This year, I celebrated a major birthday. Milestone birthdays have a way of prompting reflection, not just on the past year, but on the past several years. For me, I reflected on the last five. Those five years have included both rock-bottom and rock-top moments as I’ve navigated personal and business challenges against the backdrop of Covid, professional transitions, and the constant cycle of learning, success, and failure. Like you, I’ve witnessed the best and worst of human nature.
In 2024, I became even clearer about my personal and professional expectations, and more committed to holding myself accountable for the things I say I’m going to do. One shift I made was being clearer on expectations of myself and others, writing down in simple language the 'why' behind them and revisiting monthly. I found that staying rooted in purpose strengthened my follow-through. I also prioritized my health more than in the past. One thing I did, inspired by Atomic Habits, was introduce a new routine: for each cup of coffee I drink, I have to do at least 25 push-ups and 50 sit-ups (while the coffee is brewing). I’m up to more than 50 push-ups now per cup, and I feel stronger.
Isaiah 43:19 - “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
This verse speaks to renewal and God’s ability to create opportunities even in barren places. It reminds me that new beginnings are often birthed in seasons of uncertainty and transition.
This year, I completed a book that I had been working on for five years. Every year, I would tell myself, “This is the year I’ll finish it,” only to find myself starting over once again. It’s a reminder that success in one area doesn’t prevent us from feeling stuck in another. The process of finishing that book taught me that you can thrive in your career while still pursuing other goals, especially when those goals align with the current of your life’s work.
Renewal is not about simply adding more to your plate; it’s about curating the “new things” and letting go of the old. This past year, I stepped down from a few board roles and said yes to one that focuses on the future of healthcare. It’s stretching me. I didn’t start with domain expertise, so I’m learning as I go, building on the scaffolding of what already exists. Did you catch that? Renewal isn’t just about starting from scratch. Sometimes, it’s about innovating within the foundation you already have.
Like Ray Charles blending gospel with blues, the new paths we create often draw from what we already know, but with a bold twist that reflects who we are becoming. Who would have thought I would add “writer” to my resume? If you read the book carefully, or my writing at The Accidental Banker or OrvinKimbrough.com, you’ll see that it pulls in lessons and stories from that intersection. Reinvention often begins by blending our lived experiences with new opportunities, creating something original and impactful.
I love beginning again because the initial task is simple: just start. I know there are people reading this who hesitate to start anew, perhaps because last year was a high, and you don’t want to leave it behind. Or maybe you fear the lows that come with uncertainty.
This is where faith steps in. I have no idea what this year holds, but I am expectant. I trust that God’s design for this year will unfold in ways I cannot yet imagine. Transformation begins when we release the old and embrace the new.
This year, I’m focusing on growth, my own, the growth of the people I lead at the bank, my family’s growth, and the growth of those in my network. I encourage you to do the same. Just start.
As you step into the coming week, I challenge you to embrace the possibility of beginning again. Starting over isn’t about weakness, it’s about divine possibility. Each step forward, no matter how small, carries the power to shape something new and remarkable.