2021: Lessons, Time, Challenges, Advice

2?Lessons

?On developing new skills

Thousands of years ago, humans?domesticated?wild wolves, which became very useful to them, especially?as powerful protectors of their territory.?Domesticated wolves,?which?developed the necessary skills to survive in their new environment, are the animals we now know as dogs.?One recent study?has?shown?how,?by bonding and learning to work with humans, dogs may have?actually?become?worse at working together as a species. But, according to Yale’s Laurie Santos,?the animals have compensated?in other interesting ways: they have learned to use humans to solve problems. The relationship has become so close that even our brains are in sync.?By understanding?and tapping into our?emotions, dogs?have become our most empathetic friends.?The skill of empathy?has?ensured not only the survival of dogs but also a life that many?other?animals?would?envy.

The value of developing?new skills, just?as?our?four-legged?friends?have done,?was the biggest lesson for?me in 2021. When borders were sealed, doors were closed and?Safe-Passes?were needed, those who were daring and able gained a bigger audience. The survival of my business depended on developing the skill to attract and serve customers in the online world as well as (or even better than)?in?person. I learned this lesson and,?as a result,?I enjoyed?a very successful financial year.?

Staying inside my?Desire Zone

In May 2020,?I?was given?the book?Free to Focus?by Michael Hyatt, as a present.?In the book, the author talks about four zones of productivity?and prompts?us to?discover and uncover our?‘Desire Zone’, which lies at the intersection?of?our passion and?our?proficiency. This, according to?Hyatt, is where?we should?be?spending valuable and uninterrupted time.?When ‘in the zone’,?we can unleash our unique gifts and abilities, make the most significant contribution to our business, family and?probably?to the world at large.?I started thinking about this and concluded, for example,?that?I could?have?decided?to spend time?on?learning how to code?and doubtless?be miserable in the process.?Instead,?by staying inside?my?Desire?Zone,?I?chose?to hire people like Sophia?Shilimindri, whose skills are?complementary to mine. This was a?successful?strategic decision that allowed me to?perform at my very best.

0?Time to?Waste

Two adorable babies joined the?Virardi?family this year: Hector and?Marianda. Together with a lot of crying, they brought lots of joy to our family and made our?life more meaningful. As the twins were settling in, sleep deprivation reached its peak and, for the first time in years, I sometimes had to go to work after having less than three hours’ sleep. This new reality certainly gave me a better perspective on time management. Time unexpectedly became a precious and limited resource and I?decided to end all my not-so-essential activities, disappointing some of my friends and fans in the process. I was forced to prioritize and then re-focus all my energy on what was most important (80/20 rule). This is probably what delivered a very successful financial year.?

2?Challenges

Health

Health?and the?pandemic went?hand-in-hand?in 2021.?I am?a?year-round swimmer?but,?this year, I?missed quite a few?swim-workouts.?After the birth of?our?twins,?my priorities changed. Waking up four to five times every?night?for eight months?put an end to my habit of?waking?up?at 5.00?a.m.?and heading straight?to the sea?for my daily exercise.?You might think that I am?complaining (and?I?probably?am)?but?keeping healthy?and on track?is?one of the?things?that, like all of us,?I need to?ensure?in?2022.?We may?be forced to change?our priorities from time to?time?but it is up to?us?to decide?if?something?will be?merely?pause or?brought to?an abrupt?halt.?

Freedom

2021?was?probably?the?year that made?most?of us reconsider the value of freedom.?We were?reminded?for the second year running?that freedom is related to?both?choices and consequences. The release of vaccines?and the?various restrictions?imposed due to the pandemic?prompted?us to choose between freedom of movement and?the?freedom to control our bodies.?Working?from home prompted us to consider our freedom to choose our place of work. The rise of social media,?and the exploitation of our data by?some companies,?prompted?us to consider our freedom from?the standpoint of?propaganda and exploitation.

Most of us,?myself?included,?were obliged to weigh up the various pros and cons and to?take?decisions?which, in one way or another, impacted our freedom.

1?Final Word of Advice

As you will have noticed, the numbers in the headings of this letter refer to 2021 but a year is much more than its 12 months. It is the accumulation of a lifetime of experiences. I felt this most strongly when some people whom I first met in Austria in 2016 - and I kept in touch with them - hired me for a series of webinars just a few weeks ago. By focusing on the long term instead of the short term, on planting and planning instead of reaping immediate rewards, and on relationships instead of sales, you will increase your chances of enjoying a fruitful year in 2022 and beyond.

You are?your?brand. The relationship you cultivate with your customers is the brand. More and more start-ups?are chipping away at legacy brands.?Don’t?forget that as you head into 2022.?

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2021 is coming to an end but we can always carry lessons into a new year. If this year was good, make the next one even better. If this year was bad, reflect on why, and make changes in 2022. Think positively and?never?stop learning. Wishing you all a Merry Xmas, a Happy New Year 2022 and thank you for all your support and loyalty. It means a lot?to me.