I am a big believer in the SMART system for goals: any time you make a goal, it should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. The counterpart to that is another “A” that’s missing: accountable. Both academic research and practical experience show that accountability helps make it easier to achieve those goals. I’ve seen this principle in action throughout my professional and personal life so I wanted to set out some of my 2014 goals here as a means of making myself accountable for progressing towards them. So, in no particular order, here are some of the things I plan to accomplish by the end of 2014.
On a professional level, my SMART goals revolve around specific things I need to do at work, including getting my MCSE certification, producing a certain set of internal IP documents, and a few other things that are related to our internal processes. They’re not necessarily things I can discuss in depth here. However, in my professional-but-not-at-Dell role as an MVP and author, I’m planning on doing at least one book in 2014. I have discussions underway with a couple of publishers and my agent about possible topics.
On the skills front, I will complete my instrument and commercial ratings in 2014. I will do this by continuing to train and fly with my instructors, setting a regular schedule to fly so I can maintain proficiency, and learning as much as I can about every aspect of IFR operations. Once I get the ratings, I will fly with them regularly to remain proficient. My target is to fly at least 120 hours of pilot-in-command time in 2014, with more if my schedule and budget allow.
From the health, fitness, and activity department: I want to train for and complete a sprint triathlon (probably this one). I will do this by taking advantage of Fleet Feet’s training programs and continuing my weightlifting and exercise regimen. I’m doing another increment of the Fitocracy group coaching program from January through April, when triathlon training season starts. (I’ve also signed up for several 5K races spread throughout the first quarter of the year.) I also want to continue to maintain a healthy body weight and appearance. I will do this by continuing to lift weights and track what I eat to ensure that I’m getting the right mix of macronutrients to support my activity level and goals. (Obligatory numbers: bench my bodyweight of 185, deadlift 300, and squat 275. I have no idea whether these are reasonable numbers or not since I am not used to setting goal weights, but I’ll stick with them for the time being.)
To help support those goals, I’ll continue to learn to cook new things. This is a squishy, non-SMART goal because I don’t have (or want) specific targets for learning to cook N new dishes.
Turning to the personal: I want to be more generous with my charitable giving of both money and time. I have some ideas about how to do this, and be accountable for it, but I’m still puzzling through what I think will work best. More on that another time, perhaps. The rest of the personal goals I have are, well, personal, and mostly non-SMART, so I’m leaving them out as well.
Expect a progress post each quarter so we can see how I’m doing on the specific things I’ve listed here. That’s the “accountable” part, y’know.
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