How to make a success of 2023

Are you a New Year resolutions person? Maybe you are, maybe you’re not. But either way, as we edge closer to the end of the year, most of us will be thinking about what we want to achieve in 2023 and how we’re going to make those things happen.

There is a lot of uncertainty out there, especially where financial markets, the economy and indeed our personal budgets are concerned, which makes it seem almost impossible to plan. But by focusing on what we know we can control (I’ve written a lot about this), there is still so much we can do to help the new year feel like a success, even if wider issues are still bubbling over.

You have the power to take control

With this in mind, I want to share a story with you about John Pierpoint Morgan, the founder of, yes, JP Morgan. Back in 1857, a man approached JP Morgan, held up an envelope and said, “Sir, in my hand, I hold a guaranteed formula for success, which I will gladly sell to you for $25,000.” That’s about $4million in today’s money.

“Sir,” JP Morgan replied, “I do not know what is in the envelope. However, if you show me and I like it, I give you my word as a gentleman that I will pay you what you ask.”

The man agreed to the terms and handed over the envelope. JP Morgan opened it and extracted a single sheet of paper. He gave it one look and handed the piece of paper back to the gent, pulled out his chequebook, and paid the man the agreed $25,000.

The paper read:

  1. Every morning write a list of the things that need to be done that day.
  2. Do them.

As we approach the start of the new year, why not write down what you want to do in 2023 and do them. You may have a long list of small wins or perhaps just a couple of larger ideas, it doesn’t matter. It’s about remembering that you have the power to make 2023 a success on some level. You are in control of that, no matter what else is going on.