How to Become Who You Were Meant To Be in 2024 (Part 1)

Every Sunday, I send you something to THINK about, a question to ASK yourself, something to TRY and invite you to SHARE.

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THINK

“I learned that if you work hard and creatively, you can have just about anything you want, but not everything you want. Maturity is the ability to reject good alternatives in order to pursue even better ones.”
Ray Dalio

Have you achieved what you wanted to do this year? Are you proud of who you’ve become?

Has another year passed you by? And you’re disappointed by your lack of progress?

In the next few weeks, people will ask you what your New Year’s Resolutions are.

Don’t worry, they won’t ask you if you’ve kept to them in March, August or November.

They’ll soon be forgotten about.

And so will your progress.

Why?

NYRs are candy for the uncommitted.

They’re right up there with Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, Roses on 14th February or Chocolate at Easter.

They take up a nanosecond of attention before the next distraction comes along.

When people ask me what my NYRs are, I first resist the temptation of slapping them across the face, and calmly answer, “I don’t do NYRs. I do goals“.

Why don’t I have many friends? 🤔

NYRs are weak, unprepared goals that lack commitment. No successful person I know does them.

If you feel dejected by another sub-par year of minimal progress, and you believe deep down that you’re capable of more, then you’re in the right place.

First of all, you’re not alone.

I’ve been there (too many times) and most people reside there. Only they’ll stick around.

If you’ve had enough of mediocrity and you’re ready to get more from life, then this week’s Newsletter is for you.

The more dissatisfied you are with life, the more you’ll need it.

This week is Part 1 of ‘How to Become Who You Were Meant To Be in 2024’.

We cover:

– Why you DON’T start with Goal Setting.
– The step 99% of people miss.
– 7 Questions to unlock mediocrity.
– 6 Questions to identify your best self.
– 5 Steps to move towards the person you were always meant to become.

Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

If you want to change what you do and who you are, then you must take a new approach.

Give me half a day of focus, and I’ll change your life.

In the coming weeks, the series will walk you through the steps to help you make 2024, your best year ever.

You just need to take the steps.

Are you in?

Don’t Start With Goals

What would you say to a 2-year-old if they wanted to know how to drive a car?

Something like, “Learn how to walk first.”

We’ve all been that toddler, and we’ll continue to be in certain aspects of life.

“Honey, do you fancy hoping into bed a little early this evening… if you know what I mean?!”

Like I said… still a toddler.

I received a message from an eager follower this week who was struggling financially, he asked for my thoughts on “Investing with AI and stock trading.”

My heart cries out for the poor chap. If you’re struggling financially, investing and trading are not where to start.

The toddler will be able to drive a car. This chap will be able to invest and trade. I (I mean that guy) will get to bed a little early 😉… after they’ve assessed the situation and put in the initial groundwork.

Don’t start with goals. Start with awareness.

You cannot improve what you’re not aware of.

Assess where you’re at, where you’ve come from, what you’ve learned and THEN set appropriate goals.

Before you set goals (not NYRs) for 2024, review 2023.

The Step 99% of People Miss

“It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.” Come on everybody… you know the words!

I love this time of year.

Not for Christmas but the reflection.

For over a decade, I’ve completed a ‘Year in Review’ in December and it never fails to deliver.

I walk away with valuable lessons from the previous 12 months along with a warm sense of satisfaction and excitement heading into the New Year.

It’s a time to celebrate what you’ve accomplished and to analyse what isn’t working in an attempt to become the person you’re meant to be.

You win or learn. (There is no failure)

Christmas is the perfect time of year to conduct the ‘Year in Review’:

– We have 12 months to look back on and assess.
– We have time away from work where we can slow down and reflect.
– Our friends and family are also not working, so we socialise more than normal.
– The combination of not working, time with friends and family, the lights, Christmas decorations, log fires, festive smells and cheer, all contribute to creating a unique environment.
– This somewhat magical environment, helps us get out of our heads.

And it’s here where we do our best reflection.

BIG Questions

Are you where you want to be in life?

Are you happy with who you are as a person?

If not, you’ve failed to deliver an expectation you had for yourself.

You have 3 options:

1. Lower your expectations
2. Change your expectations
3. Learn how to get there

Most people lower their expectations and live a life of quiet discontent.

Don’t be most people.

BIG Answers

Most people have a vague idea of what they want but it’s usually burying the real reason.

Ask yourself “Why?” 5 times (as a child would) to unearth it. For example:

– “I want to earn more money.”
– “Why?”
– “So that I can buy more things for me and my family.”
– “Why?”
– “So that I can make us happier”.
– “Why?”
– “So that I can give them what they deserve.”
– “Why?”
– “So that I can stop feeling like a failure.”
– “Why?”
– “So that I can stop hating myself.”
– “Wow!”

When you get to the REAL reason, you find there are more or different solutions to fix the problem.

For example, this person might find other ways to reduce self-hate outside of earning more:

– Doing a budget overhaul to free up an extra £500-£1,000 per month. (Easier and faster than earning more)
– Losing 30lbs or 14kg of body fat to enhance self-image, self-esteem and confidence.
– Starting a side hustle and reducing employment down to Mon-Wed, so they can spend more time with their kids.

Figuring out what you truly want in life is the first step to getting it.

You get that through REFLECTION.

The aim of a ‘Year in Review’ is to find where you’ve fallen short, what’s truly important to you and how you can turn things around.

The answers are within you.

This isn’t some hocus pocus nonsense.

