johnmaconline

The first question is, “Does it work?”

But we must qualify that according to the question, “Who’s it for?”

So the important but often overlooked first question is, “Does it work for the right person?”

It may work for the engineer down the hall, but it doesn’t at all work for your grandmother.

If the engineer is the right person, you’re done. If it needs to work for your grandmother, keep going.

Software developers found a new methodology called Agile.

Imagine you hire a contractor to renovate your entire house while you’re still living in it. The Agile approach is for the contractor to work on one room at a time. This allows you to continue living there, and the contractor can adapt as they go. “Do you like this tile? Should we move the sink here?” Change it if needed.

At its core, Agile is about iterations. Start small or with basic functionality, and then add more features or change stuff that doesn’t work. The benefits of this approach dovetail nicely with software development because it’s just typing — it can be changed easily and infinitely.

Remote work has enabled a new paradigm that more tightly integrates workers’ professional and personal lives. You don’t need a tie. You can take the call from the 6th-grade orchestra concert. Your morning doesn’t require you to be up at 4:30, so you can beat the traffic at 5 am.

But none of these new paradigms are a license to be unprofessional.

Show up on time.
Take criticism.
Do what needs to be done.
Do what you say you’re gonna do.
Develop and apply the skills required.
Think about where you’re going.
Help others on the team.
Look the part.
Act the part.
Be available.
Design the outcome.

Who does a professional in your line of work need to be?

The first two don’t really matter.

The first one might be a fluke, or it might be the busker on the street corner who needs to stand out.
The second one either feels bad for the first, admires his bravery, or catches that bravery from him, so he hops alongside for support.

It’s the 3rd that matters.

The 3rd makes it a scene. A group. He makes it socially acceptable to be part of that group. He creates a landing zone for those who are looking for a scene. He creates tension for those who see the group.

If you’re making something, you care about that 3rd person.

Crypto may be poised to make a run in 2025. 

Don’t worry. If you don’t like it or trust it, you don’t need to worry about it (yet?). Ignoring crypto in your portfolio is no different than ignoring any other sector — real estate, commodities, fossil fuels, renewable energy, currencies, precious metals, etc. One of the beauties of investing at this time in history is that you can invest in sectors that align with your ideals. Others will help you do that. Just ask them (with your eyebrow raised and a questioning heart).

Back to crypto…

Certainly, we have some high-profile evidence that you can lose your shirt. Scams. 

But what makes a scam?

A scam requires deceit and/or theft. It requires people. Only people want things. Crypto doesn’t want anything. It’s just a platform. 

When looking for a scam, look at the people. 

Before the Palm Pilot was the Newton.
Before Facebook was Friendster.
Before PayPal was Digicash.
Before Netflix was Microsoft’s WebTV.
Before DVD was Laserdisc.
Before iPhone was Pocket Crystal.
Before Chipotle was McDonald’s Arch Deluxe.
Before Juul was Premier Smokeless Cigarette.
Before Kindle was Rocket eBook.
Before Tesla was EV1.

You might have a good idea, but it’s the wrong time. It may be the wrong time because supporting technologies aren’t yet mature, or it might be a lack of cultural acceptance, or it might be government regulations. These things are out of your control.

Regardless, timing is everything.  

I’d like to give you a gift to start 2025. It’s something that has helped me quite a bit. It might help you. 

You can download the simple day planner that I personally use. No email required. No upsells. No follow-on emails. No strings attached. Just download it. I won’t know. That’s the direct link.

Personal time prioritization has revolutionized my day and life. I’ve written quite a bit about it in this space.

When I’m on my game (I’m not always), I start my day purposefully, and one of the things I do is write out my tasks for the day before I start to work. I take these tasks and categorize them as:

• The single #1 priority (if all goes to hell, I’ll at least make progress on this — I might not finish)
• The focus tasks (other tasks that require focused blocks of time — I might not get these done today)
• Backlog (the rest of the stuff — including stuff that I know won’t get done today but I can’t lose track of)

If you need more depth on this, here it is. 

Maybe the key to getting on track in the new year is first to recognize that you control your time. Then, step up to that personal leadership role.

This has helped me. It might help you. 

You’ll probably make some New Year’s resolutions.
You might be excited, determined, trepidatious, or even reluctant.
But you’ll probably start out OK.
You’ll probably start to fall off.
The fall-off will turn into fallout.
And then you’ll probably feel bad. About yourself, your lack of will, and that the change isn’t gonna happen. 
Just like last year. Just like the year before that.

Will you ever be able to change?

First, change is hard. 

Second, that first step — deciding to make change — is important. More important than you’re giving yourself credit for. Anybody trying to get better or make something else better deserves credit. Put one in the win column for that effort. 

Now, let’s flip the script.

Systems, Not Outcomes

You’re focused on outcomes but outcomes are a result of systems — your daily habits, your environment, group culture, the organization. Focus on the system rather than the outcome. How can you make the system work for you?

The Narrative is Flawed

The typical narrative follows a script of lofty goals, unrealistic timelines, and then failure. Rewrite it. Treat the resolution like an experiment rather than an endpoint. Learn what works through a series of rewrites and recommits. 

Who, Not What

Not “what do I need to change,” but “who do I want to become?” And also, “what would a person like I want to be do here?”

Go kick 2025 in the teeth. 

Do:

Embrace AI
Develop the strategy
Prioritize deep work
Eat more protein
Get stronger
Drink less
Declutter
Say yes to opportunity
Say yes to productive distraction
Count the micro-wins
Show gratitude
Praise
Prioritize ruthlessly
Get better at marketing
Curate inputs
Give yourself grace
Listen more
Practice kindness
Experiment more
Lean into discomfort
Protect your pre-work routine

Don’t:

Get more comfortable
Ignore your people
Multitask
Compare to others
Undervalue boredom
Let chaos win
Avoid conflict
Avoid difficult conversations
Assume they know
Overcommit
Confuse busyness with productivity
Say yes to unproductive distraction
Ignore budgets
React in the moment
Overlook fundamentals
Procrastinate
Let ego lead
Neglect feedback
Let loose strings

2025 will be your year.

Don’t hear. Listen.
Don’t worry. Trust.
Don’t doubt. Believe.
Don’t waiver. Commit.
Don’t get mad. Laugh.
Don’t shrink. Chest out.
Don’t shy away. Lean into.
Don’t be a mole. Be a swan.
Don’t let anger linger. Forgive.
Don’t make excuses. Make hay.
Don’t get behind. Stay on top of.
Don’t get distracted. Get to work.
Don’t be discouraged. Be a leader.
Don’t envy others. Master yourself.
Don’t settle for comfort. Chase growth.
Don’t wait for someday. Make time now.
Don’t embrace victimhood. Overcome it.
Don’t assume they know. Say, “I love you.”
Don’t listen to the cynics. Prove them wrong.
Don’t stay within the framework. Reimagine it.
Don’t take them for granted. Show them they matter.
Don’t run away from failure. Try things that might not work.
Don’t listen to that little voice in your head that says you can’t. Replace it with “I can.”