I love the concept of bingo boards for a year, and I’ve known many of my friends to do this as a way to track aspirational goals for a year. I think it’s a great way to will some things into the world. While it’s not my primary approach to goal setting in 2026, I do think it’d be cool to have on the backburner, so I asked Gemini to dream up a board for me!
I have had many conversations with Gemini over the last year or two, so it has some concepts of who I am, my interests, and what my goals are. Based on a conversation, here’s what it came up with:
Honestly, it’s not bad! I think some things I’ll definitely skip on (League is no longer a priority), but most of them are pretty solid and aligned with values. Here’s a very structured prompt you can use to do the same thing, if you’re interested:
Here are the rules for the Bingo items:
- Aspirational, not Logistical: Do not include things that will happen automatically (e.g., 'Turn 30' or 'Go on the trip I already booked'). Instead, focus on achievements within those events (e.g., 'Have a breakthrough conversation on the trip').
- Emotional Intelligence: Include items that you hope for me based on my personality. If I'm a workaholic, add a goal about resting. If I'm shy, add a goal about connection.
- The Mix: Include a balance of:
Please output the list of 25 items first, then arrange them into a 5x5 grid."
My Bingo items
These were outlined and justified, and I enjoyed reading the justifications. Maybe you will too:
Physical Mastery
- Bench Press 225 lbs: Finally hitting the "two plate" milestone (Q1 Target).
- Hold a Handstand (5s+): Mastering body control and conquering gravity.
- Tap a Higher Belt (BJJ): Focusing on technique over strength to beat a superior opponent.
- Ski a Double Black Diamond: Overcoming fear on the slopes in Denver.
- 13% Body Fat (Traveling): Maintaining discipline and physique despite living out of a suitcase.
Career & Projects
- Ship "Vocal Cove": Moving from "project" to "product" by getting your first real user.
- Land a "Stretch" Role: Securing a Senior PM / PM2 role that feels slightly out of reach.
- Lead a Technical Strategy: Driving high-impact work (like ONNX/Foundry) rather than just managing it.
- Design & Print a Custom Part: Using the Ender 3 to engineer a solution to a road-trip problem.
- Mentor Someone Junior: Solidifying your own knowledge by teaching it to someone else.
Relationships & Connection
- Create a "Core Memory" with Saachi: Moving the sibling relationship from "friendly" to "deeply connected."
- The "Deep Talk" with Jay: having a vulnerable, defining conversation about adulthood.
- Host a Dinner Party for Strangers: Using your social skills to build community from scratch in a new city.
- Recruit a New "Lifer" Friend: Finding a connection on the road as strong as Ishu or Jay.
- Mentor/Teaching Moment: (Covered in Career, effectively replaced by "Mentor Someone Junior" above). Correction: I'll swap this for the missing item from the grid: Do a "Scary" Solo Activity: Going to a nice dinner or event entirely alone to master independence.
Self-Experimentation & Lifestyle
- Zero Processed Food Month: The ultimate test of dietary control while traveling.
- Meditate Through a Crisis: Using mindfulness as a tool when things go wrong, rather than just as a habit when things are calm.
- One Month of Perfect Sleep: Prioritizing recovery metrics over late nights.
- Cook the Perfect Lemon Dessert: Mastering a specific dish from scratch using whole ingredients.
- Fix Something Broken: Using your engineering resourcefulness to repair gear/tech on the fly.
Experiences & Joy
- Rave in a New Country: Experiencing music culture outside your usual bubble.
- Hit Gold/Plat in League: (Or beating a backlog game)—dedicating time to guilt-free gaming mastery.
- Write a "Manifesto": Documenting the philosophy and learnings from your 5-month trip.
- Plan the Next Great Adventure: Deciding where you go next before the year ends.
- FREE SPACE: Unoptimized Joy: A moment where you turn off the tracking/optimizing brain and just exist.