2023 was a banger. Here are my personal highlights.
Allen's "Highlights" by Categories for 2023.
Hi there,
This is my last post for 2023. I did a fun one by doing various categories. Hope you enjoy the curated list.
And random photos of me enjoying my new future home that I day dream about.
Happy New Year!
This is what I’ll remember about 2023:
On Crypto Related Regulatory Announcements
SEC: BTC ETF is expected to be approved by January by the SEC (as of Dec 2023)
IRS: Staking is gross income (July 2023)
FASB: ASU 2023-08 is a FASB Standard on Crypto Assets, effective by December 2024 (Dec 2023)
Come on, did this surprise anyone?
On New Skills
Forest Bathing - I learned this in Lanai, Forest Bathing is my mindfulness practice that helps reduce anxiety and create gratitude for the day.
Atomic Writing - Is a style of writing (and thinking) that relentlessly boils down a topic into something that is easily writeable because it is so specific. Example: “What did you love most about a country?” is a typical question that could force the recipient to over think. An atomic question that’s easier to answer is “What’s 1 thing that surprised you in the first 6 hours in a new city?”
On Professional Achievements
On business relationships: Bringing in and operationalizing relationships is something I am quite proud of, but couldn’t yet find the opportunity to do so. That is, until this year.
On corporate taxes: Never in my life did I expect to become “the crypto corporate tax” guy, but here I am reading pronouncements, exchanging notes, and looking at comments. Hi Mike, Davids, & Tammy!
The best professional lesson I’ve observed this year is simply put into this question: “Are we here to advance the relationship, or are we here to make a decision?”
Best Reads for 2023
The First 90 Days will reduce your 6 month onboarding into 3 months, and also create virtuous systems that don’t lead to your burnout and stagnancy (can be read across two short haul flights)
Financial Intelligence - those with a finance background are misunderstood and often communicate in a way that “we miss the forest for the tree”. This will help you. And if you don’t know squat about finance, this will also help you (Can be read in one short haul flight)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich - moving past the name, this is a great tactical and actional book that helps create a stronger and more positive relationship with any topic of finance. Almost all issues with finance stem from poor relationship with money to begin with.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Taking on a New Role on top things to avoid when starting any new role or relationship (Can be read in 2 minutes)
The worst read of 2023 is this book: Rich Dad Poor Dad. If you approach like a fable for inspiration, it could be sensible. If you are approaching it as a way and means to direct your life, you’re an idiot.
Best Restaurants I found in 2023
The Parlor is the best pasta in Southern California. I’ve gone there so many times that I’m known by them.
Gurume Sushi is still my defacto best sushi. And I’ve been to many around here.
Selene Steak Tavern is both the best steak, and best beach-vibes.
Hammer Burger is the best smash burger in Southern California I ate at this year. Repeatedly.
LSXO is the best cozy sunset experience (it’s just fancy Little Sister)
On Financial Experiments
If you invested in index funds/target date funds, you would have achieved ~20% returns this year, with almost all of it in the last 2 months.
If you invested in Fundrise REITS, all your gains in the last 5 years were wiped out this year.
If you invested in Crypto at the beginning of this year, you’re most likely very happy about the next 2 years.
If you have a trust, you can have the trust buy crypto and your gains are deferred.
When in doubt, pinky out?
On TV Shows
Most enjoyed TV series for me this year.
Coincidentally, most of it is from Apple TV.
On Music
Don’t Be So Serious by Low Roar is my #1 per my Spotify, and I played it a lot going to Madrid that I associate this song with plane rides.
Prelude / Angry Young Man a classic made more apparent by Shrinking (Apple TV Show), I played this a lot in Austria so that’s all I can think about.
Supper Happy (feat. Ariza) is what I think about when Im in Madrid.
How Dare You Want More which gives a nice reminder of the late 2000s and simple car rides.
Hopeful when you need a slow hype song.
I also went to a Taylor Swift concert at SoFi stadium this year. Which reminds me, Gracie Abrams is pretty good.
On Movies & Performances
The Whale ft the return of Brendan Fraiser
Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mocking Bird which is Scout remembering her time as a child.
On Best Consumer Purchases of 2023
Vancropak Travel Bags (Large or X-Large) is my best travel backpack that fits as a personal item under an airplane seat, expands, and is easy to go through security with. I took pics.
Away bags are worth the hype as they perfectly fit as a carry-on item, and pack a lot in it. Combined with Vancropak, and you can easily do 2 to 3 weeks on pure-carryon.
Purple Harmony Pillow is the most comfortable pillow I will own.
Honorable Mention: Baseus Type C Cables, but mostly because it can tell you the wattage.
On Gaming & Technology Enthusiasm
Baldurs Gate 3, Starcraft 2 Co-Op, Hi-Fi RUSH, Anno 1800, and Boltgun were my top 5 games played on PC
The most disappointing games are Starfield (bland) and Jedi Survivor (poorly optimized)
Best Phone Apps of 2023
Rocket Money - I will write my own love letter post to this app for personal and household finances, especially for those with a lot of accounts and reimbursements.
All Trails - A solid hiking companion. The 3d Map and Elevation previews are to die for.
Apple Maps - I find myself using Apple Maps over Google Maps on my travels - it’s simpler, not as cluttered, and easier to find unexpected delights. The offline maps were extremely powerful, and I’ve used Google Maps offline before.
Apple Weather - For areas of extreme weather (New Zealand Wind, for example), the Apple Weather app gives you a humidity, temperature, and wind visualization to give you a sense of “what should I pack for this trip”.
I expect the new Apple Journal App to be the winner for me in 2024.
On Travel Delights
Madrid, Spain - The place where night owls can thrive, and living out a Santa Monican lifestyle of working whenever and living whenever can thrive.
Vienna, Austria - The place where I go to become a coffee-holic.
Lanai, Hawaii - #2, the concept of a wellness vacation became very real for me here, and in my memory, I will always associate Lanai’i as the place where “I go to rejuvenate”.
New Zealand - #1 of them all, the place where I can see a future, and my next meal, in. It is my #1 recommended place for those who like the West Coast - by geographies and microclimates, weathers, food, and peoples, but want something different.
On Personal Achievements
I proposed, she said yes, now I’m engaged. I was a ring bearer all across New Zealand until the best opportunity presented itself, and then I sprung the surprise.
Have a Happy New Year.
Guys, I’m a hobbit.
I love everything about this newsletter! Happy New Year! 🥳