A Tradition of Naming the New Year

Like many people, I enjoy a good tradition. Whether it’s a familiar tradition like a family vacation or nightly family dinners, one of our favorites is naming the new year.

The New Year Name is chosen before the year begins and reflects the important plans, challenges, and opportunities ahead. We typically use a simple format: action + animal. This has led to some memorable names over the years:

• 2019 – Riding Tiger
• 2020 – Running Bear
• 2021 – Soaring Eagle
• 2022 – Hanging Man
• 2023 – Hungry Hummingbird
• 2024 – Bucking Bull
• 2025 – Screeching Hawk

The Value of a Name

In my experience, this tradition has been inspirational, accurate, and at times, even foreboding. For example, 2023’s “Hungry Hummingbird” was incredibly accurate for the volatile housing markets and the unexpected but awesome rebound of the stock markets. Hummingbirds are fiercely protective of their small territories and need to constantly feed to survive, much like entrepreneurs had to stay nimble and seize every opportunity in the market.

For us as entrepreneurs and business owners, it’s important to work in our business as well as work on our business. The New Year’s name helps us associate an idea that is larger than any one person, while at the same time allowing us to focus 100% on the work at hand.

Our name for 2024, “Bucking Bull,” was a year of energy, enthusiasm, and competition. Much like riding a bucking bull, smart businesses had to navigate an uncertain economy and avoid getting dragged into uncontrolled situations. It was more important than ever to stay enthusiastic and align your journey with your competitive advantages.

This brings us to our name for the coming year: 2025’s “Screeching Hawk.”

Embracing the “Screeching Hawk”

A hawk is a powerful predator known for its patience and keen eyesight. It soars above the landscape, surveying its surroundings with a clarity and perspective that few others possess. Its screech is a sharp, confident sound—a declaration of its presence and a warning to others.

The “Screeching Hawk” will be a year of strategic planning and decisive action. We anticipate a year where a broad perspective will be key to spotting opportunities from a distance. The most successful businesses will be the ones that have a clear vision and the confidence to act quickly and boldly when the time is right.

For many, this may sound like a year of challenges, but for those of us who appreciate tradition, we see it as a year of clarity and purpose. We wish you a happy and safe New Year, and we extend our best wishes for success in 2025.

Info@mrarrachecpa.com