Officially Turning 27, and BIG change
A Letter to My Future Self
Dear Zake,
I’m the 27-year-old of you from 2020, how have you been? Since 2015, I decided to take a day every month to reflect on work, life, relationship, and mental clarity. This is the 56th mail that I send to you.
Officially Turning 27
Damn, how time flies! This August, I officially turned 27. Though the number sounds quite old for me, I still feel myself, or consider myself a boy.
Part of the reason is the different era we are in. It’s safe, connected and technological, which pretty much solves most of the threats and problems.
Meanwhile, the options in front of us are infinite, the cost of trying something is minimum, and the human average lifespan is growing each year. 27 might feel like an age to get married, have your career fixed, settle down and have kids for my parents' generation, but not for Gen Z.
When I’m writing this, I also find it interesting to always consider yourself 10 years younger than your real age. So my 27 feels like a new 17 in some sense, it is still the time to maximize our learning and growth in both career and self-development/exploration.
If you are reading this, keep in mind I’m 17, please. Or you can also read this as the 10-year-younger version of yourself.
What I’m doing?
1. Content creation
After quitting the job, I make the promise “new video every weekend”, in the July and August, this has become part of my daily routine, brainstorming new video ideas, developing backlog ideas, shooting and editing footage.
I also realize the fear of running out of ideas and creativity at this point doesn’t work for me, most likely I’m struggling with time and energy.
To keep a more frequent update, I should really find someone join my process of content creation, or I should outsource some work, like subtitle, thumbnail design and daily operation on different platforms.
Besides, I also experience “respect” for the first time as a content creator, from a sponsor. They are OATLY and Starbucks.
In July, I set auto-reply (and my principle) for all business inquiries. Whoever the sponsor, they need to send me an email with product description, official website, budget, release time and culture-fit…
Not only I get many sincere business inquiries, but I feel being respected by those sponsors. Not just money, but the respect on your personality, content and attitude. I think it’s something hard to copy even in this era. Your personal brand and trust built with consistent showing up, are hard to copy and change.
2. “LIEF IS A DRUG” Workshop II
My second workshop started in early August and ended in mid-September. I extended the volume to 30-people and carefully selected those who I think are not just qualified but suitable for the workshop.
I’m happy that almost half of the class make it to the end, and many of them consider the workshop valuable and have a huge impact on both their work, life and the way they see things.
During the workshop, I also update some of the course videos and homework, according to the feedback I got from the last time. Now the course content is nearly 80% complete.
3. The Most Expensive Meal
On my birthday, my girlfriend and I went to a famous and expensive sushi place. The chefs here are sat under Jiro Ono, Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
You have to call and reserve a table 2–3 weeks prior to the visit, and the menu is changing every day. According to their explanation, every morning, they will get the latest and freshest material from Japan via flight, including
seasoning and fruits.
This is not the most satisfying sushi I’ve ever had, but definitely the tastiest, top-class and freshest sushi I’ve ever had. The chef also changes the way he makes the next sushi according to your feedback from the last one.
4. Life in the Woods
Inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s work, WALDEN, I found a cabin in the forest in Sichuan province. So with all the respect and thoughts I have for Walden, we spent a week there.
I talked more about digital minimalism and man’s search for meaning in the video.
5. 30-day Challenge: Boxing
What’s not working?
These 4 aspects are what I mentioned last time.
1. Productivity
Productivity improves a bit, and I think it comes from more detailed planning. I can easily get inspired or pumped by new ideas and projects. For example, when I accepted to work with a brand on sponsorship video, I’m more excited to jump into work every morning, and suddenly every minute is more powerful than ever.
2. Schedule
I stick with my working schedule most of the time, but fail to enjoy the entertainment time I give myself at night. Usually it is because the work I set for the day is not finished, or I’m in a hurry to catch up with the original plan and schedule. Maybe consider setting boundaries for working hours, which might increase productivity and my overall life quality.
3. Hunger
This is a huge problem as I review myself from a long-term perspective. Hunger is the most intuitive source of driving force, and I need something financial, to keep the momentum of doing the great work, but also making money.
And my north star goal is being able to buy a Tesla or give it as a gift in a year. (2021.09.30)
4. Quality vs Quantity
The quality of my video is what I was worried the last time, yet recently I started to think about the number of videos and the frequency of my updates. I see many creators are able to update 3 videos a week beside a full-time job, which is insane.
What I can do right now, is to find my own rhythm and principle:
Videos are documentary of my real life;
The way of documenting and reviewing helps me grow and keep me creative;
At least a video a month;
Have something new or something you are proud of in every video;
Be playful and fun in every video;
Video is valuable to a specific group of people;
What’s next?
As you may know, I accepted an offer, and already back in the office at the end of September. Although there will be less time for content creation, I’m making efforts to keep the quality and update frequency.
These are the main topic for October and the rest of 2020:
- Find my rhythm and build a new schedule with a full-time job and side projects;
- Build a platform for “LIFE IS A DRUG” brand, including website, mini-program and forum for workshop education and T-shirts sales;
- Build a volunteer/helper team for my workshop;
- Update the workshop’s workflow based on feedback, and have my third workshop complete;
- Continue making and sharing quality videos;
- Try livestreaming with bilibili fans or “weekend study with me”;
What I’m Digesting
1. Interview Tips for Senior PMs
PEARL — Problem, Epiphany, Action, Result, Learning.
2. The Slow Media Manifesto
3. I Used to Be a Human Being
4. Don’t Serve Burnt Pizza (And Other Lessons in Building Minimum Lovable Products)
5. The invisible hand of business models
6. Alexander’s Theorem of Professional Exceptionalism
7. Help Wanted
8. YouTube: Straight Talk for People thinking of Starting a Channel
9. Elizabeth Gilbert on Distinguishing Between Hobbies, Jobs, Careers, & Vocation
10. Google Design Sprint 谷歌设计冲刺分享
11. 李楠或kkk
- 科技趋势的预判（与大众认知相反）
- 商业规则
- 资本规则
12. Books
WALDEN — — Henry David Thoreau
THIS IS MARKETING —— Seth Godin
THE DIP —— Seth Godin
《被讨厌的勇气》——岸见一郎 古贺史健
《韭菜的自我修养》——李笑来
《人生不过如此》——梁秋实
LIFE IS A DRUG. LOVE IT. LIVE IT.
Zake
