Closing Out 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025: A New Year, New Goals

As 2024 draws to a close, I have been taking the time to reflect on all that I have done this past year. It has certainly been a big one for me, opening my brand new, cold start practice, Look New Canaan. It has been an incredible journey that I have been honored to share with the Independent Strong community, and I look forward to sharing more in the new year.

As a private practice-owning optometrist, every year seems to bring its own unique challenges, but this one has had its fair share of twists. Between the rising costs of doing business, navigating staffing changes, and keeping up with evolving patient needs, 2024 was anything but predictable. But, despite the ups and downs, I’m walking away from this year with a sense of gratitude and excitement for what’s to come.

Looking back, 2024 was a year of learning. It reminded me just how important flexibility is in this business — whether it was shifting our services to meet patient demand, adopting new technology to streamline operations, or finding new ways to connect with patients. It wasn’t always easy, but each challenge was a chance to grow. We introduced some exciting new services, from advanced diagnostics to expanding our eyewear offerings, and it was rewarding to see how these additions made a difference for our patients.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m feeling optimistic. The start of a new year always brings that refreshing sense of possibility. For me, it’s about refining the things that worked in 2024 and being open to new opportunities — whether that’s expanding our team, improving patient experiences, or continuing to invest in technology that keeps us ahead of the curve. I have already starting reaching out to my accountability partners to set our goals for 2025, and I am hard at work planning what the second year of Look New Canaan will look like.  

It’s going to be a year of intentional growth, and I’m ready for it. Here’s to closing out 2024 with gratitude and gearing up for an even better 2025!

Yours in success,
Jennifer L. Stewart, OD