Don’t Leave 2025 to Chance: Define Your Future Today

Imagine It’s New Year’s Eve, 2025

You’re relaxing in your favorite chair, maybe with a fire crackling nearby, reflecting on the year you just lived. As you look back, a smile comes across your face as you revisit the wins: in your health, fitness, relationships, business, and the memorable experiences that defined your year.

And none of it was by accident.

A year ago, you were sitting in this same spot, laying out the details you’re reflecting on now. You lived 2025 on paper first—and then you lived it in real life. Of course, life threw you a few curveballs, but you met them with resilience and a focus on what you could control. Because in your mind, the path was already set.

Building on Last Week's Foundation

Reflecting on Issue #110, we covered the essential steps of Reflection and Assessment. You’ve laid a strong foundation by examining what worked, what didn’t, and where you stand today. This clarity provides the insight needed to move forward intentionally. Now, we’re taking the next step: defining your vision for 2025.

Define Your Direction—With Purpose and Flexibility

This is what it means to define your year: to consciously shape your vision for 2025, identifying what success looks like to you and aligning your choices, actions, and priorities around it. Today, we’re going to build that vision so that as you move into 2025, every decision, every step you take, pulls you closer to the future you’re committed to creating.

And while this vision serves as a powerful guide, remember that it’s not set in stone. Life inevitably brings unexpected changes, and part of resilience is adapting when necessary. Define a direction that motivates you but allows for flexibility, so you’re ready for whatever comes.

Let’s get started.

Define Your Vision for 2025

Creating a vision for the year ahead is more than setting a list of goals. It’s about painting a picture of what success truly looks like to you, with purpose and clarity. Defining your vision isn’t just about the finish line; it’s about setting the path you’ll follow, grounded in the priorities and principles that matter most to you.

To keep this process straightforward and actionable, here are three powerful exercises you can choose from to help define your 2025 vision. Each approach is designed to fit into your life and make daily decisions easier and more aligned with the future you want.

1. Three Words for the Year

This exercise, inspired by Chris Brogan, has been a personal favorite of mine for five years. It's simple, yet incredibly powerful. By choosing three words to guide your actions and mindset, you create a daily compass that keeps you aligned with your vision for the year. My three words for 2024 were Less, Ask, and Who—together forming “LAW.” They became my guiding principles, helping me make intentional choices and stay focused on what matters most.

Less: This word was all about simplifying. I focused on eliminating, automating, or delegating anything that didn’t contribute to what drives the most value, giving me more time for the things that truly matter.

Ask: I pushed myself to ask more questions, seek help, and get out of my comfort zone. “Ask” reminded me that growth often starts by giving myself permission to be a beginner. I focused on asking the right questions—of myself and others—to accelerate my progress.

Who: Borrowed from Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s “Who Not How,” this word kept me focused on finding the right people to help me, rather than trying to do everything myself.

These three words have guided me throughout 2024, and they’ll continue to be a part of my mindset as I head into 2025. That’s how powerful this exercise is.

When you choose your three words, they become your filter for every decision. They represent the values, attitudes, or themes that guide your daily actions and decisions, keeping you aligned with the person you want to become. Whether personal or professional, when a decision comes your way, ask yourself: “Does this align with my three words?” It’s that simple. And when you hit a plateau or face challenges (we all do), your three words serve as a powerful prompt to get back on track.

Action Step: Start by writing down a list of words that inspire you. Aim for 15-20 words to choose from. Then, prioritize the ones that resonate with how you want to live in 2025. Pick three words that will guide your actions throughout the year. Keep them visible, use them to filter your decisions, and make them your guiding principles.

For 2025, my three words are Abundance, Pareto, and Execution. I’m excited to put them into action and make 2025 a year of significant growth. And for those who know me well, you might see the APE acronym coming a mile away—though, I’d say it’s fitting and maybe a bit on-brand!

2. Future Self Exercise

This exercise invites you to envision yourself at the end of 2025, having reached your goals and stepped into the best version of yourself. Get specific here: What does your body fat percentage look like by quarter? How many pushups can you do in one set? What’s your journaling routine? How often are you taking your spouse on dates, or staying connected with your kids? Are you measuring these goals? Visualize how the future you thinks, acts, and responds—and then start becoming “that guy” today.

The Future Self exercise allows you to detail the habits, priorities, and actions that define the man you’re working toward becoming. This vision gives you a clear sense of purpose, helping you make today’s choices align with tomorrow’s outcomes.

Example Prompt: “My future self is someone who maintains consistent health and fitness, prioritizes family, and has developed the discipline to reach professional milestones without sacrificing personal growth.”

Action Step: Write a description of your “Future Self” at the end of 2025. Include specific goals, habits, and mindsets. Use this as a blueprint to guide your daily actions in 2025.

Bonus Action: Define What Your Future Self Doesn’t Do: We’ve focused on who you’re becoming, but to truly shape your future, it’s just as important to understand who you don’t want to be. Take a moment to list the behaviors, habits, and lifestyle choices you want to leave behind. This is a powerful exercise because, as Charlie Munger wisely put it, "Tell me where I’m going to die so I can make sure I don’t go there." In other words, by identifying what your future self avoids, you can actively steer clear of those behaviors and ensure you don’t end up where you don’t want to be.

Additional Resource: Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy

3. The Eulogy Exercise

For those ready to go deeper, the Eulogy Exercise brings a long-term perspective to defining your vision. Here’s how it works:

The Final Countdown Exercise

• If you’re under 70: Subtract your age from 80, then divide that number by two. Assume this is the time you have left.

