Saying hello from Waco! (Photo not taken in Waco)
January Highlights
Skiing in Telluride
Celebrated my birthday in some fresh powder.
Got back to the Wack
Back in Waco for my last semester at school... woohoo!
Tapped to help start new VC Fund
Working on a super secret venture fund - stay tuned.
Habits
If 2020 was a year for me to get in a rhythm of healthy physical habits, 2021 will be my year for building new mental habits and so far I've been off to a great start.
New Stuff
Checkpoints
Over the years, I've tried a million different ways to keep track of my short term goals, from using a planner to using reminders to putting dates on my calendar. Though the calendar is super useful for meetings and day to day activities, I've always had difficulty finding a simple solution to track my short term goals. This past month, I began a practice of using what I call "checkpoints." This basically just entails me sitting down Sunday evening every week and physically writing and outlining the goals I want to work on throughout the week, on a piece of paper - each goal with a box to check to the left. This visual helps me keep on track and make sure I'm checking the boxes as I move throughout the week. I like to keep the paper posted behind my desk so I see it anytime I look up from my work.
Mindfulness
I've been continuing to use calm and now I am trying to get into the swing of spending 20 "mindful minutes" daily. This entails me fully disconnecting from my electronics and just focusing on me, myself, and I. By removing any access to work, school, friends, or family, I am able to recenter and refocus my energy to proceed through the rest of the day. Twenty minutes may seem like a lot, but it is well worth it.
Books
Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you have yet to read this book - you are missing out. Thank you Saba for the recommendation it was fantastic.
To summarize, the book helps guide readers through systematizing habits. By doing so, the mental fortitude needed to do certain (more difficult tasks) is removed, thereby allowing you to be more productive and live by the habits you idealize. The habits you keep are a matter of identity, not choice, so by tying your identity to the habits you wish to implement, you will naturally come to embody those habits.
Funny story from the book: the "pee bees" or images of a bug that are sometimes seen at the bottom of mens urinals were created after an Amsterdam study found that the detail would incentivize men to "aim," thereby reducing "spillage."
Favorite quote: "We optimize for what we measure. When we choose the wrong measurement, we get the wrong behavior... when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."
Struggles
Work/School/Life Balance
Haha. I'll let this one speak for itself.
Closing Thoughts
A lot has happened this past month, I think 2021 is moving pretty fast, so why don't we just take a deep breath and a step back and relax?
What’s Next
Figure out Gamestop
Have fun
Find landing place for after college
If you’re curious to see more of what’s going on, be sure to check out the rest of my blog. Or to see last month's update, check out Stryke’s Scoop from January!
Until next month!
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