2009

I've been a student of personal development ever since watching my brother attend a seminar by business philosopher Jim Rohn and becoming a millionaire four years later.

One of the things the personal development gurus advocate is setting goals. Corporations do it and every successful individual I know does it as well.

Here's the deal. If you do them at home and write them down nobody is going to know if halfway through the year you quit, or abandon any or all of your intended targets.

What I'm suggesting for any of you who want to is to put them here in this space. In twelve months time we can check back and see how many targets you hit and hold you accountable at the same time.

My 10 for 2009 are...

1. Land a professional speaking gig with a real estate continuing education group here in the US.

2. Start an Index Fund

3. Get an article published in Toastmasters Int magazine

4. Attain my Advanced Communicator Silver

5. Launch my new business

6. Get 15 new FIST members

7. Become debt free (with the exception of the mortgage)

8. Close the commercial real estate deal I'm working on.

9. Get my 6 pack back.

10. Get my book published (the one I have the least control over)


When I achieve any of the above I'll post and let you know.

Over to you guys...

Nick

Nice thread.

1 - Complete fully kitted up Paras10 race in under 2 hours, and raise £1,000 minimum for Help the Heroes and Air Training Corps.

http://www.paras10.com/

2 - Pyramid a 24 kilo kettle bell snatch from 1 to 10, and then back to 1 again (totals to 50 reps each side) non stop.

3 - Have a chest size more than 10 inches bigger than my waist.

4 - Ensure none of my cops get any extra orifaces.

5 - Keep the family happy and safe, with my sons continuin to develop at the rate they have done so all their lives.

Nice one...what are the details of the para race - I'm not familiar with it.

Nick

Nick Hughes wrote:Nice one...what are the details of the para race - I'm not familiar with it.

Nick

Its a 10 miles course on tracks that P-Company recruits have to complete in 1hr 50 min with full kit.For civilians the time limit is open and they have to carry 35 lb excluding food and water and also wear army boots.The weight dosen't sound a lot but put 35lb on your back and jog for three miles or so and you will find its not that easy.A fast walk with that weight will see you average around 4mph so to complete it in two hours you will have to run most of the way.Main problem is blisters from crap army boots as the backs of the heels tend to get torn apart when you run with a pack.

Nick,

It's all in the link Brian posted.

If you're thinking of coming over for it,I'm about an hour or so south of Catterick.

Ron.

Mate,

I'm stuck here till who knows when...otherwise my immigration process has to start all over from outside the US.

Didn't see the link...I'll check it after lunch.

Nick

PS: Got a mate over here who's in the real estate company I work for who was in 10 para...he tells me they're the best.

1. To get fit again after a year of illness. I'm still deciding on specific targets for this but a sprint distance triathlon is intriguing me and I'd like to get some disco muscle back

2. Get a house of my own as my ex-wife has mine and I'm living in a rental until I can pay her off.

3. Build my business to the point where I can let go and take more holidays (I have specifics for this but I won't bore you with them).

4. Attend "Jimmy Fireblades Wheelie School"

5. Learn to speak Dutch.
I have been struggling sporadically with this for a while so its time I got off my butt and learn't properly.

6. Pass my RYA Day Skipper exam.

7. Get to the point where I can play at least a couple of tunes on my banjo without gawking at the sheet music. I'm sad aren't I

"PS: Got a mate over here who's in the real estate company I work for who was in 10 para...he tells me they're the best. "

I presume he means the best TA unit?

1.Make some further progress towards a Bsc in Psychology.

2.Come to terms with my ailing physicality,and find ways to live with it.

3.Generally get my shit together and stop stumbling around in circles.

4.TRAIN.

Pete,

With regards the Dutch mate...it's going to help if you're a bit more specific (assuming you're not actually planning on mastering the language in a year )

Goals, to be effective, have to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely...look at Brian's for example...all (except for one) are very specific i.e. complete the para race in under 2 hours and raise 1,000 quid...a chest 10 inches bigger than waist etc.

Speaking Dutch just seems a bit vague - how about purchasing the Dr Pimsleur level one course and working through it, or joining a local conversation club, or going to night school, and/or spending at least one weekend over there - thus fulfilling more vacations and a chance to practice at the source.

Nick

Nick,

I agree that targets have to be measurable and have acheivable stages.

My target for this year with the Dutch is to be able to hold one full business related conversation with a customer (I work in the offshore fire protection industry) in Dutch. I am currently working my way through the Rosetta Stone course and I intend to take a class as well. One of my Dutch customers is also a good friend and helps with my pronounciation. After this I will work on my conversational Dutch.

My ultimate target with the sailing is to buy my own "Bavaria 37" yacht and keep it in berthed in Gouvia off Corfu but that will take a another two years so I only mentioned this years stage on my jouney to a sunny live aboard which is the Day Skipper exam. I am doing this at the end of May as part of a holiday in the Greek Islands. Next year I will do the Ocean Skipper so I can sail where I like confidently (yachts are very cheap in the USA and there is money to be made sailing them back and selling them in Europe, but thats another story and something I may do in the long term.

Wheelie school is getting booked as soon as my mate sorts his available holidays.

I am still deciding exactly what I want from the training which has to be a balance between what I would like to achieve and what I am prepared to do to achieve it. I am currently going through my old training logs, pictures etc to decide the specifics.

I'll let ya know how things progress.

BTW, I thought 10 para was a regular unit of parachute engineers? Or is my memory going too

Pete,

Having done just about every language course under the sun I've found Dr Pimsleur's to be the absolute best...and yes, better than Rosetta Stone by a long shot. Give one of those a shot.

