A life audit is a great idea Ash! I’m going to audit the same categories this year. I’m only focusing on 3 goals/areas to improve for the next 6 months: health, career, and intellect.
A life audit is a good idea, and not just on January 1. That said, I have been successful with resolutions this year by not trying to changes habits all at once. Instead, 2 or 3 days before every new moon, I think of and try out, a few minute changes I might try for the next month. On the day of the new moon I start the one that seems most doable, the one that I am most ready for. For example, the first resolution was not eating anything after supper. Long story short: one small change per month adds up until your life is improved a very great deal. In my own case, after decades of trying to lose weight, during the past 6 months I lost almost 20% of my body weight and I am now at my ideal weight for my height, and I am perfectly comfortable with my eating habits now.
Good morning Ash. I've never been one for resolutions SMART targeting is one way to go. I have ideas. My running pace has gotten slower over 2022. Target get faster. Reading, I got a stack of books for Christmas. Read them. Work, I'm on my notice period currently. I have a new (same) job to start in late Feb. Let's see how it all goes. *Salutes
Great video for the start of the year that reminds me of a great athletic quote from world champion triathlete Chris McCormack…. “A goal without a plan is just a dream”. Happy New Year sir 👍🏻
This was very inspirational and comprehensive Ash. I have shared it with people I know that would benefit and embrace its methodology. Cheers and Happy New Year Ash to you and your family! 🎉
A few years ago, I started adding at minimum, one book by that years Nobel prize for literature winner. However, I am now considering expanding to the shortlist, and reading one work from the winner, and one work from three writers who made the short list selected at random.
Back with avengeance, great to see. Looking forward to 2023 content. One thing I'll add to this that I've learned from others - Goals are good but they are nothing without building the good habits that support them. All the best for 2023.
When it comes to being honest, would you think another person would help point out your blind spots? If I audit myself, I may not see a spot in my life where I'm being dishonest whereas an outside perspective may be able to see it.
Including another perspective could be helpful, but only you know your inner thoughts and demons and what holds you back in many aspects of your development and life.
Hi Ash. Very helpful advice to get us in the right frame of mind to start the New Year. Thanks. As far as the journals are concerned I usually go for Moleskine however I remember you mentioned recently somewhere in one of your videos that you'd found a new supplier of journals with high quality paper that were excellent value for money. Could you remind me of the name of the manufacturer? Thanks again and wish you all the best for the New Year plus success for your life audit goals.
Hi there, I swapped from Moleskine to Leuchtturm journals a while back and it has been a pleasing move up the quality ladder (for the same cost). I have a video review of Leuchtturm coming up in a few weeks.
Excellent post Ash. For me, I am keeping it simple this year to get to grips with my health and fitness. I want to get to a place where I can wear trousers without needing braces, which sounds like a dumb goal but would make me so much happier as I've not been able do that for two decades. I have it all planned and am giving myself a sensible amount of time, with a graph showing a straight line weight decrease from now to now less 40lb that I can update each week to track progress vs target. At every milestone I'll allow myself a reward, such as a nice tie or a new pair of shoes for bigger wins. Keeping a journal will help me stay focused. All the best for 2023.
Success will be much more likely with such extensive planning, coupled with that positive mindset. I wish you very well for the endeavour in the year ahead, I have faith that you will climb your Everest and go on to better health and enhanced self confidence. Bravo sir!
I came to watch this video feom the show notes of your first video in 2024. This is a wonderful idea. I am going to do some auditing of my own but i will split it in parts or sections ss i don't think i will have enough uninterrupted time to audit and write about everything.
Where can one find a Patreon post of Ash' clothing 'rooms'? He is always smartly dressed and suspect he has a special wardrobe for tilling about in the garden. Always highly impressive without being ostentatious.
Make small steps, trying to do an instant 180 can be just as useless as a New Years resolution. If you do have a big goal, don't write that down, but rather write down the smaller steps that will get you there. Some goals are for life; one doesn't say, "I want to be fit but only to 50 then I can let myself go". Be mindful of what life time goals you have and what other goals may be let go or modified to make room for the new goal. I proudly say I read only non-fiction books but in reality, watching movies is my way of getting a fictional story in a short amount of time.
