Happy New Year!
May 2026 bring you fantastic opportunities to discover more of you.
Whatever your profession is, wherever you go, however you’re choosing to approach your challenges, may you remember that you’ve got everything to face any challenges.
This is exactly what I love the vibe of a new year. We all begin with a clean slate. We believe this time something can be different.
It already is.
First of all, happy new year!
May you have a wonderful 2025 full of great experiences. May you accomplish all you have planned for yourself in the next 12 months.
Whether you are full of energy or not, here’s an interesting approach to consider as you take the first few steps into your goals/resolutions:
Austin Kleon always has a great perspective on beginnings.
Remember: you can go slowly and still reach your goals.
What’s your creative identity? If this the first time that you ask yourself this question, let me give you a starting point: consistency is an element of it. It’s a superpower that is yours to discover. It’s present in the small things you do every single day to move forward with your creative projects.
Actually, the ‘small’ things, are not so small.
I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately led to results that were unimaginable when I started.
James Clear
Consistency is born from building habits. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, is well known for his insights on tiny changes that bring remarkable results. His work has introduced profound perspectives on identity-based habits for lasting change. Among his many notable proposals is the idea of creating a new identity that reflects the behaviour of the creative person you want to be.
How is creative identity linked to consistency, and how does that help? According to Clear, you’ve got to start believing new things about yourself and prove them through small repeated wins.
Continue reading “When Building Creative Identity, Consistency is a Superpower”
As a new year unfolds, here’s an idea that I think it’s worth reflecting on: your time is not a democracy.
A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast episode on The Chase Jarvis Live Show entitled “Your Life is Not a Democracy“. I thought about the same idea, but applied to time and how it’s our responsibility to make the most of it to live a fulfilling life.
Time can be tricky. Time can be a blur. There isn’t enough time for everything at once.
Some days, you wish you had more hours to work on as many projects as possible; however, other days, everything just seems to be moving slowly, and momentum fades away. Regardless of what any given day brings, it’s you the one deciding where your focus is.
Then again, your time is not a democracy.
Continue reading “A Fresh Idea for 2023: Your Time is Not a Democracy”
I want to share a few thoughts on beginnings:
Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.
alan cohen
Reading that quote reminds me of different conversations I’ve had with friends or colleagues. When talking about big life projects, I would often hear: “I need to get really good at ‘x’ thing to then start my own business.” “I need a few more years of experience.” “I’m waiting for the perfect moment.” “When I become an expert, I’ll get started.”
I can relate to all those thoughts. In the past, I used similar phrases, too. It’s scary to begin something when you feel you’re not good enough or when circumstances make it seem almost impossible.
Continue reading “On beginnings: why you need to get started now”
Sometimes, an idea or a thought are enough to acquire a new philosophy. A spark is all you need to keep lighting your own way. Recently, I came across the idea “seek to be worth knowing,” proposed by Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC).
I’ve always admired him. His teachings focused on self-cultivation, emulation of moral exemplars, and skilled judgment rather than knowledge of rules. I thought that, when it comes to creativity, the same principles apply.
On self-cultivation, the following idea is marvellous:
Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.
Confucius
In a creative journey, you start from zero. Nobody knows what you do or what messages you’re trying to convey. However, the important part is not producing a masterpiece after a masterpiece to gain fame and become a recognizable face. It’s about sharing who you are through your ideas; through your craft.
You build a reputation from something that matters to you. As you keep sharing your work, it resonates with others. They get interested, and then they decide to connect or ‘buy’ you. It’s that resonance that makes you a person worth knowing.
So don’t worry if you don’t have many followers on social media or enough subscribers on your newsletter. Avoid obsessing over numbers and stressful metrics. Above all, make sure your work is worth exploring.
Discipline will get you there.
What are your thoughts?
I’ve been thinking about the meaning of choosing long-term over short-term games in any aspect. You name it, personal goals, business strategies, career paths and so on. There’s an urgency to see results as soon as we start working so that we feel accomplished. However, in the game of life, processes to achieve results are non-linear.
“How can I easily reach my goals this year?” “What are the best hacks to find the quickest path to success?” The truth is, there’s no shortcut. It’s important to understand the game we want to play. Anything that’s worth achieving requires a long-term journey.
Continue reading “Long term over short term games: choose one to play”
Last month, I experienced one of the greatest moments of joy that a writer can savour: finishing a manuscript. Seeing every chapter full of life, dialogues and monologues was glorious. Celebrating such an accomplishment was certainly meaningful; however, the work doesn’t stop there. The next immediate action is seeking an editor.
I did my own rounds of editing, but I’ve always known that, when it comes to ensuring that your story flows properly, a fresh pair of eyes is a must. This is the first book that I’m self-publishing, and it’s crucial to invest in its quality so that the world can enjoy it.
Continue reading “How to approach the editing process when you’re a new author”
The more you reinvent yourself, the more you become you. This is one of the ideas that resonated with me the most at the Adobe 99U Conference. For a few years now, I’ve been dying to attend this conference, which usually takes place every year in New York City. In 2020, though, organizers adapted all keynotes, master classes and workshops in a digital format.
We’re still getting through the pandemic, but it hasn’t extinguished our desire to lead a creative life. In uncertain times, redefining ourselves is the best way to find solutions to our challenges at personal and professional levels.
The beginning of a new year is one of my favourite seasons. Everybody is genuinely trying to be a better version of themselves. I think this is a noble cause. We can affect our environment a little bit by bringing some positives vibes.
At the same time, we wonder how long we’ll be able to maintain our goals and turn them into a reality. While it’s a long journey that requires a lot of energy, I recommend focusing on solutions rather than resolutions to obtain realistic results.
Here’s a few more thoughts and my list of personal objectives for 2020.