Hello everyone and welcome to Leaving Work Behind in 2015!
I took a couple of weeks off to enjoy Christmas and New Year festivities, but I’m now back to business and looking forward to 2015.
I’m not one to make New Years resolutions, and didn’t actually have any kind of goals for 2015 in mind when the clock struck 12am on 1st January, but since then I have spent some time listing the things I would like to achieve this year.
In this post I’m going to reveal those goals to you, explain the thinking behind them, and also ask you to reveal your goals in the comments section so you can be held accountable to them!
Some Preliminary Words About Goal Setting
I was initially reticent to set goals for 2015, because I’m no longer enamored with the ‘traditional’ notion of goal setting.
I was reminded of the ‘traditional’ approach to goal setting a few weeks ago when my brother told me that he was feeling pretty exhausted and stressed out from stretching to achieve a career goal he had set himself. It certainly wasn’t essential that he achieved this goal – it wasn’t anything close to a matter of life and death – but he was working his ass off to get it done nonetheless.
My reflection on this was “each to their own,” but I knew that I didn’t want to set those kinds of goals for myself. I didn’t want to set goals that forced me into doing things I simply didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to force myself into completing goals in an unreasonably short timeframe.
So for 2015 I decided to wander from the ‘traditional’ path of goal setting and adopt a simple psychological mindset: that the goals I set are for reminding oneself of the intended outcomes of one’s efforts and are not to be used as torture devices.
To put it another way, I wanted to set goals so I could see a path to improving myself and my situation in 2015. I want to be able to look back on the year and see the ways in which I have improved myself and my circumstances. But I don’t want to set goals in stone, so that if I find them too difficult, I feel obliged to continue my efforts to complete them regardless.
This post will stand as a testament to my original intentions for 2015, but it is not the finished article. Goals may be added, changed and taken away as the year progresses, and I’m totally comfortable with that. Because in my opinion, to determine what you must achieve at the very start of the year, in an unchangeable fashion, is utter madness.
My Goals for 2015
The following isn’t just a list of business goals; far from it in fact. There’s all sorts mixed in here.
Why? Well, my approach to business is very different to what it once was. I am hardly driven by money or what most consider as “success” (i.e. working far too hard in an effort to make more money), and I think that my goals reflect my healthier outlook.
In fact, I had to think consciously about what business goals I was going to set; the goals that immediately popped into my mind had nothing to do with advancing my business. But business advancement is definitely something I would like to see happen in 2015, so I put my thinking cap on and set some goals!
Become Fluent in French
I started learning French a few weeks ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Language learning is something I’ve attempted with limited success in the past, I’ve certainly never got as far as I have with French this time around. I’m using Anki (spaced repetition software) to learn vocabulary and grammar rules, and I’m also trying to read Harry Potter in French!
I’ve always loved the idea of being able to speak another language fluently, and I’m confident that I can achieve that with French this year. In terms of quantifying my goals, I want to do the following by the end of the year:
- Read the entire first Harry Potter book in French
- Add 10,000 words to my Anki French vocabulary deck
- Visit France at least once and converse with locals in French
- Pass the B2 level (upper intermediate) French exam
I’m sure my goals will change on this front, and I don’t know if the second and fourth are realistic, but there’s only one way to find out!
Read 52 Books
I love books, but I’ve often not read as much as I should. But now I have plenty more time in the day (due to only working around three hours per day), I certainly have more time to read.
What I love about this goal is that I will be able to plainly see what I’ve gained from achieving it by the end of the year. I’m going to write up a list of all the books I read, and I can come back to that list at any time and see what enjoyment and education I have gleaned from those books.
I may find out that the time invested in the books simply wasn’t worth it, but I very much doubt that will be the case. On the contrary, I suspect that if I reach this goal, I will be encouraged by the process to read even more books in 2016.
Increase Income
My business goals all relate to increasing income (which rather makes sense) and are as follows:
- Increase Paid to Blog Jobs membership from 109 (current) to 200. I’ve got lots of ideas as to how I’ll achieve this and will reveal more soon!
- Increase Bluehost commissions to 30 per month. The number is currently more like 5-10, so I’ve got a lot of work to do on this front.
- Increase writing income to $4,000 per month. I currently make around $3,000 (net) from my writing business, and my efforts in 2015 will be centered on diversifying my client base and building up my income to $4,000.
The above goals will serve to increase my monthly profits from around $7,000 to $11,000+, which will be just fine by me. I certainly don’t need any more money than I currently earn, but having more money in the bank certainly isn’t a bad thing!
The most important thing is I don’t want to happen is to be dragged into doing things that I simply don’t enjoy. Right now I’m very happy only working 3 or so hours per day doing things that I like, and that’s how I want it to stay in 2015.