Not only does being highly specific with your goals allow you to plan, it also allows you to see if you hit your target or not. To use the example in the video, have you completed a marathon is a yes or no answer. Have you got 'a bit' fitter can only have a nebulous answer, you can't really define 'a bit' so you can't really say if you managed to achieve the goal or not, or at least not in any meaningful useful way.
Not one for self-audits but I well remember one of my first performance reviews and my boss’s comment that my cynicism was disproportionate to me age and service. I was 19 at the time.
journal keeping is my main aim of 2023. that and going even harder with physical fitness and clean diet / living. not so much mind-journaling but planning. I'm going to plan and record my workouts. plan my time management and "to do" lists especially weekends... it's all about committing it to paper. not my phone, not a laptop, not a computer ... paper... and writing it with a fountain pen.
Happy New Year! Love your self development videos. Started my audit today and plan to develop it over the next few days. Would rather do it thoughtfully and meaningfully over the first week of the year rather than just making an off the cuff list of resolutions. As you say, there's no point in one of those resolution lists. Also, starting an on line Ash book club is a great idea. Count me in on that.
I am in the process of planning an entry to a local creative writing competition (burnhambookfest.co.uk/writing-competition-2023/) but early stages as yet. I have contemplated a Chap's Guide Book, as I have extensive notes for each video that I have ever filmed (320 now) so content would be easy to accomplish, but quite frankly the bar to progression is time. I have promised to create a website for years, but work, family and other things always get in the way. Maybe sometime soon!!
Another inspired video, Ash. I like the life audit idea and the keeping of a journal to plan and monitor it. Reading 3-4 books per month instead of 1-2 is quite an additional time commitment in what already sounds like a very busy life. And if one of those books is Andrew Roberts' excellent 982 page biography on Churchill, you won't be doing much else. When it comes to reading non-fiction, try and write down 10 or 20 key points (more if required) that you have learnt from the book that you did not know before. Keep that list inside the book as a reminder of the knowledge it imparted. In closing, I would like to than you for enlightening and entertaining us throughout 2022 in our quest for chap nirvana. I look forward to many more of your superb broadcasts in the New Year and wish you and your family a successful and healthy 2023.😊👍
Excellent process. New Year's resolutions seem to be things you do not expect to achieve, but prefer to feel guilty about. I will tell you that 40 years ago I realized I had a problem with alcohol. I joined a program and stuck to it, did what they recommended and on the fifth of this month achieved 40 years sobriety. Should we ever be face-to-face, I will not share a pint with you. I will have cup of tea instead. But, I have learned that there is nothing in life that cannot be enjoyable with no alcohol. But that is done one day at a time. As an old-timer once told me, long term sobriety requires two things: don't drink and don't die. Once again, and excellent video.
Those are great themes to review. I don't set New Year's resolutions as for me the calendar change is arbitrary and I like to implement changes when I've spotted an opportunity as I'm better motivated. However, looking back in a balanced way can be helpful, as it's too easy to focus upon where things have stalled and overlook the gains made. With the festive season, it's also helpful to plan ahead so as to not over indulge, by having some physical activities to do, for which you lay off the food and drink and therefore do not default into entering the New Year trying to lose weight you didn't need to gain.
As I read a book I take a few notes- paragraphs per chapter. I write these down in my laptop. I then have 2-3 pages or so. I get them laminated in a hard thick laminate. I place these in a large 3 binder and review these 3 times a year to keep the main points fresh in my mind
Interesting thoughts as always, Ash. But personally I'm a bit of a skeptic about these self-development strategies. My impression is that we often get ahead (or not) in many areas of life due to factors outside of our control! I know that's not a popular or fashionable view, but it's kind of what I see in the world....🥴 (That being said, I'm sure there are things people can do to improve _some_ things...)
I like to think that it is at least possible to influence one's journey through life to some degree. It is true to say that outside influence has a big impact, but having a plan can certainly be of assistance.
Uninterrupted time will be the hard part. I took me three tries to watch this video :D But never the less, it will happen. Thank you for the inpsiration and have a great new year.
