Get ready for 2024

Hi Earthling,

Happy holidays!

As 2023 comes to a close, I hope you’re finding time to unwind, reflect on the year, and get ready for 2024.

December has been a rollercoaster for me. I went on a short and unexpected trip to the Philippines for the first time in five years.

When you’ve been away for that long, your body needs a bit of time to get used to everything 😷. The first few days of my trip were all about recovering and adjusting to the new time zone, the weather, and everything else.

Once I felt back to my usual self, I caught up with family and friends I hadn’t seen in ages, revisited all the familiar spots, and celebrated my 26th birthday.

Returning to a place you once called home is such a nostalgic and exciting experience.

Now, here’s some food for your mind this week:

WELLNESS
Lessons from 2023

One of my favorite things about having my birthday in December is that it coincides with the end of the year which is an ideal time to reflect on the journey.

Here are 10 lessons I learned in 2023 through trying, stumbling, and trying again :)

This week’s challenge:

👁️ Visualize your 2024

What are your plans, ideas, and goals for 2024? Take some time to visualize your year. Use a note-taking app, a physical journal, or create a vision board.

It becomes easier to bring your vision to life once you have it on paper or your screen. Keep your vision board in sight as a reminder of your intentions.

I love using Pinterest for my vision boards. It’s easy to update and I use the Pinterest iOS widget on my home screen to get a glimpse of the images I have on my board.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Finding opportunities in trends

Opportunities can often be found right in front of you.

Every time I check TikTok, I come across some new trendy product that people are raving about. For a while, I kept seeing videos about Abercrombie & Fitch. A&F was famous for its All-American preppy style and the moose logo. However, they have recently rebranded themselves to a modern minimalist style that caters to a broader range of people.

A&F is a publicly traded company ($ANF). They’re still a TikTok favorite, so it’s not surprising to see that the stock soared 285% this year.

Alongside fashion, beauty is another category that often goes viral on TikTok with videos showcasing affordable alternatives and dupes gaining increasing popularity.

ELF Beauty is one company that creates replicas of higher-end brands. Why spend $40 when you can buy a $7 dupe that works just as well? ELF ($ELF) another publicly traded company, has seen a 161% increase in its shares year-to-date.

You don't have to be extremely online to catch the latest trends.

During one of my walks, I noticed several people wearing running shoes with a logo that looked like a person wearing a tiny hat. Later, I discovered that it was the On Cloud logo. On Cloud ($ONON) is a publicly traded company that has seen a 57.17% increase in its shares this year.

Some trends are fleeting, while others become timeless—or even billion-dollar industries. So, next time you come across an emerging trend, give it another look.

This week’s challenge:

🔮 Look into the crystal ball for 2024

What are your investment predictions for the year ahead? Research companies that interest you and make a watchlist that you can track.

See how your list performs throughout the year. There’s a lot to learn just by paying attention.

Here are some questions to get you started:

• ⚡️What industries spark your interest? (fashion, beauty, culture, tech, etc.)

• 📈 What emerging patterns and trends catch your attention within these industries?

• 🚀 What companies will have the most impact 5-10 years from now?

• 🔎 Who are the smaller companies working with these industry giants?

Note: This approach is one way among many to pick companies to watch and potentially invest in.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are for informational and recreational purposes only. Nothing contained in this newsletter should be construed as investment advice.

INTERESTING FINDS
What’s New

🔎 Childhoods of Exceptional People. What are the secrets behind history’s brightest minds? Henrik Karlsson’s essay explores the early lives of innovators and how their unique experiences and environments fueled their world-changing achievements. (link)

🤖 The Coming Wave. A thought-provoking book on the opportunities and risks presented by advances in Artificial Intelligence written by Inflection AI co-founder Mustafa Suleyman. (link)

✨ The Unassuming Investor. Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner has quietly become one of Silicon Valley’s most successful young entrepreneurs. In this exclusive article, Kushner shares insights into his investment strategies and the unique challenges he faced in the competitive world of venture capital. (link)

⚡️ On being selective. Whether you’re someone who craves alone time or someone who thrives on social interaction, this essay offers insights on how to balance the need for solitude with the desire for connection. (link)

🙋‍♀️ Ask better questions. If you’re feeling stuck in the same old conversational ruts and want to spark more engaging discussions, Esther Perel's blog post is for you. (link)