22 Lessons Learned in 2022

These 22 lessons come from a variety of experiences and events, including personal and professional wins and losses.

The goal is to take a step back and evaluate my growth and progress.

I hope that by sharing my lessons learned, you may find some inspiration or insight for your own self-reflection and growth.

1. Clarity of goals is more important than the speed with which you want to achieve them. Faster is not always better in this case.

Taking the time to carefully plan and execute a strategy can often lead to better outcomes in the long run.

2. Consistency and hard work trumps talent.

Talent is great, but it's not everything.

It's important to remember that consistency and hard work can often trump raw talent.

No matter what your natural abilities may be, putting in the time and effort to hone your skills and improve yourself can lead to great things.

3. Focus on learning more than results gives better results in the long term.

When it comes to achieving success, it can be tempting to focus solely on the end result.

But it's important to remember that the journey is just as important as the destination.

By focusing on learning and growth rather than just the end result, we can set ourselves up for even greater success in the long term.

So, let's not just aim for results. Let's focus on the learning and growth that will get us there.

4. Your entire life can change with one year of focused daily effort.

One year may seem like a short amount of time, but it's amazing how much can be accomplished in just 365 days.

Most people overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can do in a year.

Understand the power of small daily actions.

5. Most of your friends aren’t really your friends.

Most of the people you call your friends are really just acquaintances, showing up for the fun or celebratory moments in our lives but disappearing when times get tough.

Our true friends, on the other hand, are the ones who stick by us through the ups and downs, supporting us even when we have nothing to offer in return.

These friendships are rare and valuable.

Cherish them.

Nurture them.

6. Not every relationship needs your equal attention.

It's important to recognize that not every relationship in our lives requires the same level of attention and effort.

It's okay to prioritize and focus on the relationships that are most important to us as long as we are being fair and respectful to others.

Let's be mindful of the balance in our relationships and invest our time and energy wisely

7. People you think will be with you in your tough times will desert you when the going gets tough, and people you've met only once will help you with all their might even when they don't have to.

8. If you think something nice about someone, always tell them right then

It's easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget to express appreciation and kindness to others.

But it's important to remember that a simple compliment or kind word can go a long way.

If you have a positive thought about someone, don't wait to tell them.

Let them know right then and there.

You never know how much it might mean to them.

Let's make an effort to spread positivity and kindness wherever we go.

9. Never think twice about investments in yourself.

10. Most people you share your dreams with would like to see you NOT achieve them. Share less, do more and move on.

11. Most people don't actually care about you. So stop caring about what others think about you because they probably aren’t even thinking about you.

12. Regret is way more painful than failure. READ IT TWICE.

Failure is an inevitable part of life. And it's okay to make mistakes.

But regret is a different story.

Regret can be a painful and lasting emotion, one that lingers long after a failure has passed.

It's the "what ifs" and "should haves" that can haunt us and hold us back.

So, let's not be afraid to take risks and try new things.

Yes, we may fail, but it's better to have tried and failed than to have lived with the regret of not trying at all.

13. Never let the quest for MORE distract you from the beauty of ENOUGH.

"He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature." - Socrates

In today's world, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of more.

More money, more success, more things. But it's important to remember that there is beauty in the concept of enough.

Enough can be satisfying and fulfilling, and it allows us to appreciate and value what we already have.

Let's not let the quest for more distract us from the joy and contentment that comes with enough.

14. Always value finding the truth over being right. Learn to enjoy being wrong.

It's natural to want to be right, but it's important to remember that sometimes, being right isn't the most important thing.

What's more important is finding the truth.

And sometimes, finding the truth means being willing to admit when we are wrong.

Allow yourself to be open to new ideas and perspectives.

15. Sort your finances. Get out of debt quickly. Put money where it grows faster than inflation.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your finances, then it's time to take control.

Work on getting out of debt as quickly as possible.

Look for opportunities to invest in assets that will grow faster than inflation, such as stocks, real estate, or a small business.

By taking control of your finances, you can set yourself up for long-term financial success.

16. Take risks but first evaluate them like crazy and faster.

Risk-taking can be an important part of achieving success, but it's important to be mindful and strategic about the risks we take.

And while it's important to take risks, it's also important to do so quickly. Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis.

Trust your research and make a decision.

17. Walk more. Run less. Jog a little.

Walking is a great way to get your heart rate up and burn calories, and it's easy on the joints.

Plus, walking is a great way to clear your mind and reduce stress.

18. Your habits put you in a position where luck is more likely to strike

We often attribute luck to chance, but it's important to recognize that much of what we call "luck" is actually the result of many small actions and decisions.

19. Brag about the right things

What I used to brag about:

• No sleep
• 16 hours a day work. 7-day-a-week meetings. Not using my leaves.
• Fancy titles and credentials

What I now brag about:

• Sleeping 8 hours
• Regular walks
• Unstructured schedules with free time
• Working in short, creative sprints
• Spending time with my son

20. NO is a powerful word

As we progress in our careers, it's important to recognize that the approach we take to new opportunities and challenges can change.

In the early stages of our careers, it can be beneficial to say "yes" to as many opportunities as possible.

This allows us to gain experience, learn new skills, and push ourselves out of our comfort zone.

However, as we gain more experience and build our expertise, it may be more beneficial to shift our focus and start saying "no" to certain opportunities.

By saying "no," we can focus on the things that are most important to us and build leverage that compounds over time.

It's all about finding the right balance and being mindful of where we are in our careers.

21. Adopt an abundance mindset

A scarcity or a zero-sum mindset is the worst way to see the world.

The scarcity mindset says one person's gain must come at the expense of another's loss.

And give rise to negative emotions such as jealousy, fear, and envy. Which is self-limiting and unproductive.

An abundance mindset sees the world as a place full of potential and possibility and recognizes that there is enough to go around.

Let's strive to cultivate an abundance mindset and avoid the negative consequences of a zero-sum mindset.

22. If someone tries to put down your accomplishments or make you feel small, cut them out of your life

It's natural to find people who will try to hold us back or dismiss our achievements.

These individuals, whether they do so intentionally or unintentionally, are a hindrance to our success and happiness.

It's important to recognize and distance ourselves from these "boat anchors."

Instead, seek out and surround ourselves with people who celebrate our wins and support our efforts.

By eliminating negative influences and focusing on positivity and celebration, we can increase our chances of success and happiness.

Conclusion

And those are the 22 lessons from 2022.

2022 has been full of valuable lessons and experiences. Let's hope 2023 provide even more!

I hope that sharing some of my own lessons learned has been helpful and that it has inspired you to conduct your own reflection.

BONUS Learning:

23. You don’t need to have an opinion on everything

"I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do." - Charlie Munger

It's okay to say, "I don't know," or "I'm not sure."

In fact, admitting when we don't have all the answers can be a sign of strength and humility.

Here's to another year full of learning and growth!