The end or the beginning?
Hey friend,
It's that time of the year.
Things slow down, tables abound with food, and the twinkling lights warm the living rooms.
I love the Xmas magic so much that I could stare at them for hours.
But as I'm typing you this letter, I also realize the year is coming to an end.
What better time to review the progress?
The end or the beginning?
This is The Maker Journey's 7th and also last issue for 2022.
It started 90 days ago as an idea, and now there are more than 300 makers and explorers like you.
It's incredible for someone who has never considered writing before, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for these beautiful months together!
I spent this quarter wrapping my head around newsletters, building the habit, and learning things.
Pilot season is rolling the credits, so what's next?
Glad you asked—I want to provide you with more value, ideas, and guidance.
This means returning on January 5th with "Three product ideas to kickstart your 2023" or building products that will shorten your journey as a maker.
Are you ready?
I sincerely can't wait for what's to come!
Before dropping your Xmas gift, let me give you some wisdom sprinkles to end the year with a strike.
What you will need for a banging 2023
I see friends dropping out of Twitter, not writing newsletters, or skipping the gym. The initial discomfort is too much of a hassle for the few results they see early on; they get annoyed.
If you don't like what you do, it's okay to step away.
But you start getting results when you fall in love with the process and stick with it.
So if you want results, aim for consistency.
"Mattia out."
Sorry... the gift! 🎄
Schedule your Year in Review
Are you looking to reflect on your last 12 months and plan for the new ones, but there is no suitable template?
I hear you.
Luckily, I stumbled upon a stress-free template to assist you a few years ago.
It's based on three simple questions for all key areas of your personal and professional life:
What worked this year?
What didn't go so well?
What's next?
This is hands down the best template to assess your progress, and I decided to bring it into Notion.
Will you give it a try?
Click "Duplicate" on the top right corner to download it into your workspace.
Direct link—no email required.
Enjoy! 🎁
If you don't like Notion, you can always get the original Google Slides template (all credits go to Ness Labs).
Build in Public Bites
This week, I opened 5 slots for The Maker Launch — Mentorship program.
Launching a product is not a breeze.
But you can get seen and generate buzz around your product once you know the proper framework.
Hence, a tailored 1:1 experience!
Here’s how it works:
You submit the form with the application;
I review it to see if we are a good fit (I win if you win);
We define a strategy plan and start working together;
You get customers from Twitter without being a marketing expert.
Ready to stand out on Twitter and bring raving fans to your product launches?
There’s a special launch price for January’s enrollments!
"IMHO, this is what every indie-hacker needs."
— Amer Sikira, co-founder of Engagement Builder
Resources
What if you're not an expert?
Last week, I read a great article from Jay Clouse about tackling imposter-syndrome with a mindset shift.
It’s about reframing the value you provide.
If you’re like me and being the “expert” sounds terrible, position yourself as a learner. Or an explorer.
(no wonder why here we are on a journey of exploration)
I wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year!
Talk in 2023,
Mattia
thanks for the template Mattia! I stopped to do the annual review for years, but I'll give it a try :)