Preparing for the New Year got me thinking about rituals.
We humans are ritualistic beings by nature. Rituals help us live with intentionality, marking both life’s biggest milestones and setting the tone for the most mundane of tasks.
Being no stranger to rituals, I recently gave myself the task of reviewing my previous year. I reflected on what worked and what didn’t, set new goals and intentions, and generally ensured that as the New Year rolled in, I’d be ready to go.
But as my planning took shape, I noticed something: In my effort to step up into bigger challenges, I began emulating patterns that don’t align with the way I want to live my life. I found myself following some of the online practices I see in places like Instagram and X, wrapped up in the hustle culture and the pressure to perform or risk being forgotten by the algorithm.
Before the New Year even began, I was already sweating with stress just from thinking about everything that needed to be done—all the targets to hit, key results to achieve, and the non-stop cycle of doing, doing, doing.
The hardest part about creating from scratch is that there is no manual to guide us all the way through. We can take inspiration from what others are doing, but ultimately, we have to tread our own path.
This, I realized, will be the most interesting challenge of the year: ensuring that, as I continue to move forward in this business creation game, I don’t get lost in the weeds or lose track of the “why” behind my efforts.
I want my work to feel like any of my other practices—the same way photography and dance have been essential parts of my life over the past few years.
Thinking in these terms excites me. I’m not just working for the sake of working; I’m building a space for inquiry and self-reflection, where actions align with my values rather than the constant need for progress, and where the goal is to live life in accordance with what I want to create for myself and my family.
Luckily, the rituals I’ve created for myself over the years came to my rescue.
Reviewing my personal manifesto always brings me back to center. Updating my values alongside those of my wife—particularly the ones we want to keep present for the next phase of our life—has already proven beneficial.
Little things like these make a big impact on my relationship with work. This is why I started building resources for introspective entrepreneurs who want to create their brands and businesses with a similar sense of purpose and alignment.
My hope for this year is to continue iterating on this—to create better resources, to talk openly about the process, to attract like-minded individuals with whom to co-create businesses we can be proud of, and to keep making stuff that matters.
If you also want to create a value-aligned brand, find meaning in the work you do and make a difference with it, hit the reply button or book a free call with me! I’d love to know more about what you’re trying to achieve.
May you have a wonderful year.
With love,
Sergio.
PS. Check out my latest Notion template, the 1-on-1 Coaching Program Blueprint.