Another good video Ash. Lots of useful tips. I really like how you described smart objectives. Maybe do more of these type of subjects to help people develop.
What a great video Ash. I am glad you are back and up to full chap ish strength. I am a prolific reader and am often looking round for new books to read. It seems to me that you should start a 'Chaps book club' because I believe others (like me) that watch your videos are probably searching for a similar kind of book. I would certainly love to be in a book club that read such as Conan Doyle and Buchan etc. All the best and keep up the good work my friend. 🙏
A life audit is a great idea Ash! I’m going to audit the same categories this year. I’m only focusing on 3 goals/areas to improve for the next 6 months: health, career, and intellect.
Good luck sir
A life audit is a good idea, and not just on January 1. That said, I have been successful with resolutions this year by not trying to changes habits all at once. Instead, 2 or 3 days before every new moon, I think of and try out, a few minute changes I might try for the next month. On the day of the new moon I start the one that seems most doable, the one that I am most ready for. For example, the first resolution was not eating anything after supper. Long story short: one small change per month adds up until your life is improved a very great deal. In my own case, after decades of trying to lose weight, during the past 6 months I lost almost 20% of my body weight and I am now at my ideal weight for my height, and I am perfectly comfortable with my eating habits now.
Congratulations on your life successes so far. Good luck for your future audits.
Wow the process you laid out is extremely easy to follow. I am looking forward to putting pen to paper and seeing the progress in one year.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Ash for this video. Seems like something sitting under our noses this whole time. Your work is much appreciated! 🙏
My pleasure!
Great Video Ash! Genuinely Inspiring, something we all need to do in today's Society. Keep up the Spectacular Content. Much Appreciated.
Thank you! Will do!
Good morning Ash.
I've never been one for resolutions
SMART targeting is one way to go.
I have ideas.
My running pace has gotten slower over 2022. Target get faster.
Reading, I got a stack of books for Christmas. Read them.
Work, I'm on my notice period currently. I have a new (same) job to start in late Feb.
Let's see how it all goes.
*Salutes
Great video for the start of the year that reminds me of a great athletic quote from world champion triathlete Chris McCormack….
“A goal without a plan is just a dream”.
Happy New Year sir 👍🏻
So true!
Happy New Year
Great video, Ash, coming at an opportune time for me. Focusing on Relationship, Finance and Health
Happy new year to you, Ash! And to all you other chaps too! 🎉🍸🍸
Happy new year!!
This was very inspirational and comprehensive Ash. I have shared it with people I know that would benefit and embrace its methodology. Cheers and Happy New Year Ash to you and your family! 🎉
Glad it was helpful!
A few years ago, I started adding at minimum, one book by that years Nobel prize for literature winner. However, I am now considering expanding to the shortlist, and reading one work from the winner, and one work from three writers who made the short list selected at random.
What a great idea. I may give that a try.
Good thoughts mate. Happy New Year.
Happy new year!
Would love to know where you got your Double Breasted Coat from, it looks gorgeous.
TK MAxx £40
Back with avengeance, great to see. Looking forward to 2023 content. One thing I'll add to this that I've learned from others - Goals are good but they are nothing without building the good habits that support them. All the best for 2023.
When it comes to being honest, would you think another person would help point out your blind spots? If I audit myself, I may not see a spot in my life where I'm being dishonest whereas an outside perspective may be able to see it.
Including another perspective could be helpful, but only you know your inner thoughts and demons and what holds you back in many aspects of your development and life.
Hi Ash. Very helpful advice to get us in the right frame of mind to start the New Year. Thanks. As far as the journals are concerned I usually go for Moleskine however I remember you mentioned recently somewhere in one of your videos that you'd found a new supplier of journals with high quality paper that were excellent value for money. Could you remind me of the name of the manufacturer? Thanks again and wish you all the best for the New Year plus success for your life audit goals.
Hi there, I swapped from Moleskine to Leuchtturm journals a while back and it has been a pleasing move up the quality ladder (for the same cost). I have a video review of Leuchtturm coming up in a few weeks.
Many thanks. I look forward to the review.
