Ok, I know you’re curious about the highlights of my year, because I’ve been receiving inquiries from readers, friends and even foes about how my year turned out. So, here are a few of the highlights:
I got even more dedicated to my fitness goals than I have been since my competition days in the 1980s, and this year I lost 23 lbs., and counting!
I had dinner and a business meeting with amazing colleagues at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.
I acquired multiple dream watches, including a special edition Ball Engineer III Marvelight Caring Edition and a Panerai Submersible.
I acquired one of my dream cars, a Bentley Continental GT Speed (yes, that’s the one with the “W12” engine).
I launched the new Jim Woods’ Crypto & Commodities Trader service, which is off to an amazingly successful start for subscribers.
I recorded my first full-length music album titled, “Tender Warrior.” All music and lyrics written and performed by me, along with a host of top-level musicians and a first-rate producer. The album is slated for a Q1 2025 release, so stay tuned!
Most importantly, I continued to deliver alpha for subscribers to all my newsletter advisory services, which is the highlight of the year that I am most proud of.
So, yes indeed, it was a very good year. Now I have to top it in 2025, which is going to be a Herculean challenge– but I’m up for it.
As for our final The Deep Woods of the year, last week I told you we would have Part II of our series, “The 10 Best Quotes of 2024.”
So, let’s get to the final five, which are presented here in no particular order. Hey, I will let you decide which one you like best, because to me, pearls of wisdom are like children –I love them all equally!
A Conversation with 15-Year-Old You
I know I’m not
Everything that you had hoped and imagined that I would be
But I did my best
And I have seen things that you don’t even know that you’ve never seen
We need to find some common ground
In the ruins that still stand
Between you and me, both of us want peace… Ceasefire!
–Frank Turner, “Ceasefire”
What if you could have a conversation with 15-year-old you? What would that youthful person think of adult you? Would he be pleased with how you turned out? Or would the two of you be at war? This is the question that singer/songwriter Frank Turner grapples with in his newly released song “Ceasefire,” which is from the brilliant new album, “Undefeated.”
I absolutely love this new record, as it displays Turner’s depth of thought, artful use of language (both musical and lyrical), and his characteristic high-intensity delivery that comes through even during the quiet songs. If you want to treat yourself to a beautifully thoughtful and rousing musical experience, I highly recommend “Undefeated.”
And Speaking of Real…
“Only the knowledge that comes from inside is the real Knowledge.”
–Socrates
They certainly kept it “real” in Ancient Greece, as thinkers of that amazing era sought to study and codify the real wisdom of the world. Here, Socrates tells us that knowing ourselves is the truest, realist, knowledge.
Do It Right
“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.”
–Martin Van Buren
Spend any significant time in an organization of any type (professional, social, family, etc.) and you’ll encounter those that fail to do something properly. Then, instead of owning the issue and just fixing it, they’ll expend great effort to explain why it wasn’t done right in the first place. Even worse, they’ll go to great lengths to explain why it wasn’t their fault.
Don’t be one of those people. Do it right the first time. And if you don’t do it right, then own that and fix it. Forget about the lame efforts to explain the “why.” And especially avoid the temptation to blame someone else. It’s just a waste of time and effort — both for those listening to the explanation and for the person giving one.
Until They Throw Me in a Box
“I see all these old people who don’t have anything to do but eat, drink and sleep. I will never say ‘retired’ because that’s such a finality that I don’t want to be part of my life. I’ll work until they throw me in a box.”
–Mario Andretti
The racing great always pushed it to the limit during his driving career, and he keeps pushing things to the limit. In the quote here, Andretti basically echoes my thoughts on the subject of retirement. I have no plans to retire, ever, because what I have the privilege of doing each day (writing about this beautiful existence) is something that I intend to do until they “throw me in a box.”
The Pleasure Principle
“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.”
–Alfred Mercier
For a rational man, pleasure is a result of the achievement of values. It’s the result of confirmation in your mind’s ability to grasp, unpack and mold reality. I find that learning is one of the most pleasurable pursuits I can engage in. Yes, learning new skills can be strenuous and frustrating at times. Yet when that strain and frustration results in the discovery of something new or a newly acquired skill, well, there can be no pleasure greater than that.
In 2025, may you experience the profound pleasure of learning, and may you never forget just how wonderful that feels.
Here’s to Mistakes in 2025
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.”
–Neil Gaiman
The great fantasy novelist, whose brilliant classic “American Gods” is a must read, puts the new year into proper perspective here. You see, in 2025, I plan on making a lot of mistakes. Well, to be more accurate, I plan on trying new things, learning, living and pushing myself to affect change in myself and the world. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better new year’s mission than that!
Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote that you’d like me to share with your fellow readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my newsletters, seminars or anything else. Click here to ask Jim.
In the name of the best within us,
Jim Woods
