35 Things I Have Learnt in 2018

As 2018 ends, it’s time to look back at what I have learnt and what are my achievements over the past year.

Even though I have shared things I have learnt in my first year of business, not only a lot has changed since then, but I have also learnt a heck of a lot too.

1. Meeting and spending the day with Pat Flynn has been a privilege and I am eternally grateful to have had that opportunity. So never assume that everything is out of reach.
2. Being more open and vulnerable can help you in your personal life and your career
3. Sharing personal stories can be scary, but it allowed me to connect deeper with my audience and also remove that weight on your shoulder
4. Having the opportunity to have a conversation with Brian Fanzo after following him for many years was brilliant
5. Creating videos should be an enjoyable experience if you want to master video content
6. I never realised how much I enjoy creating video and being creative with it
7. New passions can develop from nowhere
8. My videos have improved quite a bit compared with my earlier videos
9. Consistency is key in everything: social media, content, relationship building, etc.
10. Despite the politics, the essence of WordPress continues to be about the people that genuinely care
11. Organising WordCamp Edinburgh 2018 was tough work, but it was a great learning experience
12. I am grateful that all the attendees at WCEdin have had a very positive and enjoyable time
13. Respect to all the event organisers out there who does this more frequently than I do
14. Running a business continues to be very hard work, but I am lucky that I love what I do and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else
15. Doing what you love is so important
16. Running your business means that you are never really on holiday as you are always thinking about work
17. Imposter syndrome continues to be a dangerous weakness but also provides opportunities to further your personal development
18. There are plenty of people out there who will criticise you for what you do or say, regardless of your good intentions. But they shouldn’t stop you if you believe what you are doing
19. Accessibility continues to be a challenge, not just for me but for many others
20. It’s possible to be successful without hustling 24/7, so don’t take the #HustlePorn seriously as it’s nonsense
21. Everyone has their own definition of success. Other people’s definition of success should not be your target.
22. Sharing your knowledge makes you realise that you can have an impact on other people’s lives
23. Setting time aside to read books has played a on part in my learning and growth
24. Mixing up the genre of books can have a huge impact in your creativity and expands your mind
25. Set yourself challenges frequently. For example, as part of my 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge, I have read 16 books out of 12 books I have set myself this year. Next year, I am aiming to read 20 books.
26. You never know what kind of impact you are having on other people, as not everyone will tell you
27. One of the best ways to grow as a person is to be out of your comfort zone
28. Having continuous fear about the growth of your business is not healthy, but the ambition can drive you forward
29. It doesn’t matter what stage you are in your business and life, having the right people around you is critical
30. Having support at home can play a massive part in your personal and business health, and I’m lucky that I have that
31. I am extremely lucky to have strong loving support from my wife
32. I am very thankful to everyone who has been supportive and sending me positive comments because of my content
33. Philosophy can have a bigger impact on your personal development than you might think
34. You can’t help other people if you don’t look after yourself first, mentally and physically
35. It makes a lot of sense to buy from local small businesses if you are a small business yourself. Support each other. For example, where possible, I now plan to buy my books from local bookshops near me in Edinburgh

In the meantime, I wish you a very happy & prosperous New Year, and let’s bring on 2019!

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Ahmed Khalifa

Founder & Director at Khalifa Media

Ahmed helps small businesses to maximise the potential of their WordPress sites by growing their online visibility, increase audience engagement and encourage conversions.

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