Let’s kick off the new year!

This year started as one big question mark. Nothing was set. Everything is possible. Extremely excited about what the universe has to offer to me this year. I’m ready for it.

January ’24: Job hunting

Work

After a snowboarding vacation, I decided to quit my job. During my final week, I informed my project managers, who had always supported me, about my decision. In contrast, my consultancy firm made me feel like just a selling object, even breaking promises made to me.

With my job behind me, I could fully commit to job hunting. Previously, scheduling interviews was tough, but now I have the time. I prepared well, leading to about 5 interviews per week and numerous phone calls, making it challenging to keep track.

I focused on data analysis, data science, and business intelligence roles. Despite having little experience and no IT bachelor’s degree, my enthusiasm and motivation were my biggest assets. I enjoyed taking mandatory intelligence tests for some vacancies as it helped me understand my capabilities compared to others.

Sports

During snowboarding, I injured my left knee, tearing my medial collateral ligaments in a heavy fall. This was a mental challenge, especially after just recovering from another injury. Not being able to run affected my mental health and decision-making.

This time, I decided to approach it differently. I replaced my running sessions with gym workouts to build more muscle. Though it had been a while since I regularly went to the gym, my friend Victor joined me every day. It wasn’t as good as running, but it helped me feel fit and clear my mind.

Creativity

Since last year, I promised myself to write a yearly review each January. However, job interviews took priority, making it hard to get into a creative mode. Running, my usual mental filter, wasn’t an option due to my injury. These are just excuses, though, and I didn’t prioritize or prepare well.

I made some progress, but my review was far from finished, leaving me unhappy with the result. This is only my second year doing this, so it’s crucial to make it a fundamental habit. If I fail now, it sets a poor precedent for the future. Come on, Bram, you have to do better!

February ’24: Preparing for a new chapter

Work

February started with a bang! On the 1st, I had an assessment at TCR HQ, where I met many colleagues, presented a case study, and took a small Excel test. My preparation paid off, and they offered me a contract proposal. After months of exhausting job searching, I was ready for some clarity. This job, though somewhat unknown, met my requirements well.

Following my mandatory rule of sleeping at least one night on important decisions, I called back the next morning to accept the offer. Excitingly, my first week includes a project kick-off in London. My start date was the last week of February, allowing me to enjoy the rest of the month worry-free and relieved from job hunting.

Sports + vacation

My knee injury hadn’t fully healed, so I focused on gym workouts and returned to physiotherapy, which greatly aided my recovery. I also enjoyed building a good relationship with my physiotherapist over the past months. In a way, it is also good for my mental health!

We planned a vacation with my parents and our long-time neighbors, friends since birth. We went to Germany near a small skiing resort. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t favorable, allowing only limited snowboarding

It was sad that my brother couldn’t join us since he’s backpacking in South America. Our group felt incomplete, but I’m sure there will be more opportunities in the future.

Creativity

With my last month of unemployment, I aimed to complete my year review. However, it took much more effort and time than I anticipated. My tendency to strive for perfection led to an unfinished project. I need to learn to prioritize and accept a more concise review, focusing on essentials rather than every detail. Despite some progress, I didn’t finish it.

Relationship

During this month I started meeting my (ex-)girlfriend more regularly again. Long story short: we decided to give it a go again after being separated for 4 months.

March ’24: A new job

Work

March kicked off with a bang. In my first week at my new job, I flew to London for a project launch — an incredible opportunity to meet my colleagues and learn on-site. After three days of training, it was time to show them what I was worth: I missed my flight and made a very bad impression, or at least that is how I felt. Disappointed in myself, however, the only way is up from now on. The rest of the trip was fantastic. The team was warm and welcoming, the job was social and technical, and the time on my own was relieving and delivered peace in my head.

Back in Brussels, adjusting to the daily commute was freeing. I now spend three hours on the train and bus, perfect for handling personal tasks without wasting time in traffic. This new job has lifted a weight off my shoulders, finally rewarding my hard work over the past 1.5 years. I feel peaceful and content.

Sports

My injury finally healed, just in time for marathon prep. With the Paris Marathon in April, I aimed for a sub-3-hour finish, but over the past months, I also learned not to push too hard. I committed to exercise EVERY DAY, mixing gym sessions, long runs, intervals, and stretching to avoid overloading my body. The results were remarkable — more energy, better daily planning, and a clearer mind. No more sluggishness …

I tested my progress by running the Half Marathon of Ghent at the end of the month, finishing with a personal best of 1h28’15” and still having energy left. This was impressive after just six weeks of training post-injury. I am so blessed and grateful for my body and shouldn’t always take it for granted.

Studying

The only creative endeavor I kept up with was writing my weekly recap. Balancing my new job and rekindled relationship left little time for other pursuits. I abandoned my goal to finish my yearly review but found peace in letting go. My focus shifted to crypto airdrop hunting and school assignments, maintaining my productivity in different areas.

