Michael Bosstick On How To Make Every Year A Success & Achieve Your Personal Goals

0:00The following podcast is a dear media production. She's a lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. Fantastic. And he's a serial entrepreneur. A very smart cookie. And now Lauren Everts and Michael Bostic are bringing you along for the ride. Get ready for some major realness. Welcome to The Skinny Confidential, Him and Her. Aha! Hello, everybody. Welcome back to another episode of The Skinny Confidential, Him and Her Show. Today, you have me, Michael Bostic, solo on the mic, on the camera, I guess, now that this is audio and video. And I wanted to do a little bit of a year-end show that I think, one, will help kind of recap the year that we've had, as well as maybe give some purpose around why we do some of the things we do, both professionally and personally, and then also, hopefully, give you some ideas to set up your new year for success, focus, and purpose.

0:58Not that you're not already doing that and focusing on that, but there's some things that we've learned over the last few years, and me especially, on how to make sure that you're setting up your year with purpose, with focus, and so that you can have success. And not just personal success, but professional success as well. So I want to start this episode by acknowledging that it's coming out around the holidays, but that really you could listen to this anytime, beginning of the year, end of the first quarter. You could listen to it before the new year. it's really meant to be evergreen and it's meant for anyone that is looking to get a little bit more structure and focus around the year ahead.

1:34And again, you can do this at any time. So one of the things that I've learned over two decades of running a business and now being in a long-term relationship and building a family is that some of the secret sauce that people kind of glaze over sometimes, not that they don't talk about it, but they kind of move past it real quick when it comes to what makes people successful, is that most of these successful people that I've met, most of the businesses that I've seen, when in our case, the businesses that have worked and the ones that haven't, there's a real differentiator. And that differentiator is that there's an extreme focus.

2:09Most great companies, if you really think about it, whether it's a tech business or an entertainment business, or if it's a restaurant or whatever it may be, if you really think about the operation, when you acknowledge the businesses that have made it and done well, is there's a huge focus in that company, in that operation. If you think about a relationship, a personal relationship, most of the relationships that have been successful and lasted is there's a big focus from the individuals involved on making sure that they're really focused on that relationship and taking care of that relationship.

2:42When you think about children that have been raised right or come out the other side and find success personally and professionally and are happy and healthy, there's usually been an intense focus from the parents to make sure that they're raising these kids in a way that they can find success later in life. And what I've experienced firsthand personally running businesses and working on my own family is that anytime things start to go off the rails or anytime I start to lose some of the momentum or I start to kind of wobble a little bit, it's when I have a lack of focus or when I start to get all over the place.

3:21And so this episode is a lot about that. But one of the things I want to mention is that we live in a time when people want it all and they want it all right away. And I don't think there's anything wrong necessarily with wanting to have it all. People talk about balance all the time, which I've said multiple times on the show, I don't believe in. But there's this idea that you can have it all. You can have the career. You can have the relationship. You can have your health. You can have all that. And that's true. You can have it all. But as Scott Galloway says, you can have it all, but you might not be able to have it all right away.

3:55And so this episode is talking about how you can work towards having it all, but what you need to do in the midterm or in the meantime to make sure that you're staying focused and taking big swings and big chunks out of the things that you're really pursuing. What I do every time I start to think about a new year is everybody's got their goals and we've done goal setting podcasts. All you have to do is search Skinny Confidential goal setting. And we've talked about things that can help us from a health perspective, wellness. We've gotten real detailed over the years, as you guys know, on this show about tactics.

4:26But high level, one of the things that I do every single year is I pick a theme for the year. And this sounds strange because there's obviously a lot of things that happen in a year and there's a lot of responsibilities. But I think anchoring the year and starting a year in with a theme that is the most important theme to you personally for that year immediately puts you in a position where when you start the year, you have a focus, you have a direction. And what I've realized over the years running companies and working towards goals is that one of the most important things you can do for an organization or for a team or for yourself is giving people a North Star, including yourself, in a direction to move in.

