As 2016 draws to a close, I’m taking a moment to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year. I’m sharing because I think it’s super important to keep it real about  


1. Podcast - Produce 100 episodes

This was very intentionally my primary goal since the podcast is my central personal project. Hitting 100 episodes was more than a goal, it was an expectation on which I would not allow myself compromise.

I ended up producing 119 episodes, and, in the process, learning that I am capable of a work rate greatly superior than anything I’d previously done.

As podcasts continue to grow in popularity (we are approaching 100,000 active podcasts on iTunes), differentiation simultaneously increases in difficulty.

Consistency provides the foundation for differentiation in a couple of ways;

1. Creativity - More episodes means greater opportunity to experiment with format. While they seem obvious in hindsight, the unique formats I explored in episodes 131, 170, and 171 were some of my most popular episodes and have opened the door for me to try more of the same in the coming year.
2. Quality - As Cal Newport would contend, you just have to be better than the competition. More reps means I’m improving at a faster rate than the competition. Whenever I can do the podcast full-time, I’ll dedicate myself even further to catching the pros who have done 1000’s of interviews.
3. Habit-Building - Many of the best email newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube channels have recreated the phenomenon of appointment viewing tv. Despite being unrestrained from linear programming and completely on-demand, thousand of people still carve a specific time out of their week to consume their content. This habit will only be reinforced if you, the producer, shows up EVERY week at the same date and time.  

2. Frisbee - AUDL All-Midwest Team

Total fail. As I acknowledged in my analysis of the goal at the beginning of the year, health would be the primary variable to success;

1. Key variable; Health
   1. Plan; Eat clean throughout the season, cut out all processed carbs
   2. Timetable; January through September

A hip injury in my fourth game of the season put the kibosh on this pretty firmly. I also did not anticipate missing the first two weeks of the season traveling to Asia. This completely disrupted my training, which I had been building all winter. Another two weeks off after my hip injury left me a step behind for the remainder of the season.

Interestingly, this was also the only goal I set that was tied directly to external validation. Lesson learned. Only process goals from now on, still had a lot of fun this year.


3. Video - Produce 6 Videos for YouTube
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I’d say this was the biggest success after hitting 100 podcast episodes. A brief recap;

3 Ultimate Videos - Including 2016 Callahan winner Trent Dillon
4 Live Podcast Recordings - Including Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto
3 Asia Vlogs - South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong
1 Trailer - Filmed at StudioMe

As I travel through Asia in 2017, I’ll be doing more travel vlogging. 2016 was great practice for sharpening my skills.


4. Email List - 500 email addresses

Failed, but found a silver lining.

I did not quite hit 500 email addresses on my email list, but I did get all the basics down. I’m approaching a 2% conversion rate on people who are visiting my site for the first time.

Additionally, I’m averaging over a 50% open rate and 10% clickthrough rate on my monthly newsletter. Both are well above average. Definitely making this a bigger focus in 2017.

Let me know if you want to get in on the action.


5. Read 30 Books

Nailed it- right on the nose. Read my full 2016 reading review.


On a more personal note, this year has been amazing and unlike anything I've experienced in my life. Getting to meet so many amazing people and connect around the globe is simaultaneously humbling and thrilling.

Thank you so much for checking out the stuff I do and for being involved some way or another. I had a few people connect with me this past year to check in on goals and hold each other accountable. If you'd be interested in doing that in 2017, drop me a line.

And from my family to yours, I hope you have a happy, healthy, and successful 2017.

​- Aaron

Wow, 2015 was wild. I launched a podcast and blog. I did more reading than any previous year of my life. I read A LOT of online articles/blog posts, but I also read a lot of books. Here's a list of all the books I read in 2015 and a one sentence summary of the experience.

Letter to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens
Brazen intellectual refuses to conform, give directions for how to follow his lead.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
In search of zen and self-actualization, a young man is distracted by family and a young woman.

This Book Will Make You Think by Alain Stephen
There has been a lot of philosophizing over the years, a brief overview of the major players.

To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink. Most jobs are evolving to include a larger sales component, adjust accordingly.

On Advertising by David Ogilvy
Advertising icon got ahead through clear communication and strong ethics.

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
There has never been a better time to build a personal brand

The Game of Numbers by Nick Murray
Every business is built piece by piece and a strong ethical code and willingness to ask hard questions will get you far.

Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Mass marketing is over, the best products and services are there own marketing machine.

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
KV points directly into the face of America's worst traits and areas of denial.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A young boy takes the adventure of a lifetime, propelled by belief in himself and the help of friends he makes along the way.

Smart People Should Build Things by Andrew Yang
We need more smart entrepreneurs and less lawyers.

ReWork by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
Don't overthink work, keep it simple and don't waste anyone's time.

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Pastor starts a church in Brooklyn through a well-reasoned explanation for belief in his religion.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Beautiful narrative on the history of our species.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis
A few people saw the 2008 crash coming and profited greatly.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
You have to give before you ask for something.

The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson
Entrepreneurial skills are at a premium right now and you should nurture them as soon as possible.

The Shift by Theresa Brown
A nurse battles through a workday and rides a roller coaster along with her patients.


Recommendations
For College Students & Job Hunters
The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson
A dose of reality for anyone entering the job market.

Best Gift
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A beautiful book that I've already gifted multiple times.

Extreme Intellectual Stimulation
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Anyone with a curiosity for where we came from and who we are will love it.


2016
I'm always looking for suggestions for future reading, drop me a line if you have any recommendations. Here are my starting five for the beginning of 2016 (aiming to read 30 books total).

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
$100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why by Laurence Gonzales

What will you be reading in 2016?