# Welcome 2024! | Resolutions for the New Year ## Introduction _resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something_ Each year I've written down my resolutions and had those firm decisions limply go uncompleted only to be set again in next year's notebook. I need a new strategy in 2024 if I'm to be successful. This year I'll focus on using 4 keys for setting my goals in order to finally achieve them. Goals need to be: measurable, attainable, accounted for, and ordered. ## Keys to Setting Goals _measurable: something that can be quantified_ Losing weight is a common New Year's resolution. However, if the losing weight is the full definition of the goal, then how much? _attainable: capable of being accomplished_ Weight lose goals can be made measurable by setting an amount to lose, but what amount should be set to keep the goal attainable? Too high of a bar may not be attainable. Through diet and exercise a person will eventually start building muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. A scale may show a person is gaining weight, which would be contrary to their goal, but if the weight gain is muscle, their health is improving. In this example, a better, more attainable goal may be to decrease body fat percentage. _How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time._ The key to achieving larger goals or projects is breaking the task down into smaller pieces. An over-arching goal may seem overwhelming, but shifting focus to smaller measurable and achievable tasks that lead to end goal will build confidence, consistency, and momentum. This is how I choose to set my health goal this year. Rather than focus on achieving a certain weight and getting discouraged, I choose to set a push-up goal of 1,825 pushups. This equates to 5 push-ups a day. By changing my focus to a smaller goal I'm granting myself flexibility in achieving it. If I miss a day, then I just do 10 push-ups the next day. As I grow stronger, I can choose to do more push-ups in a day to reach it faster. I can always push the goal further if I choose to, but by starting small I can prevent the discouragement that's caused my failure in past years. _accountable: accepting responsibility for one's actions_ Does your actions move you closer to or further away from your goal? Eating a bag of Funyuns each day will cause me to gain, instead of lose, weight. Having a community, partner, friend question your actions and/or making your actions publicly visible will hold you accountable for them. By being held accountable you're likely to ensure your actions are positive. _order: the arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method._ I am a self-declared renaissance man. I have many hobbies and love to learn just about anything. It's easy for me to set too many tasks for myself, which leads to becoming overwhelmed and achieving few, if any, of them. It's impossible to do everything at once. This has been my biggest downfall over the last several years. Therefore, while I have many goals this year, I'm focusing on a subset of priorities first. This ensures I complete a goal before starting towards a new one and ensures I stop writing the same list each year. ## What are my Goals This year my goals are focused on building my relationship with God, building a successful website/community, and my health. - [ ] Read the Bible in a year - Started the YouVersion [Chronological Bible Plan](https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/5-chronological) from Blue Letter Bible. - Daily reading in the plan format make the goal easily measurable and achievable. - Reading this plan with my wife adds accountability. - [ ] Get CompTIA Network+ Certified - I've purchased my Network+ voucher. - I'll seat the exam before the end of January. - I've used [CBT Nuggets](https://www.cbtnuggets.com/login) and [Professor Messer's Network+ Course](https://www.professormesser.com/network-plus/n10-008/n10-008-video/n10-008-training-course/) to study. - My notes are being published to this site (see the Learning section of Water We Making). - [ ] Publish 52 blog posts - Easily measurable. - All blog posts are publicized, so easy for readers to hold me accountable. - Allows for flexibility. I plan to publish a blog post each week, but if I miss a week I have the flexibility to make up for it in later weeks. - [ ] 1,825 push-ups - Easily measurable. - Allows for flexibility. 1,825 push-ups can be achieved by completing 5 push-ups a day, but if I miss a day I can make up for it. Additional Goals (not to be started until I've passed the Network+ Exam): - [ ] Complete Brad Traversy's HTML/CSS and JavaScript Udemy Courses - [Modern HTML & CSS From The Beginning (Including Sass)](https://www.udemy.com/course/modern-html-css-from-the-beginning/) - [Beginning Modern JavaScript](https://www.udemy.com/course/modern-javascript-from-the-beginning/) - [ ] Complete Brad Colbow's "Learn to Draw in 60 Days" Course - [Brad's Art School: Learn to Draw in 60 Days](https://www.bradsartschool.com/learn-to-draw-in-60-days) - [ ] Pass the JLPT N5 Test. - The N5 is the lowest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. - The JLPT is hosted in America by the [American Association of Teachers of Japanese](https://www.aatj.org/jlpt-us/). - The exam is Sunday, December 1st 2024 - Registration starts at the end of July. - [ ] Earn My Exapunks Badge - I've played every mainline [Zachtronics](https://www.zachtronics.com/) game. I especially love the games that focus on programming. - Despite enjoying each game, I usually only get about halfway through without ever completing it. - I own the special edition of [EXAPUNKS](https://www.zachtronics.com/exapunks/), which has a physical badge sealed in an envelope to unlock. I want to officially earn that badge by completing the game. - I also want to use this as an opportunity to become experience with GitHub and post my solutions. By making my solutions public, I'll be held accountable to this goal. ## Conclusion By focusing on these goal-setting keys and creating a community that holds each other accountable we'll all be able to reach success in achieving our dreams. Here's to a Happy New Year in 2024!