The Optimist's Guide to Thriving in 2025: Pink Glasses, Smart Tech, and Brutal Honesty

As we step into 2025, let me share some thoughts on what it takes to navigate an ever-changing tech landscape while staying (relatively) sane. If you’re a founder, leader, or just someone trying to keep up, you already know that success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, embracing change, and learning from your mistakes (even the dumb ones).

So, here’s my take on optimism, technology, and lessons from the trenches—served with a side of business irony.

How to Win in 2025: 3 Rules for Every Company

1. Hire a team of careful optimists. Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring reality; it means tackling challenges with the belief that a solution exists. At Kitrum, we champion this balance—encouraging risk-taking while staying aware of the consequences. Trust me, without optimism, you’ll struggle to innovate. Without realism, you’ll burn out.
2. Adopt technology, but don’t fall in love with it. AI and automation are exciting, but they’re just tools. Don’t implement tech for the sake of being trendy. Instead, identify the pain points in your business and use tech to turn frustration into execution. If your team hates repetitive tasks, find solutions that simplify—not complicate—their workflows.
3. Invest in emotional intelligence and critical thinking. In an age of three-second TikTok reels, it’s tempting to consume fast, shallow content.

But if you want your team to think deeply and solve big problems, encourage them to step away from screens and dive into timeless resources.

Books by Marcus Aurelius or deep conversations with experts can shape sharper minds and more empathetic leaders.

What NOT to Do

1. Over-engineering solutions. Not every problem needs a custom app or a full tech stack overhaul. Sometimes a Google Sheet is all you need to track, plan, or experiment. Remember: complexity doesn’t equal value.
2. Being experimental without limits. Experimentation is vital, but chaos isn’t. Too many open-ended projects can sink a team. Define clear goals, set measurable outcomes, and run only as many experiments as you can track effectively.
3. Overloading on optimism. While optimism fuels growth, it’s dangerous when unchecked. Balance your team with realists who can challenge ideas constructively. These are the people who’ll save you from overcommitting to bad ideas (or doubling down on failing ones).

Lessons Learned: What 2024 Taught Me as CEO

Looking back, 2024 was a year of transformation for Kitrum.

We shifted from being just a talent supplier to offering turnkey solutions—projects that go from concept to market in weeks, not months.

Our clients wanted speed, adaptability, and real results—and we delivered by focusing on cloudification, pixel-perfect design, and rapid prototyping.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Here’s what I learned:

• Fail fast, but fail forward. Every month, we made mistakes. The good news? They were new mistakes, which meant we were learning.
• Stay grounded in your values. Even as we pivoted, our core mission remained the same: delivering value to clients on day one.
• Simplify wherever possible. Over-engineering wastes time. Sometimes, the simplest tools—like Google Spreadsheets—can be the most effective.

What’s Next for 2025?

As technology continues to evolve, businesses need to adapt. Here’s how I see the future unfolding:

• Tech evolution = people evolution. Adopting new tools isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about helping your team grow. The frustration of today’s workflows can be replaced with opportunities for creativity and problem-solving.
• Rapid development is the norm. At Kitrum, we specialize in delivering MVPs in under eight weeks. Clients want fast, functional solutions, and we’re here to provide them—without compromising on quality.
• Critical thinking matters more than ever. Short-form content is great for entertainment, but depth wins in business.

Encourage your team to think critically, consume meaningful content, and have thoughtful discussions.

Final Thoughts

2025 is a year to embrace change with careful optimism. Be ready to take risks, fail, and learn. Build a team that balances optimism with realism. And above all, remember: pink glasses aren’t just a fashion statement—they’re a business strategy.

“I personally am known as a champion of wearing pink glasses, and I proudly use this title to describe myself as an entrepreneur. Indeed, it doesn't mean that we are unaware of risks or fail to mitigate them, but we focus more on possible gains. Even in a pragmatic world, this may not always be the expected behavior.”

Let’s make 2025 a year of bold moves, smarter tech, and meaningful progress. What’s your strategy for the new year?

And hey, are you looking for ways to future-proof your business? Let’s talk.

At Kitrum, we help companies adapt, innovate, and grow with tailored solutions that deliver results.