Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023!

First of all – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hogmanay…

With that out the way, this is the time of year I reflect on my progress during the past year.

I group the main areas of my life into four categories, and they are:

• Writing
• Career
• Health
• Family

Let’s have a look how I got on.

Writing

Building on the momentum of 2021, I had aspirations where my writing would take me – unfortunately this was a stressful year and I got nowhere near as much done as I would have liked.

From these challenges, my perspective of blogging has changed.

When I first started Perfect Manifesto, I figured the pinnacle of any blogger was to write a book.

But as I read more books that stretch out one concept over 250 pages I can’t help but think

“This would be more effective as a blog post”

My learning of the year is to appreciate all I’ve done, 500 – 3000 words blogs can offer a lot of value.

I’m not going to set myself up for failure, my focus is simple – get back to a once a week schedule, and if I can manage writing around the other commitments in my life I will take what else I want to do from there.

In 2023 with my writing, I intend to continue to share positive, ideas and continue pursuit of my belief – everyone should aim to live a more fulfilling life through interests, connections and finding meaning.

Career

Five years ago I never expected to be doing the job I’m doing.

Eight years ago when I would write my ramblings on this blog, I never realised I was kindling a fire within, that would ignite into a career change working in communications and engagement.

Changing career was a steep learning curve, but one that I’ve never regretted

If I could impart one bit of advice to the younger ones entering the workforce for the first time it’s this:

Know your place.

When you know your place in your job, you have a clear direction of how far you want to take your career.

Knowing your place shows a deep understanding of your values, and the type of work you like to do.

And knowing your place, helps you know when you have enough.

Enough:

• Money,
• Responsibility,
• Flexible working,
• Challenge.

I’ve witnessed too many people not knowing this, trapped on a promotion hamster wheel, always chasing the next role, never happy, never knowing when to get off.

Don’t be like this – know your place.

Although I’m settled, it’s important I take more risks – at times I hide in my comfort zone, sticking at the things I’m good at, and avoiding confronting the things that scare me.

I’ve come so far, but I still doubt myself, so I try to remember my own advice on imposter syndrome –

• be more compassionate,
• acknowledge the reason I’m in this position in the first place is because I’ve proved myself to be good enough to be at this level.

2023 – the year I need to fully invest and believe in me!

Health

It’s not been the best year for my health.

I’ve felt ill a lot, or unmotivated – It doesn’t help I reflect on what I could do.

I think about the time I could run a 5 minute mile.

Or that time around the Covid lockdown I squatted 160kg.

In my mind I get frustrated and inpatient that I can’t hit those peaks, or that my body doesn’t recover the same way as twenty year old me did.

I’m a father with lot of commitments in my life, no longer do I have leisure of lazy weekends after a hard gym sessions.

My goal for 2023 is to regain that strength and conditioning, respecting the boundaries of what I can achieve.

2023 is the year I will turn 40, it means being smarter, more patient, recognising my abilities, slower recovery times and more challenges in my life than just working out.

Family

This has been the most challenging year since becoming a father.

My youngest is determined in her ways, and it feels like everything is a battle.

This has left my wife and I exhausted, though on the positive its been a test to our patience, and I it’s made me a stronger person.

From a person whose written about self-improvement pre and post fatherhood, the difference is this:

Self-improvement when it’s just you is easy, you can put all your needs first.

Self-improvement when you have a child is doing it all on hard mode, wishing you’re child was more compromising, or could sleep through the night, or respect the time you had planned out to do that thing.

But you don’t get that luxury.

In 2023, the focus is being able to manage and try to reduce the impact on the other prioriteis in my life.

Another year ends

I’m not the type of person who believes that the number of the year, meant you had a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ year, it’s just life…

But 2022 hasn’t been easy, with the adversity, I will take forward the learnings to make me better for the years ahead.

This is me signing off until 2023.

Wishing you the best in your success

James @Perfect Manifesto