Thank You 2024. Merry Christmas!

To anyone who said this year flew by, I beg to differ. Or maybe mine was just jammed with so many things:

1. Fulfilled my lifelong dream and spent the first quarter in Brazil. Minus some security challenges, it's easily the most beautiful country on earth. Plus: I’m now able to (somewhat) communicate in Portuguese. The post about how I got robbed at Carnival and took my phone back might’ve been my best-performing post this year.

2. I started signing paid clients as a fractional seller/consultant for early-stage founders. Just as I began getting enough inflows to the point of turning some down (capacity-limited model), I met Ferid…

3. … and after some serious due diligence and consideration, became a co-founder and Head of Sales at Floada. The best decision I’ve made this year, though it’s only been a few months. Super smart team of former DocuSign AI folks from Sweden. Similar values, fun to work with, and lots of traction with procurement executives at large companies. 2025 will be fun!

4. Though my health is better than ever before (had to earn it back in my late 20s), I discovered a harmless growth in the parotid gland (through ChatGPT!) that had to be removed. Part of my left outer ear is still numb, but the scar lets me get creative with storytelling at the bar.

Plus: after the antibiotics messed up my gut, I started consuming dairy for the first time in six years—kefir. Absolute miracle. My sinus issues are gone, and I haven’t had a cold since.

5. Over the years, with so much happening, I lost touch with my spiritual side (after almost treating it like a sport before). This year, with some selective, wonderful yet intense experiences, I’ve worked to streamline more of my life focus—primarily on where to invest my energy, incl. plans to build a family. (Deleting all dating apps has become a blessing.)

6. As a creative outlet, I finally returned to my journalistic roots and began interviewing people again. Though it’s on ice for now to fully focus on Floada (producing these episodes is so much work!), I managed to record 10 episodes.

Guests included my Portuguese performance coach, the only Navy SEAL to also serve in the French Foreign Legion, and experts covering personal interest topics like building a sovereign lifestyle design and hardcore holistic health.

7. Lastly, I’m feeling more in shape than ever after hitting the gym again this year, focusing on strength and mobility. Skipping it in my 20s for work was a bad call. It’s saving me countless chiropractor visits, boosts my (male) well-being, and gives me time to reflect without my phone. 2025’s goal: lower body fat further.

But for the next few days, I won’t do anything.

My brother Marvin has spontaneously decided to visit from Bali. I’m already on season 2 of rewatching "Billions" and reading two great books: "How Life Imitates Chess" and "Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of Self".

Merry Christmas from Bremen. See you in 2025. 🎅 🎄 🎁