Great neck. Great view. Great location to retrospect and refocus.
Note: This is a long post split into two parts.
Part I is about reflecting and refocusing.
Part II is The Best of 2017. Books, courses, gigs, music, the usual.
PART I – Retrospect and Refocus 2018 – Edition
It’s the third year I’ve written this (here are 2016 and 2017), an idea I originally stole from Nate Green. It has become one of my favorite articles to write. It’s that inner monologue to reflect on the year gone by. A private diary entry for only my eyes to see. Blasted all over the Internet…
The reason I do make this public though is two-folded. First, when I make public statements and promises (even if they are for my own benefit) I tend to stick to them better. You know, saving face and all. The second is to hopefully inspire some of you to write your own retrospect and set some goals for the 2018.
That being said, I personally prefer the approach of finding what matters to me and then doing that on most days, slowly moving into the direction I want to head. I am not big on setting massive goals as they seem to intimidate me more than inspire.
Let’s see what comes out of all of this.
What I Struggled with in 2017
We can’t all be kicking goals 24/7. And I sure had some setback during the year. Yet I try to look at things as “a glass half full” by finding a positive in a seemingly negative. So one way or another all these setbacks lead to something positive.
Pulling out of the Strong First Kettlebell Certification
I trained hard, really hard from some point in January until early May. In April or so my back pain started to gradually lift its ugly head again. A sensible thing would’ve been to stop, something that would’ve been non-negotiable had it been a client. Mind you, if it would’ve been a client this would’ve never happened, because… I knew I didn’t have enough shoulder mobility to go into full flexion in the snatch position. Yet, since no one was looking I kept doing it anyways. The saying, “a person who’s coaching himself has an idiot as a coach.”
And this eventually lead me to cancel my kettlebell course registration. My fault, I knew better.
“What can you do about it?”
There’s a guy I know that asks me this each time I state a problem or a complaint. He has a personality that doesn’t tolerate complaining. This has lead to two things: I feel empowered to either take control or just let go. Gotta love those blunt eastern Europeans.
And so this setback lead to a bunch of positive stuff…
I started putting a lot of emphasis on my mobility training. I embraced what I learned (and kept learning) from FRC and implemented this on myself. This helped me a ton with clients too.
Then I seeked out Jason Thomson to get coached in all things PRI. Again, this has helped me a ton with clients too.
Not growing Reps and The Rest
Honestly, this is not so much of a setback as a conscious choice. One of my goals last year was to grow the site but I shifted it on the back burner to allow me to write for others. Beyond Of that, not stressing to have weekly content on my site has allowed me to write articles and pieces that take a lot of time and research. Instead of rushing to just get something out each week. This has been great.
Yeah there’s still short “Joonas is frustrated about the state of [insert a topic]” posts, but not as often.
I am sure there were plenty of other setbacks but I can’t think of them now. Which probably means they are not worth writing and dwelling on. Let’s move forward.
What Went Well in 2017
Ghostwriting
Since I started writing the goal has been to get paid for some of it. This came to fruition (great term) when I decided that I am comfortable ghostwriting (and edit) content for others.
Doing this has taught me a certain side of myself. I happily work in the background and let someone else soak up the “glory”. Most of the time I only care that I’ve done work I can be proud of and that I’ve written with integrity. As in, I won’t write something I don’t believe in just to make a buck.
As long as I know that the content is helping someone somewhere, I don’t care whether I see any of the glory and credit for creating it. Knowing that I did it (and got paid for it) is enough.
This has been extremely liberating.
Limiting social media use even further
Once a day, briefly. Block the newsfeed and only check notification and client’s coaching group. Delete apps to require a login each time. Never on Sundays.
Is this hurting my business? Maybe. But if being successful (whatever that means) requires (it doesn’t) whoring myself on social media I am content of being where I am.
And further, is limiting social media hurting my true friendships? No.
Improv theatre
I started weekly improv theater classes in April. In scheme of breaking some personal walls this was the biggest for the year. It has been liberating, fun, stressful and scary as fuck, all at the same time.
We ended up performing a “graduation – show” for around 150 people in early December. And I must say I was as nervous then as I was when I walked into my first class in April. But something weird happened once we kicked off. This feeling of calm and ease took over. I felt as if time slowed down. And we were soaking all this amazing energy from the audience. It was unreal.
Doing improv has relaxed me a great deal to just be me even more. To not really give a shit whether someone likes me or not. Not in a way of being offensive, but like “I’m me, you are you. If we get along that’s cool. But if we don’t that’s cool too.”
Getting better at “enough” and letting go
This has been interesting. I’ve worked towards this with training for years. And it has been a gradual shift, one year at a time. I’ve gotten even better at recognizing “enough” with my body.
But I’ve also found a better “enough” in other aspects of life. There’s a point of enough with work and with unnecessarily stressing over things I have very little control over. Again, it has been liberating. I am much calmer for it and don’t feel like I am in a constant rush.
Now as I am writing this and look back on the year, the theme of 2017 seemed to be “letting go”. Letting go of the ego. Well some of it anyways. Letting go of stress and worry when it’s out of my hands. Letting go of complaining when I can take action. Letting go of other people’s opinion.
Most of that ties in with my 2017 goal of “80/20 the shit out of everything”.
