10 Lessons Learned AND Applied for 2023
I love this period of the year, not because of the Christmas atmosphere or New Year's Eve's countdown.
I love it because I spend the last week of the year and the whole of January (yes I take it very seriously!) reflecting on my past 12 months and planning the upcoming year (which by the way, you don't need to wait until December to reset your year, but it became a tradition for me).
I had started this habit in my bullet journal in 2016 back in Paris when I just quit my young career in the non-profit world, and tried to find meaning while navigating the very lucrative corporate industry (this was also when I started investing in personal development!).
Anyway, back to my reflections of 2023, have you ever felt when you know and understand a theory but just can't apply it to yourself?
I feel it very often.
Today, I want to share with you 10 lessons I have (re)learned in 2023, and more importantly, that I have learned to apply to my daily life!
Read it until the end because I have a surprise for you 🎁😉
On NYE, I completed a 10k race 🏆 Woo-hoo! It's a great way to end the year because no matter the challenges faced, you always come out as a winner :)
#1: Profitability vs Solvency: two different concepts.
It’s hard not to compare yourself in general, but even more so when you read fellow freelancers generating $100K or a startup raising $2M the first year! Making a successful business requires LOTS of time (average 10 years) and up to 90% of startups fail. I've learned to put things in perspective and not jump into conclusions too quickly.
Do it for the long run, or don’t do it at all.
#2: Physical health = Mental health.
One can’t function without the other. To paraphrase Steven Bartlett, your health - too often take it for granted - is your tectonic plate. Make it a priority, or everything else collapses. I've learned to work out mostly for my mental health.
Health is wealth.
#3: We’re all addicts.
Navigating the thin line between pleasure and pain is challenging whether it’s related to alcohol, cigarettes, Netflix, or, like mine, social media. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist of the year, gives plenty of scientifically supported tools on his Youtube Channel. I've learned to be more present with journaling and meditation, depending on my mood.
Biohack your brain.
#4: Surround yourself with those who align with your goals.
A friend not supporting you is not because they are a bad friend. They aren’t on the same journey as you at this period. I've learned to network with amazing entrepreneurs-friends around the world. We’re 7 billion on this planet.
Find your crowd.
#5: If you say it, you do it!
Just like continuously skipping my friend’s dinner party; they’ll start losing trust in me. So do I. I've learned to do things I've promised to myself even when I don't feel like it.
Commit to yourself, always.
#6: Starting now is more important than being prepared.
If I had waited to be “ready” to post on LinkedIn, I would have never written 50,000+ words, learned what I like to write, understood what my audience needed, and reached 4,000+ followers. I've learned to stop being stuck in the rabbit hole of research, and start taking action.
Apply compound interest everywhere! (And not only in your finances.)
#7: Cultivate empathy skills.
I live in a city where people aren’t the friendliest: door-holding and common courtesies like “hi,” “thank you,” and “sorry” aren’t exactly the norm, yet you don’t know what sh*t people are going through. I've learned to change my attitude, instead of others.
Be kind, not nice (And I still love Hong Kong! :)
#8. If you don’t like it, learn to love it.
For the longest time, I hated marketing. So I have two choices: EITHER keep hating it while doing it, OR change my perspective. After all, marketing can be fascinating if you consider it the psychology study of consumer behaviours (like your personal finances). I've learned to appreciate the ups and downs, there is no such thing as linear progress.
Focus on the progress, not the results.
#9: Adopt an athletic mindset in everything.
True athletes know how to train even on days when they are not motivated, and how to push themselves through the pain even when they reach their limits. I've learned to shut down my inner voice, the source of my doubts and procrastination.
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% showing up daily.
#10: The power of daily practice.
Setting goals is essential, but if I only think about it when making my New Year’s resolutions for example, I will unlikely follow what I’ve planned. I've learned to set relevant goals on a regular basis.
If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time.
Are you the type to reflect on your 2023?
What are your goals for 2024?
Thank you for reading and your continuous support.
Let’s break the taboo of money and make a financially confident generation in 2024! 💪
Sophie
PS - What are your lessons learned and applied in 2023?
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