Year in Review 2024

Heyo from Puerto Escondido! 🌞

Every year on my birthday, I reflect on my highs, lows, and everything in between. (Past editions: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015).

This tradition is an amazing way to measure backward and appreciate how far I've come. Here's how my 2024 went.

Going full-time on Bachata Library was the best decision I’ve made

To catch you up, I quit my job to start a business teaching Bachata.

And I’m genuinely having the best time.

This is everything I’ve dreamed of when I was 19.

Running my own business based on my unique personality and gifts.

Over the last decade, I’ve attempted entrepreneurship plenty of times. But I never found the right combo of

1. what i’m naturally good at
2. what i’m actually excited to do
3. what the market/people need

I’d often run into a combo of

• #1 and #2 — This combo is what most people fall under. They’re naturally good and excited to host curated events for friends (for example). But people won’t pay enough to become a full-time business.
• #1 and #3—For me, this included consulting, facilitation, or even chess. I’m great at these skills, but I wasn’t excited to devote the next 5+ years to building a business around them, so then it just felt like another job.

But now, Bachata Library meets all 3.

I’m really thankful that I had the opportunity to take a sabbatical and fully explore my passions.

It would be impossible to predict that the sabbatical would lead me to fall more in love with dance and be a full-time teacher.

Or that it would lead me to live in Mexico for the last three years, and be open to living in Poland or Spain in the future.

Pues, estamos aquí.

Steve Jobs famously said,

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect the dots looking backward.”

I think about this quote often.

I’m not a woo-woo type of guy, but I’ve always been rewarded for doing the next best thing at that moment, with the limited data that I have, and trusting the universe to find my next step.

Still, this dream is far from reality, but I’m on the right path for the next year or two. While still being adaptable to get a job again or pivot the business if things change.

I really see the potential in Bachata Library.

I’ve made the least amount of money ever this year, less than what I made when I was 19 or 20 years old.

But we had a great Black Friday sale that validated (again) our product-market fit.

I’m really excited about building Bachata Library into a legit business.

There are a ton of unknowns. Lots of me experimenting with something, failing a bunch, and eventually finding my way.

I’m having a ton of fun.

And it’s very hard to compete with someone who’s having a ton of fun doing what they do naturally.

Mixed feelings about the nomad life

I’ve been fully nomadic for the last 3 years.

Usually 6 months in Mexico. 4 months in Toronto. and 2 months back home in California or traveling around.

This year, I visited Poland and Spain to train Bachata for 6 weeks.

This setup has served me for this era of my life.

But I’m hitting my limit.

I don’t feel lonely.

Actually, I feel a bit too connected sometimes and I need to run away to be solo (that’s why I’m retreating in Puerto Escondido).

It’s just, I’m transitioning into a new chapter of my life.

One where I want to focus on my business. My health. And possibly dating longer-term.

This nomad life isn’t optimized for this.

Unless you can afford a long-term place and also travel whenever you want without worrying about paying double rent.

Yeah, I’m not at that level lol.

So I’ve been thinking a lot about where to live next.

I’m in a weird spot because I want to have a high quality of life, but not break the bank as I continue to live off my savings.

While Mexico City has definitely gone up in price, it really hit that sweet spot for me. But my body always has terrible allergies, stomach issues, or just bad sleep every time I go back.

I’ve put up with it because everything else about the city and community was amazing. But after three years, it can’t be a place for me long-term.

IMHO The U.S. is too overpriced for a mediocre quality of life.

Canada doesn’t want me, but it also has the same issue as the US.

I’m thinking about Spain, but it’s far and immigration can be a huge pain in the butt.

I fully realize no place is perfect and I have to choose the best place overall for me.

Since I’m in a weird spot, my friends recommended I find another place to live short-term as I build the business, and figure this out later.

I’m leaning towards this decision. So let’s see where I actually end up.