Things to Work On in 2018
Keep writing and get the book out
I don’t think I need to go through this to explain it again. I’ll just say that writing more for other people has allowed me to learn a great deal as I can’t just write opinion-pieces that sound like Joonas. And since I need to research the topics a fair bit I am also learning a great deal.
About the book, it’s based around my (heavily edited) blog posts with some new stuff sprinkled in it to make it gel. Current working title is Philosophy for Hardcoreless Fitness. It’s aimed for folks who dislike and struggle with all aspects of “health and fitness”. I need to get it to an outside, unbiased editor next.
Put more emphasis on heavier strength work
Going through my old books I was reminded about how much I loved doing Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 program years ago. It’s the simplicity and pure strength that I need.
Be present
I’ve gotten heaps better at this and would like to think that I am somewhat good at it. But every now and then I catch myself not being where I am at that moment (wait, let it sink). This is about to get even more important come June.
Ok, that’s enough. Let’s get into the Best of 2017.
PART II – The Best of 2017*
*as unanimously decided by a jury of one, me
Best Books of 2017
Favorite Personal Development Book
Here’s the thing. Early in 2017 I decided to focus more on implementing what I’ve learned the past years. I decided to not read any personal development books, for now. And I am still on that same train. It’s been liberating (third time I’ve brought up that word) and has allowed me to focus on learning more about the world in general.
Well, there was one exeption and this book came with high recommendations.
Ray Dahlio – Principles: Life and Work
This was part business book, part personal development. The personal development part is valuable no matter where you are in life and what you do. The part with the particular business systems of his company were not applicable to me at this point. Short-ish read and you can always skip the business part if it’s not applicable for you.
Favorite Professional Development Book
Charlie Weingroff – Lateralizations and Regressions DVD
I know, it’s not a book and yes it took me a while to get around to this.
I can’t help but being in awe when listening to Charlie Weingroff. The biggest takeaway: what’s the best thing this person can do to get closer to their goal? It’s simple but extremely powerful.
Can’t wait to watch his new DVD when it comes out in digital, downloadable format. Postages are a killer.
Favorite Non-Fiction Book
It’s a tie. Lame, but I can’t choose just one.
Patti Smith – M Train
A book about art, coffee and spaces between art. Each time I open it it transports me to somewhere else, in a good way. Patti Smith is living with her own terms, a beautifully captivating writer and I absolutely love how she does it. All I wanted to do when reading this was to drink coffee, listen to music and write. And… the book ties with the “let go” theme of 2017.
Frank Forencich – The Art is Long: Big Health and the New Warrior Activist
Weird name, amazing book. And not the least because I agree with most of it. To improve our health both physically and psychologically, we need to change our behavior towards this planet and other animals in it. And the books builds a convincing case on why and how we could get started. I highly recommend you pick up a copy, if you’re into that kind of stuff.
Also, someone get Trump a copy. Maybe Pence can read it to him.
Favorite Fiction Book
Vaino Linna – Under The Northern Star Part III
Yep, second year in a row for Linna. This trilogy should be a required reading for all the Finns. It covers so much of the crucial development phases of the country we are today. It’s even more relevant in the 100th year of Finnish independence.
I recommend the book for anyone who loves reading an entertaining, thought provoking story weaned into a historical setting.
As was with Parts I and II, I read the Finnish version so not sure how Linna’s “poetry” translates to English.
For more book reviews checkout the updated book list.
Professional Development Courses
Functional Range Conditioning Course
Like I said earlier, I’ve implemented the shit out of this philosophy this year. I love it because it is all based on research and science with a clear step by step progression. “This is why and this is how.” And most people using it can see almost immediate improvements,
Can’t wait to follow up with their Kinstretch course in 2018.
Favorite Music in 2018
Dead Cross
I mean, it’s Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo in the same band. Goes nicely with farmer carries.
Greta Van Fleet – From The Fires
Yes the singer sounds way too similar to Robert Plant. Yes the tunes sounds like what Led Zeppelin would’ve sounded in 2017. But these guys know how to make great tunes. Goes nicely with a bunch of good friends and a pale ale in one hand.
John Murry – A Short History of Decay
I love every album that he’s put out so far and this is no different. It’s deep, quiet, melancholic, powerful and haunting all at the same time. Something along the lines of Bob Dylan’s brilliance meets Johnny Cash’s darkness. Goes nicely with a single malt scotch while zoning out with headphones on.
Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark
How can two people make so much noise? I don’t know. But they are good at it. Looking forward to seeing them play in Sydney come April. Goes nicely with… I dunno. I ran out of pairing options. How about you listen and decide.
Favorite Gig in 2017
Alice Cooper at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney
I saw some new stuff (Ryan Adams) and some old favorites (Springsteen, GNR) but Alice Cooper blew me away. Probably because I was unsure of what to expect. I’d never seen him before and, let’s be honest, the guy is not a spring chicken anymore. I’ve seen bands put on half assed stage-shows that don’t add anything to the gig. If anything it takes an edge off the music itself. But Alice and his band absolutely aced it. It was a combination of watching theater and gig at the same time. And from start to finish it was entertaining.
Go see him while you can.
That’s me for 2017. As always, thanks for reading.