You KNOW what you need to do.

You’ve just not given yourself the gift of time to reflect on it and call it out. You’ve been too busy reacting.

In December, you now have the time, environment and mental space to step back and assess.

Use it.

Dumb People = Repeatedly make the same mistakes
Smart People = Learn from their mistakes
Wise People = Learn from the mistakes of others

Take the lessons from others, learn from your mistakes and don’t be dumb.

The Conditions

To get the most out of the ‘Year in Review’, create the conditions for success:

1. Schedule it – Book the review into your diary as a non-negotiable appointment. Treat it like work, because it is. Some people mock or challenge the ‘Year in Review’. Successful people won’t.

2. No Distractions – No screens. No notifications. No interruptions.

3. Pen & Paper – Laptops don’t foster the same connection to your thoughts as paper and pen do. They’re also full of distractions and temptations.

4. Upgrade Your Environment – Leave the house. Go to a fancy hotel lounge, coffee shop or park. Treat yourself and enjoy the process. It enhances your creative potential.

5. Give it Time – Allow multiple hours. A half day or full day works well, and you can even do this over several days. You can get stuck looking at the paper for the first 30-60 mins. Allow yourself the time to stick with it and work through it. You’ll open up the possibility of finding more.

6. Don’t Censor – Don’t judge or censor yourself. You need bad ideas to get to the good ones. Write down all the crappy ideas as they lead to the good ones.

7. What Not How – Don’t try and fix everything now, you’re brainstorming. Find the insights and you can work on the solutions later.

Your best year ever is waiting inside of you.

Take the review seriously and let it out.

The ‘Year in Review’

Review your Wins, Failures, Lessons and Aspirations.

List as many as you can think of and leave space to come back and add to each section.

I like to keep things simple and focus on the 3 core areas of life – Health, Wealth and Relationships.

Most things in life fall within these categories.

– Health = Physical, mental, emotional
– Wealth = Work, side hustles, personal finance, investing
– Relationships = Partner, family, friends, colleagues, yourself

When reviewing your year, consider each of the Core 3 to inspire your thinking.

Step 1 – Unlock Mediocrity

This step is a brain dump.

Don’t edit, censor or problem-solve. Just write.

To unlock mediocrity, we need to get out of our heads and see things from a different perspective.

At times you’ll feel ‘stuck’ and won’t know what to write. This is normal. You’re overthinking. Write freely whatever comes to mind and just keep writing.

1. Is your life heading in the right direction?

2. What are your biggest wins or proudest moments for this year?

3. What are your biggest failures or setbacks this year?

4. What are your most impactful lessons from the year?

5. What are your aspirations for next year?

6. What do you want to do more of?
– What people, activities or things triggered a positive emotion in you?

7. What do you want to do less of?
– What people, activities or things triggered a negative emotion in you?

Step 2 – Clarify The Best You

After the initial brain dump to unlock mediocrity, hone in on your favourite ideas and expand on them.

Your goal is to identify and clarify your best self.

Consider why they stand out to you (even if it’s obvious) and play around with potential solutions.

1. Select your Top 1-3 Wins for the year.
– What 20% of activities generated 80% of your results?

2. Select your Top 1-3 Failures for the year.
– What could you have done differently? (Take responsibility)

3. Select your Top 1-3 Lessons for the year.
– What skills, behaviours or habits do you want to learn or develop?

4. Select your Top 1-3 Aspirations for next year and how your life will improve by achieving them.
– RISKS – List any risks that will prevent you from achieving them.
– MITIGATIONS – List counter-mitigations to eliminate all potential risks.

5. Select your Top 1-3 things you want to do more of.
– How will you incorporate more of that?

6. Select your Top 1-3 things you want to do less of.
– How will you incorporate less of that?

What Next?

I was considering packing everything into one big post but the reality is…

97% of you won’t do anything.

3% of you will.

Where are you?

In an attempt to get more people over the line, I’ve separated this week’s Newsletter into 2 Parts.

The ‘Year in Review’ will take some time and effort.

The more time and energy you put into it, the more value you’ll get from it.

When you complete it, you’ll likely feel excited, motivated and perhaps a little bit apprehensive.

I recommend sitting with your findings and letting them swirl around in your head.

If you feel so inclined, you can share them with a trusted friend or loved one and ask for feedback.

Feel free, to go back through the questions again and see if anything comes up for you.

Next week, in Part 2, we’re going to take our findings, turn them into actionable steps, measurable milestones and create systems to drive lasting behaviour change, so you can finally become the person you were meant to be in 2024.

You’ve got 7 days.

Make the most of them.

Reflect and share this with someone.

ASK

“Do I keep doing the same things and hope for a different outcome?”

“Am I ready to start closing the gap between who I am and who I’m capable of being?”

“Am I willing to pay 4 hours for fulfilment?”

Write down what comes to mind.

TRY

It’s pretty simple (not easy) this week.

5 Steps to the Best Version of You:

1. Book in at least half a day to complete your ‘Year in Review’

2. Cultivate the optimal conditions to get the most from the session/s

3. Complete Step 1 – ‘Unlock Mediocrity’

4. Complete Step 2 – ‘Clarify The Best You’

5. Be ready for Part 2

10 x Additional ‘Huw Points’ are up for grabs if you share your takeaways with someone else.

If you’re unsure who you can trust, share them with me.

I read and reply to every email, and remember I’m rooting for you!

Remember: Little by little, a little becomes a lot.

Reply to this email and share how it went for you. Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.