Welcome, Cyborgs!

As we close the chapter on 2023 and eagerly open the pages of 2024, this edition is all about harnessing our experiences and channeling them into a victorious future.

Join us as we reflect, plan, and set the stage for a year of unparalleled success.

Harnessing the Power of Non-Zero Days

About a decade ago, I stumbled upon a piece of advice that profoundly shifted my perspective and became the bedrock of my personal and professional life.

It's an ethos that has not only stood the test of time but has also been instrumental in navigating through the myriad challenges of my journey, particularly as an entrepreneur with amnesia.

This advice, centered on the concept of 'Non-Zero Days,' has been the single most impactful guidance I've encountered, and I believe it holds the power to transform lives:

From reddit user u/ryans01: 

“Ouch. Sounds like you're having a tough time max.

That sucks.

I've been there, so I kinda know what you're talking about. I've been in the ever circling vortex of self doubt, frustration, and loathing. It's no bueno. I know. If you don't mind lemme tell you a couple things. You can read em if you want, read em again later if you feel like it. But honestly man, if I spend all this time typing this out to you and you don't let it be a little tinder for your fire, well, you're just letting us both down. And you don't HAVE to do that. You don't HAVE to do anything. But you get to choose.

(Who am I? My name’s Ryan and I live in Canada. Just moved to a new city for a dream job that I got because of the rules below. I owe a lot of my success to people much cooler, kinder, more loving and greater than me. When I get the chance to maybe let a little bit of help out, it’s a way of thanking them. )

Rule numero uno - There are no more zero days. What's a zero day? A zero day is when you don't do a single fucking thing towards whatever dream or goal or want or whatever that you got going on. No more zeros. I'm not saying you gotta bust an essay out everyday, that's not the point. The point I'm trying to make is that you have to make yourself, promise yourself, that the new SYSTEM you live in is a NON-ZERO system. Didnt' do anything all fucking day and it's 11:58 PM? Write one sentence. One pushup. Read one page of that chapter. One. Because one is non zero. You feel me? When you're in the super vortex of being bummed your pattern of behaviour is keeping the vortex goin, that's what you're used to. Turning into productivity ultimate master of the universe doesn't happen from the vortex. It happens from a massive string of CONSISTENT NON ZEROS. That's rule number one. Do not forget.

La deuxieme regle - yeah i learnt french. its a canadian thing. please excuse the lack of accent graves, but lemme get into rule number 2. BE GRATEFUL TO THE 3 YOU'S. Uh what? 3 me's? That sounds like mumbo jumbo bullshit. News flash, there are three you's homeslice. There's the past you, the present you, and the future you. If you wanna love someone and have someone love you back, you gotta learn to love yourself, and the 3 you's are the key.

Be GRATEFUL to the past you for the positive things you've done. And do favours for the future you like you would for your best bro. Feeling like shit today? Stop a second, think of a good decision you made yesterday. Salad and tuna instead of Big Mac? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Was yesterday a nonzero day because you wrote 200 words (hey, that's all you could muster)? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Saved up some coin over time to buy that sweet thing you wanted? THANK YOU. Second part of the 3 me's is you gotta do your future self a favour, just like you would for your best fucking friend (no best friend? you do now. You got 2. It's future and past you). Tired as hell and can't get off reddit/videogames/interwebs? fuck you present self, this one's for future me, i'm gonna rock out p90x Ab Ripper X for 17 minutes. I'm doing this one for future me. Alarm clock goes off and bed is too comfy? fuck you present self, this one's for my best friend, the future me. I'm up and going for a 5 km run (or 25 meter run, it's gotta be non zero). MAKE SURE YOU THANK YOUR OLD SELF for rocking out at the end of every.single.thing. that makes your life better. The cycle of doing something for someone else (future you) and thanking someone for the good in your life (past you) is key to building gratitude and productivity. Do not doubt me. Over time you should spread the gratitude to others who help you on your path.

Rule number 3- don't worry i'm gonna too long didnt' read this bad boy at the bottom (get a pencil and piece of paper to write it down. seriously. you physically need to scratch marks on paper) FORGIVE YOURSELF. I mean it. Maybe you got all the know-how, money, ability, strength and talent to do whatever is you wanna do. But lets say you still didn't do it. Now you're giving yourself shit for not doing what you need to, to be who you want to. Heads up champion, being dissapointed in yourself causes you to be less productive. Tried your best to have a nonzero day yesterday and it failed? so what. I forgive you previous self. I forgive you. But today? Today is a nonzero masterpiece to the best of my ability for future self. This one's for you future homes. Forgiveness man, use it. I forgive you. Say it out loud.

