More fluent user experience, simply flip a switch. No face unlock, no finding through apps.
Less decision making. No search for the “best” channel or topic.
More focused. No screen, no pop-up.
More engaging. Not all hosts or music falls into our likes, but that turns into a dinner table discussion.
Practice accepting imperfection. Less favorable songs, hosts, uninterruptible ads; the fact it can’t be swiped is a reminder to accept what happens in the moment.
It’s an outdated, single purpose technology, but it reminds us to live in the moment, even if it’s imperfect or unpleasant.
Teams come in 2 sizes, lean versus volume. Former focuses on mission execution and the later focuses on strategic formation.
Recently, I traded 1 headcount in exchange of removing video production from the responsibility. The team becomes leaner and easier to focus on go-to-market planning, asset creation, and channel enablement. It made sense since video production is resource intensive.
It has, however, got me thinking if I naturally opted for a leaner team that dedicates on critical mission execution. It would eventually lead to a different career path since no Secretary of Defense ever came from a special operation role. Major management role requires overall strategic formation.
A leaner team also creates more personal relationships from the accomplishment of execution. This attachment could be contradicting in strategic planning; decision of sacrifice or letting go is more difficult.
Sometimes things get tough at work or in life, sometimes it creates a domino effect into other aspects. A badly done project at work leads to a bad mood, unintentionally brought it home and it leads to an argument with our partner; then it kept us from sleeping at night and the lack of sleep leads to a bad performance at work. It turns into a loop.
Keep something small everyday, a 5-line journal, read for 15 minutes during lunch; something that reminds us of “accomplishment”. It helps when things get muddy.
Ever since my daughter born in December 2020, the exercise volume axes in half in 2021; then I transit to product marketing in November 2021, the number hit rock bottom in 2022 and 2023 as I tried to balance between raising a toddler, rebuilding a team, and personal habit. There were multiple breakdowns these two years.
Life becomes more controllable after she turned 3 and work become more stable after year 1. Here’s the temporary schedule that worked: read bed time story at 9pm, leave for the gym at 10-ish, and begin workout at 10:30, end around 11:30pm.
At 33, the metabolism slowed greatly compare to the 20s, 2 years of missing exercise made the it difficult to recover. The body is keen toward bloated after sugary or greasy meal. On average, I gained 1.5kg to 2kg of fat in the past 2 years; removing it is the next short term goal.
2. Family first
The transition to product marketing introduced bureaucracy in a new height. After endless leveraging, setting up barriers, picking sides, the one thing that remains is myself and my family. At the end of the day, family is purpose for financial income and a good sleep is related to keeping my core belief.
3. The world is BIG
I visited Thailand, Japan, and United States this year in personal travel and business trip. The opportunity to take a step out is a great reminder on the size and possibility in this world. If this boat flips, it probably won’t drown me.
The adrenaline of experiencing the unexpected felt great. We tried two day micro trips for the weekend and saving 5% of month income for the big one.
4. Financial number gaining traction
As the investment surpasses NT$ 2m and the global stock market continue to raise, I finally felt the effect of compound interest this year. The overall market growth and dividend re-investment accounts for 30% of the current portfolio value. This is not the best return, but it’s not about shooting the moon in the short term, it’s about a good sleep everyday.
