Year In Review - 2024

At the start of 2024, I came across an inspiring essay by Justin Jackson that profoundly influenced my outlook for the year. He talked about snowballs and slot machines, illustrating a powerful analogy:

"A snowball starts small but grows larger as it rolls, gaining mass and momentum. Slot machines are one-off events that give fleeting satisfaction but no lasting success."

This resonated deeply with my idea of building a personal flywheel. I embraced the theme for 2024: Snowballs, Not Slot Machines. This guiding principle shaped my decisions and actions throughout the year.

# Celebrating the 102nd Episode of My Podcast

Early in the year, I released the 102nd episode of Gravitas WINS Radio, my podcast where I interview business and technical leaders to explore their journeys. Hosting this podcast feels like a free 30-minute masterclass on diverse topics, and it’s been an enriching experience.

# Coping with Loss: Goodbye, Ma

Life threw me a curveball when my mother passed away on March 14th. Despite being 50 and she 75, her passing hit me hard. I entered a deep period of mourning, during which I reflected:

"There is no closure – only acceptance of this new reality."

Every month, I revisited photos and memories of her. Mourning is an ongoing process—not something to overcome but to accept.

Slowly, I began focusing on what energized me, channeling my efforts into building apps and letting go of activities that drained me, like writing newsletters and social media posts.

# Developing Apps: Small Snowballs with Big Potential

This year, I developed two apps:

• Site Audit Tools: A tool to audit website security and other aspects by simply providing a URL.
• ThoughtToNote: An app I used to record and transcribe your fleeting thoughts. (I recorded draft of this review with the app)

I also migrated my blog to 11ty, simplifying my workflow and focusing on creating meaningful content.

# Homeschooling Experiment Gains Recognition

On July 1st, the Indian Express featured our homeschooling journey in a prominent article. This recognition felt like a true snowball moment, as we never anticipated such acknowledgment when we started homeschooling three years ago.

This year, my elder son wrote his NIOS Class 10 exams and enjoyed the process so much that he’s considering Class 12 exams. He also passed Trinity Grade 2 guitar exams with distinction.

I introduced my sons to Wes Bos’ JavaScript course and Cursor, an AI-based coding tool. My younger son used it to create an MP4-to-MP3 converter, addressing a practical need in managing church podcasts and Youtube channel. Watching them embrace coding and build solutions has been incredibly satisfying. Looks like he might be on to building a snowball of his own.

# Strengthening Faith Through Prayer

In July 2019, some college friends and I began meeting on Zoom for weekly prayer sessions. This year marked five years of consistent gatherings, which have been a source of strength during challenging times. Whether praying for someone’s health or simply sharing life’s highs and lows, these sessions have become a cornerstone of my life.

In church, I continued preaching and leading meditations on the Ten Commandments. We’ve completed eight so far. I’ve witnessed meaningful growth in our community.

# Building Wealth and Time Freedom

My stock market investments performed well this year, significantly improving returns. The dividend income now comfortably covers our annual expenses (excluding travel). While I could retire, I’m already living my ideal life: working three days a week and pursuing hobbies and passions. This balance has been deeply rewarding.

# The WINS Flywheel: Momentum in Action

When I conceptualized a personal flywheel, I drew inspiration from Dr. Alan Weiss:

"Wealth is discretionary time."

This year, I experienced the power of a well-aligned flywheel. Whether through building apps, connecting with niche communities, or fostering personal growth, small efforts have compounded into meaningful momentum.

# Reflections on Past Years

I’ve been publishing annual reviews for over a decade. Each review captures the journey and milestones that shaped me. You can read them to see how far I’ve come.

2024 has been a year of resilience, growth, and the realization that the snowball effect is real. The small, consistent efforts truly do gain mass and momentum, setting the stage for even greater things to come.