December 16, 2004 | View Comments (32) | Category: Our Thoughts
Summary: Time to set my goals for 2005.
Before I mention what my goals for 2005 are let's look back at what my goals for 2004 were and see if I accomplished any of them. To recap, here is the list:
Writing hasn't improved and in my opinion has gotten progressively worse (bleh). Design really fell by the wayside because I began to put less emphasis on it and more on the content of the sites I was putting out. However, I think I made a design that allowed people to come back (note that is different than wanting to come back). Improving IA and Usability is uncertain since none of my sites were complicated enough to present any IA or Usability issues.
So in the end it looks like the only thing I achieved is making a name for myself, which isn't that bad of a goal to achieve. Time for 2005.
I don't know if there is anything to really comment on since this entry was made just to use as a reminder for myself, but if there are goals you would like to set for yourself let me know since I may be missing some on my list.
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I don't think it's necessarily that I need to write more, but I need to take more time reading what I write and not just pushing the "publish" button instantly. And trust me, I have enough people critiquing my writing...
Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
Two more for the hopper:
Mike D. (http://www.mikeindustries.com)
Just curious, what was your income bracket for 2004? 80 - 100 is quite lofty, isn't it, unless, however, you were making 60 grand this past year, in which case, I envy you.
Bryan (http://www.juicedthoughts.com)
Well I don't like to say my earnings too often, but since you asked I can say that in the past 6 months I have made over $30k.
Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
I actually have several businesses drafted to open over the next year. So that's my goal. Set up shop and do well.
By the way, Scrivs, I think writing more sparsely here helps you. Now whenever I see a new entry on Whitespace, I'm all the more excited to read it.
Chris Vincent (http://passivedigressive.com)
Best of luck to you next year.
In reading your post, seeing that you admittedly didn't achieve quite what you set out to last year, and your goals for the coming year are simiarly as vague, I'd like to offer a suggestion -
Discaimer: In writing this, I'm not necessarily assuming you're not aware of how to set goals - perhaps your being purposely vague, and that's cool. If that's the case, then perhaps some of your readers might find it helpful.
Take the goals you have set for yourself, and pupose them into a S.M.A.R.T. format
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T - Time Framed
For instance, it's cool to say you want to make a cool million this year, but if you
- have no specific plan on how to do it
- you can't measure your progress towards it
- it's not really achievable nor realistic at the moment (we're going beyond the power of positive thinking here) and
- there's no time-line to keep you accountable
then it's highly likely the best laid plans you've made are going to go nowhere.
We can all (yes, even Paul ;)) can achieve great things, but if you're going to make it happen, it's got to be more than wishful thinking.
Mark (http://www.lightpierce.com/ltshdw)
Mark you are correct in that more specific goals are needed to make sure you can actually measure what you wish to achieve. Those goals are sitting right next to me on the whiteboard, but for the purpose of this discussion those goals will go unwritten since they contain some secrets :-)
Excellent info for everyone though.
Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
— finish writing the book I started writing (for once)
— move into the 30 - 40K tax bracket (I have few bills to pay, and less if I can actually make 5K of disposable income)
— remake my site and merge the two parts in time for the may redesign
— build my portfolio and get it online and integrated into my site
— find money for a Canon 20D
— get cracking on my yet-to-be-unveiled project (don't worry it doesn't make money/unless people are willing to pay for it)
Joe Clay (http://www.gra-phix.com/)
A SMART goal is essentially like writing a requirement. There's the overall business requirement, then the functional req's that define the aspects of the business req's, then the technical req's; what will it take to accomplish.
But all the writing in the world will not make it happen, there's that whole follow through thing to think of too. :)
My biggest personal goal for 2005 is to go back to school and start on my masters degree.
Matthew Oliphant (http://businesslogs.com)
I plan to:
-Lose 100 pounds (gambling in British casinos)
-Become addicted to World of Warcraft
-Break my addiction to World of Warcraft
-Make additional futile attempts to cure my DSPS
-Increase my total income by at least 20%
JC (http://forevergeek.com)
Have you seen this new site? What do you want to do with your life? http://twinkler.43things.com/twinkler/
chase
Thanks for the inspiration, I just wrote my goals for 2005. Good luck with yours....
http://www.andyproject.com/2004/12/goals-for-2005.htm
Andy Palmer (http://www.andyproject.com)
omg. your aiming for a middle income bracket salery!
wow. good on you.
but, withcout being critical, wtf were you earning before.