5:12And so I pick a theme every single time at the beginning of the year. And that theme kind of rules my year from a decision-making process. For example, and I have some notes, in 2020, Lauren and I moved from LA to Texas. It was also the first year that I brought on new partners for Dear Media. We raised some capital and that meant that we were changing the partnership structure up. And so the theme of that year, also there was COVID, there's a lot of things happening. The theme of that year was change. There was a lot of things that I personally had to get comfortable with. There was a lot of directions that I had to start moving in that I hadn't moved in before.

5:49We did a huge move out here to Texas. We had to figure out what that looked like. We left our family and friends. And so the entire theme of that year was all about embracing change. And the reason I know that sounds like vague and out there, whenever we made decisions, whenever we got that little bit of discomfort or wherever we were confused, oh, should we do this or not? We reminded ourselves that that year in particular was all about change. And then with that, we had to think about the things that were required for us in order to make a positive change. And so we were able to make decisions and look at that year through the lens of that.

6:25And at the end of that year, we had successfully moved to Texas. We had our first daughter. we had opened the company over here in Texas. We had completely changed the way that we lived and that we operated. And it was really important to get us comfortable and build a foundation. A lot of people make moves and they're a little bit resistant to it or they go through changes and they're not necessarily ready for that change. And so the theme of that year was that. But in 2021 and 2022, I actually had the same theme and that was health. And for those listening that are really, you know, they've been concerned about their health, they want to make a change.

7:05I realized in 2021 and 2022 that I was out of integrity with myself as it related to taking care of myself. I was losing way too much weight. I was losing a lot of muscle. I mentally was exhausted. I think a lot of people were during that time. This was COVID. There was, you know, a lot of unrest in the country. There was a lot of doom and gloom on the news all the time. And so what I did going into 21 and 22 was I said, these are going to be my healthiest years yet. So every decision I made in those two years focused around putting my health first, right? Everything revolved around my time in the gym and what I was eating and what I was taking and how I was taking care of myself and the businesses.

7:46And even honestly, maybe the family and the relationship at that time kind of took a back burner to that. but it helped me stay focused on changing my health, which I did. And then as I got into 23, we had our second child and our first and Lauren and I were new parents. And so I really thought that year was all about family. And so everything was built around building the family unit and thinking about how to take care of the family, thinking about how to evolve as a husband, as a father. And again, this is not to say that you are not focused on other things. And here's a, I'll pause at this moment in 23.

8:20What happens when you pick a theme, like I'm talking about, is you're able to make decisions that service that theme. And so I, if you're really focused on your health for one year, like if you say, okay, 2026 is going to be the year where I focus on my health, every main decision you make, every big decision, every action you take, everything that you eat, every, you know, every activity you participate in, friends, family, whatever, is focused around that health narrative. And so you're able to also eliminate things that aren't serving that. So it's really just a framework. It's not to say that during those years, you don't also have to show up for your career or take care of your finances or work on your relationship.

9:01But you can now build an infrastructure to service the thing that is your main priority. And what happens at the end of those themes, and I'll share a little bit more here soon, is you get to the end of that year and you realize that once you have that kind of focus, you look back, if you stay disciplined and you do the things that are required, again, which we've talked about a million times on this show, you look back and say, whoa, I can actually now map out in 2020, I embraced a lot of change. In 2021 and 22, I really changed my health. I completely overhauled the health, the way I feel, the way I sleep, the way I look, the way I eat, all of it.

9:40In 23, Lauren and I got even tighter as a family. It was a time we learned really how to step into parenthood. We set routines and practices with our children that we still carry to this day. And so when I look back, I'm like, oh, having that kind of focus, you pick up these new habits and you pick up these new tactics in order to enhance these areas that maybe you let lack or you let slip along the way. In 2024, it was all about growth. And when I say not just growth, but maturing. And I applied that not only to myself, but to the business. For Dear Media in particular, and I know not everyone's under the hood here, but there was a ton of growth for the company.

