Setting Goals (and it’s not even New Year’s!)

I love New Year’s Resolutions, and not because it’s preceded by Christmas and copious amounts of alcohol. I believe whole-heartedly in fresh starts, if the person is willing to commit to it. My personal commitment issues aside (I’m working on it) I love the idea that this time, right now, anything is possible. If we need evidence, we only need to look back upon the year past to see the great things others accomplished.

I’m a romantic, too. I love big plans and high aspirations. Screw people who say unrealistic ambitions sets you up for failure. The only way to do something is to conceive the thought first, and movers and shakers only know how to think one way: big.

So aiming high is important. But just as important is setting milestones, and turning big dreams into manageable steps.

I like to plan specific steps for a rolling six-month period and general milestones to achieve one- and two-years down the line. The former breaks things down into doable chucks, the latter keeps me thinking long term.

September

1. Get my Health Insurance completely set up.
2. Pay off most of my loan (about 70 percent.)
3. Finish the first draft of the book.
4. Finish my Fulbright application.

October

1. Leave for Argentina.
2. Edit first draft of the book.

November

1. Become conversationally fluent in Spanish (time frame: 7-8 weeks.)
2. Get the book copy edited.

December

1. Create website/blog to market boo.
2. Get finished copy of book to a publisher.
3. Explore my marketing and promotion options.
4. Trip to Canada.

January

1. Create a definite marketing plan.
2. Use process design to streamline the book’s supply chain.

February

1. Pay 100 percent of loan – be debt free.
2. Have emergency reserves to cover six months of living.
3. Receive copies of the book.
4. Execute marketing plan.

1 year (by September of 2009)

1. Sell 40,000 copies of the book.
2. Get accepted into the Fulbright program.
3. Get a tattoo.

2 year (by September of 2010)

1. Sell 100,000 copies of the book.
2. Accepted to English teaching program in Korea / plan backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.

Final note on my goal-setting process: there’s no point in setting goals any further than six months in advance. Life is too unpredictable, and when your itinerary is so rigid you can’t stray from the path, you may pass on other wonderful opportunities.