This Is Worth It...

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

I was a college student.

Studying art and graphic design at San Diego State University, I was very fortunate to have very few “academics”, and mostly working professionals as professors. Art and design are such practical applications, that I think it was a really different experience having nine-to-fivers teaching us how they actually work right then, not theory, but really concrete practice.

One such professor was Steven Morris.

I got a front row seat to his interesting, curious, and thoughtful approach to everything (not just design).

Well many years later, thanks to social media we reconnected and I started following his newsletter.

A few years ago he shared his year-end reset technique, and it is so good that I have been using it every year between Christmas and New Years.

I’ll summarize it for you:

1. Go through your entire 2025 calendar, week by week. Write down anything notable that happened: the good, the bad, the ugly.

2. Write down the highlights and lowlights of your year. What did you toast to, and what was the most difficult season? Who hurt you, and who did you hurt? What will be most memorable in 10, 20, 30 years?

3. Summarize the year in one word.

4. Forgive those who need forgiving (even if it’s yourself)

5. With that, mentally close out the year. It’s in the past. Bless it and move on.

6. What will this next year be about? Make a short list from: faith, friends, family, fitness, fun, finances, or your field of work.

7. Then get specific, create S.M.A.R.T. goals for each area of focus.

8. Backtrack those goals into periodic milestones you can measure. Weekly is best, since we live week-to-week mentally.

That’s a really quick summary of the process. Steven does a lot better job of detailed guidance through each phase, but if you don’t have a way to reset this week, you can start with this.

Also you can sign up for Steven’s newsletter at MatterCo. It’s a dang good one.

Happy New Year, friend!

Simon is author and founder of Profit Hiker: 11 Trails to gain lasting elevation in your business. Find the book right here and the program over there.