10:22There was a ton of growth for individuals in the company. There was a lot of growth for myself as a leader. There was a lot of thinking about what I needed to do to mature the businesses, to mature the people around me professionally, obviously not personally. Even though I think when you mature professionally, you also kind of mature personally. And also ways to basically mature myself as a leader. And so a lot of the decisions I was making, a lot of the things I was showing up to, a lot of the places that I was going, books I was reading, all were in that theme. Quick break to talk about Jevity.

10:57Lauren Lauren and I recently released an episode with the founder of Jevity on this podcast, and it was a game changer. There is so much in there that was illuminating for Lauren and I as it relates to personal health and wellness. Here's the thing. Jevity tests 100 plus biomarkers, hormones, metabolic health, inflammation, micronutrients, biological age markers from your home. It uses functional ranges, not just clinical ones, to give you what you need in order to take care of yourself. They do this by sending an individual to your house to take a little bit of blood. Yes, you have to give a little bit of blood work, but here's the thing.

11:28This is the future of healthcare. We live in a time where we have all of this data right at our fingertips. We're no longer running around in the dark, wondering what supplements to take, what not to take, wondering what's going on in our body. Jebedee was started because their founder, Nate, lost his dad unexpectedly to late stage lung cancer. The tragedy wasn't just the loss. It was a realization that it could have been caught earlier with better screening and proactive monitoring. We just did a whole episode on this. Most serious conditions brew for years undetected. Annual physicals miss them.

11:58And this is how you stay ahead of it, by getting the real data, understanding your blood work, and understanding what's right for you. Once Jevity knows what's right for you, they also create a specialized, personalized supplementation routine. And it's not one size fits all. Everything is built from your actual biomarkers. Your care team interprets results, identifies what's suboptimal, and creates a protocol specifically for you, then retests every six months to track improvement. Lauren and I are jumping on the Jevity train. We want to know exactly what's going on with our bodies, and we definitely want to know what supplements are going to work the best in our bodies.

12:30So check them out. Go to gojevity.com slash skinny and use code skinny at checkout for 20 % off. That's G-O-G-E-V-I-T-I dot com slash skinny. And if there's someone in your life you want to keep around as long as possible, your parents, your partner, yourself, this is one of the most meaningful things you can do. You can literally give someone the gift of better health. Don't wait until something's wrong to start paying attention. Quick break to talk about Primal Kitchen. Primal Kitchen is on a mission to make real food exciting and delicious so you can feel good about every single bite that you take.

13:01Lauren and I first learned about Primal Kitchen from Mark Sisson, who's our friend who started the company, and we have not looked back. Ever since then, we have been huge Primal Kitchen fans. One of their standout stars is that Primal Kitchen makes this pure avocado oil, which is one thing that you can use for almost every single recipe. Whether you're grilling, sauteing, baking, air frying, or marinating, Primal Kitchen is a brand you can trust to deliver high-quality products, and their avocado oil is pure and quality tested so you can feel good about what you're cooking with. It is such a minefield out there these days in the grocery store wondering what condiments work, what don't, what ingredients are there, who's compromising, who's not.

13:37With Primal Kitchen, you never have to worry about it. And here's the thing, they're not just good for you, they taste delicious. Every single morning, I make my kids sandwiches for school. I use Primal Kitchen condiments and we cook with their avocado oil, like I said. It's pure and it's quality tested, never blended with other oils. It has a light, neutral flavor that lets your cooking really shine. And thanks to its high smoke point, this high heat oil can stand up to any kitchen task. It's versatile for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You never have to worry about what oil to use. And most importantly, it's healthy, like I said.

14:07There's no guesswork. You don't have to wonder if it's going to be good for you or not. It's all great ingredients, all natural ingredients. and you get the good fats from avocados. So check them out. It's easier than ever to find Primal Kitchen Pure Avocado Oil because it's now available at Walmart. You can find Primal Kitchen in Walmart stores or online at walmart.com and primalkitchen.com. So many times during the day, I just want a drink that feels real. Something bubbly and cultured that tastes great and actually heals my gut. That's why I've been drinking so much Synergy Kombucha. Both at the studio and at home, our fridge is always stocked with Synergy.

