JINO INSIGHTS

How can I make the best of this year and make it better than the previous? what can I do differently so that I don’t look like a loser this year, and begin winning? How can I put my life in order?

If you are among few folks with a burning desire to make a difference in their lives, then those questions must be familiar to you, or you could be asking yourself similar ones.

Each and every other year has its own ups and downs, with different individuals having different experiences.

Last year was no different. It was an astonishing year to some people yet to others, it was in one way or another an ocean of financial challenges, failed business ventures, fitness resolutions that remained on paper, unfulfilled educational aspirations, failure to overcome addiction or mental health challenges, challenges navigating career path or changes, failed relationships and challenges maintaining healthy ones, among others.

The expectations were high but the outcomes were disappointing. The clock seemed to move so fast that by the time we realized, damn the year was ending with unfulfilled expectations.

Sometimes that can be so painful and disappointing and make you feel like a loser. But hold on, the fact that things never turned out as hoped for, doesn’t mean one is a loser, or the next person is better.

It could just be a feedback to refocus, change strategies, redefine or set new goals, view the world from a different perspective.

Regardless of what your journey was, the million-dollar question is, how can we make the best of this year?

To answer the grand question, a number of actionable tips curated from personal experiences, and research have been compiled to guide anyone who wants to make a difference in their life.

4 Actionable Tips To Make The Best Of 2024

Build discipline.

Goals are nothing without discipline. However much we set goals, make plans to make a life change, none will materialize without the discipline to wakeup each morning and work towards attaining them.

It takes discipline to maintain a daily grit; building your brand, sticking to a fitness or diet plan, building a new skill, to keep on looking for that opportunity you have been hoping for, to hold on when results do not manifest within the time you expected, to commit to personal development.

Most failures spring from a lack of discipline because it’s the “bridge between goals and accomplishment”, and the fuel to keep your candle burning, and never give up until you achieve your goals.

It contains in it, the power to create from scratch with patience, assurance, and zeal. To make the best of this year, build discipline into your character.

Learn a new skill.

I one time asked myself the question, if hundreds of jobs were presented to me and I only needed to show a skill I was so good at, what skill would get me a job?

I was so surprised to discover that I had been whining all along for nothing, joining the crowd in complaining there were no jobs, or making money was hard yet I did not possess any skill with which I would create a value that people would be willing to pay for.

Majority of folks want to get employed or make money ‘just like that’ even when they do not possess what it takes to get what they want. Although it is true sometimes that jobs are limited, most times people lack the right set of skills to take advantage of opportunities available.

Today I want you to ask yourself the same question to find out if you possess adequate or the right set of skills to take advantage of opportunities or create value for people and be paid for.

If you find yourself in a situation like mine, then its time to make a u-turn.

Make adequate research to identify skills that are on high demand by organizations and businesses in your area, or those that can help you to become self-employed.

For example, learning data analysis, digital marketing (literacy), building websites, or coding and programming, graphics designing, catering, tailoring and fashion, making craft, building, etc.

There are so many websites online that one can utilize to acquire new skills such as Udemy,(https://www.udemy.com), Alison, (https://alison.com), Coursera(https://www.coursera.org) and many more.

some of the courses in these websites are free, while others are at a premium, but all are valuable depending on your needs.

It doesn’t have to be necessarily online, because learning a new skill could be through friends, free training opportunities in your locality, reading books on a particular skill development, salons, restaurants, or learning by doing until you become an expert in that area.

When identifying which skills to develop, it is also important to consider those that align with your strengths so that you never waste time and resources only to become a mediocre.

The universe rewards those that are highly good at what they do, and your goal should be to become so good at a skill you choose to learn. It is not easy to develop expertise where your strengths are limited.

Read great books.  

I love two interesting quotes about reading books by Socrates and Charles W. Elliot respectively. They say; “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for”.

“books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.

Reading books widen one’s understanding about the workings of the world. Read books on business and finance, geopolitics, climate, economics, history, spirituality and mindfulness, philosophy, psychology, etc.

Reading great books builds the mind to enhance decision making, develop new ideas, enhance leadership, become easily adaptable, and build character.

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Take care of yourself.

What can be more valuable than a clear state of mind, having good health, valuing yourself, doing things you love, being kind to yourself.

If you never prioritized your overall wellbeing, then its high time you did so. Money can’t take the place of its benefits. Instead, taking care of oneself is linked with making more money in the long run.

It takes many forms such as; exercising regularly, having enough sleep and rest, taking break from work, eating healthy, having good time with friends and family, grooming, and keeping away from activities that deteriorate your body and mental health.

It could be through engaging in activities that you love most and brings to you fulfilment such as practicing your hobbies; travelling, walking in nature, swimming, meditating, etc. taking care of yourself is one of the greatest investment one can make on their self.