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. Itās the scene where the team flies a tank (LOL) and Bradley Cooper tries to shoot a reaper while the tankās in mid-air.
In case you want to have a quick laugh ;-), hereās the clip:
It was a LOL moment but he was daring those deadly reapers with (just) a machine-gun fitted on the tank.
Thatās how I see 2021; what you got?
Instead of writing a āyear-in-reviewā, I decided to share my goals for 2021. But you canāt embrace the present or plan for the future without learning from the past. Hence, Iād like to share the lessons I took away from 2020 that would help me plan for 2021 and beyond.
š 2020: The Lessons
Okay, now that we are here, Iām 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.
ā 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, āWell, Iām 26. Iāve got the risk appetite. I should at least give it a shot.ā
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.
ā Lesson 2: Surround yourself with (only) winners
This might seem a bit harsh but I donāt mind saying it. You need to surround yourself with winners. And by winners, I donāt 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 donāt 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. Iām lucky to have found a bunch of winners in 2020.
ā Lesson 3: Find Your Professional Tribe
We spend one-third of our lives at work. Itās 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.Ā
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.
š 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 youāre still reading, letās take a look at them and you be the judge of how deep of a hole Iām digging, LOL.
šÆ Goal 3: Misc
Letās 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.
- Visit a new country: I have never been out of India. I know itās sad but itās the truth. Well, thatās about to change. Being an Otaku, I was planning on visiting Japan. Else, I heard that Poland is beautiful. Any suggestions?
- Learn how to ride a motorcycle & a car: Okay, this is embarrassing. Iām 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?!)
- Move to a new area: Iām currently living in a sh*tty area in Bangalore. I hate it. So, Iām 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.
šÆ Goal 2: Health
My health is something Iāve been meaning to work on for the past 2 years. I almost 15 Kgs (33 pounds) overweight and thatās not a good thing. It can lead to an array of diseases. So, this year, itās high time that I take care of my health and I will. Hereās how:
- No junk food: Junk food is one of the biggest contributors to obesity. Even more so when youāre living in India where food doesnāt 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, Iām going to eat junk food twice a month and gradually reduce it to zero.
- Exercise: This is by far the most challenging thing to do. Going to the gym isnāt the problem; going regularly is. Consistency is key, and therefore I have decided that Iād hit the gym right after Iām done with work, on the weekdays, before going back home. That way, it will be more efficient.
šÆ 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, hereās what I plan to do:
- Grow on Twitter: As a marketer, I feel like 2021 is the year of Twitter. Itās growing fast and it shows no signs of slowing down. Iāve 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 doesnāt mean much but itās a goal that can stimulate the other aspects of my brand on Twitter.
- 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. Letās see how it goes as I plan to publish 50 articles by the end of this year.
- 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, Iām going to work towards that and get myself published. Again, this doesnāt mean much but itās a form of personal satisfaction to boost my confidence as a growth professional.
Ending (for now)
Okay, thatās about it. My imposter syndrome has forced me to bury my face in the pillow. This is too much revelation and Iām not sure if anyoneās interested to read this.
But hey, if I donāt 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. Letās do it!