That's a Wrap—Happy Holidays

As we close out 2025, I wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for opening these emails. For replying with your stories. For sharing what resonates and what challenges you're facing. For being part of this community.

A Year in Numbers

This year, I reached 175,000 followers across different platforms.

To put that in perspective: I was born and raised in Vinnytsia, Ukraine—a town with a population of 350,000 people.

Which means I now have followers equal to half of my entire hometown.

That's surreal. That's humbling. That's because of you.

The Goal-Setting Ritual I Do Every Year

Every January, during the first few days of the new year, I write down my goals.

Not vague aspirations like "be healthier" or "advance my career."

Specific, measurable goals:

• If I want a new job: which company, what role, what salary

• If I want to travel: which countries or at least how many

• If I want to learn something: which skill, what level, by when

I write 30-50 small goals. Some big, most small. All specific.

Then I put the list in an envelope and hide it away.

I don't look at it again until the end of December.

This Week, I Opened the Envelope

I was convinced I'd failed. Absolutely certain.

This year was hard. I moved countries, started a new job. I went on maternity leave. Work was chaotic. Plans changed constantly. I didn’t travel as much as I wanted. I didn’t exercise as often as I wanted.

I opened the envelope, ready to tick off my one achievement: becoming a mum. I remember writing that down, so I knew I have 1 achievement for sure.

Then I started reading through the list.

And ticking boxes.

And ticking more boxes.

75% of my goals were accomplished.

I had no idea. Because I wasn't tracking them throughout the year. I was just... living. Working. Trying to survive.

But apparently, I was also making progress without even realising it.

Why Writing Goals Down Works

Here's what I've learned from doing this for 3 years:

1. Your brain works on problems in the background

When you write down "learn SQL window functions," your brain files that away. Then when you encounter a problem at work that needs window functions, something clicks. "Oh, I wanted to learn this."

You're more likely to take that tutorial, ask that question, spend 30 minutes figuring it out.

2. Small goals add up

One goal might be "read 20 books this year" (that was one of the goals I achieved). Another might be "take one online course." Another: "build one portfolio project."

None of these are life-changing individually. But 30-50 of these small wins? That's a completely different year.

3. You give yourself more credit

Without the list, I would have ended 2025 thinking I failed. That I didn't accomplish anything meaningful.

The list showed me otherwise. I learned tools I wanted to learn. I built things I wanted to build. I even hit my financial goals.

I just forgot to notice.

My Challenge to You This Holiday Season

Take 30 minutes during the holidays. Grab a notebook or open a document.

Write down 30-50 goals for 2026.

Make them specific.

Mix big and small:

• Get promoted to senior analyst

• Read one data science book

• Attend two networking events

• Take one day off per month without checking email

Don't be harsh on yourself. Don't make them all ambitious (like building a Facebook or Salesforce). Include easy wins alongside stretch goals.

Then seal them away. Put them somewhere you won't see them constantly. Don't stress about them.

Just let your brain know: these are things I'd like to accomplish.

Then revisit in December 2026.

You might surprise yourself.

For My Data People

If you're reading this, you're probably working with data in some capacity.

Whether you're:

• Just starting out

• Stuck in "Jobmageddon" applying for roles

• Grinding through messy datasets at work

• Debugging SQL queries that used to work

• Trying to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

• Building your portfolio

• Learning new tools

• Or just trying to survive another sprint

I see you. I've been there. I am there.

This work isn't easy. The job market is tough. The learning curve is steep. The data is always messier than you expect.

But you're doing it anyway. And that matters.

My wish for you in 2026:

I hope you have exciting data projects. The kind where you actually get to solve interesting problems, not just clean the same messy data every week.

I hope you find (or build) a portfolio you're proud of.

I hope you land the job you want—or discover the one you didn't know you needed.

I hope you learn to trust your instincts when the numbers don't make sense.

I hope you remember that communication skills matter more than knowing every tool.

And I hope you give yourself credit for what you accomplish, even when it feels like you're just keeping up.

Thank You

Thank you for being here. For reading. For engaging. For sharing your stories.

This newsletter exists because you show up every week.

Here's to 2026—may it be full of clean data, answered questions, and goals you didn't even know you could achieve.

Happy holidays.

Keep pushing 💪,

Karina

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