Are You Underestimating What You Achieved This Year? Time For a Fun Year-End Review for High Achievers.
- Maya Gudka
- Dec 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Here's a fun method that will give you a more accurate picture of what you’ve achieved this year.
All year, I've been keeping a Ta-Da list in my Apple Notes...
At the end of each month, I spend 5–10 minutes scrolling through my calendar and notes, recording what actually happened, small and large — not what I planned, but what was.
A DEXA scan. A girls' trip booked. A client's promotion. Three compost heaps built with my son.
This week, I fed all twelve months into ChatGPT and asked it to sort everything into categories.
Why memory alone is terrible for reflection
The results surprised me. If I'd sat down in December and tried to recall my year from memory, I'd have focused on the recent few months (recency bias). I'd have forgotten most of January and I'd have underestimated everything.
Laura Vanderkam says we overestimate what's possible in a day and underestimate what's possible in a year.
I'd add: we underestimate what we've already achieved.
High achievers often say, "What's wrong with that? I'd rather look ahead, it feels a bit over-indulgent to celebrate every win" But..
When we skip acknowledging what we've done, we miss out on:
The confidence boost
The dopamine
The ability to self-validate instead of waiting for external recognition
...All of which directly fuel future goals.
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A very sociable year
For example, take my social activity. On any given week, it never feels like I'm out constantly. But if you do 2-3 social activities a week this quickly becomes 100+ activities.
I only fully grasped this when I saw it grouped together as a category.
Exhibitions. Local walks. Friend stays. A girls' trip to Montenegro. Multiple dance events.
This is the beauty of seeing the full year in one place.
The same happened with work. When I saw it all in one place, it painted a far more accurate picture than my brain ever would.
Where the real magic happens
Some items didn't feel "big" individually, but mattered when grouped.
Finance systems set up and important housekeeping set in motion.
House projects that still give visual joy every day
Daily parenting joys and milestones (and, as any parent knows, every new activity brings an entire ecosystem of admin)
And then there were the things with no outcome at all - like the composting.
My son and I literally said, "We don't even know where we're going to put half of this compost," while shovelling it together.
Pointless. Joyful. Absolutely the kind of thing that never makes a goals list but makes incredible memories.
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Your own year-end review for high achievers
Don't rely on memory - it will be biased and selective, and might not look on the bright side for this sort of activity.
Even if you haven't kept monthly notes, try a quick quarterly summary using your most reliable calendar and notes, or 5 minutes per month using your calendar or camera roll.
That's enough to give you a clearer - and kinder - picture.
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Key takeaways for high achievers
✓ Memory is biased - Recency bias means you'll focus on recent months and underestimate earlier achievements
✓ Small wins compound - Individual items that don't feel "big" become significant when grouped together
✓ Self-validation matters - Acknowledging what you've done provides confidence, dopamine, and fuel for future goals
✓ Track as you go - Monthly 5-10 minute reviews capture far more than year-end memory alone
Curious what else you might be underestimating?
If you've been nodding along thinking 'I probably did underestimate what I achieved,' there might be other patterns you're missing too. High achievers often have blind spots - not just in how they reflect on the past, but in how they approach their careers.
Get your free Career Blindspots Checklist
I've created a comprehensive checklist to help you identify the subtle habits that might be holding you back. This assessment covers four key pillars:
Vision - Are you clear on where you're heading long-term?
Unwritten Rules - Do you understand the informal success factors in your organisation?
Energetics - Is your ambition sustainable, or are you heading for burnout?
Strategic Relationships - Have you built the influence you need to operate at your level?
Hundreds of senior leaders have used this checklist to pinpoint exactly where to focus their development efforts.
Work with me
If you're ready to go deeper:
Vision Unblocked - A focused 3-day programme for busy executives who need clarity on what's next without the time commitment of full coaching.
Vision Builder - My signature programme for creating a compelling 10-year vision and 3-year plan. Perfect for senior leaders who know there's something more but aren't sure what that looks like yet.
Executive Coaching - Bespoke 1:1 coaching for C-suite leaders navigating complex career transitions, building executive presence, or preparing for board-level roles.
Listen to the podcast
🎧 I explored the concept of reflection seasons and year-end reviews on The Executive Coach Podcast. Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Frequently asked questions
Why is memory so unreliable for year-end reviews?
Memory suffers from recency bias - you'll focus on the last few months and forget most of January. You'll also underestimate everything you've achieved because individual items don't feel "big" when recalled in isolation. Seeing the full year grouped in categories paints a far more accurate picture than your brain ever would.
How often should I update my Ta-Da list?
Spending 5-10 minutes at the end of each month is ideal. Scroll through your calendar and notes, recording what actually happened - not what you planned, but what was. Even if you haven't kept monthly notes, a quick quarterly summary or 5 minutes per month using your calendar or camera roll gives you a clearer picture.
Why does acknowledging achievements matter for high achievers?
When we skip acknowledging what we've done, we miss out on the confidence boost, the dopamine, and the ability to self-validate instead of waiting for external recognition. All of which directly fuel future goals. It's not over-indulgent - it's essential for sustained high performance.
What if my achievements don't feel "big" enough?
Some items don't feel significant individually, but matter when grouped together. Daily parenting milestones, house projects that give visual joy, finance systems set up - these compound over a year. Even "pointless" activities like composting with your son create incredible memories that never make goals lists but make life rich.
How detailed should my Ta-Da list be?
Record both small and large - a DEXA scan, a girls' trip booked, a client's promotion, three compost heaps built. The beauty is seeing the full year in one place. You can use tools like ChatGPT to sort everything into categories, which often reveals patterns and volumes you didn't realise existed.
What's the difference between a Ta-Da list and a to-do list?
A to-do list tracks what you plan to do. A Ta-Da list records what actually happened - not what you planned, but what was. This shift from planning to acknowledgement is what makes it powerful for reflection and recognising genuine achievement rather than measuring yourself against unrealistic expectations.
About Maya
Maya Gudka is an executive coach specialising in C-suite career progression and leadership development. She works with senior leaders in major organisations on strategic career planning, executive presence, and building sustainable influence. Maya hosts The Executive Coach Podcast, which ranks in the top 2% of podcasts globally and has nearly 300 episodes exploring the challenges faced by ambitious professionals.
Connect with Maya at www.mayagudka.com or on LinkedIn
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