HopeFul Reflections

I don’t think people look at me as naturally impressive, but I have been blessed to be able to live the life I have, and I’d say it has become impressive through these principles. These principles have helped me obtain a degree in engineering, complete medical school, and obtain a master’s in business. They’ve helped me in being a musician and get myself out of my own personal ruts. Of course, when I was younger, the process wasn’t so refined, but I’ve since had time to improve the process to the point that I can reliably achieve any goal I set my sights on. Here are my 7:

1. Stating Long-Term Self-improvement Goals

I set visions of what I wanted to achieve. These included what degree I wanted, how long it would take, as well as what honors I wanted and such. I thought about my death and what I want everyone to remember about me at the end. Thinking in this long-term view helps me to visualize what I want my life’s summary to be: Doctor, engineer, businessman, father, husband, singer, and someone who cared. I have these goals in my journal and I turn to them often. I wanted them so bad they had to become reality.

2. Setting a Schedule

In order to achieve the goals I had, I needed to create the schedule that would grant me success. James Clear’s book Atomic Habits illustrates how important our schedules are. Even on our worst days, we are our schedules. If we have no schedule, we are the mess we are inside. My personal schedule:

7 a.m.: Wake and prepare
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Work with many small breaks
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Work with many small breaks
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Dinner
7 p.m. – 11 p.m.: Engage in hobbies and personal time
11 p.m.: Sleep

Do I mess up. YES AND OFTEN. But i get right back on the horse as they say the next day. Don’t make a bad day a bad week.

3. Starting with SMART Goals

These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

I had set a goal to finish a machine learning certificate (specific) within a specified time frame of a month (timely), and I tracked my weekly progress (measurable). I had some prior experience in programming, and had no other obligations (realistic and achievable). By setting goals like this, I am almost guaranteed to finish these very realistic goals within the timeline I have decided instead of constantly falling behind and having to push back deadlines all the time.

4. Taking Action

Often times, I can get so deep into thought that I forget I am supposed to take action. I think maybe if I read every textbook out there, I can be the best and make the best. I planned to make a robot dog. I had the parts sitting in my closet for TWO WHOLE YEARS. One day, I just said enough is enough and started gluing things and connecting things until I got the ball rolling. I made so much more progress in one week of saying enough is enough than I did in two years waiting for the right moment.

5. Reviewing Progress and Finding Resources

I’ve got a whiteboard. I write down my weekly progress, and I also write things down in my bullet journal. Each week, I review and make sure my weekly progress is in line with my monthly progress, and both are on track with my long-term goals as stated in bullet number one.

6. Motivation, Discipline, and Work

These are tricky and necessary. I need motivation to dream and want to create and do things, and so I consume media such as self-improvement books, self-improvement videos, and motivational quotes. Luckily, I’ve got you covered on motivational content.

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But sometimes, I need to just say enough is enough and get the work done. This is where my specialty comes in. I am not special by any means, but what makes the difference is my ability to work. I will do whatever it takes, in whatever condition, for as long as it takes to achieve what I truly want. I’ve had periods where I struggled greatly to even get out of bed because of life’s circumstances. Of course, I did my best to take care of my health first, but I was kind to myself and still moved one step that day toward my goal. Instead of writing three articles like I planned, I thought of a topic. If things were really bad, then of course, I took the day off. But once I was back to normal, I expected to go back to my regular pace.

7. Finding Resilience for the Hard Times

NO ONE GOES FULL THROTTLE FOREVER. Burnout is very real. Rest, recovery, doubts, fears, and every other wrench you can throw into your plans are all normal and will happen. I took care of myself. I gave myself grace. I listened to my body when it needed a break, and this has helped me go longer than others. I don’t care to grind because it looks cool. I grind as much as I can and rest up so I can perform just as well the next day.

Again, these are just my personal principles, and I thought I’d just share my thoughts. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

-JG