Lessons Learned in 2021
The last 12 months have been full of change for me. In 2021, we welcomed our second baby (and first son) into this world, my brother and I sold our business, we started traveling again, and I did my first serious fitness challenge. I have learned many a lesson this year. Honestly, most of it involves things I’m changing or rethinking in the coming year. And that is fine; life isn’t a rough draft, but the best stories are those where the ending is unknown.
Here are my takeaways from 2021.
Men were made to push their limits, not to settle for their circumstances. After selling our business, I felt myself begin to coast a bit. There has been no immediate sense of urgency the last couple of months to aim for any particular target, so I frankly haven’t. And I would be hard pressed to identify a less fulfilling time in my professional life than the last few months.
In 2022, I am reframing the way I think about this. My aim is to be better today than I was yesterday, whether professionally, as a husband or father, in my faith, in my knowledge or acquisition of skills. “Better each day” pays short-term dividends and long-term compound interest. Next year, I will push – no excuses.
Your odds of fulfilling untapped potential increase in proportion to the quality of people with whom you closely associate. I have been fortunate in the last three months or so to connect with several new friends that are driven, ambitious, and unrelenting in their pursuit of a great life. This alone has increased my energy and focus on the things that matter most to me.
I’m a lone wolf in most aspects of my life. I work alone, I’ve never had interest in managing employees, I train by myself, and I generally don’t share much about projects I’m working on. But when I feel myself starting to run on empty, having good men around me, whether geographically or by phone, refills the tank. This is a lesson I’d want my kids to learn early.
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Kids require a lot of energy, and you are responsible for having it. My daughter is now three, and I am her de facto best friend. If I’m in the room, there is a presumption of playtime.
As you might imagine, I love it. But it takes real energy and mental commitment to go on multiple scooter rides, to play “chase” around the kitchen, to wrestle, and to play unending games of hide and seek all within a few hours.
My wife and I chose this life, and it is my job to take care of myself in a way that allows me to flip the switch on for my kids.
Whatever your frame of reference for “risk” is, it is probably holding you back. It took me two hours of talking with a friend recently to realize that waiting 30 years for a 7% annual rate of return on my investments was selling myself short. There is an opportunity to do so much more, and I’m planning some big moves in 2022.
Another lunch left me and another friend to start planning “comfort challenges” that we might do throughout the year to increase our aptitude for meeting uncomfortable situations head-on. By the end of 2022 my hope is that I could sing karaoke in a Speedo in the middle of a crowded bar and have no shame. Hypothetically, of course…
The best days are those of progress, the best moments are those of stillness. This is a lesson that is harder for ambitious people to appreciate. I find myself going to bed most at peace after days of hard work – cranking out progress in my career, having a sweaty workout, and playing hard with my daughter.
But I find myself most appreciative of the moments of time that are marked by a sense of tranquility – a glass of bourbon and a cigar in the company of friends, a cup of hot chocolate and a Christmas movie with the kids, or sitting with my wife by the fire at night.
My hope for the coming year is to earn those moments of stillness with days of great progress – and to enjoy them both.
This year has taught me a lot. I plan on taking my lessons learned into 2022 and making it a year to remember. No more excuses, no fear, no holding back.
Thank you for tagging along on my new journey as a writer. It has been fun so far. Cheers to you and your family, and may God bless you in the year to come.
What did you learn in 2021? Send me your thoughts at michael@theothermichaeljordan.com. I hope to hear from you.
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