Assessing My Personal, Spiritual and Business Growth in 2017

What better way to start the new year than to assess your key life areas from the previous one? That’s what I’ll do in this post, covering Personal, Spiritual and Business Growth, with the hope that it will inspire you to do the same.

So, here’s what I did in order to achieve more, get further in life and business, and lay the foundation of what comes next:

Personal Growth

Back in the days, I was focusing too much on the big picture. And while that’s necessary in order to reach your vision, it’s also possible for it to become a distraction from the actual day-to-day tasks that need to be completed.

In 2017 I had the results I wanted in terms of fitness, business, personal goals, some good habits, and more, mainly due to the fact that I was analyzing everything, tracking results, going back to previous months and seeing what worked, and making plans for the next few weeks as well as months.

I focused on the details more than ever and worked in smaller periods of time. I was reviewing my work and progress weekly, then summarizing it monthly. That helped me see exactly which actions led to results, and what I could do more of.

In the end of 2016, I moved to Amsterdam to start a new life in my favorite destination. That involved a lot of uncertainty. Now, a year later this is my home, I have all necessary documents, even moved the business here (more on that below), and embraced the traditions of another culture.

The ultimate escape from my comfort zone, however, happened back in February 2017 when I spent 5 weeks in Thailand. What an experience that was!

During the whole year, I was regular at the gym and that’s not gonna change. I practiced my willpower during some tough times and showed myself that the discipline I create in quiet times helps a lot when a challenge occurs.

Spiritual Growth

The two most notable things in that area are that I became more grateful and patient than ever. These really are 2 virtues we all need more of and are something we develop at every stage of our lives.

Luckily, I met someone special who had a ton of gratitude and patience on the inside, so he became sort of a role model for me. Seeing someone do what you want to achieve really helps. Even more than just reading about it and setting goals.

The ‘patience’ aspect of one’s journey is key, and I did that by taking things slowly sometimes, even though I felt like rushing it.

But so many entrepreneurs and successful people I read about share that what they regret early in life was being in a hurry to achieve the next thing. That led to bad performance and mistakes which they could have avoided. I learned from that and while it does take a lot of will to do things slower than you’re used to, it’s worth it.

In 2017, I also let go of many things, both externally and internally.

Leaving behind things you’ve been working on for some time isn’t easy, but it’s necessary if you see they are taking you nowhere. That leaves more time and focus for what matters.

I’m also not afraid to let go of people who don’t mean much to me anymore, past goals, or anything else due to change of perspective or direction.

Letting go is important. Don’t forget to practice it in 2018 too!

Business Growth

My income almost doubled for the past year. I learned how to manage my finances better the hard way. Work was always a priority for me and that gave the results I was looking for.

A few months ago I started doing a research and talking to people trying to figure out how to start a business in the Netherlands as a freelancer. Turns out it’s easy, I just needed some time to prepare mentally.

Found an accountant and met with him, opened bank accounts, set an appointment with the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam and fixed all necessary documents, and ended the business back home in Bulgaria. As of today – January 1st, 2018 – my online business doesn’t exist in Bulgaria anymore but is registered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Of course, that itself is just legal stuff and has little to do with the work itself, but I saw a lot of improvement on that front too. Let’s Reach Success is taken more seriously now, I’m stricter with the guest and sponsored posts I accept, and even more selective with the clients I write for. That just means I stay true to my lifestyle design concept, which is more than just doing remote work.

What’s Next?

I know what I’m after in life next, and in small steps that I’ll take throughout 2018, I’m gonna get closer to it. But all the things I shared above will still be on my mind daily. It’s easy to forget about a new mindset you built, such as being more grateful or prioritizing based on your new goals. So my mindfulness consists of taking super small steps and evaluating my progress every week or 10 days.

Hope you enjoyed that quick review of my 2017. You can do the same now. It doesn’t take much time but can be beneficial to how you approach the new year.