Get Better at Climbing
I was introduced to indoor climbing by my girlfriend a while back, and I’m really starting to get into it. It is both a great physical and mental challenge – obviously it requires muscle, but it also requires you to think critically about how to get up the wall.
Now I feel I’ve got past the “just try to climb something” stage, I want to set a couple of goals. Those goals are to:
- Climb a 6a route at Redpoint Climbing Centre
- Boulder a V5 at Boulder Central
Basically, I want to learn to climb more complicated/challenging routes, and of course have fun doing so in the process!
Increase My Recipe Repertoire
I love cooking, and now I have more spare time, I have no excuses not to cook plenty. And that’s why I’ve set myself a goal of learning and perfecting 52 recipes this year. Yum.
Become an Awesome Baker
I’ve really gotten into baking recently; more specifically, baking bread. I already make a mean sandwich loaf, but I want to expand my repertoire in 2015. Here’s what I want to perfect:
- sandwich loaf (better tasting and longer lasting)
- cinnamon and raisin bagels
- baguettes
- brioche
If I can have those four things nailed down by the end of the year, I’ll be pretty happy.
Learn and Perfect a Grade 4 Piano Piece
Longtime LWB readers might remember that I once started a piano blog, back when I started learning. While I did take my first piano examination in 2014 (Grade 2 alongside 5-10 year olds ;-)), after moving to Birmingham in early summer I almost stopped playing entirely.
I have however started again, and I intend to make 2015 a good year for improving as a piano player. My goal is to be able to competently play a Grade 4 piano piece by the end of the year. Something like this:
What About You?
So those are my goals for 2015 revealed – now I want to know what yours are!
Reveal your goals in the comments section below, and I expect you to come back through the year and leave updates as to how you are getting on with your goals. I will be reading and responding to all comments made through 2015.
Let’s achieve some awesome things together!
Photo Credit: Christmas Stock Images
Laura Ginn says
I challenge you to improve your baking and apply for The Great British Bake Off next year. It looks like so much fun!
Laura 🙂
Tom Ewer says
Haha, I think this year would be a little too soon for me 😉
Christine says
Happy new year!
My 2015 goals are maximizing my English/French translation business, my writing and copywriting business, as well as doing more watercolour and photography.
French is a wonderful language to learn, but hard. So, I would be honoured to help you as much as you helped me setting up my blog site last year and, by your blog, making me realize that the 8 to 5 job was not for me.
Thank you Tom and best of luck in your new endeavour for 2015.
Regards
Tom Ewer says
Thank you Christine!
Gina Horkey says
I’ve got 3 main goals for this year:
1) Pay off our second mortgage ~$30k
2) Take the month of June to travel the US w/my young family via RV
3) Replace my income from my day job (and/or a stretch goal of $10k/mo)
The third will help make the first two a reality, but the first two compete with each other, as they are both fairly aggressive financial goals.
My personal philosophy on goal setting is that if I make aggressive goals and fall short, I’m still farther ahead than if I never goal set in the first place:-)
To a fruitful 2015 for us all!
Tom Ewer says
I like these goals Gina; best of luck with them!
Rachel says
I am going to steal your idea of 52 books in a year. I know that I need to read more, and past reading goals I have set have been to read 10 books in a year. I figure if I come out anywhere over 10, I have succeeded. Also, increasing my income is my big goal of the year, because it is what I need to accomplish to fulfill a dream. I currently don’t have much of an income as I only have one client for whom I write an article or two quarterly. I want to make $4000/month consistently (or at least average out to that) to be able to replace the income from my husband’s business enabling us to move to Northern Minnesota.
Tom Ewer says
Good stuff Rachel!
Dave says
I have four big goals for 2015. There are smaller things I’d like to work on and do, but these are the most important to me.
1. Make $1k from digital assets
2. Hike the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail
3. Pay off debt
4. Continue working on creating an awesome blog
Tom Ewer says
Awesome goals Dave!
Saleem Rana says
Thanks, Tom. I really enjoy your blog posts.
So, this year, I want to do the following:
* In December, I signed up for your Paid to Blog course, but then accidentally got a client who paid well for regular blogging work, which took away all my time. So now I’m going to dedicate one day a week to implementing the lessons in your course.
* Finish up my 7th book and begin seriously marketing all my books.
* Study math, coding, and chess.
* Develop my ideal physique. (I’m actually pretty close as I worked out all of last year).
* Keep building up my cash reserve so I can begin investing this year.
I also got a personal coach and am working on developing 90 day goal plans.
Wishes:
These are not goals, but wishes, so I will only tackle them if I begin to earn a lot more money so that I have to work less.
