Annual Review 2025

Last March, I started a 12-week LinkedIn experiment. My first post was about using my smartphone to improve my health instead of hindering it. I was moderately successful; I lost some weight, dramatically reduced my time doom scrolling social media, and kickstarted some better phone habits.

But progression is never linear.

I feel back into some bad habits in the back half of the year. Between facing more adversity than usual and a handful of big life decisions, there were moments that forced me to slow down, recalibrate, and rethink what actually matters.

This year I plan on doubling down on building better habits, routines, and the systems needed to support them.

Here are some of the highlights of 2025:

• Pushed myself outside of my comfort zone by conducting a 12-week LinkedIn Experiment.
• Shared more of my thinking publicly, using writing as a tool to clarify ideas rather than wait for them to be perfect.
• Committed to our neighborhood and began a renovation project to turn our house into a true forever home.
• Deepened my AI expertise and built an organizational AI strategy from the ground up at True North.
• Made the difficult decision to leave True North and step into a new role with the Northern Super League.
• Adopted a milestone planning system that I now use at work and in my personal life, and plan to write about it in more detail soon.
• Got back into reading fiction and rediscovered how much it sharpens my thinking and creativity.

Theme: Intentionally Designing Systems

This year reinforced something I have learned many times but still need to practice. Progress comes from designing better systems, not necessarily from trying harder. When routines, tools, and defaults are thoughtfully designed, good decisions become easier and desired behaviour is more consistent.

Theme: Making Big Decisions

This was a year of honest deep reflection. As major decisions were faced, I found that I leaned on three tools: (1) objective third party observers within my circle of trust; (2) a decision matrix with weighted variables; and (3) listening to and following my instincts.

Theme: Doubling Down on Health

Health cannot be a side project. While I made meaningful progress early in the year, I also saw how quickly old habits return when focus slips. In the year ahead, I am treating health as foundational infrastructure, not something I get to when everything else is done.

As we enter into 2026, some side quests and small experiments I'd like to pursue include:

• Read 2 books a month (12 fiction; 12 non-fiction)
• Start volunteering once a month
• Build a healthy daily routine that I can take with me even when traveling
• Automate my investment system
• Continue to write and publish more online

Best of 2025

Best Books I Read:

• James by Percival Everett
• Beartooth by Callan Wink
• Creating a Blockbuster Brand by Greg Logan

Albums I Discovered:

• Cinema 3000 by Common Saints
• Seeds by Georgia Anne Muldrow
• Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker

Best Bites of the Year:

• Deer & Almond (Winnipeg)
• Shirley's (Winnipeg)
• Mon Lapin (Montreal)
• Breakfast sandwich at Sleepy Petes (Toronto)