Random Thoughts/Reflections

🎮 Life feels like a video game

• I sleep to gain more HP.
• I grind to acquire resources.
• I work out to level up my abilities.
• I level up my skills to achieve my goals.
• I use my natural gifts to navigate the world.
• I readjust to new languages and environments when I visit a new territory.
• I have my main quest. I can go on side quests. Life is full of never-ending quests.
• I can make friends or join a tribe. We can do quests and/or enjoy time with one another.

I’m not even much of a “gamer” but I seriously feel like I’m on mushrooms sometimes.

I’d space out and snap back to reality realizing that I’m a random dude in this assigned body walking barefoot in the rural streets of Oaxaca.

Or have a moment of realization when I was dancing until 7AM at a Bachata congress in Katowice, Poland with friends I’ve met from Mexico City.

Like how did I end up here??

This is like next-level self-awareness or something idk. Anyone else?

❤️ Love is the answer to everything

No hear me out.

Nothing else matters.

All the gossip. or caring what others think. or buying fancy stuff. or really any BS in your life.

Nothing matters. Just love.

OK I’m losing you.

Shit.

Shit.

HEAR ME OUT.

I teared up when I read what my friend wrote me for my birthday.

She unleashed the ultimate trigger phrase for any kid of immigrant Asian parents.

“I’m so proud of you.”

She saw me when I had my day job, witnessed me quitting to start my own business, and cheered me on when I had the best month of business ever.

I felt so seen.

I also had a Friendsgiving in Mexico City. Half of the guests were my expat friends and the other half were acquaintances/locals.

And the people I didn’t know well were SO kind.

They knew my birthday was also on Thanksgiving day so they sang me a traditional Mexican Birthday song.

My Brazilian friend bought me a cake with a sparkling candle.

Another friend (who I’m not super close with) asked me to take a bite so that he could push my face into the cake–a Mexican tradition.

Everyone treated me with more enthusiasm and love than my nuclear family.

What did I do to deserve this? 🥲

That’s just how warm Mexicans (and people from LATAM) are.

And how evolved my friends were to show love in a way that really touched me.

Receiving all this love wants me to give more love to the world.

More than I already do.

So if we want the world to be a kinder and more loving place, it starts by giving love.

👟 That could easily be me in a different life

I’m walking to the market on a busy street in Puerto Escondido.

I see construction workers hard at work at the hottest time of the day.

I meet vendors at the market sitting patiently for any customer to buy their over-ripe fruit.

I watch locals pass me by with ripped clothes and old backpacks full of merchandise to sell.

I get a text. It’s a notification that someone bought my Bachata Library course.

That’s amazing. The hard work that I’d put in is finally paying off.

But here I am, not working nearly as hard as any of these people, yet I probably made more money than their entire day’s work.

What a sobering realization.

I think about how I could easily be in their shoes in a different life.

Our roles reversed.

I think about this when I pass by a homeless man. Or picking up food from my Uber Eats driver. Or just about anyone really.

I think about how I’d like to be treated if the roles were reversed.

I think about what I’d do if I had the opportunity to get a higher-paying job or travel the world.

If the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t feel bad if the other person lived their life to the fullest.

In fact, I’d truly want the best for them.

But it would be very appreciated if I saw people with opportunities use their privilege for good.

To help balance the playing field. To have equal opportunities for everyone to thrive.

I hope I can be more like that person.

⭐️ You are more generous when you are abundant

I’m pretty fucking lucky to have an abundance of community, health, and money.

Imagine you earned $20K USD a year.

Earning $20K might not be a lot to most people reading this blog. But this salary puts you in the top 10% income bracket in the world.

This means you made more money this year than 90% of the people in the world.

The cost of living is different in the US vs other places. But objectively speaking, you have so much more wealth than others.

And people in the US don't have to deal with other issues like over 100% inflation YOY, mega-corrupt governments, low-quality health care options, etc.

