The Everyday Designer #1 — Setting sail again

Welcome everyone! I used to have a newsletter a few years ago and I have really missed connecting with you in a personal and informal way, a dialogue of sorts. So I have decided to start it back up with hopes to not only talk to you, but help you out with your endeavours.

So thank you for subscribing and staying tuned in, I promise we’re going to have fun time! :)

Looking Back — 2021 Year Review

2021 or 2020 v.2 or twenty twenty too, was yet another year in which we faced turmoil and hurt of all kinds. I still can’t remember what I did in 2020. Or 2021. It still feels like I’m waiting to start 2020 all over again…(anyone else?)

Anyways, I had made some goals at the start of 2021 and want to revisit them. You can check out the full blog post here.

Become a Webflow Expert

Although I did not become a certified expert, I did get to work on 3 website development projects using webflow and will continue to use it and learn about it. Also found out about Finsweet along the way and their amazing “Client-first style system”. Highly recommend for all your webflower’s out there.

Make a short film (already in the works)

It’s actually almost done, and will be out this month! So follow along and get notified by subscribing to my youtube channel here.

Finish all the e-courses I bought and started

I haven’t finished all of them, but most of them I have and they have all helped me grow in my skills as a webflow user, a website developer, a brand designer and more!

Come out with at least one song (already in the works)

I did! Its called “Be A Kid Again” and its streaming everywhere! Going through the process of recording a song and then working with producers to mix and master has definitely put fire in my belly to make MORE this year!

Stay tuned…that’s all I’m saying 😉

Read 24 books (2 books per month)

Definitely didn’t read 24, but read a few and that’s always better than none.

Finish paying off credit card debt + car

I actually did! Well, at least the credit card part…now to finish paying off the car and then we are FULLY debt-free and can focus on investing and saving this year, for whatever…house I cannot afford cause…inflation…anyways haha.

Finish updating my portfolio

I think I need to change the parameters of this one cause its an every year thing that I never get done, does anyone have tips or help?

Sell my first bag of coffee (roastery opening)

Although I didn’t sell a bag of coffee (I also sold my roaster) I did sell cold brew! That was a fun learning experience seeing how much effort it takes to make just one batch of cold brew for people over the holidays, mad respect to coffee roasteries everywhere that roast hundreds of bags a day of coffee.

I think in all these goals there was an innate desire to grow and to continue to learn, and in all these areas I can say that I learned.

I also moved out of my house in March and that was quite the learning experience for me. I grew in ways I never have before while being at my house and I will never forget all the wonderful memories and moments made during that time. I moved back to my house in September after some hard things happened to our family, but I will always carry around the experiences I had, the people I met, and the bond that grew stronger with my friends during that time in Collingwood.

Now it’s time to look ahead.

Moving Forward — 2022

I have been thinking of ways in which to rethink about goals. One way is to think of guidelines or systems that will help get to the place where you want to go, rather than achieving a certain status or amount. James Clear says in his book Atomic Habits,

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there. This year, spend less time focusing on outcomes and more time focusing on the habits that precede the results.”

So this year I am going to focus more on building systems rather than setting goals. I hope to see where this leads me and will recap at the end of the year!

My plan for this newsletter though is two-fold.

1. I will be sending out monthly editions of this to update you, the reader (thank you for getting this far if you did ❤️) on all the things I’ve been up to and sharing with you some things that I have learned or picked up along the way that might be valuable to you.
2. I am on a mission to create “52 notion templates in 52 weeks” in order to dive deep into notion, learn what I can, and then use it all to help people implement better systems for themselves in order to lead healthier, smarter, full lives. If you don’t know what notion is, get yourself acquainted here. Trust me, it will change your life.

I hope you stick around and enjoy this journey of mine.

🌊 Currents

Taking inspiration from Ugmonk’s newsletter, I will be sharing what things I am currently engaging with or things that inspire me.

📚 Currently reading: Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin. This book has been transforming the way I view and interact with money, very valuable if you want to have a better relationship with money.

🏡 Currently inspired: The Local Project. This Australia-based architecture youtube channel is filled with amazing house tours and breakdown’s of architect’s decision-making in the house-building process. I think I’ve watched them all…

✏️ Currently using: Analog — The simplest productivity system. I was an original backer of this kickstarter, and man honestly nothing beats writing down physically your to-do lists, your ideas, your executable goals on neat, perfect-sized cards propped up on a beautiful piece of walnut. I’ve paired it with the HMM Matte Black pen for the perfect simple task-creating combo! Can’t recommend it enough. (If your reading this Jeff, thank you 🙏

‍