Introduction
Welcome back to the weekly newsletter.
At this time of the year many of us reflect. On the past year, on the future goals or on life in general. So this week let’s cover the topic very applicable to this process.
Big goals stall without a clear aim. You’ll craft a one-sentence North-Star Statement, a life mission that guides every choice you make. Simple. Specific. Usable every day.
Weekly highlight: North-Star Statement
A North-Star Statement is a single sentence that steers your time, energy, and trade-offs. It’s not a slogan. It’s a filter. When options clash, the North-Star chooses for you.
Start with four parts: Who, What change, How, Why.
- Who keeps you focused. “For my family,” “for young analysts,” or “for my future self.”
- What change names the outcome you drive. “Create stability,” “help people grow,” “build valuable tools.”
- How grounds it in your method. “Through clear teaching,” “with honest work,” “by designing simple systems.”
- Why gives fuel. “So we live with dignity,” “so people feel seen,” “so I keep promises I’m proud of.”
Draft it plain, not poetic. Example: “I help busy professionals design simple life systems so they gain time for what matters.”
Now stress-test it.
The Trade-Off Test.
Put two good options side by side. Which better serves the sentence? If your North-Star can’t pick, it’s too vague. Tighten the who or the outcome until it decides in under 10 seconds.
The Hard-Day Test.
Read it when you’re tired. Do you know the next right action? If not, your “how” is fuzzy. Make the method concrete: teach, build, coach, write, analyze, care, lead.
The One-Year Test.
Imagine living it for 12 months. Does it excite you and scare you a little? Good. If it only feels “safe,” raise the bar. If it feels like fantasy, narrow the who or the scope.
Common traps:
- Too broad. “Be my best self.” Nice, but useless. Add a who and a change.
- Too many verbs. Pick one primary method.
- Too external. Titles and likes are outcomes, not missions. Keep the mission about value created.
Refine in three short passes:
Pass 1: Cut fluff. Remove adjectives that don’t decide anything.
Pass 2: Swap jargon. Use words your future self will still understand.
Pass 3: Sharpen the verb. Choose a verb you can do today.
Put your North-Star where decisions happen: calendar, task list, phone lock screen. Let it rewrite your week:
- Meetings: accept if they serve the sentence.
- Projects: stack them to your “what change.”
- Learning: pick skills that multiply your “how.”
- Rest: schedule it to sustain the “why.”
Expect drift. Life shifts; missions evolve. Keep the core stable and adjust the edges. When a big change hits re-run the three tests and tighten the line.
Experiment. Very few of us get the mission right at first. It’s all about the direction and testing it. Remember: this is not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. One true sentence, used daily, beats a page of inspiration used never. Clarity creates courage. Filters create focus. Focus compounds.
Application
- Draft v1: Who + what change + how + why. One sentence.
- Stress-test: Trade-Off / Hard-Day / One-Year. Note what breaks.
- Refine: Cut one word. Sharpen the verb. Make the “how” actionable.
- Place the filter: Add it to your calendar header and today’s task note.
- Use it today: Decline one misaligned task. Start one aligned action.
- Experiment: Review regularly to see if your hypothesis is right.
Summary
A North-Star Statement is a daily decision filter. Name who you serve, the change you drive, how you do it, and why it matters. Test it, tighten it, and place it where choices are made. One clear sentence will steer the next thousand choices.
Till next time,
Maciej
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