2024 Lessons

Trite, yes. I hope someone gains some value from the things I've learnt in 2024.

I hate not learning.  I need to grow.  

There are some new learnings in here but as I get older I also re-learn the same things, in new ways. That's good too.

Body & Mind

• Do not limit yourself, other people will do that well enough for you. You can push harder than you ever thought possible, your body can do so much more than you think Re-baseline expectations for yourself - lift the heavier weight, go the extra set, push harder up that hill, what happens if you try?
• Nutrition basics is game changing Calories in, calories out. Work out your threshold for weight gain/loss.  Set goals. Measure. DOn’t be too hard on yourself.  Prioritise progress and learnings. Superfood is an overused term, like transformation or unprecedented.  However, meat, yoghurt, vegetables, whole fruit, nuts, avocado, natural oils are examples of foods that are close to perfection for your body.  They nourish, satiate and replenish.  Eggs are unprecedented & transformative.. Understanding the calories and macro nutrients of what you consume is game changing, track to create better patterns, find the overlap of food that’s good for you, food that you love and is a sensible number of calories.   You can’t out exercise bad diet.  You need less food that you think, re-baseline portion size. Don’t drink your calories, apart from alcohol (yeah, oops) Prioritise protein to rebuild, especially for those in their later years 
• Find reliable data points to track your health (blood pressure, weight, body measurements, DEXA scans, photos, blood tests) and find patterns that over time will create sustainable change. Re-baseline your goals. Rely on studies, experience and science not Instagram.
• Think life span and health span (excellent work Peter)
• Surround yourself with people that have stronger habits,  Increase exposure to those who’ve lived the journey and are willing to share Limit exposure to the naysayers Create a team around you to become v1.1 tomorrow, v1.2 the day after…. Thank you legends for all helping along this journey Stuart Hamilton (I didn't understand the link between physical performance/pain and growth until I met you) John Moran (thanks for sharing your wisdom) James Foster Adam Taylor (for keeping me in check the last 4-5 months!) Brooks Performance (for teaching me the last 6 months)

Growth

• Agitate the status quo to create better outcomes - thank you Rowena Westphalen (you make me better)
• Belief, permission & autonomy are the rocket fuel for teams - thank you Frank Fillmann (you inspire me)
• Don’t shrink into yourself.  There isn't a box around your life. You deserve the best, your family deserve the best, everyone deserves a bigger bolder life.  Cultivate an abundance mindset. You're not done!
• Life is hard, the path isn’t an upward trend. Embrace & endure the dips, they are opportunities to grow. 
• When you’re feeling good, seek out the scarier challenges and find the edges of your comfort.  When you’re feeling low, focus on the small stuff: small actions, forward momentum, the basics.  Hard stuff is good, hard stuff is where the learning happens.  
• Your growth & resilience muscle is exactly that, it needs to be cultivated and worked on.  Ice baths, challenging exercise, time with friends, faith, whatever works, experiment, double down, let’s go! 
• Action trumps thinking & talking, EVERY TIME.  Action kills rumination.  Action creates new paths.

Financial Wealth 

• If you’re doing nothing with your finances, you’re doing something, be intentional. 
• Compound growth is a game-changer. Learn how it works.
• Exposure to growth asset classes will grow money almost risk free over the long term. 
• Debt isn’t ‘bad’, leverage can be a powerful accelerant. Learn how it works.
• Model your risk and exposure, then mitigate. 
• Model your cash flow, it creates freedom to invest in your goals: holidays, education, savings, whatever.  
• Create a team that know more than you, a team that move you to action. Thank you Scott Gynther and Chris Smith

Thank you to my family, Selin Hatcher & Ava, and my colleagues & team for helping me learn and grow.  Next year I’ll be better at some things and worse at others, I’m committed to the journey. 

2025 - bring it. LFG!