Excellent post Ash. For me, I am keeping it simple this year to get to grips with my health and fitness. I want to get to a place where I can wear trousers without needing braces, which sounds like a dumb goal but would make me so much happier as I've not been able do that for two decades. I have it all planned and am giving myself a sensible amount of time, with a graph showing a straight line weight decrease from now to now less 40lb that I can update each week to track progress vs target. At every milestone I'll allow myself a reward, such as a nice tie or a new pair of shoes for bigger wins. Keeping a journal will help me stay focused. All the best for 2023.
Success will be much more likely with such extensive planning, coupled with that positive mindset. I wish you very well for the endeavour in the year ahead, I have faith that you will climb your Everest and go on to better health and enhanced self confidence. Bravo sir!
John, how did you make out with your goals over the past year?
I came to watch this video feom the show notes of your first video in 2024. This is a wonderful idea. I am going to do some auditing of my own but i will split it in parts or sections ss i don't think i will have enough uninterrupted time to audit and write about everything.
False goal setting, always results in failure Be free, be flexible and be happy
you really nailed it !
More like this Ash!
Where can one find a Patreon post of Ash' clothing 'rooms'? He is always smartly dressed and suspect he has a special wardrobe for tilling about in the garden. Always highly impressive without being ostentatious.
Make small steps, trying to do an instant 180 can be just as useless as a New Years resolution. If you do have a big goal, don't write that down, but rather write down the smaller steps that will get you there. Some goals are for life; one doesn't say, "I want to be fit but only to 50 then I can let myself go". Be mindful of what life time goals you have and what other goals may be let go or modified to make room for the new goal. I proudly say I read only non-fiction books but in reality, watching movies is my way of getting a fictional story in a short amount of time.
Not only does being highly specific with your goals allow you to plan, it also allows you to see if you hit your target or not. To use the example in the video, have you completed a marathon is a yes or no answer. Have you got 'a bit' fitter can only have a nebulous answer, you can't really define 'a bit' so you can't really say if you managed to achieve the goal or not, or at least not in any meaningful useful way.
Not one for self-audits but I well remember one of my first performance reviews and my boss’s comment that my cynicism was disproportionate to me age and service. I was 19 at the time.
Fantastic video life auditing is a marvelous way to move forward in achieving one's life goal thanks for the wonderful suggestions!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Terrific advice!
Happy new year ash, i love your english lifestyle videos and your accent. Have a great time.
Happy new year!
journal keeping is my main aim of 2023. that and going even harder with physical fitness and clean diet / living. not so much mind-journaling but planning. I'm going to plan and record my workouts. plan my time management and "to do" lists especially weekends... it's all about committing it to paper. not my phone, not a laptop, not a computer ... paper... and writing it with a fountain pen.
You got this!
Happy New Year! Love your self development videos. Started my audit today and plan to develop it over the next few days. Would rather do it thoughtfully and meaningfully over the first week of the year rather than just making an off the cuff list of resolutions. As you say, there's no point in one of those resolution lists. Also, starting an on line Ash book club is a great idea. Count me in on that.
Happy new year!
Hi Ash. So you’re an avid reader and journal keeper but what about creative writing- any plans for your own novel?
I am in the process of planning an entry to a local creative writing competition (burnhambookfest.co.uk/writing-competition-2023/) but early stages as yet. I have contemplated a Chap's Guide Book, as I have extensive notes for each video that I have ever filmed (320 now) so content would be easy to accomplish, but quite frankly the bar to progression is time. I have promised to create a website for years, but work, family and other things always get in the way. Maybe sometime soon!!
Another inspired video, Ash. I like the life audit idea and the keeping of a journal to plan and monitor it. Reading 3-4 books per month instead of 1-2 is quite an additional time commitment in what already sounds like a very busy life. And if one of those books is Andrew Roberts' excellent 982 page biography on Churchill, you won't be doing much else. When it comes to reading non-fiction, try and write down 10 or 20 key points (more if required) that you have learnt from the book that you did not know before. Keep that list inside the book as a reminder of the knowledge it imparted. In closing, I would like to than you for enlightening and entertaining us throughout 2022 in our quest for chap nirvana. I look forward to many more of your superb broadcasts in the New Year and wish you and your family a successful and healthy 2023.😊👍
Thank you so very much. Happy New Year to you too.
