2018 Annual Review: Achievements, Challenges, Lessons

The moment has arrived for some thoughtful reflection and evaluation. Every December, I undertake my Annual Review—this marks my sixth consecutive year—and I have consistently discovered this practice to be immensely beneficial each time.Consistent with previous years, this Annual Review addresses t

The moment has arrived for some thoughtful reflection and evaluation. Every December, I undertake my Annual Review—this marks my sixth consecutive year—and I have consistently discovered this practice to be immensely beneficial each time.

Consistent with previous years, this Annual Review addresses three fundamental questions.

1. What aspects of the year went exceptionally well?

2. What elements did not go as planned this year?

3. What key insights did I gain?

Prior to diving in, I want to note something important: Sharing these Annual Reviews always feels a bit unusual for me. Discussing the positive achievements comes across as boasting, while revealing the setbacks feels like an unusually personal exposure to the public. Nevertheless, I believe it remains valuable. Detailing specifics, such as the number of workouts completed or articles produced, serves as tangible evidence that I am actively applying the principles I advocate—essentially, proving that I practice what I preach.

Although this reflection is deeply personal and aids my own growth, it also demonstrates my commitment. When I share advice on various topics, it's not mere theory; these are strategies I implement in my daily life, showing real investment.

At its core, every Annual Review is a deeply individual endeavor. This document captures my personal experiences from the year, not a blueprint for anyone else's path. Each person charts their unique course. That being said, I encourage you to adopt this structure for your own Annual Review and determine the actions that align with your goals moving forward.

1. What Aspects Went Exceptionally Well This Year?

Let's kick things off on a high note with the successes.

Atomic Habits. I have shared this news with just about everyone I encounter, but for those who might have missed it: I released a book this year!

Dedicated followers are aware that this project represented a prolonged effort spanning multiple years. I first revealed the book deal in my 2015 Annual Review, detailed the writing challenges in my 2016 Annual Review, and finally approached completion as outlined in my 2017 Annual Review.

Even in January and February of this year, I was deeply immersed in refining the manuscript. Had someone interrupted my intense final revisions to predict that the book would achieve bestseller status by year's end, I likely would have been overwhelmed with grateful tears.

As 2018 concludes, Atomic Habits has been available for 11 weeks since its release on October 16, 2018. I exhausted every possible effort to ensure its success, beginning with dedicating three years to crafting the highest-quality content imaginable. Yet, the positive response has surpassed even my most optimistic expectations.

Key accomplishments include:

• New York Times bestseller, reaching number 3 in Business and number 5 in Advice/How-To categories
• Wall Street Journal bestseller
• USA Today bestseller
• Audible bestseller
• Top 10 most sold on Amazon
• 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on over 350 reviews
• 4.8 out of 5 stars on Audible with more than 2,250 ratings
• Featured on CBS This Morning in a video segment
• Available in airports and over 600 Barnes & Noble stores across the nation
• Finalist for Best Nonfiction Book of the Year on Goodreads

Words seem inadequate, so I will simply express my deepest gratitude. It fills me with profound joy to know that you find the book valuable, that you are recommending it to others, and that my efforts are contributing positively to the world in some meaningful way.

Reach and Impact. While precise measurement is challenging, I sense that my work has generated a greater influence this year compared to prior ones. Perhaps it's the thrill of witnessing so many people engaging with the book.

From the outset, I have prioritized expanding reach over maximizing revenue. Financial gain is not my primary focus; instead, I aim to disseminate the most impactful ideas to the widest possible audience. This year, we achieved unprecedented levels of engagement.

A snapshot of the year's metrics reveals:

• 9 new articles published this year
• 241,827 new email subscribers added this year
• 453,037 total email subscribers by December 31, 2018
• 10,600,219 unique visitors this year
• 36,558,938 unique visitors since the site launched on November 12, 2012

Amid these impressive figures, certain challenges lurk beneath the surface, which I will explore in the following section.

Travel. Following a year without visiting any new countries in 2017, I resolved to prioritize travel in 2018. And what an adventure it turned out to be—I traveled extensively.

My standout travel experiences in 2018 encompassed:

• 7 countries, including 5 new ones: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Japan, United States
• 15 states, with 2 new additions: Arizona, California (visited 4 times), Florida (3 times), Illinois (2 times), Kansas, Massachusetts (2 times), Nebraska, Nevada, New York (5 times), North Carolina (2 times), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington (2 times)

I maintain many of the packing and travel strategies from my Ultralight Travel Guide, but I have also adapted new methods to handle the increased demands of speaking engagements during trips. I plan to refresh that guide with these updates shortly.

Speaking Engagements. By the close of this year, I have noticeably improved as a speaker and presenter compared to January. Much of this growth stems from repeated practice. The book's success has led to far more invitations than before. I am eager to expand this in 2019 and have compiled a list of upcoming events.

