Goals for 2009: Yours and Mine.
I don’t like the word "resolutions" as its taken on the tone of a promise you make to yourself then forget about. I prefer "goals" less sexy but something real, filled with stuffing, that I can hold onto and check progress as the year goes on.
For the past 3 years, I’ve come up with my annual list of goals via a trip to some coffee brewing establishment, a legal pad and a nice stretch of free time. The goals then hang on my bathroom wall, to be crossed out when completed. Sometimes I remember to monitor those yellow pages throughout the year. This year I didn’t. But if I write them down somewhere, I usually end up working towards them anyway.
2009 Goals:
1. Financial literacy. Beyond paying my bills, I have really no idea where the money I make goes. Which is fine if you’re 15 and working at Yogurt Village but not if you’re 35 and a founding partner in a small business. So I’m currently investigating a number of online financial monitoring programs (Mint.com is in the lead) which hopes of everything money related in my existence becoming visible and transparent–meals, coffees, crack fixes, all of it.
2. Health and weight loss. I lost 27 pounds this past year (No, I wasn’t always this handsome) and have another 18 to go to reach my goal. I’m planning on 2009 being the year that happens, which will more than likely require a few changes to my current exercise and diet plan. Ideas in the works include a weekly fast, drinking more water and driving less.
3. Writing. I am a writer. I’ve got 1 book and 15 years of publishing to prove it. And with something that gives me this much joy and fulfilment, I write surprisingly little. And irregularly at best.
I’m changing that. Starting Monday, I’m writing 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. No exceptions. The rest of my work will get done, I know that. But writing is as fundamental to me as exercise, meditation and the company of friends and family. I must treat it as such.
Tell me, what are your 2009 goals and what rituals do you use in coming up with them?
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For the past two years, I have worked off of a spreadsheet that essentially explains everything: when there are deadlines, if there are people I need to collect checks from (I have secured a 100% payment rate: making rent is one of those factors that assures payment from all dilatory parties), who I need to call, etcetera.
Aside from this, it is joyous anarchy. I do everything I need to do. I might very well be that 15-year-old working at Yogurt Village, if I didn’t spend most of my time working at home. But I don’t particularly care. What people need to realize is that if they know themselves, then there’s no problem. Whether you’re working at Yogurt Village or you’re some crazed freelance writer.
Here is what I will say about weight loss (I’ve apparently lost 30 pounds since moving to New York): walk whenever possible. And walk every day. Do not drive cars. In fact, it’s good that you drive cars maybe twice a year because then driving becomes a novelty that is quite fun and permits you to get in touch with the road.
Writing: 1,000 words a day is a good measure. If you can bang that out, Kevin, you’re doing okay. Doesn’t matter where it appears, but so long as it’s about 50-60% professional (giving you enough wiggle room for fun), you’re doing okay.
Of course, you’ll end up killing a lot of words and rewriting if it’s a novel. But what the hey? Rome wasn’t built in a day. All part of the learning process.
Financial literacy: Well, one can BE financially literate. But are you ontologically literate? That, in my experience, is infinitely more important. Anybody can be financially literate. And if that’s your thing, fantastic. But it is far more important to stay in touch with the ever-beating pulse of the regular world, to observe, to be there for others, to listen, to otherwise take in life. No amount of money can buy you that. And the commodity value? To use a crass credit card commercial example: PRICELESS.
For the past two years, I have worked off of a spreadsheet that essentially explains everything: when there are deadlines, if there are people I need to collect checks from (I have secured a 100% payment rate: making rent is one of those factors that assures payment from all dilatory parties), who I need to call, etcetera.
Aside from this, it is joyous anarchy. I do everything I need to do. I might very well be that 15-year-old working at Yogurt Village, if I didn’t spend most of my time working at home. But I don’t particularly care. What people need to realize is that if they know themselves, then there’s no problem. Whether you’re working at Yogurt Village or you’re some crazed freelance writer.
Here is what I will say about weight loss (I’ve apparently lost 30 pounds since moving to New York): walk whenever possible. And walk every day. Do not drive cars. In fact, it’s good that you drive cars maybe twice a year because then driving becomes a novelty that is quite fun and permits you to get in touch with the road.
Writing: 1,000 words a day is a good measure. If you can bang that out, Kevin, you’re doing okay. Doesn’t matter where it appears, but so long as it’s about 50-60% professional (giving you enough wiggle room for fun), you’re doing okay.
Of course, you’ll end up killing a lot of words and rewriting if it’s a novel. But what the hey? Rome wasn’t built in a day. All part of the learning process.
Financial literacy: Well, one can BE financially literate. But are you ontologically literate? That, in my experience, is infinitely more important. Anybody can be financially literate. And if that’s your thing, fantastic. But it is far more important to stay in touch with the ever-beating pulse of the regular world, to observe, to be there for others, to listen, to otherwise take in life. No amount of money can buy you that. And the commodity value? To use a crass credit card commercial example: PRICELESS.
We’ve been using Mint.com for awhile now and like it a lot – I need to use it to track even more though.
I like the rest of your goals – I’m *really* inspired now to write my own as well. Thanks for the nudge!
Hope you have a FABULOUS 2009!
We’ve been using Mint.com for awhile now and like it a lot – I need to use it to track even more though.
I like the rest of your goals – I’m *really* inspired now to write my own as well. Thanks for the nudge!
Hope you have a FABULOUS 2009!
Like you, I try to set goals that I know I can reach and measure along the way. I wrote about mine this year at http://www.cc-chapman.com/2009/01/01/starting-the-new-year/ but they boiled down to three things. Live healthier, continue to grow my business and create more and better content across multiple mediums.
I look forward to seeing what you write and seeing you in Austin in a few months.
Like you, I try to set goals that I know I can reach and measure along the way. I wrote about mine this year at http://www.cc-chapman.com/2009/01/01/starting-the-new-year/ but they boiled down to three things. Live healthier, continue to grow my business and create more and better content across multiple mediums.
I look forward to seeing what you write and seeing you in Austin in a few months.
Coming back from Japan and seeing you, you’ve really hit your stride, and it shows. I think the last two years have been very good to you and hopefully, the trend continues.
Personally, my goals are baby steps this year. Re build my life from the time abroad. Get into grad school. Continue this productive/creative streak I’ve found as of late.
And like you, resolutions is a daunting word in my book. I prefer ‘intention’.
Coming back from Japan and seeing you, you’ve really hit your stride, and it shows. I think the last two years have been very good to you and hopefully, the trend continues.
Personally, my goals are baby steps this year. Re build my life from the time abroad. Get into grad school. Continue this productive/creative streak I’ve found as of late.
And like you, resolutions is a daunting word in my book. I prefer ‘intention’.
These are awesome,ya’ll. Thanks!
These are awesome,ya’ll. Thanks!