The Achiever's Almanac to New Year's Resolutions 2025
Date: 1.1.2025 @ 9:17 AM EST
The calendar flips, the ball drops, and suddenly, 1,358,000 lost souls are scrambling, Googling "New Year resolutions ideas." The desperation is palpable.
The new year dawns and folks are still clueless about what they actually want. They're looking for a magic bullet, a pre-packaged dream to latch onto.
But let me tell you, the most potent resolutions aren't found on a search engine results page.
They're found within, in the quiet corners of your ambition and discontent.
The confetti has settled, the champagne flutes are empty, and the calendar has flipped to a new year. It's that time again, the time for fresh starts and ambitious resolutions.
We vow to hit the gym, write that novel, not drink more (but less either), learn a new language, or finally declutter the garage. But as the initial enthusiasm fades and the realities of daily life set in, those resolutions often start to feel like distant dreams.
By March, they're abandoned altogether, leaving us feeling discouraged and defeated.
Why does this happen? Why do our resolutions, made with such conviction, so often fail to materialize?
The answer lies not in a lack of willpower or motivation but in a failure to address the real reasons why resolutions are lost year after year.
It's time to change that pattern and dig into systematic goal-setting and achievement.
The first step is recognizing that new goals and desired changes require dedicated time and energy.
If your days are already packed, you must create space for your resolutions. This might mean cutting back on less important activities or streamlining your existing commitments.
If you don't make room for your goals in your schedule, they'll never become a reality.
Next, let your priorities govern your schedule, not vice versa.
Too often, we allow external demands and interruptions to dictate our days. To achieve your resolutions, you need to take control and prioritize what truly matters to you.
Honesty with yourself is also essential. Don't make resolutions just to appease others or to create a facade of self-improvement. Identify what truly matters to you and focus your energy on those goals.
Resolutions require resources. Whether it's new equipment, time, information, or support from others, ensure you have the necessary tools to succeed. Investing in your goals can also increase your motivation to follow through.
Break down your objectives into daily tasks and timelines. This approach allows you to make consistent progress, even if it's just baby steps. Refuse to end any day without taking at least one small action toward your goal.
Refuse to end any day without taking at least one small action toward your goal.
One action.
Small one.
Motivation is another beast, and even the most motivated individuals need support.
Find someone who can hold you accountable, celebrate your progress, and encourage you.
If your resolution involves significant change, build up to it gradually. Starting with smaller, achievable goals can help you avoid burnout and increase your chances of long-term success.
If you've already stumbled, don't despair. It's never too late to regroup. Take some time to reflect on your resolutions, choose the ones that mean the most, and recommit to them with renewed focus.
Finally, strive to make better use of your time. Stress and pressure will always weaken you and lead to procrastination.
The Productivity Paradox
The relentless pursuit of productivity in today's shaky business world has led many to a constant state of connectivity.
Swipe.
Swipe.
And again, just in case.
Don’t you?
We've become slaves to our inboxes, our cell phones, and the never-ending stream of so-called news.
We pride ourselves on being instantly accessible, always "on," and ready to respond at a moment's notice. But in this quest for efficiency, have we sacrificed something far more valuable: our effectiveness?
The truth is that the constant barrage of communication and information overload is taking a toll on our ability to become our best. The pressure to be constantly available leaves little room for quiet reflection, strategic thinking, or even simple moments of mental rest.
We rush through conversations, make hasty decisions, and react impulsively, all in the name of productivity.
The irony is that this approach often backfires. When we're constantly under pressure, our ability to think clearly, make sound judgments, and communicate effectively diminishes.
We become less resilient in the face of challenges, more prone to burnout, and less able to seize opportunities when they arise.
Say horse to a horse: it’s designed this way.
BUT it's time to reclaim our effectiveness by recognizing the importance of "recovery time."
This means carving out moments in our day for quiet contemplation, allowing our minds to wander and process information without the constant distractions of technology. It means setting boundaries and prioritizing quality over quantity in our communication.
True effectiveness isn't about being constantly busy or instantly accessible. It's about being present, focused, and intentional in our actions. It's about creating space for strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and meaningful connections.
The Siren Song of "More"
The mantra of "more" — more revenue, more clients, more market share — echoes through boardrooms and startup incubators alike.
It's a seductive tune, promising success and prosperity.
But it’s just that - a promise.
If you made at least a couple million, you know it doesn’t work this way.
This relentless pursuit of "more" is actually hindering our path to true profitability and sustainable growth.
Conventional wisdom dictates that growth is the ultimate measure of success.
We're conditioned to believe that bigger is always better and that expansion is the key to unlocking greater profits.
I remember working with multi-billion conglomerate Studio Moderna back in Slovenia. Their main topic in the boardroom was growing leads and pushing them through the sales funnel to sell products using email marketing.
I was puzzled why they focused on the front end instead of first digging into and optimizing the backend they already had. They had millions of buyer emails, and my point was, ‘Let’s increase the average sale and order value of your current customers first.’
