Welcome back. It’s that time of the year… the end. Every year I do a review so I can see what went well, what didn’t and what I can improve on. It’s been a habit for years and has put me on a great path. Let’s get to it.
The Good
Art
Produced some of my personal favorite content ever
Produced my most popular piece of content ever this year- “Were You There” (42k views on IG)
Established a good foundation for producing content reliably and at a pace I can keep up
Expanding my storytelling skills and capabilities in order to fully elevate my work
Learning the power of editing and incorporating it into my content
Re-incorporating Toonboom (which is my favorite animation program) into my workflow after a long hiatus
Starting to build an audience across social media platforms
Life
I’m alive
Improved Health, fitness and tenacity
Increased mental clarity, dexterity and resilience
Re-kindling a deep sense of duty and purpose
Spending more time with my family
Reducing bad relationships and nurturing the good ones
The Bad
Art
Missing audience growth milestone across platforms
Massive time investment in making content without any pay off
Production of shorts are too long and convoluted
Life
Losing my job and being on unemployment
Decreasing savings and finances
My aunt passing away
Stocks and assets losing value
Practically no social/ dating life
What Can Be Improved
Art
Shorten production time of all content
Expand release schedule to include weekly scheduled uploads
Collaborations with other creators
Increase the bar on content quality
Figure out how to better give my audience what they want
Understand the platforms algorithms better
Life
Add more strength training to exercise regime
Increase bodyweight to 145-150
Build better relationships and networks
Help my family adopt a more positive, healthy and sustainable lifestyle
Increase income so I can continue making content
Save money so I can pay off my student loans while interest is not accruing
Wrap Up
That’s a wrap for 2022. This year was far more difficult for me then previous years, but it taught me resilience and showed me how strong I have become. This year I went all in on making content for social media, and it had a massive upfront cost.
Next year I will try and develop a healthier work/ life balance if possible, but not at the cost of what I have put into my art. I am investing big into my own brand and content because I believe that W-2 work is not in line with the trajectory of society. Times are changing rapidly, and I have an opportunity to be on the forefront of this cultural shift. Even if the present is harsh and filled with pain the future is bright.
With that said, how did 2022 go for you? Did you achieve your goals? Let me know.
-Until next time-
Kyle