80-100 $ (40-50k) doesnt seem much to strive for, especially here (uk).
I would have thought you were on 30k-plus, (60-70k usd) already, and if so, thats not much of an aim really, unless you leave the design/tech side, for the managerial positions being offered. and we all know about those . . .
Pablo M
$80k isn't a lot to you???!!! Hell a single male in Tampa will live like a King on that salary. I will aim for more, but I mean...shit man.
Scrivs (http://9rules.com/)
A single man damn near anywhere in the US would live like a king on $80k a year. I know I'd take it and if it still wasn't enough I'd just get a part-time job or somethin.
rhoward (http://www.roderickhoward.com)
Good luck with the goals, and yes, $80k is a lot. That guy has got to be joking. :)
Josue Salazar (http://www.josuesalazar.com)
Average U.S. salary was $36,764 in 2002 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
david gouch (http://www.freepgs.com/individed/)
Just to give a bit of perspective, in South Africa, the average "middle class", educated 20-something earns about US$10k/annum. To give the perspective even more angle, if you take the entire population into account, the average South African earns about US$1500 (yes, per annum).
Unequal? I personally know many people here who earn in excess of US$150k...
So, no complaining!
Martin (http://www.d2.co.za)
I believe Pablo M isn't joking... life in the UK is expensive, you don't go far with 80k a year...
Personally I make around 30K with benefits... but I don't live in the UK...
Life in Belgium is a lot cheaper, but still we all have mortgages to pay...
ThePoFo
You drafted a kicker? Man-o-man, and I took draft advice from you.
2005 - Be excellent.
Mike P. (http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com/)
All very good goals - and very attainable. My performance coach suggests that I set weekly and monthly goals so I can have the feeling of 'checking off' on various tasks.
Perhaps you could break down your main goals into monthly components, so you can actually hold to that throughout the year?
I fully realize this is a pretty formidable task, and may only work if you feel the sense of accomplishment by crossing something off of your list.
Paul Larson (http://www.creativearc.com/blog)
Also thought I would ask - are you setting revenue goals in addition to income goals?
Paul Larson (http://www.creativearc.com/blog)
Do you have a savings goal to go along with your increased income goal? Having a slush fund makes life a little easier.
Carol (http://www.csott.com)
How expensive could stuff be in the UK? The average income is $10,000 less than in the United States. That's a lot of people that must be scraping by if you can't go far on 80K.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html
Kyle
Mr. Kyle (comment #25), I don't think that URL you reference is relevant. That page shows gross domestic product per inhabitant, not the average income. That's two very different numbers.
Tommy
You are right, but only in the sense that GDP slightly overestimates annual income. But considering that does not change my original point, that most citizens of the UK make far less than 80K.
http://economics.about.com/library/weekly/aa043004a.htm
Kyle
Are you OK Scrivs? You haven't posted in a while. I could drive over to check on you :)
Seriously, 80K for one person in Tampa? To reference an adequate example (and because I saw Eurotrip finally)....remember when they went to Bratishlaka(sp?) and they had like $1.27 and they pretty much owned the country? Yeah, it would be like that. I live (at home) very comfortably on slightly less than 10 grand (I work part-time at Target and I get paid to go to school, gimme a break). I have to pay for my car payment ($145.58 a month) and insurance (usually I pay my parents $600 of the $1300 USF pays me each semester). I also drive 40+ miles round trip to USF four days a week and have to pay that gas, along with my numerous trips even further to South Tampa (at least $1100 yearly). On top of all of that, I go out to dinner somewhat frequently and I buy DVDs weekly (my collection has past 100 DVDs easily). Imagine if I had 80 grand! Even with taxes I'd already have my name on a list for a new Saleen for sure.
Joe Clay (http://www.gra-phix.com/)
Potential collaboration project:
Pay Jimmy money because he's a poor college student.
This will provide better motivation to move up to the 80K-100K bracket.
Jimmy (http://www.scallion.sp00fed.net)
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#1
Write more! Practice makes perfect. Or maybe have someone critique your writing like you critiqued Dunstan's site. ^_^
Zelnox