Generally speaking, the items on your to-do list can be categorized into two buckets.
There’s the easy stuff.
These things don’t take a very long time to knock off the list – and they give you a pleasant dopamine rush once you’ve crossed them off.
Getting to inbox zero. Returning calls. Paying bills.
You get the idea.
The easy items easily account for 99% of your list, at least in volume terms. But certainly not in importance.
No, the important stuff is elsewhere. It’s in that 1% of your to-do list.
The big, hairy, clunky, hard to approach, “if I fail it won’t be pretty” items.
They can languish there for months and years. Many people don’t manage to cross them off at all.
Starting a family. Changing jobs. Moving countries.
Launching a business. Nailing that big promotion. Finally getting into real estate.
Even if you take a proper crack at them, it can feel like you are spending weeks and months going at it, without making any discernible progress.
And then one day, the stars align, and all the work you’ve done finally pays off.
It’s easy to de-prioritize these things in favour of the first bucket, the emotional fast food that keeps the wheels turning but doesn’t take you anywhere.
But you only move forward by tackling the big stuff.
The unfortunate reality is that the longer you let those things languish on the “list”, the less likely you are to actually do them.
I’ve had one of those items on my list for more than a year – and it finally feels like I’m about to cross it off (at which point, of course, I’ll share the outcome on here).
A little luck and a little push can go a long way.
Which is to say – whatever you’ve got on your list for 2022, please keep on pushing. The results may well surprise you.
Have a wonderful Sunday all!
From Yours Truly
What If The Good Times In The Stock Market Are Over?
Pedal To The Metal: How To Build Wealth In Your 40s
Building Wealth
Big Skills – Morgan Housel
Generational Wealth – Indeedably
If you are looking for an unbiased view on decentralized finance (i.e. not one delivered by a crypto bro), you can do worse than read this post by the ever-excellent Finumus:
Down The DeFi Rabbit Hole – Finumus via Monevator
10 Things I Love About Market Corrections – A Wealth Of Common Sense
Why Are Poor People Poor And Rich People Rich? – Bitches Get Riches
Make A Reverse Bucket List To Push Through Tough Times – Accidental Fire
And finally, a realistic perspective on growing a successful side business:
Millennial Mom With A $12.5k/Month Side Hustle – CNBC
Early Retirement
Should You Die With Zero? – Rad Reads
Happiness Revisited: Did Early Retirement Have An Impact? – Accidentally Retired
Lifestyle Design
Some might say the post below belongs in the building wealth section above.
Perhaps.
But to me, it’s a beautiful and inspiring example of designing a life that combines, work, family, hobbies, and purpose. Highly recommended.
FIRE Crossroads: Crossing 7 Figures Annually As A Dentist – Physician on FIRE
All Around
Create Memories, Not Regrets – Spilled Coffee
Also, long and not finance-related but absolutely riveting:
The Battle For The World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon – NY Times
Recommended Books
As always, some top books to round it all off:
The World For Sale: Money, Power, And The Traders Who Barter Earth’s Resources – Javier Blas and Jack Farchy
If you like basketball and enjoyed The Last Dance (like I did), you will most likely want to pick up this book:
11 Rings – Phil Jackson
Getting To Yes: Negotiating An Agreement Without Giving In – Roger Fisher
Have a wonderful weekend!
Note: the above post may contain affiliate links. You can read up about our affiliate policy here.
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Banker On FIRE is an M&A (mergers and acquisitions) investment banker. I am passionate about capital markets, behavioural economics, financial independence, and living the best life possible.
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Thank you for that comment. I often come across the statement think like the 1%. Your post make that comment all the clearer to understand. Thank you.
Cheers Cleophas!
Hi . I hope all is well, regular reader of yours so surprised you haven’t posted for a wee while. I hope it’s because your just super busy clicking those deals/ getting promoted. All the best and hope to be reading more soon.
Seconded. He has been somewhat active on twitter, just MIA here…
Thanks Nomad. Been a busy couple of weeks, but back to regular programming now!
Cheers Stuart, appreciate the message.
Happy to report I am now back in action!