2024 In Review

Much like every year, 2024 was filled with its fair share of ups and downs (and ups again). Although this is to be expected, I can honestly say that 2024 was a special year and I felt each twist and turn a lot more than I had in the past. One of the main reasons for this is simple (and really the point of this blog): it was the launch of One Horizon Living, the home building and development company Lydia and I own.

Honestly, I never really thought of myself as an “entrepreneur.” Throughout my working history, where I really thrived (if I do say so myself) was in the role of “Intrapreneur.” This might not be a very common term that people work with, but in short, an Intrapreneur is a manager in a company that promotes innovation and various development initiatives. I always looked at it like being an entrepreneur in the traditional sense but having the safeguards of an organization to work within. For what it was worth, I really thrived in this role and saw myself doing it until I decided to stop working. All that went out the window when in May of 2024, Lydia and I launched One Horizon Living and jumped in, feet first, into the crazy world of entrepreneurship.

Starting a company, especially an intense endeavor like a home building company, is nerve-racking to say the least. Honestly, it took some time to get used to. Going from being a key member of one of the biggest and best home builders in the city, to a smaller startup, fighting to make my own way took some getting used to. If I was being honest, when I started, it was the little things that would bother me more than the daunting task of starting up our own shop. Phone calls not being returned as fast, opportunities not as readily available, and a bunch of other limitations (too numerous to count) were very frustrating for me to deal with. Really, I took each of these instances as a personal swipe at my ability and carried a huge sense of failure with this.

Now, I’m a self-aware person and what I know of myself is that I can get worked up pretty quick, but after a while, cooler heads prevail and when it is all said and done, I end up looking at a situation pretty objectively. Although my feelings of frustration and failure were valid and I still have them from time to time, it would be silly of me if I didn’t take time to step back and be appreciative of all the wonderful things 2024 brought for our business because really, that is the takeaway from this year…we are blessed to have such an incredible opportunity to lead our own company for years to come.

I’m not one to step back and “smell the roses,” but 2024 was an awesome year for One Horizon Living and it was because of all the support and well wishes we had gotten throughout the year. This support was really the difference between moving forward or giving up. From developers who went out of their way to help me secure land, fantastic trade partners who made a point of making sure we were taken care of, to the absolutely best in-house support staff diligently working to help ramp things up, and ultimately our clients, who trust One Horizon Living to be the home where their families can grow… 2024 was truly blessed.

For the record, I don’t have any illusions and know 2025 will be just as hard (if not harder) and will come with its own bag of (you know what). But you know what, that’s just the life of an entrepreneur, I guess. Like Rocky said, “it’s about how much you can get hit and keep on going!” If I know anything, I know how to take a punch and get back up! Perseverance, hard work, pushing through doubt, insecurity, and fear…it was really all worth it. At the end of the day, for me, 2024 was the year of One Horizon Living! …and I couldn’t be prouder.

Lydia and I are so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who are in our corner, rooting us along and part of this journey. 2024 has been incredible for us at One Horizon Living and 2025 is set to be even bigger. One Horizon Living is here to stay and we look forward to being a part of your family’s home-building journey.

Have a blessed holiday season and best wishes in 2025.

Cheers.

Robin Nasserdeen.