1. Consume less, create more
We live in the age of Facebook likes and Tinder swipes; a world which encourages us to binge a Netflix series the night it premieres and skim news articles as if we’re trained speed readers. I’m guilty of this “electronic consumerism” more than most. I spend most of my day in front of my PC either playing games, reading reddit or Facebook, or tilting my head a few degrees to check my Instagram notifications on my phone.
Action items:
- Delete social media and dating apps from phone
- Instead of browsing social media, write a blog post — no matter how mundane
- Instead of playing games, make games
2. Consume better
I’m always judgmental of people watching so-called “trash TV” — reality shows and otherwise. But I myself consume a grotesque amount of “trash media”: what are reddit comments, Buzzfeed articles, and pointless podcasts but the millennial “trash TV”.
Action items:
- Read books, not comments
- Read The Economist, not IBT
- Watch a classic movie, not the new Transformers
3. Create better
I really enjoy my trademark “free form” creative process where I do whatever I want and sometimes things get done and sometimes they don’t. But it’s important to have goals and to write them down — even though they might change! It’s important to be accountable.
Action items:
- Keep a journal
- Track progress
- Keep laziness at bay
4. Ship more
Ship broken stuff. Ship half-finished stuff. Ship stuff I’m not happy with. Ship stuff no one will be happy with. Write blog posts that suck. Write short stories that aren’t good. Worse is better.
Action items:
- Ship, ship, ship
- Keep “release anxiety” and perfectionism in check
5. Value relationships
This has been a hallmark of my past year, and I’d like to try even harder this year. Relationships are hard work, making friends is hard, and maintaining friendships is even harder. There has to be a conscious effort to stay connected. And no, Facebook doesn’t count.
Action items:
- One dinner a month with my sister
- Rekindle old friendships — do not make excuses, reach out!
- If necessary, travel — relationships are important
- Meet new interesting people
6. Double down
I’ve lost some of my conviction and after some of my failures, I’ve become hesitant to commit (to ideas, to startups, to ventures). The past few years have been riddled with projects that have never seen the light of day. No more.
Action items:
- Double down — put it all on black
- Don’t be reckless, but don’t hesitate — this is a razor’s edge
7. Fear is the mind-killer
I have a tendency to overthink, to calculate and to dissect. This kind of analysis invites fear and doubt. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of fear itself.
Action items:
- Ask that girl out
- Release that project — don’t just buy the domain
- Fail more — and fail hard
- Document the failures — wear them as badges of courage
- Journal these fears and doubts — ask why fear is winning