The Beginning

Does the title seem a bit weird (or familiar)? It is a bit weird but I sort of took it from the famous 2010 action movie, The A-Team. It’s the scene where the team flies a tank (LOL) and Bradley Cooper tries to shoot a reaper while the tank’s in mid-air. 

In case you want to have a quick laugh ;-), here’s the clip:

It was a LOL moment but he was daring those deadly reapers with (just) a machine-gun fitted on the tank. 

That’s how I see 2021; what you got? 

Instead of writing a ‘year-in-review’, I decided to share my goals for 2021. But you can’t embrace the present or plan for the future without learning from the past. Hence, I’d like to share the lessons I took away from 2020 that would help me plan for 2021 and beyond. 

? 2020: The Lessons 

Okay, now that we are here, I’m obligated to tell you that these lessons are my own. You may not agree with it. It might not apply to you. So, do read it with a pinch of salt. 

✅ Lesson 3: Be Good at Saving Money

In 2020, I decided to give entrepreneurship a shot for the first time in my life. I thought, “Well, I’m 26. I’ve got the risk appetite. I should at least give it a shot.” 

So, I quit my (terrible) full-time job and decided to become a freelancer specializing in SaaS content strategy and organic growth. Long story short, when my highest paying client left (90% of my monthly revenue), I went into depression. 

But my biggest worry was how am I going to pay for my expenses? Luckily, I was always good at saving money. I had enough to keep going for another 6 months without any income. This is just one scenario. You may face a different one. Whatever the case may be, have enough saved up to help you last for 6 months without any income. 

✅ Lesson 2: Surround yourself with (only) winners

This might seem a bit harsh but I don’t mind saying it. You need to surround yourself with winners. And by winners, I don’t mean folks who graduated from top b-schools or is the SVP of a Fortune 500 company. By winners, I mean those who got a winning attitude. 

There are only two types of people in this world. Losers and losers who don’t quit. We all lose in life at some point in time but those who keep on trying and get back on their feet, are winners. I’m lucky to have found a bunch of winners in 2020. 

✅ Lesson 3: Find Your Professional Tribe

We spend one-third of our lives at work. It’s a lot of time. We make friends, form new relationships, and even find our better halves there. So, you must find your tribe; the one that speaks your language, figuratively. 

When I first chatted with Preetam to lead marketing at DelightChat, I instantly clicked with his ideas and the way he thinks. Unlike my previous companies, I had a real chance to build a company from scratch and shape the culture in the best way possible. In short, I found my tribe. 

? 2021: The Goals

On the 1st of January, I declared my goals for this year to a few of my friends and the DelightChat tribe. I have never done that before and it took a lot of guts to overcome my imposter syndrome and get it out there. 

Now, as a procrastinator, I depend on external forces for motivation. Hence, I now declare it to the world. And, if you’re still reading, let’s take a look at them and you be the judge of how deep of a hole I’m digging, LOL. 

? Goal 3: Misc

Let’s start with the random ones. These are stuff I have wanted to do for quite some time but I think this is the year it will come to fruition. 

1. Visit a new country: I have never been out of India. I know it’s sad but it’s the truth. Well, that’s about to change. Being an Otaku, I was planning on visiting Japan. Else, I heard that Poland is beautiful. Any suggestions? 
2. Learn how to ride a motorcycle & a car: Okay, this is embarrassing. I’m 26 and I only know how to cycle (the bike without an engine). 2021 is the year I get my license for both and then I will be one with the road (yeah, right?!) 
3. Move to a new area: I’m currently living in a sh*tty area in Bangalore. I hate it. So, I’m going to move to a better & a bit posher locality.  I will take up a nice 1 BHK and decorate it well with Naruto merchandise and stuff. 

? Goal 2: Health

My health is something I’ve been meaning to work on for the past 2 years. I almost 15 Kgs (33 pounds) overweight and that’s not a good thing. It can lead to an array of diseases. So, this year, it’s high time that I take care of my health and I will. Here’s how:

1. No junk food: Junk food is one of the biggest contributors to obesity. Even more so when you’re living in India where food doesn’t get cooked without rich spices and a lot of oil. Oh, and it also adds to your expenses (it was 20% for me last month). So, starting in January, I’m going to eat junk food twice a month and gradually reduce it to zero. 
2. Exercise: This is by far the most challenging thing to do. Going to the gym isn’t the problem; going regularly is. Consistency is key, and therefore I have decided that I’d hit the gym right after I’m done with work, on the weekdays, before going back home. That way, it will be more efficient. 

? Goal 1: Personal Brand

I have always prioritized my career over anything else. My brand is one of those things that can expedite my career growth surprisingly fast. So, here’s what I plan to do:

1. Grow on Twitter: As a marketer, I feel like 2021 is the year of Twitter. It’s growing fast and it shows no signs of slowing down. I’ve shifted my focus from LinkedIn to Twitter. By the end of this year, I want to grow my follower base to 5,000 awesome and above. I know the number doesn’t mean much but it’s a goal that can stimulate the other aspects of my brand on Twitter. 
2. Be consistent with blogging: As you can see, this is a new website and this is the first article on the site. I want to write consistently and provide a ton of value to those who seek it. I aim to write about all things SaaS & DTC marketing while dabbling a bit with topics on productivity and mental health. Let’s see how it goes as I plan to publish 50 articles by the end of this year. 
3. Get published: I always envied those marketers who got invited to podcasts, spoke at events, or author articles on top-notch websites like SEJ and Ahrefs. This year, I’m going to work towards that and get myself published. Again, this doesn’t mean much but it’s a form of personal satisfaction to boost my confidence as a growth professional. 

Ending (for now)

Okay, that’s about it. My imposter syndrome has forced me to bury my face in the pillow. This is too much revelation and I’m not sure if anyone’s interested to read this. 

But hey, if I don’t reach these goals by the end of 2021, the least I can do is make myself accountable. I intend to #BuildInPublic and share my learnings as I take on this beast, i.e. 2021. Let’s do it!