29

I started this blog post back in February. It’s August now, 4 months past my birthday I’m finally ready to post. I’m posting now because I’ve had a two major life changes that will impact my resolutions for this year, namely getting into a masters program in May, and quitting my job of 7 years in June.

This year I am also writing my resolutions in terms of “who I want to be” instead of “what I want to accomplish”.

In the book Atomic Habits, the author establishes 3 layers to achieving results. The first layer is results, which is what my resolutions have been oriented towards. An example of a result is running a 2:00 half marathon. The second layer is process, for example executing a 2 month running routine to train up to my target speed and distance. The third and most important layer is identity. In this case, being a runner.

The book emphasizes that instead of chasing results, you should think about who you want to become. Every time you achieve something in line with your identity, you reinforce it. Results are temporary; once you achieve it you are done. However identity is permanent. The rest of the book is about tips for forming processes i.e. habits which reinforce your identity.

This is one of the most profound books I have read. That’s why I’m integrating it into this year’s resolutions.

The year in retrospect:

Looking back on my 28, there are a couple defining moments to highlight.

Moved back to the US after spending 75% of 2021 in China

This allowed me to develop habits and pick up 3 hobbies that I could not do while constantly traveling:

• Consistently exercising: Long distance running, to soccer twice a week and orange theory once a week.
• Picked up soccer and stuck to it
• Picked up backpacking and stuck to it

Not only are hobbies good for my physical and mental health, but I believe they also add depth to my character.

Found new heights of fun

• Experienced a full sensory experience at the Coachella music festival
• By full sensory experience I mean the music combined with the visuals, crowd, friends, and feeling the warm desert wind in your hair
• Flume and Madeon in particular were incredible live
• And I got to experience it again at Odesza’s Last Goodbye Tour in LA
• Remembered how blissful a shower and hot pizza is after a week spent in the Yosemite wilderness
• Went on my first American cruise - it was nice, but I won’t go on an American cruise again for a while

Dived into real estate

• I was introduced to real estate investing through a college classmate who started a real estate group
• He held a conference for that group in Long Beach, where I met my real estate mentor
• Invested into 3 syndications as an LP, enabling me to diversify 10% of my portfolio into real estate. I plan to take this percentage higher.

Resolutions for 28 (results):

• Accomplished:
• Run a 2:00 half marathon
• Score at least once every weekend soccer game (on average)
• Become a decent winger
• My first Coachella
• Visit 2 new countries (Spain, Grand Cayman, UK)
• Try ultralight backpacking (Yosemite, Joshua Tree)
• Get back into photography, buy a camera by May (somewhat)
• Get into a university in UK for a CS conversion program (found out in May!)
• Did not accomplish:
• Run a 6:00 mile
• Pass HSK level 1
• Enroll in voice coaching class
• One blog post every 2 weeks
• Limit YouTube and mindless browsing to <2hr/day - partial
• Extra credit:
• Invested $70k across 3 syndications

Things I want to get better at

• Become a real estate investor
• Become someone who is well spoken with a good voice
• Become adept at computer science and programming

Resolutions for 29:

As I mentioned, I am wording my resolutions first as as set of identities so I can hopefully internalize who I want to become instead of just what I want to accomplish.

Identity:

• Adventurer
• I am a scuba diver
• I am a backpacker
• I am a soccer player
• Responsible adult and reliable partner
• I am self sufficient
• I am a good cook
• I am a reliable partner
• Financially successful
• I think of my career 2-5 years ahead
• I am a real estate investor
• Orator and multi-lingual
• I am good at handling meetings
• I have a good voice that people like to listen to
• I am a Japanese speaker
• I am a Chinese speaker
• Computer science
• I am a skilled software engineer
• Interesting friend
• I am a good friend who keeps connections and initiates conversations

Here is my identity broken down into goals I can measure myself against. Priorities are bolded.

Goals for 29:

• Adventurer
• Get scuba diving certified
• Scuba dive in a top 20 location
• Go on 2 backpacking trips: Zion, Olympic, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, or the Alps
• Coachella 2023
• Christmas Japan trip with my girlfriend and our families
• Consistently juggle a soccer ball 20 times
• Join a football club in UK and not be the worst player on the team
• Responsible adult and reliable partner
• Move out of my parents place
• Live with my girlfriend
• Master 20 recipes
• Do not browse Youtube for more than 1hr/weekday, 2hr/weekend
• Financially successful
• Switch jobs (AME or Google) or enter a CS masters program
• Buy my first real estate investment property
• Orator and multi-lingual
• Start a voice coaching course
• Pass HSK 1
• Complete the Coursera music theory course
• One blog post every month
• Read one Japanese newspaper article every day
• Computer science - these are future goals for when I am 30 because I graduate in September 2024
• Graduate with upper second class honors (GPA 3.7)
• Do an artificial intelligence and/or climate change related capstone project
• Friend
• Make a meaningful network of people in UK
• Reconnect with old friends
• Never waste a weekend: plan every weekend

Future goals past my 30 year checkpoint but things I need to work on from now:

• Responsible adult and reliable partner
• Get my girlfriend to the US by the time we are 31
• Computer science
• Graduate with upper second class honors (GPA 3.7)
• Do an artificial intelligence and/or climate change related capstone project

Here is my 5 year plan I came up with last year for reference

5 year plan:

• Form a clear identity - be able to answer below questions and live by it:
• What is my brand?
• What is my calling?
• Impact society for the better
• Climate change
• Work in one of the below industries
• Key technology
• Artificial intelligence
• Solid state battery
• Cold fusion
• Growth sector
• Offshore wind
• Pumped hydro
• Space and satellite
• Fintech - insurance, blockchain, stable-coin
• On-track to retire by 40
• 10M net worth = 5M net worth by 35
• Secured from lawsuit (Delaware company for holdings, trust, will)
• 50/50 real estate/capital market