2017 year in review: The Marathon

It's that time of year where I stop to take a breath and take stock of the what I've done this year. If I had to pick a theme for my year, it would be marathon. From 1 Jan until now, I pretty much haven't stopped, which is why you're seeing this on 31 Dec.

In 2017, I've had maybe a grand total of 10 days off (that's including weekends), where I did no work at all. I don't know if I'm proud or ashamed of that. Yeah yeah, I know - work life balance, burn out, 5 hours of sleep a night isn't enough, who are you and what are you doing in my house. I've heard it all.

But on the other hand... Ikigai. It doesn't feel like I've only had 10 days off, because most of the time, I didn't really even consider what I was doing 'work'.

On your marks, get set...

This time last year, I said I wanted to embark on my own journey. I wanted to venture into a space in which I had no real experience, to start from scratch so I can learn something new. With that in mind, the goal I set was to grow ColourSpace and manage the launch of the UnderstandingSuper app. Two businesses in two completely different industries (art and finance, respectively). Why not? I'm pumped. I'm ready to go.

0-10km: "Yeah! Look at me go!"

As with the start of any race, I was full of energy. I was in pretty high focus most of the time. ColourSpace is a business that I've built from scratch. That meant anything that I did, I was doing for the first time. It was fun and a world of 'firsts'. First rotations, first new installations, first event, first time setting up new systems. Everything was shiny and new, and everything was a learning opportunity. I was building the plane as I was flying it, so to speak.

It's really easy to be swept up in the momentum and energy in the first 10km. People are cheering you on, clapping you on the back. The world is your oyster.

• What I'm proud of: Whenever I did something new, I immediately thought of it in terms of what system or repeatable process I could put in place so that the effort could be repeated.
• Something I learnt: I should have fully taken the time to research and learn about existing tools, systems, or services that could have helped me work better. This is the classic case of: "I wonder if there's a tool that helps me reduce my admin workload? Well, I'm too busy doing admin to learn about that."

10-20km: "Hmm. This isn't as easy as it looks."

After a while though, the 'firsts' are no longer firsts. The cheering crowds thin out and the realisation that you're in a marathon actually hits. And then all of a sudden you turn the corner and there's a hill in front of you, that you can't quite see the top of.

Maybe growing a business really isn't that easy after all. Delays were mounting on the UnderstandingSuper app. I was starting to get knock backs from ColourSpace prospects. Mistakes were made, opportunities lost, a couple of balls dropped. But whatever, I'm awesome, I can keep doing this.

• What I'm proud of: I have no background in sales and hate selling, but I knew I needed to get out there and do it. So I bit the bullet. I did my cold calls and went to networking events with the express aim of hustling. Throughout it all, I maintained the 'growth' mindset and I learned heaps from the experience.
• Something I learnt: I finally understand what people mean when they say that 'selling isn't selling, it's about helping people'. When I stopped trying to flog ColourSpace and see networking events as a way of just getting to know people as if I was meeting them at a dinner party, I got 'sales' out of my head.

20-30km: "Wait, why am I running again?"

Around the middle of the year, I started to hit the wall. I was still running, but I couldn't quite figure out why. I began to doubt what I was doing, and what my purpose was. I wasn't quite getting the sales numbers I wanted for ColourSpace and there didn't seem to be much real growth. The super app was continuing to be delayed. "Is ColourSpace really a thing or am I just telling myself that it is? Am I even doing the right thing?"

Sometimes, I felt like I was the dumbest person on the planet. I felt like everyone else was doing better than I was. They were more successful, more capable, made better decisions, was more financially stable, and were better at their jobs than I was. The grass was well and truly greener on the other side.

• What I'm proud of: I was pretty open in talking about this to my friends, partners and colleagues. It can be very tempting to put on a positive face for everyone, but I was glad that I could openly talk about some of these fears with others, because their support was what helped me continue to run.
• Something I learnt: I saw a Facebook post by all-round awesome dude Finbar O'Hanlon that I'm going to paraphrase: "I've come to recognise that the feeling of fear is actually when I'm doing my most learning." This made sense. I felt fear because I was outside my comfort zone and didn't know what I was doing. But then... when I learnt how to deal with those problems, then I've expanded my comfort zone. Thus fear = learning. Thanks Finbar!

30-40km: "Oh yeah - there's other people running too"

As I started to reach the latter half of the race, something amazing started to happen.

• First, ColourSpace won the inaugural Hatch Quarter start-up prize.
• Then we started to get unsolicited inquiries from customers through the website.
• Then we were invited to host an art auction with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, where we got to partner with and support Youth Projects.
• Then we appeared on SBS World News (with thanks to Hatch Quarter, Cube Group, and artist Jane Downing).
• Then the UnderstandingSuper app launched (available now on iOS and the Google Play Store!).
• Then I helped launch the Social Entrepreneurs Network.

I was getting my stride back. Momentum was building. People were reaching out to me, whether to collaborate for ColourSpace, Super, or something else. The slog was paying off. I remembered why I was doing this. I wanted to make an impact. And more than that, there were other people in the race. I wasn't alone. And these people wanted to help me!

• What I'm proud of: For continuing the slog. There were moments in this phase where I still wasn't sure of what I was doing, but I made sure I kept going. I kept reminding myself that it was a marathon, that I was not alone, and that helped ground me.
• Something I learnt: "Create a vision bigger than yourself, so that when new people come along, there is a space for them to contribute." This is something my best friend Brett Fisher said, and is something that continues to hold true. By adopting that outlook, it's meant I've been able to explore new opportunities that wouldn't have existed, had I stayed intent on 'wanting to do everything myself'.

The last 2km: "Worth it."

As I look back on the marathon, I can only think to myself: "Worth it." It's been an incredible journey, and I can't quite believe just how much I managed to squeeze into 2017. Did I do everything perfectly? No. But that's besides the point. I started because I wanted to do something completely new, so I could learn. I wanted to end the year a better person than I started, and I think managed to do that.

The 2018 marathon

I don't quite believe in resolutions. They're hard, often arbitrary, and you feel bad if you don't do it. I much prefer themes, and the theme for 2018 is 'Balance'.

I've run hard this year, and I can tell it's taken a toll. I'm a few kilos heavier. My knee actually hurts for some reason (that's not a metaphor, in case you were wondering). All that stress eating and lack of regular exercise? That's no good.

I've decided that the whole '10 days off a year' is probably on the 'shameful' side of the spectrum, rather than 'proud'. So 2018 is therefore one of balance. I'm going to try wrestle work life balance into the mix, make more time for family and friends, and look after my health a bit more.

Wishing everyone a fantastic new year. Stay safe and keep running!