As I reflect on the 2025 year in review, one word comes to mind: contrast.
As usual, this year wasn’t linear.
It didn’t unfold step by step.
It felt more like a roller coaster.
Moments of clarity followed by uncertainty.
Endings overlapping with beginnings.
Learning happening mostly while moving.
It wasn’t chaotic.
But it also wasn’t smooth.
And in hindsight, that’s probably what made it such a formative year.
Closing one chapter
One of the defining moments of 2025 was bringing VRdirect to an end.
Even though it was the right decision, it carried more emotional weight than I had expected. Ending something you’ve helped build isn’t just a strategic step. It’s a process of letting go, of responsibility, identity, routines, and momentum.
What surprised me most wasn’t the operational side.
It was the finality.
Once a chapter really closes, it does so quietly. And that silence takes some getting used to.
That alone would have been enough for one year.
Starting another faster than planned
Almost simultaneously, Linelia started to take shape.
Not as a carefully staged next step, but because opportunities appeared and I decided to move. What was initially meant to develop gradually turned into a running business much faster than anticipated.
There was no long pause between chapters.
No comfortable in-between phase.
No time to fully reflect before acting.
Instead, I found myself closing one door while already stepping through the next.
Looking back, this overlap shaped much of how 2025 felt: intense, dynamic, and sometimes uncomfortable – but also very real.
A year without a playbook
What stood out to me in 2025 was how often I had to make decisions without a clear reference point.
Not because I was careless or unprepared, but because there simply was no proven path to follow. Endings and beginnings overlapped. Some questions didn’t have immediate answers. And timing wasn’t always something I could fully influence.
What surprised me most wasn’t the uncertainty itself, but how quickly it became normal.
Over time, I learned to distinguish between not knowing yet and not knowing at all. And that difference matters. The first creates space for learning. The second rarely exists anyway.
At the same time, a few things helped more than I had expected.
Staying proactive, even when nothing felt urgent.
Keeping close contact with people I trust.
Allowing myself to rely on simple routines when weeks got intense.
And maybe most importantly: noticing that many of the things that matter to me didn’t change at all.
Curiosity. Honest collaboration. Depth over speed. The belief that clarity beats politics.
There was no perfect playbook for this year.
But learning while moving, adjusting along the way, and staying open to feedback turned out to be enough.
Full of gratitude
But this year wouldn’t have worked without people around me.
First and foremost, my wife and my family for patience, trust, and grounding me when thoughts and work started to overlap too much. Having that stability in the background made more of a difference than I probably say out loud.
Friends who listened, asked the right questions, or simply helped me switch off when needed. Special thanks to Sprittwoch. 😉
My network buddies and former colleagues, who reached out, shared perspectives, opened doors, or just checked in without any agenda. Those small moments of connection mattered more than they might have realized.
And everyone I had the chance to work with throughout the year for openness, trust, and honest collaboration.
What I’m carrying into 2026
I’m not closing 2025 with big resolutions or ambitious plans written in stone. But as you might know by now, a bit of process and structure still helps me a lot:
So, I’m carrying a few principles with me into the next year:
- Staying proactive without becoming hectic.
- Keeping routines light but consistent.
- Investing in relationships before I need them.
- Being visible without losing authenticity.
- Accepting uncertainty as part of the process.
- Taking time off for me to do sports and enjoy hobbies.
2025 was intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but deeply formative.
A year of letting go, starting over, and slowly growing into founder life. Not as an idea, but as something lived day by day.
With that, this year can stand as it is.
I’m grateful for what was, curious about what’s next, and ready to open the next chapter in 2026.
And of course, I’d love to stay in touch in 2026.
If you’d like to exchange ideas, reflect together, or explore potential collaboration, feel free to reach out via my contact page or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Until then, have a lovely holiday season and a great start to the new year.
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