You always need goals or else how do you know where you’re trying to get to? And how will you get there? Here are some of my goals for 2009:
- Business/Career — Get my first true successful web start-up under my belt: InSeconds. All other ideas are out the window — this is “the one” and I’m going to make it happen. It’s currently under development and should launch in March. There’s a lot to get done by then while the developers are building it and then there’s going to be tons of work to do afterwards. If you are unfocused and flip-flopping between a few ideas (like I have done for years), stop — write out the ideas with answers to the big questions (competition; revenue; how to get users; is it a pain point for users; etc). Then pick one and go with it full-steam; don’t be distracted by multiple ideas.
- Health/Fitness — Since Sept ’08 I’ve been working out quite regularly at the gym. I just had my body fat % done — I’m 16.4%, which is average for my age. I’ll be 30 in July and then an ‘above average’ body fat % for my age is 14%, so that’s my goal. I need to get back into doing cardio. I also need to stop eating junk food after meals. I also could use a beer that has 0 calories, why hasn’t this happened yet world?!
- Buffalo – Network Buffalo’s tech talent. We’re a mess in this city, we don’t know who each other are. I want to see this change. I’m actively working to get a Buffalo BarCamp started. I hope Chris Smith will put BTEC together again this year and I have offered to help if needed.
- House – hopefully I’ll come out of the mess that this home-buying process has turned into, and walk away with this house. If not, I’m not going to actively look for another one — the process has taken so much of my life away from me, and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like once I actually own a house that’ll need some updating. I don’t want time-suckers in my life now.
- Events – I threw the Ice Ball last New Year’s Eve. There were kinks, but I’m doing it again this year. It’ll likely be an annual event. I was going to do a summer event as well, but decided against it — at least this year. Once again, this event sucked so many hours out of my life.
- Travel – I’ll likely go visit my Dad in Asheville NC, maybe in May or June. I’d like to start going to Europe annually, as I have 2 friends that live out there — I’m thinking July this year. I am still determined to get to a NASCAR race — I just want to experience the tailgating; I’m not even a real fan. I want to get to every Big Ten football stadium before I die — I’ve only been to Purdue; so I need to get to a Purdue game at another stadium this year.
- Financial – Enough money in the bank so that I can survive 6-months without work; money for a new “used” car if mine craps and/or repairs; and money saved for home repairs (if this house comes through).
- Blogging – try to get back into blogging again a few times per week.
- Give Back — Offer to speak to young kids about entrepreneurship at local Buffalo schools. Inspire kids and help get them exposed to their passion.
Future Goals:
- Business/Career — have enough money to just act as an Angel investor and advisor to web startups.
- Travel — SXSW in Austin every year til I die and Europe every year. These plans will likely be disrupted a few years once I have a family.
- Give Back — become somewhat of a philanthropist in areas of interest to me.