So another year has passed and again it went too fast. Walking across the kitchen, I spotted my list of 2011 goals taped to the backboard of my desk and pulled it down with a grin. It has been at least 6 months since I looked at the list and though I got off to a good start in the first two quarters of 2011, I was afraid to look back knowing my “resolve” had weakened in the waning months of the last year.
So here is my list and the results:
2011 Goals
7 Areas with 5 Traits – Specific, Measurable, Your Goals (Accountable), Time Limit, In Writing
Financial – Debt, Income and Worth
- Pay Off Car #1 by March 31st – double payments for 3 months +
- Pay Off Car #2 by December 31st – for 6 months Starting in April +
A surprisingly large tax return from education credits due to my wife returning to the nursing program took care of the first two on my list before March had even expired. What a relief to have no car payments! - Increase side income by $5,000 a year from websites, teaching and consulting. 0
Profit from my website is up about $2500 and I made another $1000 buying and selling used hockey skates. So I am about $1600 short of my goal but progress has been made in the right direction.
Intellectual Goals – read 1 nonfiction book a month starting with:
- QBQ – Question Behind the Question +
Good enough book…but a rehash of how I live my life. Very little new here. - Parenting Book – Scream Free Parenting /
Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World+
Scream Free Parenting was a revelation! The biggest change was not making my 11 year old clean his room. Unfortunately, he is ADHD and an electronics inventor so after about 3 months and a friendly mouse that committed suicide in our toilet after we finally made him clean his room we decided some screaming is necessary to keep things from getting out of control. One HUGE suggestion from the book that still works is asking “Will you…____?” instead of “Can you…___?” It’s strange but the kids do what I ask when I use the former but not when I ask the latter, no matter the question. - Read two relationship books. -
- Boundaries – Henry Cloud. -
I failed at the last two in this section. No excuses, no reasons. It will be the first thing I do in 2012.
Family – Start dating your spouse and kids again. Love is spelled TIME
- Plan a winter break / vacation – Water Park before February 28th. +
Indoor water park at the CanadInn in Grand Forks, ND. Thanks Grandma! We had a blast! - Have “Dad and kid” and “Mom and Dad” night one time per month with each kid and wife. 0
Not exactly steadfast on the whole once a month thing… but my wife and I had several great date nights both in and out of the house and the kids and I each spent some special time together as the moving, ice skating and ice cream. More of this to come in 2012. - Plan an week long Fall vacation with just our family for early August (not just going to the lake). +
We took a trip to Valley Fair with some friends and family in Shakopee, MN. I took several Dramamine and survived some mid level roller coasters. I think this will be an annual tradition. We also managed to save 50% of our budget for a tropical vacation.
Spiritual Goals – Time and Prayer
- Attend one small group meeting in 2011. Alpha meetings? -
- Continue attending services during the summer. +
While I didn’t make it to a small group meeting I did start teaching a 6th grade confirmation class and attended several summer church services outdoors at Hope Lutheran.
Physical Goals – Exercise and Nutrition
- Loose 1/2 pound per week by June 1st 2011. -
Nope. But I am down 7-8 pounds from joining a hockey league twice a week. - Stop drinking pop except one diet coke every Sunday. -
Ha Ha! Not even close. I did however stop buying cases of pop and switched two a couple of two liters of diet coke per week. Maybe this will be in the cards for 2012? - Cardio 2 days per week / weights 2 days per week. -
If you count hockey two days a week then I got half way there. I did however break out the weight set once we got rid of the old guest bed and the “exercise room” is set up and calling my name! - Sign up for Novice Hockey league in Fall 2011. 0
Because I offered to teach Wednesday confirmation I couldn’t sign up for this league, however I joined two other men’s hockey groups.
Career Goals – Professional Development, Applications, Contacts
- Hang real estate license by end of January. -
Nope. In fact I am one day away from letting that license expire. It’s like the skinny jeans in the closet. After 3-4 years you should just throw them out if you are not going to use them. - Review and revise DIYBizPlan.com – Software revisions. -
Minor revisions were made. Currently in talks with a value added investor to finally do something with the software. Something significant! - Launch www.TradeTurret.com – manage product end of the site partner to manage content. -
Looking back this is one of the biggest disappointments of 2011. Not only did my friend and business partner in this venture drop every ball thrown his way…a couple of months ago he informed me he was getting back into drugs. End of friendship. - Look at job openings once a week. Meet with a career consultant. -
No, after looking for, interviewing and getting offers for two or three jobs I declined I just decided to refocus my efforts at my current position.
Social Goals – Dinner Parties, Gatherings, etc.
- Invite Friends #1 out for Dinner/Drinks or over with kids. -
- Happy hour with Neighbors one night a month. -
- Weekend with Old Friends out of town twice this year. +
The social life has not been a priority.
Time to start working on the 2012 list…
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