How about sharing those book reviews with a video?
A sound idea.
Ash, do you think one day you could do a video on creating a minimal casual wardrobe, thank you
Definitely!!
@@TheChapsGuide thank you dear sir
I would join an online book club if you were to create one.
It’s worth considering.
I’m game for the book club Ash.
Coming soon
Excellent process. New Year's resolutions seem to be things you do not expect to achieve, but prefer to feel guilty about.
I will tell you that 40 years ago I realized I had a problem with alcohol. I joined a program and stuck to it, did what they recommended and on the fifth of this month achieved 40 years sobriety. Should we ever be face-to-face, I will not share a pint with you. I will have cup of tea instead. But, I have learned that there is nothing in life that cannot be enjoyable with no alcohol. But that is done one day at a time. As an old-timer once told me, long term sobriety requires two things: don't drink and don't die.
Once again, and excellent video.
Those are great themes to review.
I don't set New Year's resolutions as for me the calendar change is arbitrary and I like to implement changes when I've spotted an opportunity as I'm better motivated. However, looking back in a balanced way can be helpful, as it's too easy to focus upon where things have stalled and overlook the gains made.
With the festive season, it's also helpful to plan ahead so as to not over indulge, by having some physical activities to do, for which you lay off the food and drink and therefore do not default into entering the New Year trying to lose weight you didn't need to gain.
As I read a book I take a few notes- paragraphs per chapter. I write these down in my laptop. I then have 2-3 pages or so. I get them laminated in a hard thick laminate. I place these in a large 3 binder and review these 3 times a year to keep the main points fresh in my mind
Interesting idea, sir. I'll be doing the same for the new year. Happy New Year
A happy new year Mr. Jones! I'm celebrating your return.
Great advice!! Happy New Year!
Interesting thoughts as always, Ash. But personally I'm a bit of a skeptic about these self-development strategies. My impression is that we often get ahead (or not) in many areas of life due to factors outside of our control! I know that's not a popular or fashionable view, but it's kind of what I see in the world....🥴
(That being said, I'm sure there are things people can do to improve _some_ things...)
I like to think that it is at least possible to influence one's journey through life to some degree. It is true to say that outside influence has a big impact, but having a plan can certainly be of assistance.
This is excellent information. I’m glad I found your channel. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Happy new year!
Your best video by far
Well done
Uninterrupted time will be the hard part. I took me three tries to watch this video :D But never the less, it will happen. Thank you for the inpsiration and have a great new year.
Glad I could help!
Thanks for the gentlemanly resolutions reminder Ash!Happy New Year!🎉🎊🎇👔👞🎩🕊👍✌
My pleasure!!
A great idea and I am going to Ty this for 2023. Happy New Year kind regards James
Happy new year!
Another good video Ash. Lots of useful tips. I really like how you described smart objectives. Maybe do more of these type of subjects to help people develop.
More to come!
Thank you for a great video. Great tip to audit your life and apply a process approach to your life improvement.
Glad it was helpful!
Good idea Ash. Writing it down makes it a little more permanent. I like you and planning on trying to read more this year. Cheers Ron
Happy new year!
What a great video Ash. I am glad you are back and up to full chap ish strength.
I am a prolific reader and am often looking round for new books to read. It seems to me that you should start a 'Chaps book club' because I believe others (like me) that watch your videos are probably searching for a similar kind of book. I would certainly love to be in a book club that read such as Conan Doyle and Buchan etc.
All the best and keep up the good work my friend. 🙏
I’ll certainly give it some thought.
Count me in such a book club, I'd love to read and discuss "The story of Everest" by W. H. Murray
Happy New Year Ash!
Starlight
Happy new year!!
Wish you happy new year Ash.
Happy new year!
Happy New MMXXIII!
Same to you!
Nice Montblanc pen
It’s a Duke Air Force 1
It’s the copper colored Lamy fountain pen.😊