(I know the US isn't perfect either, but guys, you should really travel abroad to see how other people live)

Learning this years ago has made me so much more open to giving more, tipping well, and donating to non-profits.

I don’t want to brag, but I also have like so many friends.

That’s why I connect people left and right. Or go out of my way to help my friends because they’ve helped me so much.

There's a huge loneliness epidemic at the moment. Why wouldn't I want to help people build community when I already have so much?

I was also born with a pretty healthy body. Besides a long COVID scare and sleep apnea, my body is amazing.

I have all my senses. I’ve never broken a bone. I can run, swim, climb, dance, and do so much with my body.

Of course, I’m going to help others get healthier and move their bodies too.

I can’t imagine any other way to live when you’re abundant.

Some people aren’t as abundant yet still are generous with their resources. So what excuse do we have to not give more when we have so much?

If you don’t feel abundant, it’s totally ok to focus on yourself and live your life.

But if you have the means or the opportunity or the freedom to give, do it.

It could even be a non-monetary give like helping a friend move or paying a compliment to a stranger.

In the words of entrepreneur Phil Caravaggio, “Never resist a generous impulse.”

🫀 Take nothing personally + API

Dev nerds - you know the acronym API?

It actually means “Assume Positive Intent.”

Seriously. Just ask anyone (who reads this blog).

When someone’s behavior doesn’t make sense, just assume they have positive intentions.

• Someone cuts you off to make their exit -> They’re probably rushing to the hospital to deliver a baby.
• Someone leaves a mean comment on my video -> They’re having a bad day and lashing out.
• A friend gets unnecessarily angry at me -> Their grandma just died and they haven’t processed their emotions yet.
• Someone was racist to me while traveling -> They probably never grew up with Asian people.

None of it is personal.

None of it is ever personal.

And even if it is (it really isn’t), just assuming positive intent will help YOU process whatever happened.

Life just feels lighter and less serious when we API.

💪 Everything becomes easier over time.

Look - I’m a writer starting a video-first content company.

Our online course consists of all tutorial videos.

Our marketing is making videos for Instagram and YouTube.

I don’t have much experience doing any video-related things: camera settings, lighting, directing, filming, editing, graphic design, and more.

So I’m naturally intimidated when it comes to anything video.

But guess what?

I figured it out.

Guys. With technology, it’s really not that hard because they do most of the work.

• I have a terrible eye for design but Canva is literally just a drag-and-drop process to create professional graphics for any social platform.
• I dreaded learning those fancy editing software but I just started using Capcut two weeks ago and I feel like a pro already.
• I had no idea if my camera setup or set design was correct. I took a picture and asked ChatGPT what I could improve. Then I followed their instructions and my videos came out great.

There are also so many free tutorials on YouTube that teach you literally anything.

I have no interest in being an expert at these skills but having the resourcefulness to figure shit out is a superpower.

And once I learned the process (which takes like a week or two), everything felt easier.

You can literally apply this to anything.

I’m trying to get back in shape. The first week of doing high-intensity cardio and strength training was grueling.

But guess what?

Things become easier over time.

I think about most things now from a long-term perspective.

With patience and consistency, I can be in pretty good shape.

With patience and consistency, I can be a pretty decent video editor.

With patience and consistency, I can be a pretty great entrepreneur.

It just takes time.

What’s next for me?

My biggest priority is turning Bachata Library into a legit business.

That’s all I care about.

My 2nd priority is getting back into shape. I don’t want to turn 30 next year and feel like I’m still taking care of my body like a lazy 20-year-old.

Everything else is up in the air.

I’ll continue to go where it feels good, with hopes of finding a longer-term place sometime in the future.

My dance training and travel days are taking a back seat, although I’m very tempted to return to Bachaturo (my fav dance congress) in Poland.

I don’t want much nowadays.

And I don’t have everything figured out.

But I do know this.

I want to be a good person every day, taking steps to live out my fullest potential.

That's within my control, and honestly all I really could ask for in this life.