Anyway, the quantity mindset can lead us down a treacherous path, where the pursuit of growth becomes an end in itself, blinding us to potential pitfalls and hidden costs.
The unbridled quest for expansion can strain resources, dilute focus, and compromise quality. It can lead to burnout, customer neglect, and, ultimately, a decline in profitability.
Or losing market share.
Or falling into any of the dozen fatal rabbit holes businesses can fall into.
The allure of "more" can easily distract us from the fundamental business principle: creating value for our customers and ourselves.
Value, not numbers.
The 80/20 Rule and the Illusion of Growth
The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
In the business context, this often translates to 80% of profits coming from 20% of clients. While the remaining 80% of clients contribute to overall revenue, they may be consuming a disproportionate amount of resources and yielding minimal profit.
The only valuable resource we can’t replenish is time. These 80% of clients (can) represent a serious time burden on the business.
Similarly, entrepreneurs often find that they generate most of their income from a small fraction of their time. The rest of their time may be spent on low-value tasks, distractions, or inefficient processes.
Pursuing "more" too often exacerbates this imbalance, further diluting focus and decreasing overall productivity.
Instead of chasing endless growth, entrepreneurs would be better off considering a more strategic approach, focusing on nurturing and maximizing the value of their most profitable clients and activities.
This may involve letting go of clients who consume excessive resources but contribute little to the bottom line.
Here’s a free strategy for you.
Refer worst clients to competition and thus weaken their power. They will never know what hit them.
Granted, EY won’t manage something so profound for your business.
It may also mean delegating or eliminating low-value tasks, freeing time for more strategic and profitable endeavors.
By shifting the focus from quantity to quality, entrepreneurs can create a leaner, more efficient operation that delivers greater value to both their customers and themselves.
The Power of Less
Pursuing "more" often leads to a brute-force approach to growth, where entrepreneurs and salespeople try to cram more activities into their already overflowing schedules.
They work longer hours, multitask relentlessly, and sacrifice personal time in the name of productivity.
However, this approach is unsustainable and ultimately counterproductive.
If you do it, stop it. Please.
You deserve better.
Instead of trying to do more, focus on more effectively leveraging their existing assets—time, skills, and knowledge.
This may involve improving processes, automating tasks, or outsourcing non-core activities. It may also mean investing in training and development to enhance skills and increase efficiency.
Nobody is too old to learn, and nobody is too young to teach. Learn from everybody, even if you manage 1B of assets. The bigger means you are bigger target.
By working smarter, entrepreneurs and achievers can achieve more significant results with less effort. This approach improves profitability and creates a more sustainable and fulfilling life.
Life Energy, Time Management, and Success
In the relentless hustle of modern life, the sensation of fatigue seems to be an ever-present companion.
We begin the week with boundless enthusiasm, only to find our energy waning as the days progress. The initial spark of motivation dwindles, replaced by exhaustion and sometimes overwhelm.
Where does all that energy go, and how can we reclaim it to fuel our success?
The answer lies in understanding that we are beings of energy - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Our choices about how we expend this life energy have profound consequences. Our lives are, in essence, financed by the resources available to us, and time and energy are the most precious.
Just as we carefully manage our financial resources to avoid bankruptcy, we must also be mindful of how we invest our life energy.
If we spend it indiscriminately, we risk burnout, exhaustion, and missed opportunities. The key to sustainable success lies in the wise stewardship of our time and energy.
Entrepreneurs and other performers, driven by ambition and the demands of their professions, often experience perpetual energy depletion.
Often without being aware.
The constant pressure to generate leads, close deals, and manage operations can leave little time for rest and rejuvenation.
The irony is that this relentless pursuit of productivity actually hinders success.
I’ve time-tested when I regularly take time off and do nothing related to business, and the results are correlated with significantly more success. I’ve tried again and again, and the result is always - without exception - the same.
It feels like wasting time doing ‘nothing’ but, in fact, recovers life energy and performs much better when working.
When we're running on empty, our decision-making suffers, our creativity wanes, and our ability to build meaningful relationships diminishes. We become less effective, less resilient, and less able to seize opportunities when they arise.
Your Time and Energy First, Black Badge Second
The first step in effective time and energy management is recognizing their true value.
If you don't know what your time is worth, the world will decide on their own - and you won’t like it.
When we undervalue our time and energy, we allow others to misuse and abuse them.
We say yes to every request, attend every meeting, and respond to every notification, even when these demands drain our resources and detract from our flagship goals.
No, no, no.
No.
To reclaim control, we must establish clear boundaries and communicate our priorities.
This may involve saying no to certain requests, delegating tasks, or setting specific times for communication and meetings.
By valuing our time and energy, we send a powerful message to others that we are in control of our lives and success.
Quiet Time (Just Like in Kindergarten)
Research shows that quiet time—and even boredom—can enhance a child's ability to think more creatively.
In today's noisy world, silence has become a rare commodity.
We are constantly bombarded with stimuli - from the din of traffic to the notifications on our devices. This constant noise depletes our energy, fragments our attention, and hinders our ability to think deeply and creatively.
