Life by Design
Farnam Street inspired by mental models and goal setting.
Career, life by design
Every birthday, I check in with myself and review my current activities, how the year went, and what I think about where I am today and where I'm going. I do a year-in-review.
My approach to goal setting and personal growth is rooted in intentional living. While I recognise the influence of external factors and chance, living with purpose sets you on the right path, even if it doesn't guarantee reaching your destination. This mindset has enabled me to make significant career changes rapidly.
After working for over two years at a behaviour change company and leading the data team there, I learned quite a lot about setting goals and changing one's perception of oneself.
I began to refine and adjust my thoughts about changing my habits, which are the foundation of my goals.
You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
Remember, a core part of being self-taught is having a solid direction, so you should have a next step 👣
How have I altered my mindset, and how have I progressed towards my goals?
I conduct a "This is Age (X)" review using Notion & paper. Although I update the format yearly, I've been doing this in some form or variation for over a decade. Even if it's a day or two late ( see life and family)
First, I review what remains true today and what I consider a success by reviewing my photos, calendar, and previous year's goals. This review process typically takes a few hours as I assess what worked and what didn't.
Then, I outline my goals for the next year, three years, and five-plus years.
Do my goals and direction still align with what and where I'm going now from one year ago?
How I break down my areas of focus
1~ Year: focus on immediate, concrete goals like learning a new skill, starting a business, or getting stronger.
3~ Years: Consider medium-term goals, such as getting a promotion, saving for a big purchase, achieving a fitness milestone, like for me competing in powerlifting.
5~ Years: aim for long-term, big-picture goals like finding a career you're passionate about, starting a family, or travelling the world.
How I break this down even further
Annual recap (highlights, challenges, lessons learned)
Future goals (personal, career, health)
Actionable steps (to achieve goals)
Wins and accomplishments (celebrate your successes!)
Obstacles and learnings (be honest and reflect)
What does this look like doing a year in review?
Previous year in review
Some extracts of my yearly review…
Annual Recap
My 2nd child was born in the summer of 2023 - a beautiful baby that I love so much 💘. They also sleep very well, which is a bonus ( ed - this was a lie, as I soon found out). I enjoyed seeing my in-laws in Philadelphia and spending time with them in our new-to-us house, built in the late 1800s. We had the opportunity to work on some projects, fix some things, and show them some of the renovations we had designed ourselves and some that we had done for ourselves, but we sourced and did a lot; I also fixed a broken pipe with my father in law, that was a mess. We also got to explore the city with their grandkids, which was memorable for everyone with their grandkids.
Other highlights include a bike accident in which my daughter and I ended up in the ER. I also had trips to Dublin, London, Italy, Canada, and Seattle and took cooking classes in Italy with my children and wife!
Looking back at the past 12 months, I reflect on my goals and what I did or did not accomplish. More importantly, I consider whether these goals still matter to me.
This is to review my year through photos and calendars and take notes of significant events. My memory isn't always reliable, and this process aids reflection and remembrance. You'll notice that many trivial things don't make it to the record. Daily annoyances often become inconsequential in the grand scheme of things - which is good!
For example, this is a review I did about one of my goals and one of my failed goals.
Personal Goals
What: Practice building a second brain
What happened: I took this course in 2021 and it was terrific. However, it was around when my daughter was born, so paying attention and practice took a lot of work. I've setup my second brain in Notion. I was using Roam but found over time that it became a massive pile of nothing. So I moved over/back to Notion. I was going to use something open-source but didn't have the batteries, so I forked over the money and have been happy. There is much room for improvement as it relates to the methods I learned, but I've started. This year, I aim to start making more reminders and getting this muscle going more.
Is it a win?: Yes 🥇
The next goal was an absolute failure last year—it was too vague and probably impossible to achieve.
What: No major health issues while 38, what happened: Got hit by a car, damaged something in my back, lifting weights, trying to get ready for a powerlifting competition and more Cold/COVID/Flu/other? Than I care to remember and a sinus infection all within months of each other.
Is it a win?: No ❌
However, this setback has taught me valuable lessons about balance and self-care, which I will incorporate into my future goals.
Reflecting on these successes and challenges, here's what I plan to change moving forward:
I make each objective measurable to track my progress effectively.
Takeaways:
From reviewing goals, my takeaway is that it's a chance for introspection. It's a chance to hold up a mirror to your goals and dreams. By checking your progress, you can find areas that need change. Then, you can make choices to stay on track. This process helps you gain personal accountability. It ensures your actions match your values and objectives. The review process should make you squirm. It should prompt you to face your weaknesses. If it doesn't, you're not doing it right.