Lots of us use the dawn of a new year as an opportunity to commit to self improvement, whether that's going to the gym, eating healthier or giving up smoking or alcohol.
Sifted asked founders and VCs about their new year’s resolutions as 2023 comes to a close.
Mixing up meetings
Meetings — their frequency, usefulness and scope — remain a point of contention for founders and VCs. The consensus? We need fewer of them, and not only because so many of them could just as easily have been an email.
“You have to be somewhat selfish with your own work time,” says Ian McLennan, partner at Triple Point. “My resolution is to try and cut the meetings out which aren’t mission-critical to either my objectives or those of my team.”
And that goes for events too, says Mike Smeed, managing director at InMotion Ventures.
"One of my resolutions is to be more intentional around the events I attend. In our industry, there’s a temptation to be at a conference, showcase, networking evening or dinner almost every day of the year,” he says.
“By being stricter with myself and more honest about where I’m creating value, I hope to be more present — whilst on the road, in the office with the team and back home with my family."
For Beth Carter, angel investor and head of growth at recruitment platform Flexa, the solution is being ruthless about when she is available. Her resolution is no meetings before 10:30am.
“Starting my day with meetings means I'm usually leaving the focused work until I'm tired at the end of the day, which doesn't work for me,” she says.
“Plus, I'm in better form once my brain has warmed up a bit!"
Work-life balance
Even aside from meetings, VCs and founders are putting down boundaries ahead of the new year.
"My personal goal for 2024 is to make sure to take some time away from work and focus on spending more time with my family,” says Priya Oberoi, founding general partner of Goddess Gaia Ventures. This balance is crucial, she says, in staving off burnout.
And while many choose to commit to giving up — or at least, cutting down — on caffeine in the new year, Sophie McGregor, cofounder of plant-based food startup Griddle, plans to up her intake.
To be fair, there is an ulterior motive.
“I too often get stuck behind the desk sorting out operations or playing around on Excel — so next year, my goal is to have at least one coffee meeting a week with someone new or in my network,” she says. She also plans to run two ultra-marathons and win a place on the podium.
Valentina Milanova, founder of organic CBD tampon company Daye, is planning to replace coffee with regular plunges into an ice bath.
“It keeps me going and awake better than coffee,” she tells Sifted.
Healthy body, healthy mind
Job Rietbergen, founder at developer experience platform Alphadoc, is going big in his plans for a healthy 2024.
He plans to take part in a 1,300km bike race, take up kite-surfing and learn how to free dive.
“It’s all about striking a balance: namely between sitting behind a computer and real-life intense challenges,” he says.
Dean Sadler, CEO of recruitment software provider Tribepad, is planning to take up martial arts again. He also wants to build a daily sauna session into his routine.
“I like morning saunas on days when I don’t need to be at an early meeting or in the office, and making time for that is something I’ll definitely be doing in 2024,” he says.
Hywel Carver, CEO and cofounder of developer platform Skiller Whale, is taking a different approach to the traditional resolution, instead setting himself a different goal each month.
January will be focused on doing a seven-minute workout at least twice a week.
“I already do regular running and I'm hoping this becomes a bit of strength-based exercise I can do without venturing into the cold,” he says.
Carver is also going to make some time for creative pursuits.
“The half-built eight-bit computer on my desk is staring at me, and the nearly complete spice rack in the shed is calling my name,” he says.
Date night
Between running a startup together and parenting three children, Attila and Zsuzsa Kecsmar, cofounders of loyalty programme management platform Antavo, have little time available for date night. That is something they want to change in 2024.
“Our days are often about working hard and family hard,” they say. Next year will therefore be the year of the date night.
Others want to work on their professional relationships. Patrick Stäuble, founder and CEO at Teylor, and his CCO Andre Cordesmeyer are running the Zurich Marathon together.
Marathons, quality time and extreme sports are all noble pursuits — but sometimes, simple is best.
Michael Stewart, cofounder and head of marketing at shared ebike service Forest, has big dreams of getting the company’s new brand recognised by consumer, but has just one personal goal on the list: to learn how to do a backflip.
Clear, concise and easily measurable, it’s as good a goal as any.