Last rule. Rule number 4, is the easiest and its three words. exercise and books. that's it. Pretty standard advice but when you exercise daily you actually get smarter. when you exercise you get high from endorphins (thanks body). when you exercise you clear your mind. when you exercise you are doing your future self a huge favour. Exercise is a leg on a three legged stool. Feel me? As for books, almost every fucking thing we've all ever thought of, or felt, or gone through, or wanted, or wanted to know how to do, or whatever, has been figured out by someone else. Get some books max. Post to reddit about not caring about yourself? Good first step! (nonzero day, thanks younger me for typing it out) You know what else you could do? Read 7 habits of highly successful people. Read "emotional intelligence". Read "From good to great". Read “thinking fast and slow”. Read books that will help you understand. Read the bodyweight fitness reddit and incorporate it into your workouts. (how's them pullups coming?) Reading is the fucking warp whistle from Super Mario 3. It gets you to the next level that much faster. That’s about it man. There’s so much more when it comes to how to turn nonzero days into hugely nonzero days, but that’s not your mission right now. Your mission is nonzero and forgiveness and favours. You got 36 essays due in 24 minutes and its impossible to pull off? Your past self let you down big time, but hey… I forgive you. Do as much as you can in those 24 minutes and then move on.”

For me, this powerful advice from Ryan has been a guiding light, illuminating my path through the fog of amnesia and the complexities of entrepreneurship.

The principle of 'Non-Zero Days' emphasizes the significance of making every day count, ensuring that no day passes without taking a step, however small, towards my goals.

This approach has not only helped me maintain momentum in my endeavors but also instilled a sense of continual progress and achievement, even on the most challenging days.

In your journey with the 2024 Vision Document, you'll find a special section dedicated to 'Daily Habits'.

This is where you can apply the Non-Zero Day philosophy to your goals.

Each habit should be a small, daily task that contributes to a non-zero day, specifically aligned with your objectives.

For instance, if your goal is to enhance your physical fitness, a daily habit might be a short workout or a healthy meal choice.

If you're aiming to grow your business, it could be networking with one new contact each day or dedicating time to learning a new skill.

These habits are your daily commitments to ensure that every day moves you incrementally closer to your aspirations.

By embracing this philosophy and integrating it into your daily routine, you set the stage for consistent growth and progress.

Let's make each day a step forward in our journey to success and fulfillment.

Embracing All Parts of Yourself: The Key to Overcoming Fear

In the quest for personal and professional growth, it's crucial to remember and listen to all parts of ourselves – our inner child, our present self, and our highest self.

This may sound esoteric, but engaging in an honest dialogue with these aspects of our being can be incredibly empowering.

Listening to Your Inner Child: Often, our fears and hesitations stem from our inner child's unaddressed needs or past experiences. Recognizing and nurturing this part can help alleviate deep-seated fears and unlock new levels of creativity and joy.

Consulting Your Present Self: Your current state, with its blend of strengths and weaknesses, desires and aversions, holds invaluable insights into what you need right now. Listening to your present self can guide your daily decisions and actions, ensuring they are aligned with your true aspirations.

Aligning with Your Highest Self: This is the version of you that embodies your greatest potential. By envisioning and aligning with your highest self, you set aspirational benchmarks and make choices that resonate with your ultimate goals.

Engaging with these different facets of your identity can help break down internal barriers and propel you forward with a deeper understanding and confidence.

Crafting SMART Goals for an Unstoppable 2024

In crafting our goals for a transformative 2024, we harness the SMART framework to ensure they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

This approach crystallizes our aspirations into focused, realistic objectives:

• Specific: Define goals with precision to provide clear direction.

• Measurable: Set quantifiable criteria for tracking progress.

• Achievable: Ensure goals are realistic and within your capabilities.

• Relevant: Align goals with your broader vision and values.

• Time-bound: Assign deadlines to create urgency and structure.

This methodical approach in the Annual Review and Planning document transforms ambitious visions into attainable plans, setting the stage for a year of purposeful and measurable progress.

In Conclusion: A Year of Unstoppable Growth Awaits

This newsletter is more than just a guide; it's a blueprint for turning the lessons of the past into the triumphs of the future.

As we embark on 2024, let's harness every day, listen to all aspects of ourselves, and transform our dreams into realities.

Stay inspired, embrace your journey, and let’s make 2024 a year of breakthroughs and unbridled success!

Stay Curious,

Addie LaMarr

P.S. For guidance navigating the document, honing your goals, or selecting your word-of-the-year, I've trained a specialized Annual Review Assistant GPT. Explore this resource here!