2009, I dreamed of becoming an Australian while I didn’t even know how to spell Australia.

People laughed at me when I shared my goal around. It’s not just about my English but financial capacity. I’m not born with a silver spoon.

So the first year—I failed my New Year’s Resolution.

Never mind.

2010, I joined a renowned advertising agency. Improving my financial situation, and on top of that, I started learning street English.

I approached every foreigner I could find in my country, pretended I got lost and asked for directions. I learned from the movie, music, or whatever I could afford.

At the end of the year, I saved enough money and visited Australia for the first time. Australia and my wife have something in common. It was love at first sight.

Some people still laughed at me and said a tourist visa was probably the closest chance for me to be in Sydney.

Two years have passed—I still failed on my goal.

Never mind.

“There are only two ways to avoid failure: 1.) Succeed. 2.) Call it work-in-progress”

2011, I went to Singapore, and it was my first time working abroad. It was an eye-opening experience and funded me to fly to Sydney more often. 

2012, I got my first job in Sydney, then Permanent Resident (visa), then Citizen. It took me almost ten years to make my dreams come true.

Every enormous win has a minimum threshold of defeat required. The last time I checked, no one laughed about my Aussie dream anymore but only asked how I did it.

Bill Gates once said, “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.”

I know why you fail the New Year’s Resolution. 

The number one reason you fail on your New Year’s Resolution is that you care enough to make it be your New Year’s Resolution.

I think it’s fantastic that you do not accept things as it is and strive for the better. 

I’ve learned there are only two ways to avoid failure throughout my design career. First, succeed it—or second, call it work-in-progress.

So now, if you’re about to give up (or already gave up) on your meaningful goal. Slap on your face and do it again, as long as it’s work-in-progress—you’ll never fail.

Make (and keep) your New Year’s Resolution.

Happy New Year 2022 🎉