Reflections and Resolutions for the New Year
TL;DR: In 2023, we faced challenges in finding a groundbreaking idea for sustainable charitable support but learned valuable lessons. The new year brings a resolution to explore 100 fresh ideas, embracing failure as a step forward. Reflecting on impactful moments, we worked to restore sight to children and aided babies with congenital heart issues. Gratitude fuels our commitment to meaningful projects, looking forward to another year of doing good together.
Reflective Journey: 2023 brought highs and lows, with a challenging period in mid-year as we sought innovative ways for sustainable charitable support.
Valuable Learning: Despite efforts, the search for a 10x idea fell short, emphasizing the importance of the post "Doing More (Good) with Less" and instigating a bounce-back in team morale.
Clear Resolution: The focus for the new year is on trying 100 new ideas, with an acceptance of failure as a crucial part of the journey.
Measurable Impact: A commitment to delivering measurable impact in 2023 led us to initiatives like restoring sight to children and aiding babies with congenital heart issues.
Gratitude and Commitment: Rooted in gratitude, the resolution echoes a commitment to meaningful projects, anticipating another year of impactful contributions to the greater good.
As we kick off the new year, let's take a moment to reflect on the highs and lows of the past year and set our resolutions for the coming one.
In the journey of 2023, we encountered both triumphs and challenges. The toughest moment came around June when we dedicated considerable time and effort to exploring over 10 different ideas. Our aim was ambitious — to find an innovative, impactful way to help charitable projects establish a sustainable supporter base. Unfortunately, none of the ideas made a significant impact, hovering around a mere 1% to 2% improvement. It was a tough pill to swallow. Despite our initial ambition, we found ourselves on a hill when we aspired for the moon.
The team went through a challenging period, grappling with low morale, but it was a valuable learning experience. The post "Doing More (Good) with Less" served as a timely reminder to us.
As we step into this new year, our resolution is clear — embark on the journey of trying out 100 new ideas to enhance the giving experience for donors, fundraisers, and beneficiaries. The key to achieving this lies in embracing failure — fail early, fail fast, and fail forward.
What fuels our perseverance is the knowledge that we are making a difference. In 2023, we are committed to delivering measurable impact. Our mission took us on a path to restore the gift of sight to children facing cataract or needing cornea surgery. Working alongside champions like Dr. Leo and Catherine, who passionately dedicated themselves to this cause, has been truly inspiring.
Another source of pride is our partnerships with hospitals across the region, ensuring babies born with congenital heart issues receive life-saving surgery to fix the hole in their hearts. Carmen in the Philippines and Dr Hartini in Malaysia played instrumental roles, connecting us with the right hospitals and deepening our understanding of the issue.
As we dive into this year, our resolution remains rooted in gratitude — grateful for the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that contribute to the greater good. Here's to another year of doing good together. Happy New Year to everyone!