GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALS! (Part 2)
I have been taught that goals must be S.M.A.R.T - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. I don't know who to give credit to on this, as I have heard it many times in school and work. However, I have always added one more 'S' at the end to make it SMARTS. That stands for Share. The more people you have following up with you, the more likely you will be successful. So, share your goals and you become more accountable to those you share them with. They become your goal keeper. Or in soccer, a goalie.
Now, this is not a sticky point to me. If you want to make a goal that you feel does not fit this SMARTS method, do it. Life is, generally, all about improvement. Use whatever vehicle makes you better.
With that said, here are SOME of my goals for the year. They are written in more specific terms elsewhere. This just gets it out. Tiffany will be my goal keeper. Time to go score a few for the team.
1 - Add on to the house.
Before Tiffany's medical concerns, we were finishing up drawings and had contacted an engineer to finalize the plans. I will likely wait a couple of months before I continue this process to make sure nothing flares up with Tiffany. But we need the room, and I have always been excited to draw up my own plans. That and the fact we like our home, location, an most importantly, the people around us, that we want to stay - so adding on is the thing to do.
2 - Brush up on my photography skills - including adding necessary photography equipment and software and become a master at using them.
I have always been interested in photography. I did weddings while in college, which was more of a way to pay for my hobby. I don't know how I did it; I had film equipment then. I can't imagine doing it again without the digital equipment we have today.
3 - Weight Management. Because it seems we all do it. Even those who don't need it (I am unfortunately not in that category) seem to work on this. I told a departing missionary that I would lose 70 pounds before he got back. He left in August. I lost 18 pounds after he left, only to gain some (probably most) back this holiday season.
4 - Find a way to pay forward all the good people have given to us over the last month. I have thought a lot about this one and know it will be difficult to determine when this is completed. Because it will never be finished. Oh well, some goals don't always fit the mold.
5 - Finish my goals.
Because, in the end, why would I make goals if I don't ever attain them?
I hope you all have had a chance to review some resolutions and goals for the next year. I expect you to help hold me accountable to the ones above (and others if you are privy to them all).
Cheers,
Nathan
Now, this is not a sticky point to me. If you want to make a goal that you feel does not fit this SMARTS method, do it. Life is, generally, all about improvement. Use whatever vehicle makes you better.
With that said, here are SOME of my goals for the year. They are written in more specific terms elsewhere. This just gets it out. Tiffany will be my goal keeper. Time to go score a few for the team.
1 - Add on to the house.
Before Tiffany's medical concerns, we were finishing up drawings and had contacted an engineer to finalize the plans. I will likely wait a couple of months before I continue this process to make sure nothing flares up with Tiffany. But we need the room, and I have always been excited to draw up my own plans. That and the fact we like our home, location, an most importantly, the people around us, that we want to stay - so adding on is the thing to do.
2 - Brush up on my photography skills - including adding necessary photography equipment and software and become a master at using them.
I have always been interested in photography. I did weddings while in college, which was more of a way to pay for my hobby. I don't know how I did it; I had film equipment then. I can't imagine doing it again without the digital equipment we have today.
3 - Weight Management. Because it seems we all do it. Even those who don't need it (I am unfortunately not in that category) seem to work on this. I told a departing missionary that I would lose 70 pounds before he got back. He left in August. I lost 18 pounds after he left, only to gain some (probably most) back this holiday season.
4 - Find a way to pay forward all the good people have given to us over the last month. I have thought a lot about this one and know it will be difficult to determine when this is completed. Because it will never be finished. Oh well, some goals don't always fit the mold.
5 - Finish my goals.
Because, in the end, why would I make goals if I don't ever attain them?
I hope you all have had a chance to review some resolutions and goals for the next year. I expect you to help hold me accountable to the ones above (and others if you are privy to them all).
Cheers,
Nathan
Yea for you! Keep us posted and we'll be watching.
ReplyDeleteBut mostly, I want to say what a wonderfully talented, caring, creative and sensitive writer you are. Fun and funny, yet emotionally aware at the same time. I love reading your thoughts and feelings. I can't begin to tell you how proud and even amazed I am at your ability to put your thoughts into writing. Don't stop, even as life get busier and better, and even if you choose not to continue to share with others, I do hope you will continue privately. As I was reading, I couldn't help but think of your topics as being good enough to be a column in a newspaper even. You've got a very rare and special talent! It's only one more reason (of so-o-o many!) that I'm so proud of you!!!!!!!
I vote do the photography one first, we need family pictures SO BAD!! We'll totally be test subjects (;
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