Welcome to 2022!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to another year together.
Now, for a bit of transparency... I normally enjoy my annual review process along with creating a vision for the year ahead. This year has been different.
2021 was challenging from Day 1 and reflecting has been no less of a struggle. I’ll briefly recap my year and then into 2022. I need to move on. And, I’m excited for what’s ahead.
2021:
Jan 1: Woke up in Ft. Hood to a positive COVID result delaying my deployment to an entire month behind my troops.
The deployment was a disaster and included a second positive COVID result. I was naively caught off-guard hoping life in the states would be closer to normal. COVID had other plans and I returned to a work team that had been increasingly marginalized (I left the position in mid-December).
Moments of depression would be an understatement.
On the blessing side, Tiffany and I welcomed baby Cadence into our lives, my wife put up with me (which was a challenge), and my family has been largely unscathed from the pandemic.
In sum, we survived.
2022:
Jan 1: Woke up after watching the ball drop with my wife, then ran 6 miles with David through local wetlands full of gators.
Day 4: I've already completed 14 miles of running, surpassing my combined total for Nov and Dec.
In other words, 2022 is already looking up.
2022 Theme for the Year:
PIE: Process Is Everything
I have no big audacious goals for 2022. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m not worried about career progression or looking way into the future.
Instead, I want to focus on each day and create the conditions where I'm at my best. Like a good dessert, I want to portion and savor 2022. I want to enjoy each bite without the sugar rush and crash.
That means starting slow and adjusting through the year.
Initial Goals:
🏃 Run 1 mile EVERY DAY for a year.
📰 Publish a newsletter every week during the year.
💒 Finally, host a wedding with Tiffany (two years later...).
Things I'd like to explore:
📞 Make a conscious effort to reach out to friends and acquaintances throughout the year.
🧑🏫 Complete two classes this year. May include some light programming and automation skills.
🥗 Follow the Tim Ferris slow-carb diet for TWO weeks.
📈 Revise my website along with adding an "open page" for living transparently similar to Steph Smith.
📕 Publish my backlog of Book Notes.
🙏 Return to a routine religious practice.
As I mentioned above, this is new for me. Just a bite at a time. Small wins.
How did YOUR 2021 turn out? What are you looking forward to or hoping to achieve in the year ahead?
Ideas Worth Revisiting:
David Perell shared his top 21 ideas from 2021 and, in the spirit of this PIE year, I think I'll simply start with #1.
Stay curious,
Scott
Love this edition—and the baby photo.