Let’s be real: New Year's isn’t my favorite holiday, but it’s a prime moment to hit pause, reflect, and reset…

Why 2024 Sucked (For Me & Mine) 😵‍💫

Three unexpected medical issues turned our year into a carousel of doctors, tests, and surgeries. It drained our energy and forced us to re-evaluate.

Now? I'm completely focused on making 2025 very different.

Want a Better 2025?

Me too. Success isn’t accidental—it’s built on intention.

Why This Matters

This newsletter began as a way to guide my UNH students, and it’s grown into something bigger… thanks to you. I’m here to help you set bold goals, tackle challenges, learn AI, and create moments that matter in your journey.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula—just what works for you. Today, I’m sharing the system I use to help you kickstart a better, more intentional 2025.

Here’s how I’m laying the groundwork to make 2025 40% better…

Part 1: Reflect and Reset for 2025 🔄

1. Take a Personal Inventory

• What went well?

• What needs to be improved?

• What should you test in 2025?

2. Focus on the Big Rocks 💎

I call them my “big rocks” because if you let the small stuff take over, there’s no space left for what truly matters.

This year, I spent way too much time with doctors—tests, surgeries, the works. Oddly enough, that time was a gift. Sitting in pre-op as they dose you with meds gives you a rare clarity: it’s easy to separate the noise from the signal.

I’m lazy about anything that doesn’t energize me. A CEO I work with recently asked how I juggle the beautiful mess:

• Dad to a 3-year-old.

• Husband, friend, teacher of 4 UNH marketing classes.

• Writer of this newsletter. ☺️

• Growing 3 companies. 

• Professional B.S.-caller, helping 5 CEOs win more.

The answer? Systems.

I’ve built over 200 SOP’s, habits, and routines to keep things moving forward.

Do I fail? Often.

My wife could write a book about my missteps. But those systems? They’re my lifeline.

They turn chaos into progress.

Part 2: Plan and Commit to Growth 📅

1. Write Down Your Goals

• Why It Works: Writing down goals increases achievement by 42%​

• Annual > Quarterly > Weekly > Daily Habits: I get overwhelmed and distracted. Welcome to being an entrepreneur and teacher. Reflection helps set the rudder. 

I use a straightforward system of Google Keep Notes that I look at EVERY DAY and Notion as my second brain to work through the Annual > Quarterly > Weekly.

My wife uses a journal from BestSelf as she needs to write it out. I can’t always read my own handwriting, so I type or talk to it. Pick what works best for you. 

2. Adopt a Challenge Mindset

• Major Yearly Challenge: Commit to one significant goal that pushes your limits.

• Mini-Adventures: Regularly schedule small adventures to keep life exciting.

• Always be Learning: What do you want to learn in 2025?

• Action Steps:

Our major challenge is we are selling our house and getting an RV. We are not sure where we want to live and figured the best way to figure it out was to go test by living in multiple new places. Why not just AirBnb? We did that in 2024, and I got a new knee after missing a step in a strange house while checking out a suspicious car. 

We do lots of mini-Adventures as we love to travel as a family, so I’m looking forward to seeing you for coffee out on the road when we come to a city near you in 2025. 

I’m learning to code with AI and want to build a series of apps/programs to help my students. Very early days, but wow, Claude is good. 🙏🏼

Part 3: Build Winning Habits 🌱

1. Monitor Progress Regularly

• Why It Matters: Tracking boosts focus and motivation​

• Tools: Pick a simple system that you can consistently use.

• Action Steps:

  • I’m going to personally implement the WOOP method (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) for 2025 as this is a better format than my current system in Google Keep.

2. Cultivate Small Winning Habits

• Quarterly Habits: Focus on one new habit every quarter/month.

• Example Action Steps:

  • Eat better (less sugar), reduce alcohol to only out of home, and use a meal plan in Notion

  • ‘Family Saturday’ of the Mundane  

  • Dedicate 5 minutes daily to identifying hurdles and solutions.

3. Visualize Obstacles and Overcome Them 🚧

• Evidence: Mental contrasting (focusing on both goals and potential barriers) improves resilience​

• Why It Works: Prepares your mind for challenges, fostering adaptability.

• Action Step: Spend 5 minutes daily identifying hurdles and brainstorming solutions.

4. Tie Goals to Your Identity 🌟

• Evidence: Goals linked to identity create stronger commitment

• Why It Works: Aligns actions with values, enhancing consistency.

• Example: Identify as "a writer" instead of "someone who writes occasionally."

• Action Step: Write a positive self-identity statement to anchor your goals.

Part 4: Own Your 2025 🔑

1. Prioritize Time for You and Your Projects

• Identify: Activities that energize and inspire you.

• Reflect on Past Successes: Use them as motivation for future endeavors.

• Create Experiences That Count: 

  Action Steps:

  • Time block calendar for walking meetings, date nights, and travel adventures. 

  • Reflect on past challenges and how they’ve shaped you.

Want To Go Deeper? 🤿

Watch two videos that inspired this better system for 2025, and the 72 Minutes well worth your time. 

How to plan an epic 2025 in 56 minutes | Jesse Itzler

How To Actually Achieve Your Goals in 2025 (Evidence-Based)

Here’s to your best year yet,

P.S. If you found this valuable, I'd appreciate you forwarding it to another marketer. It'll take you 8 seconds. I spent 4 hours putting this email together.