Today • 1hr 43min
#881 - Christmas Special - Life Hacks, Biggest Fails & Best Lessons
Modern Wisdom
Key Takeaways
- Phone outside bedroom + morning walk - Two of the highest ROI habits that have stuck long-term
- Outcomes matter more than inputs - Focus on effectiveness over efficiency and what actually moves the needle
- Direction over speed - Trajectory and consistent progress is more important than absolute position
- Values into action - Turn abstract values into concrete daily actions and next steps
- Look at actions vs words - What people say they value isn't always reflected in their behavior
- Journaling compounds - Writing daily compounds in value over years as a record of growth
- Question New Year's resolutions - With 91% failure rate, need better systems for behavior change
Introduction
This Christmas special episode features Chris Williamson reuniting with friends Johnny, Yusef and George in his old Newcastle living room to discuss their biggest lessons, life hacks and reflections from 2024, along with thoughts on effective New Year's resolutions. The casual conversation covers practical tips, philosophical insights, and candid sharing of what's worked (and what hasn't) over the past year.
Topics Discussed
Life Hacks: Kitchen & Fitness (2:30)
The group shares their top life hacks from the past year, starting with kitchen and fitness-related tips:
- Ninja Creamy - Making protein ice cream at home with specific ratios and techniques
- Walking pad/treadmill desk - Getting movement while working, typically at 3.5 speed
- Voice notes while walking - Combining tasks that could be done while moving
Digital & Productivity Hacks (33:50)
Discussion of digital tools and productivity approaches:
- The Kale Algorithm - Custom script to filter YouTube videos under 30 minutes to avoid low-value content
- Email filters - Setting up filters for promotional emails containing "unsubscribe"
- Optimize existing tools - Focus on better using current tools rather than adding new ones
Sleep & Evening Routines (1:20:13)
Key insights around sleep optimization:
- Phone outside bedroom - Charging phone in another room to avoid nighttime/morning distractions
- Audible + one AirPod - Using audiobooks with single earbud for better sleep
- "Don't overthink sleep - some people who study it the most sleep the worst"
Key Life Lessons (1:29:31)
Major lessons and philosophical insights shared:
- Micro-progress over massive change - Small consistent gains compound better than dramatic swings
- Problems evolve but don't disappear - New levels bring new devils
- Look at actions vs stated values - What people do reveals more than what they say
- The Socratic method - Asking questions rather than confrontation leads to better outcomes
New Year's Resolutions (1:24:43)
Discussion of effective approaches to resolutions and behavior change:
- Question the 91% failure rate - Need better systems than traditional resolutions
- Social accountability - Using groups and public commitments
- Start with proven approaches - Look at what actually works (like AA) rather than reinventing
- Values to actions - Convert abstract values into specific daily behaviors
Personal Growth & Business Insights (1:31:10)
Reflections on growth and business lessons:
- Trajectory over position - Direction of progress matters more than absolute position
- Sustainable vs rapid growth - Benefits of steady sustainable progress vs dramatic gains
- Positioning insight - "Positioning is arranging information in the customer's head"
Conclusion
The episode provides a mix of practical tips and deeper insights around personal development, habits, and growth. Key themes include the importance of sustainable progress over dramatic change, converting values into specific actions, and questioning conventional approaches to behavior change. The casual format allows for organic exploration of ideas while still delivering concrete takeaways listeners can apply.
The group emphasizes that many of the most important lessons are ones they've known for years but have to consistently relearn and apply in new contexts. Success often comes not from finding new information but from better implementing known principles.