Relationship

Picking up the relationship again consumed, obviously, a lot of time. We both had to adapt to new dynamics and boundaries, leading to unwanted frustrations from both sides. The first two weeks I had a victim mentality, hiding behind excuses in my mind and not taking ownership to make it work. Reading the book “Attached” about relationship types/approaches helped me shift my mindset: “If I want it to work out, I have to put in effort myself and change my own behavior.” I changed my approach and put in all my effort, and she did as well! Nevertheless, our good days got overshadowed the next day with yet another discussion we both did not want to have. A difficult process.

April ’24: Running!

Work

My second month at the office was calm. My schedule has become more flexible, and the freedom within my company is inspiring to me. The structure here is fluid, with everyone doing a bit of everything. I had some training but also started finding tasks independently. At times, I felt bored since everyone was busy with their own work, and explaining things to me took longer than doing them themselves. This period is temporary and a logical step in the process.

I also tried to understand the schedule for the rest of the year to plan vacations. Projects in Malaysia, Australia, and the Middle East are launching in the fall, and I hope to be part of one. However, I must remain patient, and grateful for the options that arise and avoid entitlement.

Sports

A big milestone this month: I ran the Paris Marathon, finishing in 3h09’. It was my hardest run yet, partly due to partying on Friday before the Sunday race. Despite starting off weak and in pain, I didn’t let it affect my performance. I knew I was able to run at this pace, solely listening to the knowledge of my body and neglecting my feelings of pain. I pushed through and succeeded. This race is proof I can continue pushing my limits in the future.

After the marathon in Paris, I took a recovery week to listen to my body’s needs. Good evolution! The following week, I participated in another marathon in the Netherlands with a friend. Upon arrival, I discovered I had forgotten my running shoes and starting number. However, this is no excuse to not run the race. I ran in my sneakers and paced a friend who wanted to set a PR and … she won first place in her age group! Later in the month, I ran a trail with friends and my dad. The focus of trails is more on enjoying nature rather than speed. My ambition is to shift towards ultra-trails instead of city races in the future. Loving the journey. Next to it, my gym fitness is also at its peak; I’ve never felt this fit in my life.

Studying

Not my best month for studying. There’s simply not enough time with everything going on. Despite dedicating every free minute, I’m still falling behind. My creativity has flatlined, though I keep up with my weekly recaps. My school assignment is overdue, and the workload is piling up. However, my crypto pursuits went well. After the Paris Marathon, I stayed for Paris Blockchain Week and attended the conference with discounted student tickets. Although the focus on legalization for companies wasn’t directly relevant to me, I made new friends and co-wrote an article with a journalist for a news outlet. It was a fun experience, even if it wasn’t what I expected.

Relationship

We had some very nice moments together. But they never lasted. They are followed up by discussions already the next day, leaving both of us with tensions until we meet again. It feels like every step forward is followed by a step, if not two, backward in my opinion. Both of us are doing our very best which makes it even sadder.

May ’24: Loading …

Special month incoming!

My manager asked me to go to Sydney to give training on-site.

Of course, I said yes!

Afterward, we are launching our project in London.

I asked to link the trips together and not stop in Belgium in between.

“But don’t you want to be home?” — Nope.

This means I will be traveling for 6 weeks!

Exciting.

The life I was, and still am, dream(ing) of is here and now.

Take it.

Experience it.

Be grateful.

Be humble.

Give it all I have!

Lessons from the past months:

Listening to the podcast series of Straight-Line Leadership unraveled a lot of good insights as well. Some were already present, but having an extra focus on them by doing a weekly call with Discipulae Vitae definitely helped! I listed my most prominent lessons:

• Knowing upfront what I have to do saves a lot of time. Being hesitant considering whether to do something and weighing the choices consumes a lot of time and energy. Decide before the moment of choice takes place. Decide with rationale instead of feeling.

• Summarize and simplify my wording, both vocally and written. I often explain things to others as if they need to understand ALL the context that is going on in my own head. But people mostly don’t care. The more words, the more complex the message. If people are interested, they will ask. Keep it simple. It stems from the desire to be understood by others. A search for approval and validation in my thoughts. But it is nonsense. I have to learn to let go of this feeling.

• If I want things to change in my life, then I must change. No one else is responsible for things (not) happening in my life.

• Only progression or regression exists. There is no standstill. Shifting focus equals a decline in the other. Choose your priorities wisely.

• Perfectionism in new skills costs too much time and makes you quit more easily. Just do it and find out. Imperfection teaches and makes you progress. Just start and you will find a way. Example: writing this blog.

• Make choices quickly when a problem presents itself. Of course, first think. But once the problem and options are examined, it is time for action. Letting a problem linger on leaves you in a utopian stage without any results.

• Every choice is a good choice if you handle it like one. Choose & commit. Let go of the alternative because it does not exist anymore. Move on.

Enjoy the brainfood. Reach out to me if you disagree or want to discuss something. Always open to re-evaluating my vision.

I cannot wait to have my blog up to date with my present life so that I can finally commence sharing my views of the future, rather than looking back at the past all the time. But I want it to be chronological (=perfectionism). One more article to go!

Thanks for reading!

Love

❤