Remember to be you.

As I go into this new year, there’s a mantra I want to keep with me as much as I remember to: “Be yourself. No one does it better than you.”

It’s easy to model yourself after others. It’s often a helpful exercise -- looking at people who have done things we want to do can act like a guide for how to live our own lives, and how to achieve similar goals. But it’s just as easy to forget the magic ingredient that will help make you successful: you!

I have a goal of being one of the great self-help gurus of our time, similar to what Mel Robbins or Jay Shetty have achieved. But If I keep trying to follow what they do, I’ll just end up as a worse, poorly copied version of them. If, instead, I start to let my own language come through, and my own lessons and thoughts appear, then I’d have a shot at carving my own path and finding my own audience.

It’s a difficult thing, no doubt, because I have a lot of fears of criticisms and negativity. Hard truth though: There’s nothing in this life that’s risk-free.

The times in my life when I have felt most free and alive were times when I specifically put myself out there -- times when I’d sign up for the extra work, or for the presentation, or for the talent show. I thrived in those moments. I was me, unedited, and having so much fun. Did I please everyone in the audience? Of course not. But did I have so much fun, and connect with at least some of the audience members in a meaningful way? Yes! So it was absolutely worth it.

As you plan for what’s ahead, don’t be so quick to write off your own uniqueness and your flavor. It’s what will set you apart from others before you! I can’t wait to see what you all create and do this year, and I’d love to hear all about it and cheer you on!

As always, please pass along this newsletter to anyone who would benefit, and let’s keep growing this awesome Forward Theory community together. Happy New Year everyone!

P.S. If you’re looking for a way to organize your year into actually productive weeks, check out my product below! It’s a guide for how to use my todo system that I’ve been using for 10+ years that works and is guilt-free, and without the hustle of “go, go, go”.