Q4 2024 - Foundations Matter
On the value of habits, systems, and routines
Wrapping up Q4, I’ve spent a lot of time refocusing on things I’d put aside. Without getting into specifics, I’ve recognized foundations are important. Progress will never be achieved as efficiently as it could be when its foundations aren’t in good order.
This quarter, I’ve spent a lot of time working on my firm, MapleMark Media, and completing work with governance at my university.
Much of my time on the former///// has focused on refining who we work with, and why. I am proud to do this with the help of one of my university’s incubators, ICUBE.
Fortunately, business has been going well — perhaps too well as we’ve had an incredible uptick in the number of clients we serve, and services we provide to each. With this has come some team expansions, new interns, and exciting collaborations on the horizon with other businesses. It’s given me a lot to look forward to in Q1, 2025.
In my final term (for now), I’ve been busy working on a number of projects, initiatives, and service assignments as a Governing Member of the University of Toronto. This work has ranged from providing input and recommendations for appointments to administrative positions within the university, to the day-to-day work of attending meetings and offering input on university matters to members of the administration.
Reflecting on the many cool things I’ve helped accomplish as a Governing Member —be it working to have my city implement a new bus line between my university and major local transit hubs, to successfully pushing for certain student fees to be axed; I’ve recognized this quarter how impactful small roles can be. You don’t need to govern a country, a large organization, or any substantial number of people in order to have an impact, and often, it’s the small, local roles and leaders who can complete some of the most immediately impactful work.
This experience has encouraged me more than ever to find similar opportunities to volunteer elsewhere and make that local difference. However large or small that may be. I’m excited to figure out what this will look like in 2025.
Aside from my business ventures and university governance, I’ve spent a healthy amount of time at the gym, spending quality time with friends, and trying to learn to relax more — things that, despite their importance, I often deem to be “less-productive” tasks. Despite this, these are things I hope to do more of, more sustainably and regularly, in 2025.
It is these “less-productive” things which I have, at times, forgotten the importance of, that are key parts of the foundations I refer to. When I stop doing these (among other) things, I lose sight of what life is for and the benefits of being well-rounded. When I neglect to complete these self-care habits and tasks, I stop performing at my best.
So, as much as I label these things as “less-productive,” life isn’t a game of maxing out productivity, and productivity cannot be optimized without the “less-productive” things. I shouldn’t consider these things to be “less productive.”
Throughout the new year, I hope to focus more time on my foundations, and ensure that when pressures build, I set certain non-negotiables — things that cannot and will not suffer or be neglected in the name of freeing up more time for other things. All of this, in recognition of the fact that a strong foundation is imperative for a strong performance.
As conventional advice states, if one does not have the time to do something the right way once, one will not have the time to do it over again correctly.
2024 has been an interesting year, and I have a lot of experiences to be thankful for, all of which have led to where I am today.
2025 looks promising, and I’m excited to see what comes of it.
Until next time, with lots of love,
Ehab James