Hey , it's crazy to think that 2021 is now ended.  

 

I came across an end of year exercise which invites you to score yourself in different areas of your life, so I thought I'd try it.  

 

Here's how my 2021 looked like.

 

 

 

As much as I'd like to get 10 out of 10 for everything, the exercise shows in which areas I actually focused my effort in.

 

If you would like to download this excel, I've placed it in my Google Drive here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c6wk9osB-lyNf7_Wnl22wzGdaZHYP3bd/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116883143578633745356&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Choose 'File | Download' once you're in the document.

 

 

Without regaling you with the exciting gym routine I set up for myself last year, I want to focus on the two areas where I put concerted effort in this year.  

 

 

The biggest thing I wanted to achieve in 2021 was to finish off Digitopia - I'm glad to say that I fulfilled the campaign and completed the entire comic book series which amounts to 78 pages of finished art work.  

 

 

I couldn't be happier with how the books came out in the end.  

 

There was so much I learnt in the process, I met so many wonderful people along the way, with whom I collaborated on the book with, people who backed the book on Kickstarter and many guides and well wishers.  

 

 

 

Making a comic book is a bigger undertaking than I had thought when I started.  

 

There were definitely some tough times along the way and truth be told, there were times when the Kickstarter wasn't moving that I wanted to give up and throw in the towel.  
 

One of the things that helped me complete the project was this handy acronym for FOCUS

 

 

 

It's not unusual when working on a big project that many other projects and potential opportunities will come into view - all of which seem easier, more fun and more profitable than the one which you are working on.

 

What I have learnt is that the grass isn't greener on the other side - the grass is greener where you water it.  

 

 

Making a conscious effort to be open to learning was something that I went big on in 2021.  

 

I think the biggest single step to this was to get an Audible subscription.  

 

On my Kindle I would typically get through 3 or 4 books a year, but since I got my Audible in January this year I have gotten through a staggering 24 books.  

 

 

The three books that I have gotten huge amounts of value from and which I have listened to more than once are

 

 

I'm actually going through this again with my kids as part of our daily big idea time - this book is a very practical guide on how to think big and what micro actions you can take to achieving goals both big and small.  

 

I think this book is written for teenagers but there's enough advice and direction in there for those of us whose teenage years are somewhere in the past.

 

You can get this book in its various forms on Amazon here - https://amzn.to/3z9XP30 

 

 

'The Compound Effect' was one of the first books I got with my subscription, in it the author talks about how small actions can add up to big results - whether our behaviours and habits are positive or negative, they will compound lead us to a certain outcome.

 

He also explains that not taking an action is also an action and that this inaction will also compound over time.  

 

One of the key takeaways I got from this book was to be very deliberate with your time and habits as they will add to either a good or bad result without you even knowing about it until it may be too late. 

 

We also went through this book in our Family Big Idea time.

 

You can get 'The Compound Effect' on Amazon here -> https://amzn.to/3sPdZxF

 

 

My third recommendation is 'Start Now, Get Perfect Later' by rob Moore.  

 

I read the book 'Money' by Rob more in 2020, he struck me as the kind of author who is straight talking and gets straight to the point.  

 

This book is very much in that vein.  He doesn't hold back in his no-nonsense approach to getting things done.  

 

The biggest takeaway I got from this book was around decision making and how we use, and lose too much time making decisions. 

 

He says that decisions do not have to be permanent and that it's okay to change decisions once they are made - that not making a decision (procrastination) is actually still an active decision making action and one that will hold you back in life.  

 

There is a reasonable amount of swearing in this book, so not one to listen to with the kids, but as grown ups who can take the odd swear word, I didn't think they were out of place - the author, or more accurately the editor should have found alternatives, which would then make the book more accessible to a wider audience.  

 

The Amazon link for 'Start Now, Get Perfect later' is -> https://amzn.to/3JrsDRJ

 

 

That remains for me to thank you for your support to me and my work in 2021.

 

I have lots of exciting projects to talk to you about in the new year.  

 

I will save those details for upcoming emails.  

 

Wishing you much success, good health, fun and happiness in 2022.  

 

Farhan 

 

I know I always say thank you for your support, it is true this is hard to do on my own, I really appreciate every click, every like, every share and every comment that the content gets.  

 

As always tell your friends about the book and the blog - recommending your friends sign up is the best way for the audience to grow.

 

 

The best place to point your friends is to the sign up page where they'll get a free digital art book of Digitopia 1.0 and get to join the community.

 

 

Hope you're enjoying the content, stay safe and we'll speak again next week.

 

Thanks

 

Farhan