2022 Vision & Goals

 

If you’d like to read my 2021 annual review, check it here.

If 2021 was the year I entered my prime, then 2022 is the year I start building the kingdom. Imagine a thriving kingdom. Happiness and fulfillment permeate the air. As you walk around, magnificent buildings are like mini-paintings that litter your senses with awe. Rivers flow through the city and glisten with sparkles of gold dust. People all in love, kissing….. whoops, that’s probably too much.

But building a kingdom takes years, no, decades. A kingdom collapses without a sturdy frame. So 2022 is the year I build the frame of my kingdom.

In order to build the right frame, let’s start with my core values:

Core Values

I need six things to feel fulfilled:

  • Making useful things for others

  • Learning/Skill Development

  • Athletics/Training

  • Connection

  • Teaching/Mentorship

  • Pushing my comfort zone

If my days capture all six, it’ll have been an amazing day.

10-Year Vision

Become Quad-Lingual

Language is the key to another culture’s soul. When I lived in Columbia, the locals didn’t speak English. Every time this large fore-headed asian man (me) spoke to them, their eyes would light up, as if I flicked on a light switch. Language is the bridge that unites cultures.

The languages on my list so far:

  • English (of course)

  • Spanish (partially)

  • Chinese (only a bit)

  • Portuguese (none)

Be a Professional Athlete Forever

My first love was sports. I loved the idea of waking up at 4am to go to grind toward a championship. I loved the idea of being behind, one minute left and finding a way to win the game. I even loved the idea of having my leg broken, walking in crutches to school, as if it were a badge of honor.

The most important gift athletics gave me wasn’t entertainment or a fit body. Athletics gave me the strength of mind and stirred my competitive spirit. I care less about becoming a “true” professional athlete, but more about embodying the archetype of an athlete.

Become a World-Class Teacher

Not a grade-school teacher. I still care about getting paid. Great teachers are the ultimate catalysts for society. Teachers have the power to change the direction of a kids life with a single sentence. Teachers have the power to breathe confidence into their students.

To me, a world-class teacher is:

  • Able to take a complex skill or idea and convey it in a way that clicks for a student.

  • Breathe confidence into their students.

  • Give proper feedback on how to reach the next level.

This can be in-person, through writing, video etc. The intention is, that I want to play a role in helping someone else become great. And in order to help someone else become great, I must become great myself.

Raise a family and children that are 10x the person I am

10X doesn’t mean earn more money or be more successful than I am (but it could be). I define 10x as children who’ve developed their own principles for a successful life and embody them to the max. I define 10x as my children living free of the demons I had. They strive to improve themselves, build their character and give back, in whatever form they feel called for.

The best way to get there, is to work through my own demons , build my own character and most importantly, be this person myself. 

Become the World’s Greatest at ______.

I don’t know what it is yet. However, I’m not looking to become the best playing traditional games (such as world’s best basketball player, best consultant, best programmer).

What interests me more is building a personal monopoly. A personal monopoly is a monopoly where my unique experiences, obsessions and skills form a unique skillset that no one else has.

Examples:

  • The greatest investment advisor for pilots.

  • The greatest writer on stoic philosophy

The most important way to do this, is to follow my own obsessions and monitor my natural talents. I’ll improve significantly faster on the topics I’m obsessed with. If I’m obsessed with something I’m naturally good at, I’ll become lethal.

I’ll need to keep accelerating my skill development and redefining what I’m doing until I become the world’s greatest at X. But the overarching vision, is to become “the best.” 

Impact 1 million people

Once I become the best (or while I’m becoming the best), I use what I learn to help others. There’s no point in becoming the world’s greatest if I don’t use my skill set to give back to others. 1 million is kind’ve an arbitrary number but let’s roll with it. 

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt

I started Jiu Jitsu this year. I found Jiu Jitsu to be the ultimate cerebral sport. We’re playing chess with our bodies and fighting with our minds. I honestly don’t care much about belts but this gives me a motivating vision to keep practicing Jiu Jitsu. But my true goal is to be the best I can be everyday:

  • Blue Belt (2023/24) - 31 years old

  • Purple Belt (2026/27) - 33 years old

  • Brown (2030) - 36 years old

  • Black Belt (2032) - 39 years old

This also ties in with my “professional athlete” vision as this gives me a sport to consistently train for.

Build My “Scene”

Elon Musk, Peter Thiel were a part of the PayPal Mafia. Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David all worked together when kickstarting their comedy careers. They had their “scene.” 

I’m less interested in short-term, ephemeral relationships. I’m interested in building my “scene.” I’m interested in building multi-decade relationships. Relationships where we’re pushing each other past our limits. We have a level of trust built where the power of our word is as legit as a legally signed agreement. 

Build Financial Freedom

To me, financial freedom isn’t living frugally in Thailand forever. I can do this now. Financial Freedom is what would allow me to realize every other component of this vision. Financial freedom would allow me to: 

  • Hire the best coaches to develop my skills to become the best. 

  • Go on last minute, epic adventures with friends to deepen connections.

  • Hire a chef that’ll cook nutritious food that’ll allow me to stay an athlete.

  • Give my family and children the resources to be 10 time better than I am. 

Concluding remarks on vision….

This is my first time taking a stab at writing out a 10-year vision so I don’t expect this vision to stay static. I expect to clarify and change this vision over the years, especially on the areas that are vague.

What do I need to accomplish in 2022 to realize this vision?

If my vision is the kingdom, then what does the frame look like? I’ve broken 2022 goals into two categories: outcome-based and process-based. Outcome-based goals are goals that I don’t have control over. Process-based goals are goals I have complete control over. The thinking, is if I hit my process-based goals, the outcome goals will take care of itself. If not, I re-adjust my process-based goals. 

