Before we dive into today's newsletter...

We're currently looking into what content to create in 2024 and want to be 100 percent positive that we're giving you exactly what you need from us.

So if you have a minute to spare, please reply to this email with one or two sentences describing who you are and the number one thing you're hoping to get help from us at this moment.

Thank you! 🙏

Reality Check: How Will You Achieve Your 2024 Goals?

The new year is already two weeks old so I bet you've started to form some ideas around what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months. Maybe you've even set concrete goals or formed New Year's resolutions.

But here's the hard truth: If there are no projects associated with these goals, then it's unlikely that you'll achieve them.

You see, every goal needs a project attached to it to make it a reality. Otherwise, your goals remain mere dreams.

A project has a concrete outcome that you want to achieve by a certain date and needs more than one work session to complete (otherwise it would just be a to-do).

For me, starting a project to achieve a goal means:

Create a new folder in my notetaking app where I gather all relevant information about the project
Add a new list to my task management app so I can track the to-dos
Brainstorm what steps I might need to take to finish this project
Identify the next small action I can take to gain momentum and start testing my assumptions

Because I follow these steps, I have a list of active projects that encompass everything I'm committed to right now in my life and work. And with my project list front and center, I know that I'm focussing my limited time and energy on the right things.

Now, I invite you to kick off the projects that will make your goals a reality this year. Hit reply and send me a screenshot of your project list!

How I Write Podcast: Tiago Forte’s Guide to Productive Writing

David Perell interviewed me recently on his How I Write podcast and gave me the chance to dive deep into my writing philosophy, which is really my life philosophy.

We covered:

The value of writing retreats
Quality vs. quantity: What should you focus on
How to get over writer's block
What I learned from Taylor Swift about writing
Why everyone should find a mentor (my early mentor was Venkatesh Rao)
My biggest weakness
And so much more

I had so much fun in this conversation. Also, check out the pinned comment for 21 additional lessons David learned from me about writing.

Watch on YouTube.

Our Goals for 2024

Last week, I published my 2023 Annual Review. The beauty of doing an annual review is that by the time you're done, a set of goals for the new year will have almost organically emerged.

Today, I'm sharing our goals with you here for transparency, accountability, and mutual support. If you have some of the same ones or see a way we could help each other out, let me know!