Why I Won’t Be Reading 100 Books or Meeting 100 People This Year

Rethinking the rush to set ambitious goals and embracing slower, more meaningful connections.

Why would you set a goal to read 100 books?
Or meet 100 new people?

What gives?

Outputs over outcomes?
Don't we preach otherwise?

I realized I don’t read many books or meet people at a frantic speed.
It would get me overwhelmed.

Plus, I get easily bored with a book that doesn’t inspire my curiosity. Same with people...

I cherish the few books I read per year.

I read them slowly, stopping to ponder. I reread parts of them, highlight parts, make notes, and send quotes to my friends. Sometimes I share interesting bits on social media.

I think about what I've read and only then continue reading on.
There is no way I could read 100 books per year at this pace.

And what for?
To boast about the number on social media? I really don’t see any value in it.
Can you even remember anything you read?

I can't. Perhaps I have a terribly bad memory. I suspect I do. Perhaps it’s also the hormones et all. Perimenopause creates brain fog. The last thing I needed.

But I really don’t see the point.
Unless it's a crime story and you can't wait to discover who murdered them all.

I recently spoke with someone who wants to meet 100 people in 2025.
At first, I thought, oh, I think it’s a great idea to put yourself out there, go to happy hours, and call people on LinkedIn.

But I can’t see how that could work for me. What do I talk about? There are people who have the ability to ask an infinite amount of questions on any topic. I don’t. I value privacy and boundaries and don’t want to overstep. Perhaps because I don’t like when this happens to me. Awkwardness 1000!

However, I would love to meet new people. People who could expand my horizons. Come from different places, cultures, who don't work in damn tech!
Create new valuable connections.

I started going to a co-working as a step towards that goal. Meet new people with different jobs and occupations.

Still, I don’t just go and talk to anyone. I see a book I wanted to read and ask about it. I see something interesting about them and pay a compliment. I need a reason to start a conversation. This reason helps me make it meaningful. I don’t want yet another Tinder-like exchange of Q&As of where I’m from and what I do. Kill me now!

It might be a little late for New Year's resolutions, but to me, January feels as endless as the stream of questions some people throw my way. So, I use it to reflect on it all.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Any measurable goals to achieve?