Hey Reader, we're almost halfway through 2025 (crazy!) and I've been reflecting on the goals that I set at the beginning of the year, specifically for my YouTube channel.

Because, spoiler alert, I felt like the year so far has been kind of a failure. But that's only because I was just measuring the total output of videos and not looking deeper into the metrics and results.

In this newsletter, I'm going to give you the breakdown of my YouTube numbers and questions that you can ask yourself to get a more in-depth understanding of your progress in the goals you set in your own life.

The WRAP is sponsored by:

This week's edition of the WRAP is sponsored by Brain.fm. I really enjoy using Brain.fm during my writing and planning sessions to stay focused and in the zone. It even created a custom playlist for me based on my preferences and goals. Readers get a free 30 day trial at this link, or learn more at the end of this email.

💡 One Big Idea: The Hidden Story Behind Your Numbers

It's easy to get discouraged when looking at surface-level metrics. I found myself doing exactly that while looking at my YouTube goals for 2025.

On paper, the numbers didn't look great: I wanted 15-20 videos published by now but only have 9. At first glance, it seemed like I was falling short.

But here's where it gets interesting: when I looked deeper, I noticed an encouraging trend.

While I'm creating roughly the same number of videos as last year, the impact of each video has grown significantly:

• 6,000 new subscribers this year vs 1,200 all of 2024
• Video views are already at 500K this year vs to 700K for all of 2024
• Impressions have nearly matched all of last year in just 5 months
• Overall income is significantly higher and getting more brand deals

The lesson? Surface-level metrics don't always tell the full story of your progress. Sometimes you have to dig deeper.

What This Means For You

This realization got me thinking about how we all measure progress in our work and lives. Here are three things I want you to think about as you do a mid-year check in of your goals…

1. Quality vs Quantity: Sometimes doing less but better is more impactful than doing more at a lower quality “just to do it”.
2. Look for Secondary Metrics: The most obvious numbers might not be the most important ones, so you need to go deeper.
3. Progress Isn't Linear: Growth often happens in unexpected ways, and one good “black swan” event can be the turning point in your life.

Taking Action: Your Quarterly Check-in

Here's a simple framework for evaluating your own progress:

1. Review your initial goals
2. Look beyond the surface numbers
3. Ask yourself:
   What's working better than before?
   Where am I seeing unexpected wins?
   What systems could I improve?

The key is making these check-ins regular (I recommend quarterly) and being willing to adjust your definition of progress based on what you discover.

Remember the WRAP Framework is not just for weekly reviews, it can be used for any span of time.

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Making Progress Easier

One lesson I've learned is that progress often comes from making the right things easier to do. For example, I've set up my home office so my camera and microphone are always ready to go - making it easier to record videos when inspiration strikes.

What areas of your work could benefit from similar system improvements? Sometimes the best way to make progress isn't working harder, but making it easier to do good work.

I talked about this a lot more in my recent YouTube video, watch it here!

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WRAP’N IT UP!

Remember: progress rarely looks exactly like we imagined when setting our goals. The key is staying flexible enough to recognize unexpected wins and take advantage of opportunities while keeping our long-term vision in focus.

If that resonates with you, I think you’ll like my productivity course, Analog Action. I’m re-releasing it in a few weeks with new videos, lessons, and worksheets. If you want to know when it’s ready and get a discount, click here (you’ll automatically be added to the waitlist).

Have a great weekend,

Matt Ragland

p.s. if you have a (literal) minute to share feedback, click here.