I know what you mean about the yacht. A couple of us planned to buy one after the Legion and sail the world but the other guys bailed at the last minute. There's a great course here by the way...lasts for one week and qualifies you for it all (ASA certified) and you can live on the ship while you do it for a small stipend. I've also heard a far better option than the US angle is Sth Africa mate...you might want to look into that one.

Nick

Thanks for the tip Nick, I have been doing quite well with Rosetta Stone compared to some other famous courses but if there is better still then I am hugely interested. I see Dr Pimsleur has sample lessons online so I'll give them a try later today.

With regards to the sailing course which lets you do it all after a week? Hmm, seems a bit quick that. Theres a lot to learn and I don't believe you can do it all to a satisfactory level in a week. It sounds a bit "black belt by post" to me. The weeks course may get you your ticket but I suspect that courses which are run in such a short period are why there are so many qualified sailors desperate to hire people who can actually sail their yacht to its next berth for them!

Thanks for the heads up on SA. I love SA and any excuse to visit is always to be investigated

I haven't done the ASA course but it's my understanding there's a ton of course prep work on all the theory that is mailed to you in advance that you have to complete. The week on board is therefore devoted exclusively to the practical.

I'll dig around and see if I can find the link to the school in question and you can see what they have to say.

Regarding Pimsleur...yes, brilliant stuff. He figured out how best to get the stuff from the short term memory into the long by figuring out the length of time after you've learned something before you're questioned on it again etc. It's all done conversationally as opposed to so many that involve learning words one after the other as if memorizing a dictionary.

Nick

I did the ASA course in Croatia a few years ago - 2 weeks. And yes, whilst it was great fun it was exactly like a'Belt belt in the post' course.

2009?

Aim to finish the Gite.
Speak fluent French conversation.
Ride the Triumph at least once a week.
Remain debt free.
Enjoy life to the full.



Hmmmm, doesn't seem very stretching....but what the hell

Brian,

I meant to post let me know when the fund raising begins...If I've got any spare moolah I'll donate some to your run. Assuming there's a way to donate on line or something?

Nick

Send it to me mate, I'll see that he gets it.....

Mick

Peter,

10 Para.

http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/10th-battalion-parachute-regiment-10-para

Nick Hughes wrote:Brian,

I meant to post let me know when the fund raising begins...If I've got any spare moolah I'll donate some to your run. Assuming there's a way to donate on line or something?

Nick

Thanks Nick.

My kid will probably be the one raising the cash. Good for him to learn about doing something for others. But the thought is very much aprreciated.

There's not too many plans for 2009 on this thread is there? Ah well!

Which is why most people don't achieve very much.

Nick

Brian,

Based upon this in your last post...

My kid will probably be the one raising the cash

I feel it pertinent to point out the following regarding child labour laws...

What Rules are Connected with Employing Young Children?

The following rules are connected to businesses employing young children (if they are paid or not), where work is carried out for profit.

No work is to be carried out during school hours or during school lunch breaks
No work is to be carried before 7am or after 7pm
Only 2 hours work can be carried out on a school weekday of which no more than one hour of this can be carried out before the start of school hours
Work should last no longer than 2 hours on a Sunday
Work should last no longer than 8 hours during a Saturday or during a school holiday. This is reduced to 5 hours for those aged under 15
Work should last no longer than 35 hours per week during school holidays. This is reduced to 25 hours for those aged under 15
Work should last no longer than 12 hours per week when the child is attending school
Young children should have at least a 2 week break during the school holidays or at any point during the school year.

See that your nipper gets a copy to make sure you're in compliance please.



Nick

1. Get my full shodan at the daigaku summer school

2. Land a method air, and a nose grab, snowboarding

3. Ride two new mountains

4. Grade in Brazillian Ju-Jitsu

5. Pass the B.C. driving test

6. Get a pay rise and/or more holiday time

7. Find a M.A. club that I can spar hard at

8. Go to a specialist and get my knee sorted out, and actually follow the rehab properly.

9. Plan for 3 months travelling in 2010

10. save monet for 3 months travelling in 2010

Hi everyone.

I have been away for a couple of weeks in the sun (great way to start the year) and have been reflecting over my year to come so this thread is very apt for me.

1) Quit smoking again ( slipped back into it last year)

2) Remain teetotal (quit drinking last september)

3) complete the midsummer munron at box hill in under 2.5 hours http://www.trionium.com/mm/, best I have done is 2h 40m

4) study the classical guitar and learn to site read music to at least Grade 3 standard. My wife bought me a lovely nylon strung for xmas and you have to play classical on it, sounds lovely

5) learn Moonlight Sonata on the guitar

6) I wish to learn Spanish to be able to get by in general conversation, just spent 2 weeks in the Dominican and want to go back, I have Michelle Thomas's course but will look at the Pimsleur

7) Keep my business afloat, it's pretty grim out there in Construction at the moment

Go to the Globe Theatre and see a Shakespeare play with my wife, ideally Macbeth

9) See an Opera with my wife.

10) train at least 3 times a week ( running, weights, don't matter what)




Nick

This is an awesome thread

so, in the next 12 months I...

1) am taking up a second job with the goal of getting out from under some debt, and saving up for the wife and I to move. (this should take about 6-8 months)

2) While in this saving up mode, I'm going to train a bit harder than usual. I'd like to see myself adding 10 more pounds to my naturally lanky frame while upping my conditioning.

3) Once we're moved and I've sorted out my work situation (won't be tough for me) I'm going back to school. It'll likely involve some courses for upgrading so I'll start there... schooling will be part time at this point.

4) locate a group/like minded individuals for sparring and training.

5) Gain acceptance into one of a couple of Psych oriented programs I am really interested in.