14:39Here's the thing. This is real Kombucha. No shortcuts. It's always raw and never pasteurized. Synergy is made with real organic ingredients that you can see and taste. And that's how you know they're working. You're getting scientifically backed benefits with every sip, like gut health, digestive support, immunity, and protein absorption. Synergy is the OG kombucha, and I've always loved their story, which goes back 30 years. Founder GT Dave first began brewing in his parents' kitchen in 1995 after his mother's breast cancer diagnosis. Inspired by her recovery and the healing powers of kombucha, he kept perfecting the recipe and eventually shared it with the world.

15:19That very same recipe is what you'll still find on shelves today, crafted with authenticity and trusted for its real benefits. Each bottle delivers 9 billion living probiotics across a diverse spectrum of beneficial bacteria you won't find in your average supplement. That diversity comes naturally from the way each batch is slowly fermented. These living cultures work hard to help your gut thrive. And when your gut microbiome is more diverse, the benefits multiply, all working to make your gut feel better. It's a daily reset for your body any time of day that you'll actually feel. And Synergy doesn't just improve your wellness.

15:58It also tastes great. There are over 20 bold flavors, so you'll definitely find one that you love. I've been into Synergy forever, and I usually gravitate towards the tropical flavors. but this fall I've been reaching for more flavors that celebrate the season. Honeycrisp apple, cranberry, blood orange. They really have a flavor for everyone. Each one is tangy, vibrant, and naturally bubbly. There's a party in every bottle. There's a reason kombucha is my go-to, and of course there's a reason it's always synergy. They were the first bottled kombucha paving the way for kombucha as we know it, and it's been the number one in the U.S.

16:35and worldwide for over 30 years. So sip it, love your gut and feel the power of kombucha when it's crafted the right way. The Synergy team can't wait for you to experience the gut health benefits of real kombucha. So they're treating you to a free bottle. Just slide into at Synergy Kombucha's DMs on Instagram and send them the code Synergy Skinny to claim your coupon. That's at Synergy Kombucha on Instagram. Drop the code and sip on your complimentary bottle while supplies last. Moving into the new year, what I've been telling the leadership team here at Dear Media and what I've told Lauren is that we want to pick a theme, which I'll share in a little bit.

17:18But to get really granular, some of you may remember in a couple episodes that I called this out a few times. And I said, in 2025, I'm going to be all in on business. And I'm going to be really aggressive about it. And I think this is an important thing to talk about because sometimes as an entrepreneur or as a career-oriented person or as a professional, you can get burnout on your job, your career, your business. And I think it happens a lot of the time when you don't get in the right mindset to take on the responsibility that's required to kind of accelerate to that next level or to push past that kind of wall that you're facing.

18:02So for me, this year, I basically went into the year saying this is going to be the most challenging year. It's going to be stressful. It's going to be tiring. We had another kid on the way. I was doing all the things to take care of myself. And I just kind of went into it saying no matter what happens this year, this is the year where I'm just going to bite down, grit my teeth and go through all the things that are required to accelerate the businesses in the way that I had hoped for in the beginning of the year. So high level, Dear Media, we had our best year ever. We grew phenomenally. We acquired a business.

18:44I did that without having a banker, which for people that are aware, it's a very stressful process. Personally, I ended up buying some properties. I did that without a broker and chat GPT. I had another kid. And my wife also went on maternity leave, which obviously she has the right to do. But I did it and really still never missed putting this show out there and working with the team and also my day-to-day responsibilities of Dear Media. And it was looking back one of the most tiring and exhausting years that I've ever had as an entrepreneur, but setting the theme for the year and telling myself that that was going to be the focus of the year enabled me to do it.

19:23So the lesson there is that you can mentally prime yourself to take on kind of any task that's coming your way in the upcoming year. If this is the year you want to take that leap and jump out of, you know, maybe the safe job and start your own thing, maybe it's that year. Maybe if this is the year that you want to grow in your job and your career and take on more, maybe that's like your focus is going to, you're going to everything that's going to point you in that direction. If this is the year, maybe you want to take that relationship to the next level and maybe buckle down and have a family.

