It’s that time of the year when people draw up elaborate plans and set ambitious goals. I have a similar habit but prefer to keep things simple: one major goal per year, which I commit to achieving. Everything else becomes secondary, meaning it’s deferred or set aside. So far, I haven’t decided what my primary goal for this year will be, and there are a few reasons for that.
This year feels different. Unlike previous years, I have several life-changing decisions to make, particularly in areas such as finance, career, and family. These goals are long-term but require immediate action, and I can’t afford to prioritize one at the expense of the others. Nevertheless, all my considerations ultimately revolve around finance.
I’m currently in a stable financial position. My income covers my daily and monthly expenses while giving me the flexibility to save. Although saving has never been my strength, I recognize its importance as the foundation for making sound investments.
Another key focus is increasing my value in the labor market, which remains my primary source of income. Time is not on my side when it comes to physically demanding work; I know my strength has its limits. I don’t want to spend my entire life working hard without enough time for my wife, kids, and personal interests—interests that, admittedly, have become harder to define over time. To achieve this balance, I need multiple streams of income, and building my career plays a central role in this goal.
For most of my adult life, I’ve been a content creator and a crypto enthusiast. The majority of my income has come from content creation and crypto investments. Last year, I decided to focus entirely on crypto, setting aside my interest in web development. Unfortunately, this choice didn’t yield life-changing results, and I’ve since decided not to chase that dream again.
While I still believe in crypto’s potential to create wealth—or significant losses—overnight, I now prefer to invest passively. This approach allows me to dedicate my time to learning web development. Although the job market is rapidly evolving due to artificial intelligence, I believe there’s still an opportunity for me in this field if I act quickly.
Another option is to grow within my current industry. While the pay is decent, I don’t see myself staying in this physically demanding role for the long term. If it weren’t for the financial benefits, I wouldn’t consider it at all.
Learning a new vocational skill is also an option I’ve considered. However, at 30 years old, reinventing myself has proven challenging in the past. There are many aspects of my life I need to evaluate before committing to such a significant change.
Although I’ve said I don’t want to go all-in on crypto again, it remains a last-resort option. I have the knowledge and resources to make it work, and the crypto space aligns well with my existing skill set. It’s a riskier path, but one I’m familiar with. If I can generate $20,000 by the end of the second quarter of 2025, it would open doors to other entrepreneurial ventures I’ve considered in the past. Not only would this approach gain my wife’s approval, but it would also give me the leverage to diversify my investments.
Why Not Just Do Everything?
I once believed I could tackle all these goals in a single year. However, achieving such a broad range of objectives would require more commitment than I can afford as a married man with a full-time job. Additionally, I have foundational goals to accomplish this year, such as becoming proficient in German. Setting realistic goals is essential for success, and that means choosing just one to focus on. At this point, I’m leaning toward web development, partly because it’s the path I’m most reluctant to take—which likely means it’s the most challenging and rewarding.
Conclusion
In the first quarter of 2024, I plan to explore all the options I’ve outlined here. The outcomes of these efforts will determine how I structure the rest of the year.
Thanks for reading.
