2024 - The Curve Year:
2024 - The Curve Year.
This year was something else.
It felt like the start of my upward curve.
My 20s felt like a straight line up and to the right.
You can see it in my previous reflections.
The decade felt like constant, linear progress.
Grateful for the foundation I laid, but it felt slow.
This year was different.
It was the beginning of my exponential curve.
Did so much this year.
Hit 60k+ airline miles.
Went on 40+ flights.
Visited 7 countries.
Started a podcast with a friend and posted a hundred episodes of my own.
Attended 5 weddings, including some of my best friends in Vancouver, Louisville and Jordan.
Posted a piece of writing every single day of the year - will be 365 days in a row by year end.
Wrote 214 new blog posts, including hitting my 1000th blog post shared since 2021 (now at 1096).
Read 20 books.
Went without alcohol for 3.5 months.
Had my best year ever professionally.
Went to 5 concerts, including Childish Gambino on his last tour.
Saw Canada play a semi-final in men's soccer against Messi and Argentina in New York.
Spent lots of time on the golf course.
Got my scuba diving certification.
Had lots of fun.
And decided my next challenge in 2025 - the toughest one I’ve done yet (stay tuned till the end).
This was a year of growth, progress, and fun.
So grateful for 2024 and what it brought me.
As per the last few years, here are some of my favourites from the year that was.
Top 5 books I read:
Becoming Supernatural - a book about the power of meditation by Joe Dispenza. Thought most of his stuff was pretty out there and woo-woo science, but having been a meditator for several years, I can tell you there’s something to this that feels unexplainable.
Make Something Wonderful - Steve Jobs in his own words. Awesome advice for young people.
Shadow Divers - an incredible story that reads like a fiction thriller. An insane adventure that literally rewrote history.
Tuesdays with Morrie - everyone NEEDS to read this book before you die, especially if you’re young. This will make you rethink your entire life - so many great lessons.
East of Eden - not usually a fiction reader but glad one of my best friends made me read this. A few concepts have definitely stuck with me. Remember ‘Tinshel’
Top 10 podcasts I heard:
Patrick O’Shaughnessy with Michael Ovitz - amazing ep from a guy who was the king of Hollywood. If you’re interested in Hollywood/the media, would highly recommend you check out the story behind CAA ‘Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency’
Naval Ravikant on Joe Rogan - one of my all time favourites. Listen to this a few times every year and always pick up something new.
Cyan Bannister with Tim Ferris - what an awesome story, individual and conversation. Would also recommend the convo she did with Patrick O’Shaughnessy.
Chris Davis with the Knowledge Project - so good. Great insights on how to live a good life from one of the best investors and a guy who’s on the board at Berkshire Hathaway
Hugh Howey with Tim Ferris - awesome episode, especially if you’re a writer, on the process of writing and what it unlocks for you.
The secrets of global finance explained with Luke Gromen - such a good podcast on macro and economics if you’re interested in how global finance works from the best voice in macro.
How to Do Great Work from Founders - David Senra, the host of Founders podcast, has created one of the best podcasts out there and is an inspiration. This reflection on Paul Graham’s famous essay ‘How to do great work’ is awesome, so many great insights, especially for high achievers.
Mitch Rales: The Art of Compounding - awesome episode from the founder of Danaher, one of the largest businesses in the life sciences industry on how to build a great business
Naval Ravikant and Nick Kokonas - great convo between 3 people who have been role models of mine the last few years who are incredible in their own way.
Dr. James Hollis: How to Find your True Purpose and Create your Best life - just incredible. Please do yourself a favour and listen to this, especially if you’re lost and struggling with understanding what you want out of life.
Top 5 movies I saw:
The Substance - PLEASE watch this. One of the most thrilling wild movie experiences ever. If you thought the Menu, Saltburn or Mad Max was crazy, this is another level.
The Wild Robot - so nice. About love, family, raising kids, letting people go, all of it. Even wrote about it here.
Blink Twice - written and directed by Zoe Kravitz, it’s a look into the darkness of Hollywood and has a TON of similarities to the Diddy situation.
Man on Wire - a documentary that felt like a thriller. Man I wish I was alive when this happened. How humans can do something like this is incredible and so inspiring.
Amadeus - an epic movie. Makes you appreciate greatness and the complications that come with it.
Top 5 blog posts I wrote:
Propaganda is a deadly weapon - Essay on the father of propaganda, Israel Palestine and how the Western media has been brainwashing society for generations
Gold and Gamestop - the only two things I want to own in my portfolio over the next decade
Why do you work so hard - Asking yourself why, my experience in Tokyo and moments when I felt happiest
It’s about funding - How funding decides how the West feels about Israel, AIPAC and Hollywood
We live in an SNL episode - Commenting on the state of America after Biden and Trumps’ 2024 debate
Top 5 restaurants/bars:
Merrimans in Maui - epic meal on the water at sunset. They had an octopus escargot that was one of the most memorable dishes I’ve ever had.
Fogo De Chao in SF - incredible meat. Some of the best cuts of lamb I’ve ever eaten.
20 Victoria in Toronto - one of Canada’s best restaurants and had a great seafood tasting menu.
Marea in New York - awesome seafood Michelin star place in New York that had great octopus, crab, scallops and tiramisu
Haidilao in Toronto - hotpot spot in Toronto that is a chain all over the world. So good.
Honourary mention: Din Tai Fung in NYC - been to a few all over the world and its always so good. They’re chocolate XLB is the best dessert you’ll ever have.
Top takeaways from 2024:
All your hard work from years past is paying off.
Just be patient.
Keep doing those side quests, especially the ones involving relationship building.
Advice from my dad - ‘You’re in the business of free samples. Always keep giving it away and one day you’ll get paid. You don’t know when but it’ll be more than you imagine.’ So good.
There are seasons to life.
You don’t know which one you’re in, but just enjoy it because one day you’ll wish you were exactly where you are now.
Keep setting crazy goals.
The people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world are the ones who do.
It’s also ok for them to shift.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Give yourself more love.
You can’t do everything.
Small actions every day.
Enjoy time with your family and close friends.
Never take that time for granted.
Time - it’s your most important asset.
Don’t ever forget it.
Don’t attach yourself to labels.
People are noticing your work.
Keep your head down, keep working hard and everything you want will be there.
Most importantly, be where your hands are and have fun!
Can’t wait for my 30s and the next decade.
The world doesn’t know what’ll hit them.
Notes on hundreds of books.
Over a thousand blog posts.
More life experiences than most people.
I’m ready to share all of that and I’ve only just begun.
I’m coming.
It starts in 2025.
The big goal.
The full Ironman.
Here we f-ing go.
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