I believe it is important to have goals. No, I do not believe that January 1st is some sort of magical date in which everything miraculously falls into place, but we all have to start somewhere. A new year is as good a place to start as any!
There's a lot I want to accomplish in 2015. There are exciting things that are going to happen that have nothing to do with any of my goals (my sister having a baby, getting to be a groomsman at one of my better friends' wedding, etc.). That said, I have a lot I want to get done. 2014 left me feeling incomplete in many areas. I do NOT want to end 2015 with that same feeling.
At the beginning of each year, I lay out my goals for the year. This year, I've done something different. Not only have I identified these goals, but I also identified the steps I can take to make them happen as well as certain factors that are beyond my realm of control. I need to focus on the variables I can manipulate and not worry about the rest.
There are goals I have for 2015 that I am not listing here. I fell into some bad habits in 2014. I shared too much. That's not going to happen anymore. Here are just some of the goals that I wish to accomplish in 2015.
1. Finish grad school with a 4.0 GPA
What I can do to make that happen
-Get a passing grade on the last final
2. Write a book
What I can do to make that happen
-Come up with an idea
-Break it off in manageable chunks
-Keep writing
-Use the writing effort that I was using for blogs on this
Factors beyond my control
-Writer’s block
-Time
3. Be more sparing with my words
What I can do to make that happen
-Limit myself to 20-25 blog posts a year. I’ve said enough.
-Severely cut down my time on social media. Cut out all Facebook/Twitter rants.
-Devote that time to more important areas.
4. Get in the best physical condition of my life
What I can do to make that happen
-Two workouts, five days a week: AM lifting, PM cardio
-Work out at home too. Supplement with dumbbells.
-6 days of abs work
5. Learn to play guitar
What I can do to make that happen
-Buy a guitar
-Teach myself
-Practice often
6. Get out of AAA and into a public school
What I can do to make that happen
-Be diligent and vigilant
-Proactively seek out and apply for all jobs from the beginning of the year on
-Study up on Common Core for interview questions
Factors beyond my control
-Can’t make someone hire me
-Nepotism/lack of connections in some school districts
7. Get more ink
What I can do to make that happen
-Set aside money and time
-Choose a tattoo
-Make an appointment
These are some of the many things I have planned for 2015. I'm ready to make things happen.