Charitable Contributions. Earlier this year, I selected the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) as our main charitable partner. AMF provides mosquito nets to safeguard children, expectant mothers, and families from malaria-carrying insects. This initiative stands out as one of the most efficient methods for prolonging lives and aligns perfectly with my mission to promote healthy habits worldwide.

My commitment involves donating 5 percent of after-tax profits to such causes, meaning every book purchase, course enrollment, or article engagement supports this effort. To date, our donations have resulted in:

• 4,685 malaria nets distributed
• 8,433 individuals protected
• 87 additional years of life granted
• 2 lives directly saved

With this partnership established, I draw motivation from the knowledge that no day is truly unproductive. Even if I fall short on personal tasks, every dollar generated contributes to global betterment.

2. What Elements Did Not Go as Planned This Year?

Now, onto the tougher realities.

Managing Deadlines. I doubt I adhered to any deadline this year. The book submission? Far exceeded by over a year—my sincere thanks to my publisher's flexibility. Revamping my habits course, initially slated for summer? Still pending. Even this Annual Review is delayed by a day.

This issue permeates smaller daily commitments too, like punctuality for meetings. Feedback suggests I possess an overly optimistic perception of time, a polite phrasing for consistently underestimating task durations.

When others see 15 extra minutes before an appointment as a buffer to arrive early, I view it as time for more work, departing precisely when needed to arrive just in time. Admittedly, I am uncertain how to address this fully. I value this optimistic outlook because it maximizes productivity per hour. The benefit is substantial annual output; the drawback is minimal buffer. Success hinges on flawless execution, leaving little room for disruptions.

Weightlifting Performance. Throughout 2018, I completed 141 workouts, averaging 11.8 sessions monthly. These figures appear solid initially but represent a decline from the previous year.

A monthly breakdown highlights the patterns: manuscript submission in February, book launch in October, and a nationwide media tour in December all correlated with dips.

Workouts per month in 2018:

• January: 18
• February: 7
• March: 12
• April: 14
• May: 10
• June: 16
• July: 14
• August: 14
• September: 12
• October: 8
• November: 11
• December: 5

That said, I take pride in not skipping entirely. Opting out during October's launch could have meant zero sessions, but achieving 8 amid chaos—even brief 15-minute visits—preserves momentum.

My top lifts this year included:

• Back Squat: 400 lbs (181 kg) for 1 rep
• Bench Press: 280 lbs (127 kg) for 1 rep
• Deadlift: 500 lbs (226 kg) for 1 rep

These are respectable for me, yet none set new personal records. With nearly a decade of consistent training, this marks the first Annual Review without a personal best in any major lift.

Writing Output Trends. I produced only 10 articles in 2017, my lowest ever. In 2018, output decreased further. This affected other metrics, like website traffic peaking early in the year and tapering off.

Short-term, it's manageable. However, as emphasized in Atomic Habits, current results matter less than trajectory. Millions of visits are encouraging now, but the downward trend demands attention. With the book behind me, 2019 requires rebuilding a steady writing routine.

3. What Key Insights Did I Gain This Year?

Among the significant lessons from 2018:

Emphasize Fundamentals When Uncertain. True progress stems from simplicity. Bypass advanced techniques and prioritize high-impact habits.

Examples of high-return habits:

• Sleep 8+ hours nightly
• Lift weights 3 times weekly
• Walk daily
• Save at least 10% of income
• Read daily
• Drink more water, less of everything else
• Keep phone out of the room during work

Mastery Demands Impatience and Patience. Impatience fuels action, urgency, and efficiency daily. Patience allows compounding, deferred rewards, and process trust.

Curiosity Drives Success. A genuine desire to learn stands as a vital life skill. Without it, external help yields limited results; with it, vast potential unfolds regardless of innate talent.

Entrepreneurship's Reality Differs from Perception. Behind every admired entrepreneur lie numerous unseen struggles.

Mental Toughness Matches Life's Demands. Challenges build resilience; ease erodes it. Like unused muscles, mental fortitude weakens without trials. Self-impose challenges when life spares you.

Performance Gap Is Narrower Than Assumed. Dropping from 15.7 to 11.7 monthly workouts seemed minor—one less weekly. Yet, it meant no personal records in 2018 versus multiple in 2017. That single session weekly separated average from peak performance.

Advance Forward, Not Retreat Backward. Same path, transformed mindset.

No Is a Choice; Yes Is an Obligation. Declining one option is straightforward. Accepting means forgoing all alternatives. In 2019, I will scrutinize yeses to safeguard time.

And there you have it! Thank you for taking the time to read. Wishing you a Happy New Year!