Here is my annual review for 2020. I stole this idea from James Clear (author of “Atomic Habits”) and it’s been a lot of fun to do the last few years. You don’t have to post it like I do, but I encourage everybody to take some time and think about the things that went well and what you’d like to improve for next year.
Here is what went well, what didn’t go well, and what I learned in 2020.
What Went Well
Archway Roofing – A tornado hit Nashville this year. It was terrifying for friends who experienced it. However, if I’m being honest, the week of the tornado was one of the best weeks of my 2020. I got to spend the whole week helping friends tarp their roofs and protect their homes. Overall, people in Nashville were amazing. At one point, volunteers were turned away from certain neighborhoods because there were so many people and not enough to do. A lot of things about “New Nashville” annoy me, but the week of the tornado reminded me why Nashville is an awesome place to live.
On a personal note, the week of the storm (plus all the other projects we completed) made me thankful I took a risk and switched careers. It was uncomfortable. I made mistakes. I didn’t know what I was doing a lot of the time. But being able to help people, especially after the storm, made the discomfort of switching careers worth it. Plus, I get to work with family which not many people ever get to do.
Weightlifting – I’ve been wanting a home gym for years. Thankfully, Covid forced me to build one. I don’t think home gyms are for everyone, but I’ve enjoyed being able to train at home. I do miss the social aspect of the gym and hate people aren’t able to train or make a living as a gym owner right now. But, building the gym was one of my favorite things about 2020.
On top of building the gym, I finally reached a few personal records. In February, I squatted over 400 pounds and deadlifted 500. I still haven’t pressed 200 or benched 315, but those numbers are within reach.
However, goals are overrated and habits are underrated. The number of workouts I put in was much more important than the personal goals I achieved. Here are the number of workouts I did in 2020.
January – 18
February – 13
March – 17
April – 19
May – 17
June – 13
July – 17
August – 17
September – 17
October – 18
November -14
December – 15
Total – 195
No More Tobacco – Get friends who encourage you to be better. I was lucky enough to make a friend this year who told me to quit dipping. I listened, and I quit. I don’t know if I would have quit if she hadn’t said anything. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so find friends who encourage the best out of you. Sounds simple but it’s not. Leaving old friends and finding new ones is one of the harder things any of us will ever do.
What Didn’t Go Well
Pushing Myself – When was the last time you did something really hard? A high school friend of mine and I were having a conversation this year about the last time we did something really hard. My friend is a success by most measures. He has done well in his career. He is raising a great family. He exercises and eats well. But the last time he remembers doing something really difficult was being a pledge in his fraternity. That was over a decade ago.
It got me to thinking about my own life. When was the last time I really pushed myself past what I thought was possible? Yes, I do hard things. I have long days at work. I lift weights. But, do I have more to give? Probably. I’m not sure what “more” looks like but I know I have can do more.
Writing – I had a goal to write more this year, but it didn’t happen. I made excuses. Writing is hard work and it feels awkward to post my thoughts for people to read. But, it’s worthwhile. Hopefully, I can make it a habit in 2021.
Controlling My Tongue – I like to make jokes, but jokes are funny because they’re hurtful. I like to argue, but arguing is almost always useless. I speak when I’m angry, and we all know how that usually turns out.
I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where I never say anything hurtful or reckless, but I definitely need to be more mindful of what comes out of my mouth. If anybody is reading this and has advice, I’m all ears.
What I Learned
Quit Listening to Amateurs (Especially on the Internet) – The internet is awesome. You can buy an air fryer while you watch a show about tiger people trying to kill each other. That’s amazing. Unfortunately, that same device gives dumb people a platform to spread their dumb ideas. I’m probably one of those dumb people but it doesn’t make my point untrue.
Amateurs tend to be overconfident while experts are less confident. Keep this in mind the next time some keyboard warrior wants to give you the “facts” on Covid or politics or SEC football. They probably don’t know what they are talking about and should probably be ignored.
And, use the block button generously. This year I blocked several friends on social media. I love them as real people, but their internet personality was making me dislike them. Consider doing the same.
Action Cures Anxiety – There are certain things in life like going to the dentist or exercising that you never want to do but are always glad once you’ve done them. For me, calling customers (especially if they are upset) caused a little anxiety, but every time I made the call, I was glad I did. If you have things in life causing you anxiety, quit spending all day worrying about them and just act. For big projects or problems, you’re not going to be able to solve them in one day. So, break those issues into smaller pieces and tackle them from there.
Don’t Do Dumb Stuff – A big secret to success is avoiding the dumb stuff. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t get addicted to drugs. Don’t punch people because they’re an Alabama football fan. You know, the obvious stuff. If you are doing dumb stuff, admit it. Tell the truth and work to fix those mistakes. Unless, an Alabama fan starts acting all high and mighty. Then by all means do what’s necessary to quiet them down. Kidding. Sort of.
That’s all for 2020. Excited for all the good stuff 2021 is going to bring.
The House of Improvement 