Back To Zero To Start The Year Right

I grew up playing street basketball. It’s how I gained friends.  Most of us played on slippers and non-leather basketball. During that time fiberglass court was expensive so we used the term “using the board” instead of using the glass when taking a sure shot. When playing 3-on-3, we were limited to the rule  on which the team who first scores 12 points wins. Then the next waiting team will challenge the winning team. We simply call it “change the loser”. The rule is set so that everyone can play. And after the game, we call it “back to zero”.

Everyone wants to start the year right. Some prepare themselves with prayer and fasting. Many make their every year new year’s resolution and wish list. Others simply wait for the continuation of what they started in 2015.

I spent the new year countdown working. Few hours later with no sleep yet, I had to drive to my brother’s place with my parents for our family reunion. The food was so good, as usual. We had gift giving which we normally do during New Year instead of Christmas. We ended the day by taking my nieces, nephews and family to my condominium to have had fun swimming.

And that’s the simplest and the best I could kick-off the 2016 right. Spending the day 1 of the fresh year with the family.

That’s back to zero to me. And it’s the right thing.

I finished reading the book Zero to One by Peter Thiel last week. Although it is addressed to startups, the principle of beginning from 0 to 1 can help us look at how we should have a humbling personal start.

Look from the ground. Pray. Talk to your parents and have fun with your family. Start with the new journal to write down your “done” each day. Pen your ideas and what just pops up. Read books. It will open up new things and you will learn new ways. Then continue to look up to a more challenging yet realistic goal like travel, photography, or learning a new language or culture.

An attitude of 0 to 1 progress will help us look and move upward rather than having a 1 to n looking forward one which more people normally do.