Why January Feels Different This Time

by Henrik Bacilieri

Something about this January feels different.

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent the past six months watching every dollar.
Or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been documenting this journey—and that process of writing it all down has made everything feel real.

This is my first January where I’m not making empty promises.
I’m making a plan. And I’m sticking to it.

📌 Goals vs. Systems

A big mindset shift for me recently:
Goals are great—but systems keep you going.

For example:

  • Goal: Save $2,000 this year

  • System: Save $40 every week on autopilot

One is a target.
The other is the vehicle that gets you there.

So this year, I’m not focused on the finish line.
I’m focused on the routine.

✍️ What My System Looks Like This Month

Here’s my actual setup for January:

  • Pay myself first: $50 from every paycheck goes to savings

  • Track spending weekly using a spreadsheet I built in Google Sheets

  • Read 20 pages/day of my current book: The Richest Man in Babylon

  • No buying anything that isn’t planned for 48 hours in advance

  • Continue crypto learning—follow 3 newsletters, watch 1 documentary

It might sound strict. But honestly, it makes life simpler.
No guessing. Just execution.

This January, I don’t feel overwhelmed.
I feel anchored.

And I’m not just trying to “start the year right.”
I’m trying to live differently for good.

Let’s get to work.

Henrik Bacilieri

Popular posts from this blog

About Me – The Start of Something Different

Image
Hey there, My name is  Henrik Bacilieri , and this blog is a new chapter for me—a space where I’ll be documenting a journey I’ve only just begun. I was born on  November 9, 1990 , in a small town called  Sicily , Italy. Life growing up was simple, and like a lot of kids, I had big dreams. First, I wanted to become a  pilot . That was the dream that lit up my childhood. I’d stare up at the skies and imagine myself flying across the world. That didn’t pan out. Then came  soccer . I was convinced I’d make it as a professional player. I worked hard, pushed myself, believed in it… but that didn’t take off either. After a few dead ends and a lot of self-questioning, I found myself in the  United States , living with my uncle in  Ohio . That’s where things started to shift—slowly. I was introduced to  finance , and something just clicked. It wasn’t love at first sight, but the more I learned, the more intrigued I became. The idea of building wealth, unde...
Read more

How I Found Finance in Ohio

  by Henrik Bacilieri If someone had told me five years ago that I’d be sitting in Ohio writing about  finance , I probably would’ve laughed. To be honest, I didn’t even know what “finance” really meant back then. I grew up in  Sicily , Italy—small town, small circle, and even smaller conversations about money. We talked about work, family, and dreams... but no one really talked about  wealth , or how it was built. For a long time, I didn’t even know that was an option. Back home, I dreamed big. First, I wanted to be a  pilot . That one didn’t last long after life hit me with a dose of reality. Then I tried to chase  soccer —my passion, my escape, my everything at one point. But sometimes passion isn’t enough when you’re missing the right system, resources, or timing. By the time I landed in the  United States , I was kind of at zero. I moved in with my  uncle in Ohio , just trying to reset and figure out what came next. No master plan, no backup ...
Read more

Stepping Away for Now

by Henrik Bacilieri I’ve written dozens of posts on this blog—some excited, some uncertain, some proud, some reflective. But this one feels different. Heavier, maybe. More personal. I’m stepping away from the blog for the foreseeable future. This decision hasn’t come lightly, and I owe it to you—whether you’ve read every post or just a few minutes of one—to explain why. Life Behind the Curtain The last few months have brought a mix of incredible highs and unexpected challenges. On paper, things look amazing—my portfolio has grown well past $8 million under management, my real estate journey is maturing, crypto has been strong, and I’ve even found someone special I’m building with. But success doesn’t inoculate you from struggle. I’ve been going through some personal issues that have made it hard to write, to share, to even show up publicly the way I used to. These challenges are deeply personal—rooted in identity, privacy, pressure, and the weight of rapid growth. As a result...
Read more