2012 Goal Setting

It's almost the new year and it's time to set some goals!  Last year I did this and it helped me a good bit.  I didn't reach all my goals in 2011 but I'm okay with that.  One of the problems is that I didn't review my goals often enough, and didn't post them around my house.  I also didn't make them very specific in every realm.

This year I'm going to set intentional and balanced goals based on Zig Ziglar's wheel of life.

It is very important to think through this carefully and intentionally, and also to make sure that the goals in each of these areas are S.M.A.R.T. and also God focused.    

So, with that foundation laid, I am going to embark on my goal setting.  This may evolve over the next few weeks as I work out the details but hopefully this will be an initial road map for 2012.

As a preliminary note, I am fully trusting in the providence & sovereignty of God that He may have all, some, none, or things completely different in store for me in 2012.  Here are some scriptures that are helpful in goal setting:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” 

Luke 11:9-10 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  

It will be very important for me to commit all these goals to God regularly in prayer and discern throughout the year what He should have me focus my time on.  There are only 24 hours in a day.  When I stand before God upon my death I want to be sure that He says "We done, my good and faithful servant" and that I won't regret too much wasted time.

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CAREER
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Eaton Leadership Development Program

In 2012 I will be rotating into a new role in the customer management group, as a contract administrator.  I will be working with most of our business and regional jet customers.

Goals

I have to set goals for this role during my first month in the rotation in January, so I'll come back and update this once I get those set up with my manager.  

• Finish Reading "Entreleadership" by Dave Ramsey
• Earn a P4 or higher performance evaluation for the year (I'm the only one knows what this means)

ViSalus Independent Distributor

This is a new venture for me, but I'm excited.  I've never really been into sales or network marketing but ViSalus has a product that I like, and as a distributor you are merely promoting a challenge to others.  After two weeks I'm excited, seeing good results, and am confident that promoting the Body by Vi Challenge is both something I'd like to do and something I could see myself being successful in.  I'm reading Dave Ramsey's "EntreLeadership" book right now and aim to finish it shortly.  To be both a leader and an entrepreneur is a necessity in network marketing.  It is hard work - definitely not "get rich quick".  Many people are successful quickly - but it is because they worked very hard and had skills in marketing & sales and were influential.  When you believe in a product and are a living testimonial of how it works - then it is easier to promote that product.  It's funny, but also motivating, that the success of this venture is directly related to the success of my physical goals for weight loss and fitness.  If I complete the 90 day Body by Vi challenge successfully, then it naturally helps me promote the challenge to others.  The better I promote the more likely I am to make additional income as an Independent Distributor for ViSalus.  So, in theory, I could get PAID (indirectly) for losing weight and improving my health & fitness.  Sign me up!  

Goals

• Within first 30 days as a distributor earn 3 referrals and get my product for free.
• Within first 90 days (end of February) earn the rank of Regional Director
• Within first 180 days, complete (2) 90 day challenges improving my health & fitness and generate $500 per month in supplemental income to my family through promoting the challenge.  

Blogging 

Blogging is a fun hobby for me right now - but it takes a lot of time.  It still amazes me how some bloggers are able to actually pay their bills from blogging.  This is kind of a long shot for me right now, since I don't have the time to generate the content that I think is necessary for that kind of blog - but I'm not going to give up the thought.

Goals

• Earn enough revenue from ads to pay for the cost of the domain and any other services that I may use in 2012.  For example, I'm looking into services from AWeber to help with internet marketing services, email subscription management, newsletter generation, etc.  I'd like to cover the cost of something like this through income from the blog.  
• In order to challenge myself to increase "content output" I would like to have over 100 new posts in 2012.  In 2010 I had 58, so far in 2011 I've had 83 (including this one).  
• I met my goal this year of increasing traffic via page loads and would like to continue that goal.  In 2011 my average monthly page loads were about 735.  I'd like to increase that 25% to an average 915 page loads per month.  
• Stay true to the purpose of my blog and be sure to align my content with that purpose.
• Increase Wisebread Blog Ranking to the top 450
• Increase Money Crashers Blog Ranking to the top 450

