was not only creative and effective but transformative. Yet, we quickly faced the reality of the creative agency world — where small-minded clients often limit bold ambitions. Some of my biggest regrets include seeing promising campaigns cut short or underfunded, extinguishing hours of sweat and hard thinking for reasons outside our control.
Over time, one truth became clear: creative companies thrive on flux — a constant, dynamic state of change that fuels innovation. It’s a cycle of conceiving, refining, and reimagining ideas that keeps the magic alive. Stability isn’t the goal; progress is.
The journey hasn’t been without its scars, but each challenge has deepened my understanding of the creative business.
In November 2024, my life, career, and reality as I knew them were upended. By December, everything came crashing down. Each day that followed was harder than the last.
But as I prepare to step into 2025, I find myself grateful for this disruption. It has become a turning point, teaching me invaluable lessons about alignment, partnerships, and the courage to keep building — even amid uncertainty.
Leadership Lessons
2024 was a harsh teacher, reminding me of the grace and responsibility that leadership demands.
Leadership carries a burden of proof — the need to show that your vision is right, that your approach works, and that the venture is worth every ounce of energy/input it gets.
Leadership also carries grace — the privilege to influence realities, to promote or prune, push forward or hold back.
This grace is not power; it is a responsibility that thrives on accountability. Misusing it invites setbacks.
I am deeply grateful for everyone I’ve had the opportunity to lead this year, for the moments when I led with grace, and for the lessons when I fell short. I’m equally grateful for the mentors who held me accountable, pushed me higher, and led by example calling me to higher standards.
Going forward with Joy
This year, I learned the foolishness of anchoring happiness to external factors. For four years, I tried leveraging happiness as a tool to build a thriving business. It worked to a degree, but something was missing.
Happiness is fleeting — a consequence of circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is a choice and a condition of the mind. It shapes how we experience challenges and triumphs alike. Joy is what empowers us to face obstacles, burdens, and uncertainties with hope and courage.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalms 40:2 (NIV)
As I close out 2024, I find myself leaning inward, choosing joy over and over. Joy in the face of despair. Joy in the face of obstacles. Joy in the face of burdens. Nothing but joy.
I’m stepping into 2025 with two scriptures that capture the wonder of God’s faithfulness and the promise of new beginnings:
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
and…
He has given me a new song to sing, a HYMN of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalms 40:3 (NLT)
The End of a Chapter
This marks the conclusion of my #Wrapped series. It’s been a meaningful four years, but it’s time to rest this tradition and explore something new.
2024 tested me, stretched me, and ultimately prepared me for what lies ahead. What a year!
