My 2025 Blueprint
Reflections, Goals, and Frameworks in the Pursuit of a Meaningful Life
Too Many Dreams, Too Little Time
I’ve wanted to share my goals for 2025 for weeks, but the truth is, I’m still ironing them out. They’re as dynamic as my curiosity. There are so many experiences I want to have, pursuits to pursue, books to read, podcasts to listen to, races to run (or swim, or bike, or swim-bike-run), mountains to climb, both literally and metaphorically. Maybe too many.
I don’t understand boredom. Instead, I get overwhelmed and stuck in analysis paralysis. Bill Perkins’ Die with Zero showed me there is an opportune time to do certain things. You’ll have an epic adventure with your best friend on that European backpacking trip when you’re 22—fresh out of college with minimal responsibility and a job lined up. But are you going to want to stay at a sketchy hostel or be physically able to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc at 62? It’s a different experience.
What about skydiving or heli-skiing? The risk-reward tradeoff is no longer there. Some experiences are time sensitive, have expiration dates, high personal interest rates, and are maximized when young. The memories and personal growth from such trips are more valuable than simply accumulating wealth. Delayed gratification to the extreme is deprivation. Sahil Bloom reinforces this in his new book and points out that money is just one of the Five Types of Wealth.
Hormozi said, “There’s no perfect way to live your 20s. You either live ‘em up and become an under-skilled 30 year old. Or you work ‘em up and become an under-lived 30 year old.” I chose the latter until I was 27—over-saving and under-living. Now, I’m choosing differently. As Jesse Itzler taught me, your life resume is more important than your professional one.
While I understand I cannot master everything, I believe I can become proficient at anything I go after (within reason of course—says the 5’10” guy who’s accepted the NBA is not in his future). You occasionally have to take the L. The loss.
“Specialization is a trade-off: pursuing one course means not pursuing another. It’s narrowing your focus to increase your impact. It also means not winning at the other things, but heavily investing in your 'thing' and being intentional. In a world of infinite knowledge and finite time, specialization is the key to unlocking mastery. It’s about going deep, not wide. Which leaves plenty of other pursuits that we are not winning. We are merely participating. But that realization is liberating. More time to focus on our craft. More time…” - Chris Hauth
Greg McKeown echoes this in Essentialism: the Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It’s a hard concept for my type A, obsessive-compulsive, driven, motivated, and energetic mind to grapple with as I often feel pulled in many directions, trying to optimize every second of life. It’s a conversation I have regularly with my mate Greg, who recently accomplished his multiyear goal of racing in the 70.3 World Championship. Depth versus width. Mastery versus curiosity. Ugh.
Recalibrating my North Star
Since 2016, competing in Kona at the Ironman World Championship was my north star. Every action funneled through one question: Does this move me closer to Kona? If not, it was off the table.
Now that Kona is behind me, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. Because it was far from the experience I wanted, worked toward, and am capable of when healthy, I’m relieved it’s over. Although my attitude may change, I don’t feel the need to go back there in 2026. Although I never thought I’d say this about Kona, a place and race I’ve revered for a decade, I’ve checked that box. That fire isn’t inside me right now. It’s time for a new guiding light.
In December, I got together with my Better’men’t buddies for a retreat at the Cedar Trunk Ranch outside of Austin, TX. There, led by my friend Chris, a mental performance coach, we recapped 2024 and planned for 2025 using a simple framework.
Start, Stop, Gas
Start - what do you want to start doing in 2025?
Stop - what do you want to stop doing in 2025?
Gas - what do you want to pour the gas on in 2025?
What’s the plan of action for each?
Here’s mine:
Start - Resting & healing, finding stillness & levity, listening to my gut & intuition, adulting
Plan - Weekly rest day, daily meditation, mobility/PT, finalizing health insurance, making appointments with PCP, therapist, and other docs
Stop - Beating up my body and mind, taking myself so seriously, self-sabotaging (how are you complicit in creating the conditions you say you don’t want?)
Plan - Redirect energy into writing, publish a weekly Substack, LinkedIn, and Instagram post
Gas - Coaching business, writing, connection & community in Boulder
Plan - Daily outreach, weekly social outings (hike, coffee, lunch) to deepen and expand network
We also set goals, a Misogi, and a word for the coming year.
My Goals, Misogi, and Word for the Year
Make $50k from coaching
4:14 in a 70.3, 8:59 in an Ironman, run 2:59 off the bike in an Ironman,pro card, 2k on the rower in 6:59See family once per quarter
A Misogi is a Japanese Shinto practice of cold-water immersion, believed to purify the soul and spiritually prepare for the year ahead. In the modern western context, it’s a yearly commitment to doing something uniquely difficult—a challenge to craft a truly year-defining, life-changing experience. Your chances of successful completion should be about 50-50.
My Misogi - set the mixed-gender FKT on Nolan’s 14 with Candice
Word for 2025 - Wander Discover
After sharing “wander” with a close friend, I changed my word to “discover”, as he pointed out I don’t want to end the year feeling lost. It’s the lens with which we see the world, so we might as well make it positive.
An overarching word acts as a filter, directing decisions and shaping our path. Kona did that for nearly a decade. While it’s helpful to have a north star to follow, I believe it’s also important to remain flexible and graceful. As such, I’m stepping back, creating space, and allowing the next spark to come through.
Reflections and Vision Casting
The following prompts were given to me by my buddy Taylor, a life and leadership coach, who facilitates a men’s group:
Conduct a one year rewind. Jot down what happened last year, starting from December 2024 and working your way back to January. First from memory, then a second time using your camera roll and calendar for assistance.
Finish this sentence: The man I was in January of (or this time) last year…
High on life after doing my first Ironman and wanting more (IM TX and Kona)
Craving connection and intimacy (just met Candice)
Hated and wanted to leave my 9-5
Refreshed after being back in PA for the holidays and on a men’s retreat in TX
Go through specific journal prompts to gain insights:
What went well? What were your successes?
What were your greatest challenges or failures?
What are you most proud of?
What would you do differently?
How have you changed in the past year?
If last year were a book or movie, what would the title be?
Once we reflect, we create visions for the future.
What do you want to create or call in for 2025?
Who do you want to be by the end of 2025?
What needs to change to make that happen?
What would make you proud—a year from now and on your deathbed?
Then, we set goals using this format:
I want_____because_____.
And these categories:
Financial (money, assets)
Professional (career, vocation)
Physical (health, wellness, fitness)
Social (relationships, community)
Mental (purpose, emotional)
Spiritual (beliefs, values, religion)
Living by Design, Not Default
There’s power in setting goals. There’s more power in writing them down. Don’t waste your days confusing motion for action or climbing a ladder that’s leaning against the wrong wall.
The world belongs to optimists. If you’re going to do anything big, you have to believe it’s possible—otherwise, it never will be. Friends and family will say, “I told you so.” And they’re right—for now. But not forever.
Shoot your shot. As my buddy Bart says, “Make it happen.”
Looking back, we can see how far we have come! Cool to see the progression and so many of these milestones over the past year. Inspired to make some goals too 🙌❤️🔥