Hello, Slackers Everywhere!
Today I start my blog, Stephen's Slacker Goals. The purpose of this blog is to inspire myself--and any other slacker out there--to actually fulfill a few simple life goals. This is NOT a blog to chronicle the amazing Herculean feats of overachievers who do impossible things (like running a marathon, or writing the best-seller, or saving a million dollars). Instead, it is a blog to track the progress of a simple guy who would rather watch football than hit the gym, eat junk food rather than tofu and veggies, and sleep-in rather than work hard. I'm trying to motivate myself, and if happen to motivate someone else OUT THERE then all the better!
If you are like me, you get quickly turned off by all the self-help gurus who promise "LIFE CHANGING RESULTS" if you simply follow their special formula . . . and spend $20 on the book and CD combo set. When I listen to these experts I get quickly sick to my stomach. I think: I could never do that, I could never be like that, I could never LOOK like that! I'll never have six-pack abs, never be able to run in a marathon, never be able to play an instrument or get out of debt or earn a PhD or do all the things those freaky over-achievers do! I also get tired or reading the Stephen Coveys and Tim Robbins and all the other goal-setting experts. This is NOT a blog that promises you a special formula for success. I have no such formula. I know of no such formula. I am simply trying to work hard to accomplish a few simple goals.
So what are my goals? I have chosen four simple goals, four simple things that I've always wanted to do or learn. I have selected the goal, the end target, and measures to track my progress along the way. Today I'll briefly describe my four goals. In my next post I'll describe measures and milestones. I'm still figuring out the whole "blog thing." As I get a bit more sophisticated I'll add some online tracking metrics to this blog. But that's for later . . . I'm about ready to quit all this hard work and go watch TV! Here's the goals.
Goal #1 -- Publish a Novel
This has been a lifelong goal for me. I have written several books over the past few years, yet I am still unpublished. My goal for the next 12 months (December 2011-November/December 2012) is to write a book and publish it, either online or through a traditional publisher.
Goal #2 -- Cycle from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
There is a Logan-to-Jackon cycle race each year. I am not so ambitious to actually participate in the RACE! I just want to be able to complete the course! My goal is to get in adequate physical condition to complete this route with my wife. This may not sound like much, but in my present physical condition (I get winded just walking from my room to the fridge) it is a big deal!
Goal #3 -- Gain Fluency in German -- At Least Enough to Fool a Waiter
I recently returned from a trip to Germany. I learned that my three years of German while in Jr. High did nothing to prepare me to actually speak German to real Germans! My goal is to attain sufficient fluency to return to Germany and be able to carry on a basic conversation with a real German.
Goal #4 -- Learn to Play the Piano
My wife is a piano teacher. My father was a band teacher. I cannot play the piano at all! Each year my wife holds a Christmas recital. My goal is to gain sufficient proficiency to play a specific song (I already have this song pick out, more on that later) in the 2012 Christmas recital.
So there's the goals! Okay, yes, that's not much, I know. There's no "curing cancer" or "build schools for thousands of poor children" or anything nearly so noble or inspiring. These are simple goals for a simple guy. To me, this seems like an insurmountable challenge, but I believe it can do it! This is my task for the next twelve months. Or, at least, this is my task until I can think up enough slacker excuses to get out of it!!
Well, here I go! I'm off to accomplishing my goals, one long day at a time. Join me as I go from the slacker I am today to the slightly more accomplished slacker I'll be tomorrow. If I can do it, friends, any slacker can do it!