• If you’re over 70: Subtract your age from 90, then divide that number by two.

The purpose of the Final Countdown exercise is not to predict your longevity, but to create a sense of urgency. My number is 10. What’s yours?

Action Step: Write down your number. Roll it around in your brain for a minute. Let it sink in. Memento Mori.

Now, imagine it’s 10 years from now (my number, substitute yours). It’s November 9, 2034, and people at your eulogy are only talking about the way you’ve lived from today forward. No past achievements, no memories from years ago, no glory days to hold you back—just the impact you made in your remaining years.

This exercise asks you to reflect on the legacy you want to leave behind. What would you want others to remember you for? This provides a clear perspective, ensuring each step in 2025 brings you closer to that vision.

Example Prompt:

“Imagine it’s 2034, and people are gathered to speak about you at your eulogy. What do you want them to say about how you spent your last decade? Reflect on the man you want to become and the impact you want to make:

• How did you prioritize your health? Did you maintain or even improve your physical fitness? Were you someone who inspired others to challenge their limits and redefine what aging could look like?

• Are your choices aligned with maintaining independence and health as you age? Many in our parents' generation experienced a decline in health that led to dependence on assisted living or constant interaction with the healthcare system. Are you making decisions today to break that cycle and stay independent? How are you ensuring your lifestyle keeps you strong, active, and in control of your health for years to come?

• What kind of relationships did you nurture? Were you present with your family and friends? Did you make time for meaningful connections, offering support and encouragement for their growth?

• How did you live with urgency, yet savor time with those closest to you? Did you find a balance between ambition and mindfulness, making every moment count?

• How did you continue to contribute to the world around you? Whether through business, mentoring, or community involvement, how did you leave a lasting mark?

• What kind of example did you set for others? Were you a man who led by example, always striving to be your best self, and inspiring others to do the same?

Write down your reflections and use them as a blueprint for how you want to live in 2025 and beyond. Let this vision guide your decisions and keep you focused on becoming the person you truly aspire to be.”

Action Step: Write down how you want to be remembered based on how you live from this day forward. Let this vision guide your actions, serving as a long-term anchor for the man you’re becoming. See the example eulogy at the end of this newsletter.

Additional Resource: Hero On A Mission by Donald Miller

How These Approaches Work Together

These exercises aren’t mutually exclusive—you can use one, two, or all three, depending on what resonates most with you. The Three Words exercise is simple yet impactful, offering an easy way to stay focused daily. For those who want to deepen their clarity, the Future Self and Eulogy exercises provide powerful insights, each serving as an accelerant to align your daily actions with your long-term vision.

When we talked about Reflect and Assess last week, we focused on understanding where you are today and defining where you want to go. This week, we’re taking that clarity and using it to chart a course for the next year. These exercises build on your reflections, giving you a framework to keep your momentum going as you create a roadmap for 2025.

Choose the approach that fits best for you. Don’t overcomplicate it—each of these exercises, whether used alone or together, will bring clarity to your vision and help you start 2025 with intention, purpose, and a strong sense of direction.

2025 is your year—don’t go it alone.

Join us at Argent Alpha and tap into a community that’s driven to see you succeed. We provide the tools, support, and accountability to help you bring your vision to life.

Example Eulogy for Robert Jones

Now, to help visualize what this might look like in real life, here’s a sample eulogy for Robert Jones, a fictional character, read by his closest friend:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today to honor my dear friend, Robert Jones. As we reflect on his life, I think about the man he became, especially in the final years that I had the privilege of knowing him. His journey was one of deep transformation, and it’s the legacy he leaves behind that we remember so vividly today."

"Robert lived with an energy that belied his years. In his 60s, he made a conscious decision to take control of his health—something that he always took pride in, but he truly raised the bar in his later years. He set ambitious goals to stay in peak physical shape, maintaining a strict fitness regimen, and often inspiring others in his life to do the same. He was not just active for himself, but for his family, setting an example that health and vitality were attainable at any age."

"His relationships were everything to him. Robert understood that time was precious. He spent countless hours with his children and grandchildren, imparting wisdom, love, and a sense of security that we all felt. He was a man who cherished his friendships, always the first to lend a helping hand. He made time for those he cared about, and in doing so, made those around him feel like they were his top priority."

"Robert didn’t just talk about his values; he lived them. He lived with urgency and purpose, but also with an appreciation for the present. Whether on his morning walks or while spending time with family, he savored every moment, ensuring that his actions aligned with the man he always wanted to be. Even in his final years, he was learning and growing, constantly seeking new ways to contribute to his community, sharing his experience and wisdom with others, and encouraging others to take control of their health, finances, and well-being."

"The Robert we knew was never one to rest on his laurels. He didn’t let age dictate what he could or couldn’t achieve. Instead, he defied the common stereotypes of aging, proving that living a fulfilling, impactful life could continue well into the later years. He was a beacon of resilience, and his actions taught us all the power of pursuing personal growth, no matter where we are in life."

"Robert was a man of integrity, of purpose, and of heart. We will miss him deeply, but we will carry his lessons with us. He showed us that a life well-lived is not measured by years, but by the impact we have on those we love, the work we do, and the legacy we leave behind."

What kind of legacy will you leave behind? What will your eulogy look like?

Take some time to reflect on that and begin shaping the future you want to live. You’re already on the right path.