For the past few years, I’ve themed my year around a single word or short phrase—one idea that most of my decisions roll up into.

Here’s what that’s looked like:

• 2022: Autonomy—start a side hustle, reduce dependence on my 9-5 job 
• 2023: Minimalism—cut commitments, limit noise, simplify inputs
• 2024: Go Professional—upgrade my writing systems, raise my standards
• 2025: Be Unapologetic—promote new projects when they can help others

I later learned—through Daniel Pink via a post shared by Andrew Huberman—that a single-word theme is what psychologists call a self-cue. It’s a short phrase your brain can retrieve instantly without spreadsheets, pro/con lists, or elaborate planning.

SUPERHUMAN SCORING

In every edition of System Sunday, I assess the featured system across three superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, and maintenance.

Unlike your typical review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.

Impact (9.0/10)

The biggest value of a simple theme? It doesn’t just inspire action—it filters it.

In a world of endless options and constant distraction, a theme reduces decision friction. It makes tradeoffs clearer. It helps you say no to things that are objectively good—but wrong for this year.

Instead of asking, “Is this a good opportunity?” You start asking, “Is this aligned?”

That shift matters because progress doesn’t usually stall from lack of motivation. It stalls from dilution—too many directions, too many priorities, too much cognitive noise.

A single, well-chosen theme creates coherence. And coherence is what allows effort to compound.

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Setup (9.0/10)

1. Choose one word or short phrase

It should feel slightly constraining. If it could apply to any year, it’s too vague.

2. Define what it means this year

Write 3–5 bullets answering: What are the daily or weekly actions that would support this theme?

Example (my 2023 theme: Go Professional):

• I time-blocked my calendar at the start of the week.
• One of those daily time blocks was deep work on my most important task
• I hired an assistant to help with work that drained my energy.

3. Create a decision razor

A decision razor is a simple question that makes choices easier, faster, and more consistent.

Whenever you become stuck on a decision, ask:

• “Does this support [your theme]?”
• “Would this make my year more [your theme] or less [your theme]?”

This is where a theme stops being inspirational—and becomes operational.

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Maintenance (8.0/10)

I’ve found it useful to add a simple weekly calendar check-in. The question is straightforward: Did my actions this week reinforce my theme—or quietly drift away from it?

Your theme matters most at decision points—especially when you’re choosing between something that’s good and something that’s right for this year.

Focus compounds. A single, well-honored theme will take you farther than five competing intentions ever could.

BRINGING IT HOME

The takeaway is simple:

Set the theme for the year you want to have. Build the systems that support it. Then let the theme quietly keep you on course.

You’ve got this.

All systems go,

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Today’s edition is sponsored by beehiiv. It’s fitting, because a question I often get asked is: “What’s the best platform to start a newsletter?” My answer is simple: beehiiv.

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