19:57Maybe there's that. Or if you've been putting your health on the back burner and that could be mental or physical, maybe there's that. And I think drilling down and really deciding what the focus is going to be for the year is a really helpful exercise because it not only teaches you what to strive for from a goal perspective, but it tells you what to eliminate. So this year, as I was focused on business, unfortunately, a lot of my personal fun and personal relationships and travel and stuff that I would normally do in the year to unwind and let loose fell by the wayside. I was able to compartmentalize that and say, okay, that's okay because this year, this is the theme and this is what it's about.

20:42And I looked at it as almost like, I'm going to do things for one year that is going to enable me to do those other things for all the years to come. And maybe even at times the relationship might have suffered with me and Lauren. We're in a great place, thankfully. But I can point back and look and say, okay, there was probably times where I was too focused on the businesses and to focus professionally, but kind of sharing with her in the beginning of the year that, hey, this is my goal. This is my intention. This is the theme of my year. I could go back to her and say, remember when we talked about this and this is why, and by the way, it's not forever.

21:20And what's great about doing these things and having these immense focuses at the beginning of each year and staying true to them throughout the year is as you go into later years, next year is not going to be like this. For example, I now no longer have to be so focused on my health where I'm beating myself up every single day and worrying about what's going into my mouth at every single meal. I can maintain now because I got a base level of fitness and there's practices and things that I picked up and habits I picked up along the way that I can now lean into without the stress of worrying about it all the time.

21:57It's really about actually developing new habits, new tactics, new ways of life and from a lifestyle perspective so that you can carry these new positive habits and attributes into every year moving forward. So there's things that I can do now when I met with resistance from the year that I went through a lot of change. There's things that I do now on a regular basis for my health. There's muscles that I stretched this year as an executive in the business that I'll now be able to carry forward and use as I continue to work on the business and open new companies moving forward. There's things I learned and things I did.

22:32But what these years also taught me is I'm able to kind of get rid of things that don't service the focus of that year. So again, to recap some of this, I think it's important for individuals as they go into the year to not only have a list of goals and resolutions, which sometimes fall by the wayside and become challenging to accomplish, but to really pick the theme so that you have a filter of what you focus on and what you don't focus on. I've seen way too many times, and especially with entrepreneurs, getting in a situation where they start to lose their focus and they start to do well at one thing and accelerate, and then maybe they get bored or get excited or they want to do something else and then they jump to another thing.

23:21This happens all the time with entrepreneurs where they've got a great business, a great brand, a hero product or service. And they're like, well, what about these other X, Y, and Z things? This also happens with entrepreneurs that maybe they sell their business and they come into some money. And the thing that they made their money doing in the business that they were focused on building, now all of a sudden they're in eight different things. They're in clubs, they're in restaurants, they're in businesses they have no understanding of. Again, it's a lack of focus. This happens with people in relationships.

23:53You could be in a really great relationship and have a great partner and you start to take that person for granted and you start to look around and say what else is out there is the grass greener you lose focus on servicing and and focusing on the relationship that you have and those things fall apart this happens all the time unfortunately with children right you you have your child you think they're fine and you do it you know they're they've got it and and we lose focus and so So again, this theme of every year, picking the theme, whether it's, I want to be in a relationship with love, or I want to be focused on the business, or I want to be a health perspective or whatever, just picking the theme is going to create a situation where as you go and you create that New Year's resolution list, and as you go and you create that goal in those systems, you're going to be able to cross things off.

24:40I think the other thing that's challenging as you go into a new year is we start our year with 18 different goals on a piece of paper. And from my personal experience and as somebody who's goal-oriented, I've realized sometimes less goals but bigger goals with tactics towards moving – micro goals to move towards that one big goal tend to get me to that big goal a lot faster. Whenever I have a bunch of different things on a sheet of paper, like 18 different goals, maybe I hit some of them. Maybe I don't. Maybe I don't hit them as well as I could have. And it's because we as human beings aren't great at multitasking.