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The Lantern: A Weekly Guide to Navigating Time with Intention

What If March Was the Real Beginning? | The Lantern

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

The Lantern

by Mike Vardy

Vol. 1, Issue 1 | March 1, 2025

Hello Reader,

You’ve probably been here before...

The calendar year starts, and you make plans. You set goals. You even build routines that feel solid. But somehow, it still doesn’t feel like the year has fully started.

That’s because January is a test. February is a warm-up. March? That’s the real beginning.

Think about it—January forces you into action before you’ve even processed the past year. February is short, still a bit chaotic. But March? March is the first time in the year where you can truly step back and decide:

  • What am I actually committing to?
  • What’s working? What’s not?
  • What do I need to let go of?

If you’ve been feeling behind, let me be clear: you’re not behind—you’re right on time. This is your moment to decide—what do you want this year to really be about?

Look

You've likely heard this before but it bears repeating: Time is the one resource that no amount of money can buy. In this short but powerful clip from Charlie Rose, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates reflect on the true value of time and why how we define, prioritize, and execute our commitments makes all the difference.

Listen

We often treat mistakes as failures rather than essential steps toward growth. But what if our obsession with perfection is actually holding us back? This episode of Akimbo from Seth Godin challenges the way we think about errors, effort, and what it truly means to improve—not just in work, but in life.

Learn

This past week marked George Harrison’s birthday, a perfect time to revisit one of his most poignant songs, Beware of Darkness. More than just a track, it’s a lesson—a quiet warning against the distractions, illusions, and forces that pull us away from what truly matters. Check out the story behind the song here.​

The Final Flicker

Here's the thing about beginnings: They don’t have to be tied to a date on the calendar.

March, September, your birthday, a random Tuesday in June—the moment you decide to begin is the moment that matters.

So... what’s worth beginning right now?

See you later,
Mike

Thanks for reading.

Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

Productivityist Productivity Services Inc. | 1411 Haultain Street, Victoria, BC V8R 2J6
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The Lantern: A Weekly Guide to Navigating Time with Intention

by Mike Vardy

The Lantern is a thoughtfully curated weekly email from Mike Vardy designed to help you craft a better relationship with time. Each edition brings you insights, inspiration, and practical tools through a simple yet powerful framework: Look (a thought-provoking video or visual), Listen (a compelling podcast or audio insight), and Learn (a deep dive into a key concept, article, or book). Designed to inform, inspire, and illuminate, The Lantern helps you navigate time with clarity and intention—without the overwhelm.

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