As I get ready for 2024, and reflect on my year, my time in financial services, 10+ years of building tech products, losing my father and my good friend in 2023, I am left thinking about one thing that has been the most important concept to me over the last 12 months:

Self-sufficiency.

I think if you can reach a point, or a mindset, whereby you have the following thought process: no matter what happens to me, I’ll find a way – you’ve made it. You’ll make it work, no matter what. You understand the process to operate, build, and continue onward.

For me, the famous adage about fish sums up self-sufficiency more than anything:

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime

The most renowned ancient Greeks were also aware of its value:

“Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.” – Epicurus

So, as I head into the new year, I am reminded that with my family, my closest friends and colleagues, I am incredibly thankful. And grateful. I also know that within myself, to have another excellent year in 2024, I need to tap deep into self-sufficiency.

Here are a few things I want to learn to make myself more resilient for all the things that can be thrown at one in life:

1. Better health: 10 pull-ups, energy at the flash of sunlight, great sleep, and pure food.
2. Better heart: More love and gratefulness to friends and family.
3. Smarter skills: I want to learn more about machines and engines.
4. Physical world: I want to get better at making things, fixing things, and creating things. Not digital. More physical.
5. Slow down: Since having a kid, I have realized just how fast time can buzz by. Slowing down has never been more important.

Thank you for reading!