Physical Health

Become a two stripe white belt in Jiu Jitsu (outcome)

Vision: Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt

Process: Attend Jiu Jitsu Class at least 3x a week

My goal is not to learn Jiu Jitsu as fast possible. I could attend class every day, but I’d need to sacrifice more in other areas of my life. I don’t want to do that. I prefer to be more consistent than be optimized here.

Maintain 10 to 12% Body Fat (outcome)

Vision: Stay a Professional Athlete Forever

Process:

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Continue working out everyday

I’ve noticed myself eat a lot more junk food lately. Luckily, this hasn’t affected my body fat % but it’s not a habit I’d like to continue. 

Mental Health

Continue understanding my emotional issues (outcome)

Vision: Raise a family and children that are 10X the person I am

Process: Continuing seeing a therapist every week

I’ve been seeing a therapist every week. Therapy will be the best method for me to work through some of my own emotional issues so I don’t pass it onto my future children.

Work

Grow my email list to 1000 subscribers (outcome)

Vision: Become a World-Class Teacher

Process: Publish useful content at least once every two weeks.

Publishing content will force me to continue flexing that teaching, communication muscle. This also can open the door to future business opportunities, relationships. I currently have a few hundred subscribers despite not having tried to grow my email list.

Earn at least $3000/month in side MRR (outcome)

Vision: Become a World-Class Teacher & Achieve Financial Freedom 

Process:

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science

  • Purchase my first real estate property?

  • Make XX investment in DeFi?

I want to make three shots on goal in hitting this outcome. 3 shots should give me enough variety while also allowing me to go deep enough. 

Get promoted (outcome) 

Vision: Achieve Financial Freedom & Become a World-Class Teacher

Process:

  • Take one course on management to learn fundamentals of being a manager (process)

Per my recent review, I have an opportunity to move into a managerial role. A managerial role will be a boost to income while my role will shift towards a mentorship role. 

Relationships

Build 5 deep, new, meaningful friendships (outcome)

Vision: Build my “scene”

Process:

  • Host or organize at least one event per month

Hosting events gives you the most social capital. But my intention here isn’t to throw ragers, but host dinner-parties. Specifically, dinners that facilitate deeper conversations to build connections around specific topics. For example, if I have a group of writers, we have a “writing dinner” where we can discuss topics, strategies and ideas.

Find a romantic partner that I can "move to the next stage"

Vision: Raise a family and children that are 10X the person I am

Process:

  • Go on a maximum of 1 to 2 dates per week (aim for higher quality than quantity)

I realized goals like “find a serious relationship” to not be the right goal. Whenever I meet someone new, my mind would jump immediately to whether this person was “long term” material. The problem, is this puts too much pressure on me in the beginning, so I don’t give people a chance OR I get too invested.

The better framing is to find someone I can move to the next stage with. For example, after dating for two months, can I see myself being with them for six months? At six months, can I see myself being with them for a year?

Finances

Be profitable for at least 10/12 months

Vision: Achieve Financial Freedom

Process:

  • Budget and track spending weekly

  • Stop relying on delivery apps

Being profitable means after I’ve invested my money, my net income after the month stays in the green or is break-even. Investing as the traditional sense (IRA, 401K, stocks) and business investments.

The principle here is to pay myself first. I’m making sure I invest my money first to continue building my net worth. 

Final Goal List

Process

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science

  • Take one management course to learn fundamentals

  • Host or organize at least 8 events in 2022

  • Budget and track spending weekly

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Publish at least 26 useful pieces of content

  • Continue going on dates, but limit yourself to 1 to 2 max per week (continue)

  • Continue seeing a therapist every week (continue)

  • Continue working out everyday (continue)

  • Continue attending Jiu Jitsu Class at least 3x a week (continue)

Outcome

  • Be profitable for at least 10/12 months

  • Build 5 deep, new, meaningful friendships

  • Earn at least $3000/month in side MRR

  • Become a two stripe white belt in Jiu Jitsu

  • Grow my email list to 1000 subscribers

  • Find a romantic partner that I can "move to the next stage"

How am I sequencing these goals?

I have 18 total goals, 11 process-based and 7 outcome based. I have less control over the outcome-based goals. If I execute the process-based goals, I should make progress on the outcome-based goals, therefore I’ll filter the process-based goals into my schedule. Continue-based goals will apply to all months. 

January

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Budget and track spending weekly

February

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Take one management course to learn fundamentals

  • Budget and track spending weekly

March

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Host or organize at least one event per month

April

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Host or organize at least one event per month

May

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Host or organize at least one event per month

June

  • Build and launch a course on ML Algorithms for 365 Data Science.

  • Limit ice cream/candy to one day per week

  • Host or organize at least one event per month

I’m intentionally limiting myself to 6 months, since I’ll need another reset mid-year. I’ve found it difficult to set specific goals that far in advance.

What memories do I want to have?

The success of 2021 was based off the number of memorable experiences I counted throughout the year. To make sure I keep having memorable experiences, here’s my list for 2022:

  • Surf in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

  • Sundance Film Festival

  • Snowboarding in Utah & Colorado

  • Las Vegas

  • Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival?

What’s my misogi?

Every year, I need an extremely difficult challenge that pushes the limits of what I believe is possible. In 2021, that was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. This year, a few ideas:

  • Live in the wilderness and survive on my skills (BOSS 14-Day Wilderness Survival)

  • Climbing Mt. Elbrus in Russia

  • Go to France and bike the hardest climb of the Tour De France

  • Surfboard paddle from Miami to Cuba

I haven’t settled on the idea yet, so TBD! Targeting summer-time.

What do I want to learn more about?

  • Financial System/Monetary Policy

  • Learning/Skill-Development Science

  • How to build great products

  • Evolutionary Psychology

  • Causal Inference

  • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Cheers to a new year!