Say hello, again

Hello again my friend,

We’ve reached the juicy climax of 2025. Two weeks before the end. When we reflect on the highs and lows of the year and compare the outcomes with our initial expectations. You might also be asking “what really happened this year?” It felt like a blur it, and went by so fast.

Resolutions are overrated, but learning is timeless. This post is a reminder of what matters and what doesn’t. From the deep and vulnerable to the shallow and vain. Not by trying to “fix” something broken, but instead looking at the good and saying, “Yes. More of this.”

This will be the last post until the New Year. Before anything else: thank you. I appreciate your time reading, and for being on this journey with me.

Let’s lock in.

There was a time when I was doing 100 different things every day, and eventually burnt out. There’s always a limit. Prioritizing health has been essential. But so has finding out that the root of the problem was thinking I had to do all 100 myself. I didn’t.

Family and friends, the job, the brand, and things I enjoy. There isn’t much else needed in life than these for me, for now.

The ‘work-life balance’ isn’t about one priority winning over the others in a zero-sum game. I see it as trying to create a life with harmony for everything that matters. And it doesn’t happen by constantly thinking about life. It happens while we’re living.

2026 will not reward more thinking. It’ll reward commitment to fewer things that really matter.

It’s an incredible feeling when someone else genuinely believes in you. And it’s a tough truth that if you live and die by other people’s opinions (good or bad), there’s a limit to how far you can go.

Chances are, you’ve already paid your dues. You might think you haven’t, that it’s too soon, that you need ‘more time.’ I paid my dues for 10 years longer than I needed to. The same is likely true for you.

You likely have the skills and taste already. Your confidence just isn’t stable enough (yet) to follow through consistently. I’ve struggled with this for my entire career.

Confidence stays, and we want more of it, in 2026.

I wrote an entire post dedicated to the content economy. It’s here to stay through 2026 (and probably for the next 20 years or more).

Posting on social media. Newsletters like this one you’re reading now. Podcasts. This industry makes or breaks businesses and careers.

Content has made more millionaires in the last ten years than any other industry. If not directly for the content creators, indirectly for all the businesses that are winning with content.

It’s also something I don’t prioritize enough. And there’s a clear reason why, maybe it’s the same for you.

It stems from the fear of judgement, whether from others, or from your own beliefs about yourself.

But there’s a solution.

I scrolled and found a random IG video from Pharrell Williams, an extremely successful musician, producer, creative director, and more. I never paid attention to him, but the video hit me.

In it, he said:

Take all of your fears. The doubts. What you’re worried about. And write it down. Be very, very clear about exactly what it is you’re afraid of. That person thinking you’re a loser. That project going badly. Write it all down and be very specific. Then take that paper and realize it’s all just a distraction. The time spent thinking about it is all a distraction…

I did this. I wrote down all the fears.

The first one made me cringe (ironically). The second made me laugh. The last one has always been a possibility. There were another 15 or so I won’t list here that were just as nonsensical.

There was something very powerful in looking at that paper. I can’t explain it, but just looking at the written list made it feel less serious.

More writing down what I’m afraid of in 2026.

On a very real note.

It’s true that you can’t take your money with you when you die. It’s also true that it’s nice to leave your kids something more than bills.

But I’m not just talking about an extra dinner or a fancy vacation. When I say “saving money,” what I’m really saying is “stop spending money to make other people think you’re cool,” or rich, or whatever else you’re aiming for.

I’ve fallen into that trap.

The conversations I had while wearing an absurdly expensive watch weren’t conversations I wanted to have. The entire feeling of it was off.

And yes, in certain circles, what you wear can speak for you. In sales, for example, that watch represents that you’re good at what you do (otherwise you couldn’t afford it). It’s sometimes a kind of instant credibility.

But those instances are when you’re using these items, and most are not. Even then, it won’t solve every problem. It just helps with credibility you can build doing other things anyway.

If you’re a millionaire, or have family money, or want to celebrate that major milestone once or twice, all the power to you. Go for it.

Otherwise, remember that there’s more power with $100k in the bank than on your wrist. Don’t believe me? Go talk to two guys for me.

Let me know who you like better.

It’s always cool to put a little extra money away, just in case.

It’s so easy to have big goals and ambitions, and then let the stress of trying to reach them hit other parts of life.

Do I want more? Of course. Do I need to snap at people who don’t deserve it because a customer is a moron? No.

I’ll always remind myself that I’m so, so lucky. If you catch me slipping, please let me know.

I wish you a lovely holiday season.

All the best,

Darwin