2009 Goals
By Steve Poland • January 20, 2009
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.
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3 Responses to “2009 Goals”
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Really interested in seeing what InSeconds will be about. Good luck with it
Great goal/advice: “don’t be distracted by multiple ideas.” i have had that problem for many years, and now, i think my eldest son may have inherited it.
Great Goals Steve!
I do like reading your posts so blogging more is a great goal
Also congrats on working on getting a house!
Also I signed up for more information from InSeconds.