Personal notes on 2023
Pushing harder, asymmetry, and stronger character. Learnings from my recovery, business and relationships.
Contents
Highlights and learnings
Push harder
Risk when returns are asymmetric
Be accountable to building stronger character
The “wins”
Favorite reads
Concluding
Highlights and learnings
I believe hindsight is a gift humans have, and when used properly, simple moments become a learning experience.
Push harder
On October 1st, 2022, I luxated my shoulder at the Amsterdam Zuid skate park. I spent 6 months gaining back my range of motion from a frozen shoulder.
In May 2023, I decided to gain back my strength by working with a professional trainer, Miquel. The training and change was so hard, but considering how much I paid before the program, backing out wasn’t an option.
Since then, I have had only 2 weeks when I didn’t work out a minimum of 3 times a week. I have also been mindful of what I eat and how much I sleep.
The result? I ran a caloric deficit of nearly 160,000 kcal, lost 20kgs and dropped below 10% of body fat. In 6 months!
Following my struggles of discipline within and outside the gym, I learned:
If you struggle to build a habit (or kill an old one), consider increasing your costs (pay more, relinquish control, increase accountability, etc)
Getting better (or losing weight) is easier done 1% more (or less) every week
The biggest difference between one who can do a 2-minute plank and one who does a 1-minute plank (other things being equal) is a positive mental attitude
You may already know, but these apply to building a better regimen in other areas other than directly related to the human body.
Like a race horse at the scent of the finish line, we can only sprint faster!
Risk when returns are asymmetric
At the end of last year, I purchased assets belonging to a struggling business. Through the year, we made a few changes and injected new capital. We also work on changing the staff culture and are currently developing a new revenue source.
It was some sleepless nights and sweat. But I think the long-term returns are not just for myself, but also for the families that rely on this income and the impact that will be made in society.
Asymmetry can be found in the difference between your (personal) risk and expected payoff in everyday things.
“The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.”
― Judges 7:2
A few things I believe also fall into this category are what you believe, who you marry, where you live and what you work on. It is a no-brainer to tell someone you like how you feel (if you are serious) or work on the big idea in your head. You may miss life’s happiest and biggest learning moments by not doing any of those.
I think payoffs are often hidden and not obvious too. For example, our small donations to non-profits are things we never benefit from, but could be the reason someone has hope for tomorrow.
Perhaps only two things should almost never be risked - your life and your reputation. If the stakes are high, then definitely payoffs may be worth it.
What’s needed before taking some risk is the end in mind and a little faith in God.
Be accountable to building stronger character
One of my friends is a great guy named Emmanuel. Earlier this year, we were having a chat about ourselves and realized how we make similar mistakes and have the flaws that we complain about our parents.
The outcome of this conversation was to resolve that we would hold ourselves and our friends accountable when we spot these things surfacing. Since then, I believe we are becoming much better and our relationships have grown stronger, as we can see an honest perspective different from ours.
Take accountability, blame is the water in which dreams and relationships drown.
― Steve Maraboli
I don’t think society can be any better if our families are not better. And neither can families be better if the constituent members don’t strive to build stronger character.
Strong character begins with the willingness and action to grow, and accountability.
The “wins”
I learned, took bold bets, spent time in solitude, fixed broken things, built new and improved on existing stuff, gave more, served more, and helped people more than I have ever done in a single year.
I am grateful to God for His grace and the following blessings:
I served God to the near limit of my physical capacity
I spent the most time mentoring people
I made the most money in a single year
I gave the highest percentage of my income in a single year
I became more responsible for my health
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. ― Galatians 6:8
Goals and room for improvement
As always, I still aim to improve next year in [1] spending time studying and living by God’s Word, [2] mentoring, [3] making more money, and [4] contributing to the advancement of God’s kingdom.
More specifically, I will spend more energy learning and working on [5] entrepreneurial activities, [6] non-profit work, and [7] family building.
Success
I always think about what quality and quantity metrics to use in measuring "success", and they remain the same this year:
How many people have I been a blessing to?
How kindly have I lived?
How much glory did my actions bring to God?
“When you get to my age, you'll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.” ― Warren Buffet
Favorite reads
My top 10 books this year:
Enough. by John C. Bogle
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
The Sacred Search by Gary Thomas
Soul in the Game by Vitaliy Katsenelson
The Intentional Father by John Tyson
The Joys of Compounding by Gautam Baid
Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do! by Robert Schuller
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgensen
Killjoys by DesiringGod
Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller
Others noteworthy:
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
If I have to pick a favorite for this year, it will be The Joys of Compounding, which I read for the second time for the love of it - it is now in my current, all-time top 5.
And now you wonder what my current 5 favorite books are:
Meditations by Marcus Aerelius
Principles by Ray Dalio
Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham
Titan by Ron Chernow
The Joys of Compounding by Gautam Baid
Concluding
I do not believe the Earth needs a complete revolution to make an inflection in our lives.
“One moment can change a day, One day can change a life, and One life can change the world.” — Buddha
But in the 2024 year, we will definitely continue to:
be brave and intentional,
work on our dreams,
love, listen and give more, and
pursue happiness much harder
I go to bed tonight feeling that God and every bright star above tonight’s pale sky seems to say: "Well done, Luke!”.