To recharge our life energy and tap into our inner wisdom, we need to create space for silence in our lives.
Easier said than done.
This may look like setting aside dedicated time each day for meditation, reflection, or simply being present in the moment without distractions.
It may also mean creating a physical environment that promotes quiet and focus, free from the constant buzz of technology.
Some people like journaling.
I like to go to a mountain every month for 3 hours.
Alone.
Only in silence can we access a deeper level of awareness, tap into our intuition, and gain clarity on our goals and priorities. Quiet time allows us to connect with our inner selves, replenish our energy reserves, and emerge refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
We often neglect the importance of rest and rejuvenation. We work long hours, sacrifice weekends, and push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion.
This approach is not only unsustainable but also counterproductive.
The ancient tradition of the sabbath, a day of rest and reflection, offers a powerful antidote to the modern burnout epidemic.
By setting aside one day a week to disconnect from work, engage in meaningful activities, and spend time with loved ones, we can replenish our energy reserves and return to our work with renewed focus and enthusiasm.
Reclaiming your Sabbath is not about laziness or indulgence. By honoring our need for rejuvenation, we can create a more sustainable and fulfilling life, personally and professionally.
Maverick Time Productivity Requires Focus and Intention
Maverick time productivity is a philosophy that challenges the conventional wisdom of endless hustle and grind. It's about breaking free from the shackles of busyness and reclaiming control of your time and energy.
It's about prioritizing what truly matters and creating a work life that is both productive and fulfilling.
At its core, the maverick mindset is about questioning the status quo and forging your own path. It's about recognizing that the traditional approach to productivity may not be the most effective and that there's a better way to achieve your goals.
Critical Principles of Maverick Time Productivity
The Power of Decision: The foundation of maverick time productivity lies in your decisions about how you'll conduct your business and how others will interact with you. It's about setting clear boundaries and expectations and not being afraid to say no to requests that don't align with your priorities.
Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset: Time is the one resource you can't replenish. Protect it fiercely and prioritize activities that generate the highest return on investment. This means eliminating distractions, delegating tasks, and focusing on high-value activities that move the needle. People will call you ignorant, but it’s their opinion.
The Brain Fog: The constant stream of communication and information overload can lead to "brain fog" — a state of mental exhaustion and decreased effectiveness. Maverick time productivity advocates for creating space for quiet reflection and recovery time, allowing your mind to rest and recharge.
End the E-mail Obsession: Constantly checking emails and notifications is a major productivity killer. By setting specific times for email management and minimizing distractions, you can reclaim your focus and achieve more in less time.
Psychological Triggers: Visual cues and environmental reminders can help you stay focused and motivated. Tools like storyboards, lists, schedules, and activity charts can be powerful reminders of your goals and priorities.
The Magnetic Power of Visualization: Creating a clear mental picture of your desired future can be a powerful motivator. By visualizing your goals and ideal work life, you can tap into the subconscious mind's ability to manifest your desires.
Action with Discipline: Success requires action, and massive action at that. But balancing this bias for action with self-discipline and a sense of honor and integrity is also important. You can ensure that your actions lead to meaningful results by making commitments and holding yourself accountable.
Moral Authority: You need to establish moral authority to influence others and get your way. This means living in alignment with your values and principles and being someone others respect and trust.
Zero Tolerance Policy: To maintain control of your time and energy, it's essential to have a zero-tolerance policy for certain behaviors and distractions. This creates clear boundaries and expectations and helps you avoid the trap of people-pleasing and endless accommodation.
Focus on the Valuable Few: The 80/20 rule applies to clients and your own activities. You can more effectively prioritize your time and energy by identifying the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of your results.
How You Can Implement Maverick Time Productivity
Maverick time productivity is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's about finding the best for you and creating a system supporting your goals and priorities.
Here are some clues for getting started:
Conduct a time audit: Track how you spend your time for a week to identify areas for improvement.
Set clear goals and priorities: Define what you want to achieve and prioritize activities that align with your goals.
Create a schedule and stick to it: Block out time for focused work, meetings, and recovery time.
Minimize distractions:** Turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs, and create a distraction-free work environment.
Delegate and outsource:** Free up your time for high-value activities by delegating or outsourcing tasks that others can handle.
Say no strategically: Don't be afraid to refuse requests that don't serve your goals or drain your energy.
Take breaks and recharge: Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge.
Reflect and adjust: Regularly review your progress and adjust your approach as needed.
The Rewards of Maverick Time Productivity
You can accomplish more in less time by focusing on high-value activities and eliminating distractions.
Creating space for recovery time and setting boundaries can help you avoid burnout and maintain a healthy and sober mind - most of the time.
Tap into your creativity and make better decisions by allowing your mind to rest and recharge.
Prioritizing meaningful connections and setting clear expectations lead to stronger and more fulfilling relationships.
By controlling your time and energy, you can create a life that is aligned with your values and priorities.
Maverick time productivity is not about working harder or longer; it's about working smarter and living more intentionally.
By embracing this philosophy, you can unleash your full potential and achieve success on your own terms.