Here is are the 7 things I learnt from 2024.
1) Spend more time in Field 4
There are 4 fields of activity.
Field 1 – Things I suck at (e.g. tax returns)
Field 2 – Things I am good at, but comparable to others. (e.g. social media)
Field 3 – Things I am very good at that can be draining (e.g. speaking)
Field 4 – Things I am very good at that I find energising (e.g. writing, reading, learning)
In 2024, I wrote a book and 24 articles. I was missing one thing though – the emotional permission to write as much as I want about whatever I want.
In 2025, I am armed with this permission.
2) Take risks (again)
I got over the fear of public speaking through years of taking risks.
I told bad jokes, busted dance moves, and once sang in front of 3000 + people (I can’t sing…risky right?). When I was taking risks and trying new things, it was fun. As I have transitioned into becoming a paid speaker, things have gotten more serious.
Expect me to bring back the crazy in 2025 🙂
3) Compound interest
I live my life with this graph in mind.
Source: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson’s book, The Slight Edge, taught me that compound interest doesn’t only apply to money, it applies to everything. Everything in life compounds over time. This includes money and work, but also things like health, love, and kindness. The secret is simple regular disciplines done over a long time. The results will be boring at the start and beyond your wildest dreams at the end.
Albert Einstein was right when he said, “Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world”.
4) The mind is powerful.
Thinking makes us smart, but there is wisdom in silence.
When I encounter a problem, I usually try to think my way out of it. If thinking doesn’t work, I allow my mind to quieten down through meditation. Sometimes, ‘the answer’ pops up.
In silence, not only will you get answers to your questions, you will get answers to questions you didn’t know to ask.
Source: Final chapter of my book – Do Happy 🙂
5) It’s fun to believe that magic is real
Why do only kids get to believe in magic?
Cause and effect is the relationship between two events, where the cause leads to the effect. The cause is what I am willing to put in (e.g. writing, speaking, regular exercise). The effect is what I get in return. This is the magic. The less I expect from my actions, the more magic that seems to occur.
As I write this section, I received a life coaching enquiry from someone I haven’t interacted with in 3 years! #Magic
6) Use my imagination
If a silent mind is powerful, so is one that has the permission to imagine.
To paraphrase the late Dr Stephen Covey said, “Everything is created twice – first as a mental creation and then as a physical creation”. The ability to create mentally is only limited by our imagination. It makes sense to cultivate one’s capacity to imagine. There is power in creating what you want out of life vividly between your ears. It makes space for magical things to come true in reality.
It’s time to bring a child like imagination, not affected by the tyranny of how, back into my life.
5) Chop wood, carry water
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water”. – Unsure who said this
Once you achieve a goal, tomorrow is just another day. Pursuing a goal, chopping the wood and carrying the water, is the fun part. It’s where life happens. The question then becomes, what wood should I chop and where should I carry the water? Writing, meditation, gratitude, exercise, reading and time with loved ones are all on the list.
It’s the steady progressive realisation of a goal that makes us happy, not the achievement of them.
6) Extend the time horizon
Setbacks only matter if you are in a rush.
The shorter the time frame, the more you will put achieving a goal on a pedestal.
The longer the time frame, the more you will put chopping wood and carrying water on a pedestal.
Shorter timeframes make you rush, and things take longer anyway.
If you extend the time horizon, things will take as long as they need to.
Extending the time horizon is a much happier and healthier way to progress.
7) Work on the inside.
I recently attended a loved ones funeral.
There were 6 eulogies, none of which talked about the person’s material achievements. They spoke about the person’s warmth, kindness, love, and ability to smile in the face of adversity. All the inside stuff. If the inside is how people will remember us, why not grow and nourish it?
Who will speak at my funeral and what will they say?
I will work backwards from this.
If you want me to expand on any of these, REPLY to this email.
If you LOVED this, FORWARD this email to someone you care about.
Much love to you and of course, myself.
Dr G
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My first book Do Happy is out on Amazon…in the UK. It’s retailing at $53 (a tad expensive). Please DO NOT buy the book yet!
I don’t get it but my editor tells me that when it’s available in Australia (at a normal price), he will let me know. And then I will let you know.
If you want to see the craziness – check it out here
