“Wonder is not an exterior destination to arrive at, like a mountaintop view . . . wonder is an internal filter through which we learn to look at life.” — Scott Erickson, Say Yes
One of our team members has coined the phrase “February is the new January” this year, and we are fully embracing that sentiment as we somewhat tardily recap our 2024 year and share where our sights are set for 2025. Between milestone years for many of our families, some health and family challenges and losses, and another year of business and team refining, it’s taken us just a minute to catch our breath as we close out 2024 and look ahead to the new year.
This past year was so FULL. Full of ups and downs, full of busyness, full of growth, and so full of unexpected blessings not at all in the ways or places we expected. In full disclosure, it was a hard year, but it was a good hard, and the hindsight view of those years is always filled to the brim with amazement, good tears, and absolute wonder at how the Refiner continues to create beauty from chaos.
“Wonder is not an exterior destination to arrive at, like a mountaintop view, or a once in a lifetime concert. Those experiences may bring that feeling. But wonder is an internal filter through which we learn to look at life.
This filter is always there, but it is most easily accessible to us in new situations, when we don’t have a narrative about what’s happening yet. If we want to feel the rapturous experience of being alive more often, then removing the filter of familiarity is the practice we most need to adopt.”
―Scott Erickson, Say Yes: Discover the Surprising Life Beyond the Death of a Dream
Reflections on 2024: A Year of Service
Each year, we choose a word for the year, for our business, much like many of you. This word is our goal, our guide for the upcoming year. For 2023, the focus was on community, and the rally cry of “We’ve got you!”—whatever our team and clients were facing or in need of, we would do our best to meet that need with care and community. That led to the ideation of in-person events and more face time with our people, which was incredible in a cup-overflowing sort of way.
Anchored by our word of the year, SERVE, in 2024, we approached every project, partnership, and opportunity with a focus on putting others first—“Serve God, serve our team, and serve our people.”
Through this commitment to service, we’ve seen just how impactful it can be to go the extra mile for those we work with. From launching beautiful, user-focused websites to helping authors bring their stories to life, this year has been about elevating others and making a difference.
Join us as we attempt to summarize 2024 with Market Refined Media & Publishing!
New Website Designs & Book Releases
In 2024, we were once again able to SERVE a variety of brand and website clients, navigating a full schedule and waitlist as efficiently as possible, with the help of our own community. We proudly crafted twelve new WordPress websites, through fresh designs or theme changes, each designed to help our clients achieve their goals and connect with their audiences. Read about just a few of those here.
Market Refined Publishing worked with six incredible authors this year, helping their words and ideas reach the world. From manuscript development to final publishing, we were there every step of the way. Read about all of our recent releases here.
We also continued our support of longterm clients through ongoing site care and hosting, and shorter term offerings such as social media and marketing support last year. Every project, every person matters, and we are so grateful to be a part of so many achieving their goals! At the heart of everything we do is our dedication to listening, understanding, and meeting the needs of those we work with. Service, after all, is about creating impact through sincere and intentional care.
Team News & Updates
Once again we experienced a few shifts in our in-house team in 2024, with some team members stepping back due to health of family concerns and others expanding their areas of services in full-time ministry positions. In turn, we expanded our team by joining forces with talented associates like Erin, Mara, Hallie, Christa, and Karen. You’ll see their names throughout our project features and on our About page as well, so take a minute to get to know them! These ladies were fantastic at helping us fill gaps during the year, and these opportunities allowed us to deepen our relationships with so many of them. (We’re thrilled to have Hallie and Christa join our team for 2025!)
These lasting partnerships and friendships are invaluable to us, and we so appreciate the common desire to serve well.
Serving Our Community
In 2023, we introduced in-person events, a first for MRM. Small scale workshops and our first-ever Refined Conference allowed us to lean into our community and service focus in a new way. In spite of all of the distractions and challenges for 2024, we knew that God was calling us to host a second Refined Conference and He truly orchestrated all of the details and connections for this two-day event in September. You can read our recap of the event, and swoon over the absolutely gorgeous photos by our incredible friend and colleague Renee Fisher, here. Even now as we reminisce about the weekend, review the list of speakers and roundtable leaders, and revisit the list of sponsors and donors for the conference, it completely takes our breath away. So much community, so much inspiration, and so much heart packed into two short days!
This past year was once again a year of challenges, growth, and leaning in to our calling while supporting others in so many ways. Social media platforms placed higher priority on short-form video content (think: TikTok and Instagram reels), continuing the trend and desire for more real-time or life-like interactions. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was on the rise, for everything from content creation to animation for videos to art and graphic design. It will be interesting to see where and how this progresses in 2025! We’ll continue to learn as we go and stay on top of current changes and shifts in the industry, so we can keep you informed too.
Our Vision for 2025: SYNERGY
Truthfully, the word synergy feels a bit “flashier” than one we might typically select for the year.
Webster’s Dictionary defines it this way:
a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts)
Oxford Dictionary defines it as:
the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Here’s why this resonates with us so deeply. At Refined Conference 2024, we stood in the back of the room literally watching connections and community form. In the months since the conference, we’ve seen those connections and relationships grow as speakers, leaders, and attendees continue to support and partner with each other. Leaning into our calling, in big and small ways, allowed us to be the connect point or nexus for community growth around us. God allowed us to bring these people and opportunities together, and together they are doing greater and more incredible things than any one of them (or us) could have accomplished on our own.
While service remains a core part of who we are, 2025 will be about synergy—harnessing the power of collaboration to achieve more, together. We believe the best results come not just from working hard, but from working together—with our clients, our team, and our community.
Here’s what synergy means to us as we step into the new year:
- Deepening Collaboration: We hope to strengthen the partnerships we’ve built by fostering open communication, mutual trust, and shared vision. Together, we can accomplish even greater things.
- Innovating Through Connection: By bringing together diverse talents, ideas, and perspectives, our MRM team will continue to push boundaries, break molds, and deliver creative solutions for our clients.
- Building a Community of Impact: Synergy isn’t just about business; it’s about building relationships that leave a lasting impression. We want to connect with purpose-driven people to create something bigger than any of us could do alone.
Our goals for 2025, in tangible terms, include continuing to grow and expand our Market Refined Publishing services and reach, as an independent publisher. We hope be the catalyst for (at least) twelve new authors as they achieve their publishing goals this calendar year! We are connecting with independent bookstores local to each of our team members, establishing relationships on behalf of our authors and creating opportunities for our MRP books to be shelved in stores across the US! Plus, we’ll expand our marketing support opportunities to ensure greater success for our authors, leveraging strategic ad campaigns and unique promotions tailored to each author’s platform and goals.
And yes—we will host Refined Conference again! And we are already so excited as we begin to organize and pray through what God has in store for the next event. Though we are moving the dates and timeframe of the conference (to early 2026), it will still be a huge part of our focus, relationship building, and drive for 2025. Keep an eye out for more details on this amazing event soon!
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2025, we’re filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. This is a year to lean into the connections that make us stronger and to focus on creating value not only for our clients but also for the greater good.
To all who’ve been part of our journey this past year—thank you! We love staying connected through social media, our MRM newsletter, or even just cheering you on in your inbox. Our team is always excited to celebrate your wins, roadmap your goals, chat with you, and pray for you! It’s an honor to serve you, and we are ready to partner with you in a spirit of collaboration toward common goals.
Together, let’s make 2025 a year of collaboration, growth, and shared success. Here’s to synergy!
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