The Reflection That Changed My Path for 2025

Ciao Legend!

As I write this, I’m looking out at the famous cathedral in Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore. This place has me reflecting on the year that’s just flown by. Reflection is one of those things that hits differently when you let it—it sharpens your focus and reminds you of what’s really important. I was reading a passage from Discipline Is Destiny that feels bang on for this moment. It was in the chapter Make the Main Thing the Main Thing. As I reflected on this year—the wins, the lessons, and even the bittersweet moments—I realized how important this principle is. In fact, it led me to make a major decision that I’ll share with you today. It’s the last day of 2024, and I want to help you focus and execute on what truly matters in 2025.

In Today’s Newsletter (4-Min Read):

•  🪜 Action steps for reflection to set your direction

• 🤔 Intentionality around your Main Thing

• 📝 My gratitude and a thank you to you

Thanks to all those who emailed how impactful last weeks newsletter was around feasting. If you think it will have the same impact on a mate share the newsletter HERE

The Game-Changing Power of Reflection

Last week, I announced on YouTube that I was stepping away as the Executive Chef at The Osprey. It was a bittersweet moment. Years ago, this role was my dream job. To realize that my purpose had shifted to something greater—or at least more impactful—was, in many ways, both sad and exhilarating. Over the years, I’ve learned that not every “shiny moment” aligns with my North Star. Many opportunities may appear grand at first but can turn out to be distractions from your true purpose.

This decision encapsulates today’s story: understanding when to let go of something you once cherished to embrace what truly aligns with your future. Reflection played a key role here—it allowed me to evaluate not just where I was, but where I wanted to go. As we head into 2025, I encourage you to reflect on what you’ve achieved this year and set a clear focus for what lies ahead.

💪 Your Game Plan for Powerful Reflection

Reflection doesn’t have to be a grand, time-consuming task. I did this with a pen and paper while snowboarding in the Dolomites. Here’s a simple framework to guide you:

1. Set the Scene: Find a quiet moment with a notebook or device. Create an environment that fosters introspection—light a candle, sip tea, or play calming music. Morning is my favorite time, before the world wakes up.

2. Ask the Big Questions:

   • What were your biggest achievements this year? (Fitness, food, personal growth?)

   • What moments brought you the most joy?

   • Were there any challenges that taught you valuable lessons?

3. Be Honest: Recognize areas where you might have fallen short, but don’t judge yourself too harshly. Growth stems from both wins and setbacks.

4. List Your Wins: Write down at least three things you’re proud of from 2024. Focus on progress rather than perfection.

5. Set the Tone: Ask yourself, “What do I want to take with me into 2025?” and “What will I leave behind?”

Taking the time to reflect creates clarity and gives you the confidence to move forward with intention. Writing it down makes it even more powerful. Here are a few of my wins and lessons:

Wins:

• Bought a NYC apartment

• Released a cookbook

• Crushed Leadville 100

• Proposed to my lovely lady

Lessons:

• I traveled too much for work relative to my physical goals

• Even on rest days, my output in the kitchen was as intense as a workout

• I need to be more intentional about communicating with my family

• My goal of being impactful in food and health extends beyond the kitchen

Make the Main Thing the Main Thing

The second part of this process is to focus your arrow for 2025. This ties directly into Make the Main Thing the Main Thing by Ryan Holiday. For example, my main thing is to empower as many people as possible to make the right decisions to perform at their healthy best. By saying no to the restaurant, I’m directing my energy toward my true north. Here’s how to apply this in your life:

1. Identify Your North Star: What is your ultimate goal? Define your guiding principle—the one thing that aligns with your values and fuels your passion.

2. Avoid the Shiny Traps: Not every opportunity is the right one. Ask yourself: Does this move me closer to my goal, or is it a distraction? Listing and evaluating your opportunities is a powerful exercise.

3. Simplify Your Focus: Write down your top three priorities for the year—personal, professional, or fitness-related. Keep this list visible. I focus on priorities over goals for intentionality.

4. Allocate Your Resources: Time, energy, and focus are finite. Spend them wisely. Saying yes to one thing often means saying no to another.

Reflection will help you acknowledge where you’ve been, and focusing on the main thing will guide you toward where you want to go. Let’s make 2025 legendary together.

Quick Notes

☕️ Thank you: This year has been huge for the team and I and we want to thank you for the love and support. I have received many incredible emails and DMs on Instagram about the impact we have had, it is my currency and we read every message

🎥 Kick off 2025 by putting yourself first with my Cookbook EAT LIKE A LEGEND CLICK HERE

🏃🏻‍♂️ We just dropped out latest program on Centr! It is our Hybrid strong! CLICK HERE to sign up!

DC

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