* Read more books.
* Learn German.
* Join Toastmasters.
* Begin Aikido.
Tom Ewer says
These are all fantastic goals Saleem!
Kashif says
Great list of goals, wishing the best for achieving them all 🙂
I have compiled my list of goals for 2015 at http://www.kashifaziz.me/new-year-resolution-2015.html/ .. Feedback appreciated.
Tom Ewer says
I love your goals Kashif. Why do you want to become a morning person? Do you think it is the best solution for your personality?
Warren Cinco says
Hey there Tom,
Happy New Year and it looks like you’re heading-off to a good start. At the same time, you’re definitely challenging yourself; but, after following your blog for over year, I know you’ll make a point to overcome.
I recently came across this TED talk from Derek Sivers on goals – but it’s not what you think 🙂
http://youtu.be/NHopJHSlVo4
What are your thoughts about what he said?
Keep inspiring,
Warren
Tom Ewer says
While I think Derek makes an interesting point, I don’t think it’s quite as simple as he makes it seem. There can be many benefits to stating your goal, such as being held accountable to them. I’m not about to stop saying what my goals are; it’s worked for me so far 😉
Iva Ursano says
Awesome Tom!
My goal this year is to finally be able to retire from my day J.O.B and just write for a living. And travel. Oh how I want to travel.
I’m eyeballing Central America so I’m thinking I should learn how to speak Spanish. Being Italian, the languages are so close. Piece of cake. And speaking of cake, way to go Mr. Bakerman Tom! 😉
Tom Ewer says
Haha, thanks Iva!
Tennille says
Hi Tom!
I’m really enjoying your emails and blog posts. You’ve inspired me to start my own blog. My goals for this year include increasing my writing revenue significantly and maybe even starting on the novel I’ve always wanted to write 🙂 Happy New Year to you! I hope you’ll visit my page at tennilleshelley.wordpress.com and say hello!
Tom Ewer says
Sounds exciting Tennille, best of luck!
Norma Roche says
Happy New Year Tom. Love your goals, they reveal an interesting and well-rounded person!
My goals for 2015 include:
Significantly increasing my income from freelance writing.
Writing and publishing at least 3 ebooks in a self-help series I’ve got planned.
Creating and running some new therapy workshops.
Inspired by you – to start learning French again.
Reach grade 4 at agility competitions with my dogs (hope the dogs are with me on that one).
And manifest a campervan!
That should keep me fully occupied for the year.
Thanks for all your encouragement and great advice.
Tom Ewer says
Well-rounded is definitely what I’m going for Norma, thank you. I could say the same about you; especially “manifesting” a campervan 😉
Ruth Potulin says
Hi Tom:
I took French for two years in college back in the day and loved it. However, after I graduated there was no one to converse with and eventually I lost the ability to speak fluently.
I agree with your goal of increasing your income. I am working diligently to reach that goal to. Thankfully I have Paid to Blog Jobs and your website to guide me through it.
I purchased my website through Bluehost with WordPress before I knew you could receive a commission for it if I went through you. Sorry about that. It might be a good idea if you allow your followers to know about it quicker into your writings. I didn’t see that on your website until I had already had my website a month or so.
Good luck in achieving your 2015 goals.
Ruth Potulin
Tom Ewer says
Thanks for the suggestion Ruth, and good luck in 2015!
Jamie Alexander says
I was actually thinking about French a few days ago after speaking to someone who could speak pretty good Khmer and Thai after only spending a few months in each country.
I was remembering back to how I needed to sit down with the teacher and have a conversation with her to pass the oral exam and how funny it must have been.
I’d like to learn a language in the future, but it won’t be this year and I have no idea which one yet.
I’m only going to stick to 2 goals this year so I don’t feel overwhelmed, but no doubt I’ll do some extra things throughout the year.
Goal 1 – Finally master a few advanced bodyweight moves (freestyle handstand pushups, front lever, and back-to-back bridge being the main ones).
Goal 2 – Grow a business to the point where I don’t need to work much in the second half of the year and I can spend far too much time chilling out.
Tom Ewer says
Haha, I like these goals Jamie 🙂
Nancy Allison says
Tom,
I’m an avid fan of yours! and will assist you in increasing your Paid to Blog numbers..
My Goals for 2015,are:
1 Develop a freelance writing income of $3,000. month
2 Commit to watercolor & acrylics painting again
3 Time and funds to Travel, write, read and paint!
4 Develop Affiliate income of $1,000 + month
5 Create & publish ebook.
Appreciate your inspiration!
Tom Ewer says
Painting is a great goal! It may well be something I try later in life…best of luck with all your goals Nancy!