Modern Compass Newsletter

Hello "there",

Welcome to the first edition of the Modern Compass Newsletter! For this edition, what better topic to discuss than goals? Goals are hard to start and even harder to maintain. How do we know when a goal is worth pursuing or just weighing us down? We’ll touch on that and more below. I’m glad you’re here…let’s go!

Prefer a Listening Option? Check out one of the following options below:

Featured Topic: Goals

This year, more than ever, I’ve realized that small choices truly do add up. I had heard this before, but it never fully resonated—until now.

You might be wondering: Why now? What changed?

• I finally connected with the passion this project gave me. In the past, I wasn’t energized by this goal—I found it draining, much like writing in general. But once I built a writing habit, things shifted. My vision became clearer over time, and my confidence grew as I aligned my efforts with a direction that felt meaningful. Instead of feeling lost in the process, I started recognizing the markers of real progress as my chapters came together—and I began applying my own principles in real time.

• I found tools that helped me structure my thoughts better than ever. Writing tools like SudoWrite helped me refine my chapters, organize my ideas, and make my process more efficient. Generative AI helped fill technical writing gaps, accelerate research, and serve as an assistant I could bounce ideas off of—almost like having a guide to help me navigate obstacles and course-correct.

But this newsletter isn’t just about me—it’s about us and developing our own Modern Compass. Let’s explore how to make your goals easier to start, easier to maintain, and genuinely exciting to pursue.

The Problem – Why Most Goals Fail

Many people, myself included, set ambitious goals but struggle to follow through. Why? Because we don’t see immediate progress, and we aren’t energized by the process. Without passion or a clear structure, goals can feel draining rather than fulfilling.

This often leads to procrastination, frustration, and eventually abandoning the goal altogether.

The Insight – Small Steps and Structure Create Momentum

The key to real progress isn’t making huge leaps—it’s taking small, consistent steps backed by the right habits, tools, or systems. Passion is rarely found—it’s developed through effort.

For me, things started clicking when I:

• Built a writing habit, which created momentum and motivation

• Used generative AI to accelerate research and formatting

• Found structure with tools like SudoWrite to organize my thoughts

Whatever your goal is, the same principles apply. Small steps and structure create momentum. Identify your key requirements early to ensure consistency and clarity along the way.

The Action Step – Start with One Small Daily Effort

1. Pick a small, repeatable action—something so easy, it’s hard to fail. A good benchmark is a minimum 15 minutes of focused effort each day. Earn a daily or weekly reward when you put in your 15 minutes.

2. Find a tool or system to support it, whether it’s a to-do list, a habit tracker, or even AI to help organize your thoughts.

Many people believe success is about big moments, but in reality, it’s built from small, daily choices. Every decision is a fork in the road—one path moves you forward, the other keeps you stuck.

This week, I’m providing an interactive generative AI prompt to help you see how small, intentional choices compound over time toward your goals. Choose your goal, and decide how you will pivot based on potential forks in the road.

Interactive Activity

Generative AI Prompt to See How Small Efforts Payoff in Your Goals

You may not know it yet, but whatever it is you are striving towards, you can do it!

Disclaimer: There are no right or wrong answers despite the scoring. Don't be discouraged if you get lower scores on your responses, but worth considering if that changes how you would approach your things in reality.

How to Use ChatGPT (my genAI tool of choice and the platform I test my prompts) Not familiar with GenAI…that’s ok! As I mentioned in my welcome email, now is the best time to time to try. Low risk and high reward, you have nothing to lose! I will periodically include this how to, but it won’t be in every newsletter. If you have questions in the future about a prompt, reach out to me

Copy the Prompt
Highlight the AI prompt above and copy it:

• Desktop: Right-click and select Copy, or press Ctrl + C (Windows) / Cmd + C (Mac).

• Mobile: Tap and hold the text, then select Copy.

Open ChatGPT

• On Desktop: Click here → https://chat.openai.com

• On Mobile: Open the ChatGPT app (download for iPhone or Android)

  • Alternatively, visit chat.openai.com in your mobile browser.

Paste & Run the Prompt

• Desktop: Click into the chat box and press Ctrl + V (Windows) / Cmd + V (Mac) to paste.

• Mobile: Tap inside the chat box, hold, then select Paste.

• Hit Enter (or tap the send button) and let ChatGPT guide you!

Did this topic or activity spark any insights for you? I’d love to hear how it landed! Share your thoughts and any other feedback here: Survey Link

Your Compass in Action

• How did this activity resonate with you? Any key takeaway or ah-hah moments?

• What’s one small action you can take this week to move forward on something important? Did it align to the GenAI activity or no? Hit reply and let me know!

Modern Compass Book Progress

• Started: ~5,000 words (Jan 1, 2025); Currently: 34,000 words (40% done).

• All chapters outlined; clear vision for the end.

• Prioritizing completion, not perfection (I’ll refine it later).

• Quick detour to launch this newsletter—research highlighted the importance of building a community of interested readers early.

I will only share updates on the book when meaningful, otherwise I will leave this section out. Thank you for being an early supporter—I’m glad you’re here!

Stay Connected and Keep Exploring

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_{Psst... I slipped in clues about next edition’s featured topic—did you spot it in the Featured Topic section? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it might relate to personal growth.}