New Year’s Reflection: A Journey Through the Past Five Years
The past few years have been challenging — undoubtedly for many of us. The lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape our world, disrupting everything from how we live and work to how we perceive stability. The past five years have been marked by continuous change in my life, both personally and professionally. Some of these changes were positive, others were difficult, and many were simply challenging. What they all shared, however, was their magnitude. Each required me to rethink nearly every aspect of my life — from the direction of my career to my role as a husband, father, and individual.
Each year felt like a whirlwind. I was either extinguishing fires or preventing new ones, navigating the ever-changing world of technology while discerning what truly mattered. I was striving to uplift colleagues and drive organizations toward success, balancing professional responsibilities with my personal life and family’s needs. Through job changes, shifting roles, and evolving expectations, I faced my own struggles while supporting others with theirs — both personally and professionally. All the while, I scrambled to devise strategies on the fly, attempting to manage everything without completely falling apart.
The world itself has transformed during these five years. We witnessed an unprecedented global pause, and when things resumed, the world we knew was irrevocably changed. Remote work, once considered a fringe benefit, became the norm, only for the tides to shift again. The resurgence of AI brought some amazing advancements making life and business more productive, while new social platforms that became popular by way of promoting new dance trends led to creating new forums for people to have real positive impact on people that they never met, yet debates over conspiracy theories, politics, and polarized ideologies fractured relationships and communities. Politically, we’ve seen a mix of bizarre, dangerous rhetoric but we have also seen a few glimmers of hope, even if it was temporary. And then there is Skibidi Toilet…who are the good guys anyway?
The job market has mirrored these upheavals. It was once a job seeker’s paradise, with companies desperate for talent, only to shift into a landscape where finding a good, safe job feels like guerrilla warfare. Recruitment rhetoric also flipped: what began as encouragement to demand top-tier perks has morphed into advice about demonstrating passion through endless extracurricular efforts. Today, workers find themselves competing not only against other candidates but also against both AI candidate filters and a sea of influencers pumping out content to try to prove their value.
Everywhere I look, industries and individuals are struggling. Staff shortages persist, beloved small businesses shutter their doors, and stress seems to be a universal constant. Amid this chaos, I’ve often asked myself: What’s the point? Why do we go through all this?
Rethinking Success
Don’t misunderstand me — I’m not suggesting that goals and hard work don’t matter. I firmly believe in striving for independence and freedom, building a life where happiness and security coexist. But I’ve started questioning how far we need to go. How much should we listen to the constant rhetoric pushing us toward hyper-competition? From stay-at-home parents to data scientists chasing singularity, everyone seems to be in a relentless race. It’s easy to get trapped in this cycle.
Well, it’s 2025, and I’ve decided to step off the treadmill.
For the past decade, my focus has been on achieving big goals — whether departmental targets, company objectives, or KPIs. While I’ve been successful, I’ve been running hot for a long time, and I’m feeling the wear. It’s time for a change.
A New Perspective
As I reflected on life after the recent election, I began reevaluating my priorities. I asked myself whether the things I was doing brought me joy or helped those I care about feel happy and supported. More often than not, the answer was no. This led me to deeper questions: Is this who I want to be? What do I truly want?
Here’s what I’ve discovered:
Who do I want to be?
- I want to be someone actively engaged in the lives of the people I care about. I want to be a good leader, someone who inspires others. I be content and I want to have fun.
What do I want to do?
- Spend more quality time with my family and close friends.
- Rediscover reading — both for pleasure and personal growth.
- Help others in small, meaningful ways.
- Support my team’s professional development and build stronger connections with colleagues I respect.
- Exercise frequently and pick back up a hobby like playing guitar.
- And from a professional point of view, I want to stop focusing on goals and target, and instead focus more on building relationships and providingvalue in small and more organic ways.
Building a Life Through Habits
During the recent holiday break, I spent time organizing my workspace and exploring productivity tools. That’s when I rediscovered the concept of Atomic Habits by James Clear. While I haven’t read the book yet, its premise resonates with me: small, consistent habits can create significant, cumulative change in life and work.
This year, I’m going to adopt this mindset. Everything I want to do — whether it’s reading, walking, or making space for meaningful relationships — will become a habit. I’ll focus on building a life aligned with who I want to be, rather than chasing arbitrary targets.
I’ll report back in a year to share how this experiment goes. But regardless of the outcome, I know this: I’m committed to prioritizing what truly matters this year. Life is too short to be burned out and miss the beauty that surrounds us.
Here’s to 2025
As we embark on this new year, I hope you find joy, balance, and purpose in your own journey. Let’s make it a year of meaningful connections and habits that uplift us.
