3 Wishes for 2025

2024 has been a year of huge change – politically, economically, and technologically. In the digital sector, little comes close to the rise in the use of generative AI.

At Candle Digital, AI has become a constant topic of conversation, woven into nearly every discussion we’ve had.

It is no longer just a tool; it’s becoming a pervasive presence in our lives personally and professionally (both knowingly and unknowingly too).

It’s inevitably going to play a central role in our business plans going forward – and whether you like it or not, yours too.

For our final blog of the year, rather than reflect on 2024, we’re looking ahead.

Here are our 3 wishes for all expertise-based businesses in 2025:

1. Capture Your Expertise in a Digital Format

If your ‘secret sauce’ is largely stored in your head, you are already missing big opportunities to increase your impact and scale your efforts. This will only be exacerbated as AI starts to augment how we work.

We see a big rise in ‘digital twins’ in the year ahead. This is a digital version of yourself, allowing clients to interact with your expertise in new, dynamic ways, even without your direct input.

This will provide new ways for your clients and audience to interact with you, often without your actual presence.

But if you don’t have your expertise captured in a digital format, then you’re going to struggle to create anything that represents anything that reflects your unique experiences, attitudes, and approaches.

This will inevitably lead to missed opportunities.

So…

Start writing that book you always talked about.

Ask a colleague or peer to interview you at length and create a transcript.

Record videos or podcasts of your thought process, document your workflows with screen recordings, or develop a series of blog posts capturing key insights.

2. Spend 15 Minutes Each Day Exploring AI

Far too few expertise-based businesses are taking the time to explore and experiment with AI. Getting hands-on and playing with these tools is critical for understanding how they can enhance your work.

If you’re brand new to AI, here’s a simple starting point:

• Get a ChatGPT Pro account ($20/month).
• Download the mobile app and spend 15 minutes a day having conversations with it. Talk about your clients challenges, what you’ve been working on, and your aspirations for the future.
• Use it as a sounding board or a way to capture your thoughts digitally.

If you’re not convinced, check out some of the new capabilities we’ve been playing with in the advanced voice mode of ChatGPT.

Remember, AI isn’t just about automation; it’s about amplification. The more you explore, the more potential you’ll uncover.

3. Dig Into What Makes You, You

In 2025, clarity on your mission, purpose, and values will be more important than ever.

Knowing what you stand for and communicating it effectively is what will set you apart in an increasingly crowded and AI-powered marketplace.

When everything is going more artificial, it’ll be the ‘human’ that stands out.

What do you stand for?
What values or beliefs underpin everything you do? What is a non-negotiable?

What do you stand against?
What practices or ideas do you rail against? What needs to change in your industry or sector?

Why do it?
What do you consider a life well-lived, and how does your work align with that vision?

How do you do it?
What unique methods, attitudes, or principles guide your work and make it distinctly yours?

By anchoring yourself in these fundamentals, you’ll not only stand out but also create a strong foundation for integrating AI into your business in a way that aligns with your identity.

Over to you…

If you thought 2024 was a year of change, just wait until 2025. New tools are here; now it’s time to discover how to use them.

It’s clear that change isn’t slowing down. The businesses that thrive will be those that adapt, explore, and stay true to their unique strengths.

Which of these wishes will you make a priority?

Andy Jack

Andy loves helping subject experts, authors, speakers, coaches and key persons of influence to monetise their expertise with online learning. When not on his laptop, he'll usually be found up a mountain!