Hey Rocket 2026 Kick Off

Looking Back at 2025, Getting Real, and Starting 2026 the Right Way

Our 2026 kick off at Hey Rocket was not about hype. It was not about big promises or pretending that last year went exactly the way we planned. It was about slowing down for a moment, looking at ourselves honestly, and deciding how we want to move forward together in 2026.

2025 was not an easy year. We made mistakes. Some things worked, some things clearly did not. Instead of brushing that aside, we chose to face it directly during our kick off. Because if we want to grow as a startup, reflection cannot be optional. It has to be part of how we operate.

This kick off was about alignment, accountability, and resetting our mindset before pushing forward again.

Why the Hey Rocket 2026 Kick Off Was Different

One of the most important parts of the 2026 kick off was our conversation around failure. We talked openly about what went wrong in 2025. Projects that stalled. Decisions that were made too fast or too late. Moments where communication broke down and slowed the whole team.

These conversations were not comfortable, and they were not supposed to be. But they were necessary. Growth does not come from avoiding hard truths. It comes from acknowledging them and deciding to do better next time.

What mattered most was the tone of the conversation. It was not about blaming people. It was about understanding systems, habits, and choices. We focused on what we could control and what we could improve moving into 2026.

Reflection as a Habit, Not a One Time Thing

Reflection at Hey Rocket is not something we do once a year and forget about. During the kick off, we reminded ourselves why reflection matters so much in a startup environment.

When things move fast, mistakes can easily repeat themselves. Reflection forces us to pause and ask why something happened instead of rushing into the next task. It helps us spot patterns, not just problems.

We talked about what actually needs to change in 2026. How we work day to day. How we talk to each other when things get messy. How we step in instead of stepping back when someone is stuck. And how each of us grows without leaving the team behind.

This mindset is critical if we want to move faster without breaking what we are building.

Solving Problems Together Instead of Alone

Another key theme during our 2026 kick off was how we support each other. In a startup, it is easy to default into survival mode. Everyone focuses on their own tasks, their own deadlines, their own pressure.

We challenged that mindset.

When one person is blocked, the whole team slows down. When problems stay hidden, they get bigger. During the kick off, we encouraged everyone to speak up earlier, ask for help sooner, and step in when they see someone struggling.

This is how we move fast and move high like a rocket. Not by working harder alone, but by solving problems together.

Refreshing Our Mission at Hey Rocket

As we reflected on the past, we also took time to refresh our memory around why Hey Rocket exists in the first place. In the rush of daily execution, it is easy to forget the values that guide our decisions.

Our mission is not just a statement. It is how we work and how we treat people.

H stands for heartfelt, sincerity. Everything starts from the heart. How we treat our candidates, teammates or others. As in people business, it's important to put oneself in someone else's shoes.

E stands for excellent. We aim for quality and consistency, not shortcuts. Excellence is about caring enough to do things properly, even when it takes more effort.

Y stands for you. Nothing happens without people. Ideas mean nothing without execution, and execution only happens because of the people behind it. Every individual matters.

R stands for resilience. Startups are unpredictable. Things break. Plans change. Resilience is our ability to keep going, adapt, and learn instead of giving up.

O stands for openness. We stay open to new people, new ideas, and new challenges. Openness keeps us flexible and helps us grow faster in a changing environment.

C stands for communicative. Communication is not optional in teamwork. Clear communication reduces mistakes, builds trust, and keeps everyone moving in the same direction.

K stands for keep reflecting. Reflection keeps us grounded. It helps us improve continuously instead of repeating the same mistakes.

E stands for enterprising. We take initiative. We think like owners. We do not wait for permission to make things better.

T stands for teamwork. No one builds a rocket alone. Teamwork is how we move forward, especially when things get hard.

Setting the Direction for 2026

With our mission refreshed and our lessons from 2025 clearly on the table, we talked about where we want to go in 2026. This was not about chasing big words or unrealistic targets. It was about direction.

In 2026, we want stronger foundations. Clearer processes. Better ownership. Faster decisions. Fewer assumptions and more alignment.

Growth matters, but how we grow matters more. We want to build something sustainable, not something that burns out the people building it.

Motivation That Felt Real

What stood out most during the kick off was the energy in the room. Not the loud kind. The focused kind.

People listened. People shared honestly. People offered help without being asked. That kind of motivation cannot be forced. It comes from trust and shared purpose.

When people feel safe to speak up and supported by the team, everything moves faster. Problems get solved earlier. Ideas get better. Execution becomes smoother.

Starting 2026 Strong

As we move into 2026, the goal is not perfection. It is progress. We will still make mistakes. That is part of building a startup. But we are entering this year with more clarity, more honesty, and a stronger sense of direction.

To everyone at Hey Rocket, thank you for being open, reflective, and committed to growing together. Let us carry the lessons from 2025 and the mindset from our 2026 kick off into everything we do this year.

Here is to a strong start in 2026!