๐๐ป STIMIES,
Happy New Year!
Right now, most people will be asking themselves existential questions like:
" Who am I?"
"What am I doing with my life?"
"Is it time to quit my job?"
While there are no easy answers to the above, some my recent conversations have helped me to rethink how I measure my life and year ahead.
You might find them helpful:
1. What does a 'successful year' mean to you?
I've always hated this question; it feels too broad and fluffy.
But a friend recently mentioned how he defines a 'successful year' as a year where he had a chance to:
- Complete 4 week-long, full-immersive experiences - where he allows himself to pursue his curiosity, unrestrained
- Complete 4 big creative projects
If he can achieve the above, then it's a successful year in spite of the doubts/uncertainties/disappointments that might arise.
I quite like this perspective. It's easy to let the bad trump the good but this is very measurable and helps keep things in perspective.
2. What are your intentions?
Instead of setting New Year resolutions, set your intentions for the year instead, i.e. broad ideas and mindsets that you want to maintain for 2025 to keep you on the path towards your True North.
For example with Sahil Bloom, his 5 intentions for 2025 are:
- (1) Recognize time as the most valuable asset
- (2) Control the controllable
- (3) Find joy in the small
- (4) Let go of the things that no longer serve me, and
- (5) Go All In.
3. Set SMART goals, anti-goals & non-goals
Rather than setting New Year Resolutions, it's better to have more concrete SMART goals to aim for. SMART goals are:
- Specific: Clearly defined
- Measurable: Clear metrics/milestones to track your progress
- Achievable
- Relevant: Aligned with your overarching objectives and priorities.
- Time-bound: Has a deadline
SMART goals are great to have, but it's good to strengthen them with:
(a) Anti-Goals
If your goal is to publish 30 LinkedIn posts in 2025, then your anti-goals could be:
- (i) Don't write about any topics that don't cover your industry; and
- (ii) Don't succumb to the urge to follow 'trends' and write superficial posts that seem to be doing well on LinkedIn
(b) Non Goals
It's easy to be distracted by shiny objects & want to achieve a million and one things. This is something I'm 100% guilty of.
Setting non-goals means being clear on what you DON'T want to achieve for 2025 (rather than being distracted and spending a couple hours here and there hoping to make something happen).
Fewer goals, better focus, greater results.
To learn more, you can see what Jay Clouse has written here.
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That said, if you're someone who enjoys using tools to reflect on the past year/plan for the new year, then you might find these helpful:
- โFutureMe: Write an email to yourself & schedule it for delivery anywhere from 1 month to 10 years from today!
- โYearCompass: A 20-page booklet that helps you reflect on 2024 and plan for 2025
- Annual Review: I like what Dexter Zhang has done and his example might serve as an inspiration for how you can review your own year
I hope you find the above helpful.
Wishing you a great start to 2025!
โ
Ling Yah
P/S: If you want to join the STIMY Community Directory, submit this form. The STIMY Community Directory is directory for people within the STIMY Community who've shared a little about who they are, what they're passionate about and the struggles that they're facing.
You can reference this list when visiting a new country to see if there's anyone in the STIMY Community that you'd like to connect with!
Check it out to see if there is anyone you want to connect with
Do note that you'll get access only after you've submitted your own form.
7th STIMY Hangout
The 7th STIMY Hangout is now done & dusted!
We had ~40 pax come and time passed so fast... that half of the attendees had left before I remembered to take a group photo. ๐ซ
The event only wrapped up 5 hours later too!
You can read more about it here.
Interestingly, I received a number of queries from people asking if I'd like to do a singles edition/dating version of STIMY Hangouts. Not something I was thinking of when I first started organising these community events. Although I do wonder...
If there any interest in this singles edition?
February is around the corner! ๐
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