This is a weird week. Like the lame duck session for 2020.
For me, this week is all about learning from the past and creating the future.
Some of the questions I'll be asking myself:
1. What were my biggest wins of 2020? What did they have in common?
2. What were my biggest failures? What did these have in common?
3. What is one thing I can do (or stop doing) this year that will make me happier?
4. What's one big risk I should take this year?
5. If 2021 were a chapter in my book, what would the title be?
New Years Books
For the last 4 years, I’ve made it a New Year’s ritual to read Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way.
The book reminds me that hard times are ahead. That lesson was never more prescient than in January 2020.
Since that time, I’ve moved to Chicago, started a new business, ended that business, started another business, and survived a global pandemic (so far).
Here’s the crucial lesson of the book:
We have the power to decide how obstacles affect us.
Challenges only stop us if we let them.
In fact, obstacles ahead often indicate our best path forward, hence the title of the book - the obstacle is the way.
I will be re-reading Holiday’s book again soon. I’m sure it will be as timely and relevant as ever.
Here are a few other books I’ve enjoyed reading around the New Year:
Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Nine Things Successful People Doing Differently (Short and super powerful)
Indistractable by Nir Eyal
This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's full of opportunity and much-needed reflection.
How will you spend this lame duck week?
#2021herewecome