{"id":1472,"date":"2021-12-31T17:48:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stefanvetter.com\/en\/?p=1472"},"modified":"2025-01-03T09:41:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T07:41:43","slug":"2021-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stefanvetter.com\/en\/2021-review","title":{"rendered":"2021 Year in Review: Light and Shade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After writing an annual review for the first time for 2019<\/a> and 2020<\/a>, I continue this tradition with some delay for the past year 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In it, I take a very candid look at these topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbb Work & Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My software company Friendly<\/a> grew by +79%<\/a>. While monthly recurring revenue (MRR) was 6,442 Fr. (~ $6,922) at the beginning of 2021, it was a whopping 11,553 Fr. (~ $12,414) at the end of 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of Friendly employees actually increased by 100%. At the beginning of the year, our CTO Joey Keller and I were still just the two of us. Then in August, Kathrin Schmid<\/a> joined us as Customer Happiness Manager and in November Brady Cargle<\/a> as Software Engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Friendly acquired 76 new customers<\/a> for our privacy-friendly marketing automation and web analytics software. Among them were well-known names such as the canton of Z\u00fcrich, Branchen Versicherung and init7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My digital marketing agency Wortspiel<\/a> also performed well. Our fee revenue increased by over +30% to 584’821 Fr (~ $630\u2019805) net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am particularly pleased that our long-time employee Jennifer Walter<\/a> has taken on more responsibility. As COO and Chief Happiness Manager, she takes care of the day-to-day business and the satisfaction of our employees and customers. This is a huge relief for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the positive development of the companies also took its toll on my own health. I definitely worked too much in 2021 and had too many tasks on my shoulders, despite reliefs at Wortspiel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My main professional goal for 2022 is reduction. I will hand off more tasks to my team and also say no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udc67\u200d\ud83d\udc67 Personal Life & Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I separated from my wife at the beginning of January 2021 and moved out. I will not write anything publicly about the background. Friends know how they can reach me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation was not easy and cost additional energy. Overall, 2021 was probably the most exhausting year of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the separation, and going forward, I try to continue to be a good father to my two daughters and maintain a constructive relationship with their mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Health & Fitness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sport was my lifesaver in 2021. Without regular jogging (2-3 times about 6 km per week), I might not have made it through the year the way I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also helpful for me was the app Seven<\/a>, which my sister recommended to me. The app offers a full-body workout at home that requires no equipment or tools and takes only seven minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last days of the year I discovered the Wim Hof Method<\/a>. Wim Hof<\/a> is also known as the Ice Man and has set numerous world records, such as for the longest dive under ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wim Hof method consists, among other things, of a 10-minute breathing exercise<\/a> that increases the oxygen content in the blood and thus prevents inflammation. I also feel much more awake and efficient afterwards. Since then, I do it almost every morning after getting up and have a better start to the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\ude4b Friends & Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I massively neglected my friends in 2021 due to the stresses of work and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, I will once again take more time for the people who are important to me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After writing an annual review for the first time for 2019 and 2020, I continue this tradition with some delay for the past year 2021. In it, I take a very candid look at these topics: \ud83d\udcbb Work & Business My software company Friendly grew by +79%. While monthly recurring revenue (MRR) was 6,442 Fr. 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