January Links
For the last two years, we keep a Year Jar where we put notes for anything memorable that happens. On New Year’s Eve, we read them out and make our resolutions for next year.
Since it’s the end of January, and since 2022 is 1/12th complete, I thought I’d prematurely revisit my New Year’s Resolutions:
Blog more
I have worked in corporate video for nearly 10 years and everytime I moved to another job, I always made sure to write down a list of instructions of how I made videos for the person who was going to be replacing me. A few years ago, I heard that one of my Word docs about plugging in audio cables into a DSLR was very helpful, and realized that that was blog worthy.
It currently has 5 posts! So I resolved to blog more. Including this newsletter!
Update: doing ok; could be better!
Read 25 books
In the middle of 2020, I was spending alot of time doomscrolling (and apparently not blogging), so I became determined to read more. I read 8 books. In 2021, I was determined to beat that number, then forgot what the number was. I read 22 books. This year, I’m determined to beat that number again.
So far, I’ve read 5 books in January, so I’m on pace to read 60 (35 more than my goal!). I’m sure this pace won’t come back to haunt me.
Some highlights:
All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business by Mel Brooks. The first book I finished in 2022, which included the editing decisions of Young Frankenstein, and my favorite anecdote of Mel meeting Cary Grant.
Deep Work by Cal Newport and Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, both books about creativity and the process to help yourself increase your focus to produce better work. It also encouraged me to stop worrying about creating something bad, and to just share what you’ve made. While it can be terrifying sometimes, there is a moment of pride when you create something and share it out in the world.
Speaking of creative doubt, I’ve thought about this part from Mel Brooks’ book multiple times this month as a reminder that everyone experiences doubt at some point, so you can’t be too hard on yourself.
Update: so far, so good!
Make more videos
I had this resolution next to “Blog More”. There should probably be a number for this, but I made 0 in 2021, so anything would be an improvement.
By the way, saving videos that inspire you can help get the creative juices going (especially if you Steal Like an Artist)
I was looking for ways to organize all the bikes in our garage and I found this amazing creative video on hanging bikes and saved it in my video inspiration list.
Update: not so great!
Relax more
This one just feels like a smart thing to do. I don’t have any other insight into that.
Update: not sure!
Not worry about work all the time
Again, no other insight into this. Look, they can’t all be winners. One of my resolutions last year was “Drink more water”.
Update: so far, so good. Lots of water as well.