A 2024 Recap & Retrospective: Still in the Middle of the Storm
What a rough year. But we made it. And as always I try to take stock of the year and squeeze whatever learnings I can. So like last year, doing my 2024 recap.
Business and Personal Finance: Give it a B-. On the business side, only did a few investments as LP and few defense-tech/ manufacturing tech related deals. Spent most of the year rethinking/reformating my entire investment strategy and thesis. Did not help that much of our Holding Co cash and attention has been on getting regulatory approval. Thankfully we have some strong foundations in place for the next few years.
On the personal side, far too many accounts receivables. Cash flow was a mess and my cost structure literally was out of control. Again. Had some big projects fall through due to numerous reasons but this is still on me. I need to be way more conservative on my cash flow projections. But as a wise man once told me, if you aren’t close to bankruptcy every 5 years you aren’t pushing hard enough. Thankfully, I have reserves and some accounts payables finally came through the last 2-3 weeks of December.
Travel: No real grade. Did not make it to Japan, Albania, Ukraine or Taiwan this year, which is a shame and part of my longer term vision. So will rectify this in 2025.
Spent more time with my parents in Canada which was good. Lesson from Codie Sanchez is to think not in years but in times. How many times will you see them? I will be going back to Vancouver often in 2025.
But this year was still busy.
Saudi Arabia: 2X
Thailand: 1X
Canada: 4X
Poland: 1X
Georgia: 4X
United Arab Emirates: 2X
Hungary: 1X
Azerbaijan: 2X
Australia: 1X
Germany: 1X
Czech Republic: 2X
Bosnia Herzegovina: 1X
I went to New York City a few times this year which was great. Also visited Detroit and Chicago for the first time and I will be back there. I really need to explore more of the USA & Canada.
Health: It’s an A-. Did Muay Thai training in Phuket at this really nice resort training center that had all the fixings, amazing gym, personal coaches, Muay Thai ring, sauna & Onsen center and sports clinic. It was incredible.
I now have my in person personal trainer and virtual personal trainer that I’ve been using for this last year. The accountability has been amazing and I feel fitter and stronger than I have been in decades. I’ve also not traveled as much as I did in 2023. That helps with some routine at home. I tend to take short afternoon naps and sleep better at night overall. Thank you ZMA supplements.
Family & Relationships: Still pretty bad, but better. So give it C-. Yet as Charlie Munger says: “Self pity has no utility.” I’m a grinder and never quit on stuff that is important.
So still lots of therapy happening for all of us. But at least we are talking now. Home life is still a bit uncomfortable at times but it’s civil now at least. We all have some Modus Operandi around the house.
I can tolerate more pain, handle my rage issues better due to my regular fitness training and just being better rested ie. good sleep. I keep reminding myself of Ernest Shackleton’s motto: “Through endurance we conquer!”
Personal Development: Give myself a B+. Tied into my business and investing especially as I’ve focused more on geopolitics, global macro, military stuff for my new investing thesis.
I’ve been much more disciplined & systematic about learning, doing at least 1-2 hours of listening to podcasting, writing and reading online. I read twice as many books this year than in 2023. My focus for 2025 is reading a lot more books. Physical books. Consistently too is the plan. I bought so many books this year (like hundreds). Now I need to start reading them.
I have spent too much time in Europe. However, the world has changed so starting in 2025, I will be focusing more time in Japan (and probably Taiwan), my so-called pivot to Asia.
But also more focus in America, whether in Texas, New York or the industrial heartlands of the midwest.
I will make exceptions for defense-tech or manufacturing conferences as I am still in learning mode. These wherever they are or in places like Ukraine, Baltics or Albania, but otherwise will limit my time now in Europe as much as I love that region.
But again, I am grateful for surviving mentally and making it through the year. Grateful for the learning. Grateful for my health. And feeling the major positive vibe shift that came in the USA mid-November. A confidence that seems to have grown in Silicon Valley and the rest of America.
I have a clear plan for next year. Now, it’s just plain discipline and hard execution. Leveraging the principle of Kaizen, making small but regular incremental improvements over time. As the philosopher Khalil Gibran wrote: “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing towards what will be.” Happy new year everyone. Let’s make 2025 amazing.