Lessons from 2024 to Drive Success in 2025

By John Hayes

At the end of last year, I wrote a blog about being curious and not judgmental. It drew focus to the business world but certainly had merit in our personal lives. In 2024, we all faced moments where curiosity and judgment clashed leading up to November 5th. Boy, was it difficult not to judge without being curious and asking questions?

As I reflect upon this past year, a word I often hear in the sports world is “resilience.” Generally, the term is used in context with a player or team that continuously faces adversity but continues to fight to reach its goals set at the beginning of a season. For me, it was my New York Mets, who, on June 1st, were arguably the worst team in baseball but ended the season as potentially the best example of resiliency by reaching the NL Championship Series and just missing out on a trip to the World Series. #LGM

In my business life, specifically at ALTA IT Services, the end of 2024 provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges my team and I have faced. I’ve worked in the staffing industry, primarily IT, since 1998. During the twenty-plus years, there have been many good years and cyclical downturns occurring every seven years or so. We had the dot com bust in ’01, the housing crisis in ’08, the stock market sell-off in ’15, and the recovery from a global pandemic during the past two years.  By far, the past 27 months, including Q4 2022, have been the most disruptive and trying of me, and those that work at ALTA.

This current downcycle has tested our spirit and resolve as we worked to overcome political divisiveness, economic uncertainty, rapid technological shifts, and a job market unlike anything we’ve seen in the most recent twenty-five years. It’s been difficult to remain optimistic and lead a group of people through a period where we’ve faced budget constraints with customers and mass layoffs from our competition. Yet, through these trials, I’ve seen incredible displays of adaptability, innovation, and perseverance, which will carry over to 2025 and enable our future success.

Despite the challenges, I’ve noticed my team working harder and differently than we have in the past. Some of the changes demonstrated are:

1. Strategic Business Development: Hearing the word “No” repeatedly can be a deterrent to prospective business developers. Our team pushed forward and engaged in more meetings in 2024 than in the past.
2. Leveraging Technology: We embraced tools to streamline recruitment, from AI-driven applicant tracking systems that matched candidates more effectively with job opportunities.
3. Strengthening Client Relationships: We prioritized building deeper partnerships with clients, understanding their unique needs, and working on more efficient ways to service them in the future

As we look ahead to 2025, the lessons of resilience from this year will serve as a foundation for growth. Here are two key takeaways:

1. Embrace Change: The only constant in the IT staffing industry is change. It’s why I love the industry! By staying agile and open to new approaches, we can continue to navigate the ups and downs of a rollercoaster-like industry.
2. Cultivate Collaboration: Resilience is not built in isolation. By fostering strong networks—within teams, across organizations, and with clients—we can collectively overcome challenges and achieve success. Think ONE ALTA!

So, as I think about the word Resilience, it’s about more than bouncing back; it’s about moving forward with purpose and determination. As we close out 2024, let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned. The challenges we’ve faced have made us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Let’s carry this spirit of resilience into 2025, ready to tackle new challenges and seize new possibilities. Together, we can recapture the positivity and accolades of the past and make it a year of growth and success. Let’s Go!