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FINANCIAL

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• Get a good hold of our budget by the end of February (the end of our Financial Peace University course).  When I mean "good hold" I mean we are using envelopes appropriately, we have a predictable budget without surprises, and that I am using tools consistently to help (Mint.com, YNAB, BudgetSketch, etc.)
• Read "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey
• Read "Money, Possessions, and Eternity" by Randy Alcorn
• Build and maintain an emergency fund of $1500. 
• Pay $30,000 towards debt 
• Begin tracking interest paid vs. principle paid on debt so that I can get an accurate understanding of my "cost of debt"
• Pay off our last credit card within first 3 months of 2012 and cancel and CUT IT UP
• Meet goals on food budget 8 of 12 months in 2012.  (>65% of food budget/household items spent at grocery store and less than $700 spent per month on food/household items budget).  
• Earn extra income of at least $500 per month (from ViSalus Distributor goal above)

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SPIRITUAL

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• I'm using a Bible App (YOUVersion) on my new phone and am reading through the Bible plan called "Project 345 Plus".  It will take me through all of the new testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and select passages out of the OT in a year.  I'd like to finish that.  
• Read "The Holiness of God" by R.C. Sproul
• Read "John Owen on the Holy Spirit" by John Owen
• Read "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer
• Read."The Sovereignty of God" by Arthur W. Pink
• Exceed my wife's expectations when it comes to spiritual leadership for the family and our relationship.  Not sure what this should be yet - but my initial goal will be 4 intentional, thought out family worship times that we can look back and remember throughout the year.  I also would like to find a good book on this and study it.  
• Study & practice the spiritual discipline of fasting
• Memorize one full chapter of a new testament epistle. Not sure which one yet.  
• Serve during at least 2 work days at our new church property
• Revive my vigor for evangelism and organize or participate in at least 1 intentional evangelism and outreach trip with the church

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PHYSICAL

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• Complete at least one round of the 90 Day Body by VI Challenge, and then repeat it 2-3 times with new goals
• Drop from 202 pounds to about 180 pounds (as of writing this, on the Body by Vi challenge I've dropped to 193 pounds)
• Go from size 36 pants to size 32 pants
• Improve my cholesterol & BMI to healthy ranges.  At last health assessment they were both high.  
• Complete my first half marathon on 1/7/12.  Do it in under 2 hours 45 minutes.
• Complete a 5K in under 25 minutes 
• Complete a mile run in under 6 minutes 30 seconds.  [This is something we were required to do during baseball conditioning training in high school and I was among the few that never completed it].
• Be able to do 10 real pull ups

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INTELLECTUAL

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• Complete year 1 of my MBA program with a 3.5 GPA average or higher
• Read 1 New York Times Best Seller Book
• TBD

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FAMILY (& Marriage)

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• Plan and go on at least 4 romantic, out of the norm, dates with my wife
• Have at least 2 Daddy Daughter Dates with each Charlotte & Clara individually
• Plan special family worship times (related to spiritual goal above)
• Finish reading "Family Driven Faith" by Voddie Baucham
• Finish reading "The Pilgram's Progress" with Hilary
• Read "Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead their Homes" by Voddie Baucham
• Find a good Marriage conference, sign up and go

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SOCIAL

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• Challenge myself to break out of internet social media and actually call at least 4 old friends and chat with them on the phone.
• Call each of the groomsmen from my wedding (life has caused most of us to lose touch)
• Get back to Auburn for Homecoming in the Fall
• Get to know our neighbors two doors down on each side and across the street on a first name basis, and know their kids' names.  Try to have a summer cookout with neighbors.  
• Host a game night for young married's from our church
• Have at least 3 family's/couples over for dinner
• Go to my 10 year high school reunion!

So there you have it - my 2012 goals.  I will update and finalize these over the next few weeks and post to my "GOALS" page at the top of my blog.  I also will set up a calendar notice to review once per quarter, and will post in at least one place in my home so that I can see them on a regular basis.

Grace and Peace to you all as we close 2011 and look forward to 2012!
-Thomas