I recently had a recap of my goals from 2011; overall I did decent, but not as well as I would have liked.
I am constantly wondering how I can do better and how I can improve. I’ve learned that when setting goals, it’s better to aim high, fail slightly but still end up higher than you expected, rather than aim lower and hit your target 100%.
Here are my ongoing personal goals for 2012:
1. Write a book.
As I have plunged deeper into the blogging world, I have found myself gaining a greater appreciation and enjoyment of writing. Sometimes the more you do something, the more you enjoy it, or something like that. 😉
I would like to write my first book this year and have it published. I am not talking about one of those free e-books; no, I am going for the real deal. I cannot reveal too many details just yet, but this will be one of my goals for this year. I’d love to hear from any of you that have already done it!
Goal: Get it done!
2. Triple overall blogging traffic.
I want to triple my overall blogging traffic from where it is now. I have had some good growth with Invest It Wisely over the year, and I would like to continue that this year. I am going to focus and learn on how I can improve, and also build up traffic on Financial God and Learn OpenGL ES.
Goal: Hit 350,000 unique visitors across all the sites this year.
3. Hit 100 pushups without falling on my stomach.
I made some progress in exercise last year, but not as much as I would have liked. Time to get more serious.
Goal: 100 pushups without failing.
4. Wake up at 5:30 consistently during the week.
Waking up early was the toughest goal of mine last year, and I failed miserably. Nonetheless I am going to be even more ambitious and aim for 5:30. I have been waking up regularly at 6:00 to 6:30 lately (except for the holiday week!) so I am getting there.
Goal: Wake up by 5:30am every day of the week except the weekends. Wake up by 8:30am on those days.
5. Learn a winter sport.
I am a bit ashamed that as a Canadian, I completely fail when it comes to winter sports. I have just paid a good chunk of money to rent ski equipment for the season and to book six all-day sessions, including two hour lessons each time. I am really hoping that I will be decent when I finish up, as my first experience skiing is better known as “1001 different ways to tumble down a mountain.”
Goal: Tackle a beginner or intermediate slope without falling down all the time.
6. Develop my self-confidence.
Once upon a time, I was a turtle in a shell. I am better these days, but I still get too nervous for nothing. This is hard to measure, but the way to grow here is to continue to challenge myself and push my boundaries.
Goal: Go to at least one big event and several smaller events this year and network with strangers.
7. Earn as much working for myself as I did working in an office.
The last goal to achieve, but probably the most stressful of all. I believe in financial independence and the diversification of income in order to grow net worth. The onus is now on me to deliver!
Goal: Earn 100% of my current net income, after taxes, from side income.
8. Reconnect with old friend and colleagues
There are old colleagues and friends from earlier years that I haven’t seen or spoken to too much lately. It’s good to keep in touch just to see what everyone’s been up to and share stories.
Goal: Reconnect with at least five people that I haven’t spoken to in too long.
Dear reader, what are your goals for 2012? Please share; I’d love to hear all about them. 🙂
Nice list of goals Kevin, I’d lit to hit a few of those myself. Not a chance on the winter sports though, we are pretty hard up for snow in Australia! Good luck mate.
@MoneyCactus Haha true, but you guys must have a lot of great scuba diving! Plus awesome weather for doing treks out into the wilderness, though I hear it gets very hot in the interior.
@MoneyCactus Haha true, but you guys must have a lot of great scuba diving! Plus awesome weather for doing treks out into the wilderness, though I hear it gets very hot in the interior.
I really like those goals Kevin, because they focus on the personal too. It is hard to change some of those traits we are just born with. Self confidence can definitely be a tough one, I think one event you should focus on is the FINCON12 Conference! 🙂
I so wish I could bring myself to get up at 5:30. I used to wake up at 4:30 everyday so I could work 12 hour days. Now, I struggle with 6:30. I think if I worked in an office it would be different, but getting up so early and staying in the house is not as motivating for me.
Great writing goals- you are going to need to get up at 5:30 to write a book and everything else. Very inspiring!
@Kris at Everyday Tips Wow, 4:30 is incredible. I think that would be too early for me. 5:30 is really aiming early but if I make it for 6ish every day, I think that would be OK.
Hope that the schedule can work out for FINCON12 this year! 🙂
@Kris at Everyday Tips Wow, 4:30 is incredible. I think that would be too early for me. 5:30 is really aiming early but if I make it for 6ish every day, I think that would be OK.
Hope that the schedule can work out for FINCON12 this year! 🙂
Great goals Kevin. They are all difficult, but not out of reach. As for skiing, you need to go every week for about 3-4 weeks. I think it’s a lot easier that way. Many beginners go 2-3 times/season and they learn very slowly. I made that mistake with snowboarding when I started.
@retirebyforty Thanks, Joe! That same advice is what others have told me as well. Hopefully after the end of the season I will not suck too badly!
@retirebyforty Thanks, Joe! That same advice is what others have told me as well. Hopefully after the end of the season I will not suck too badly!
Good personal goals, Kevin. That’s quite a load to accomplish in one year. Re-connecting with old friends is perhaps one of the hardest, as it tends to get pushed to the rear the most.
@101centavos So true, Andrew. This is what I have always been so bad at, and I will try to do better this year.
Great list of goals. Having a plan on how to achieve each one definitely helps increase the success rate 🙂 I know you can do it… Best wishes!
@World of Finance Thanks, I appreciate it! 🙂
It will be impressive if I make it! 😉
It will be impressive if I make it! 😉
It’s one of the hardest ones to achieve, I have to admit! Thanks for the great comments! 🙂