Last year at this time I posted my goals for 2009. I have to be honest and say that 2009 was a very tough year across the board for me, and when times are tough, sometimes you forget to do those things you hope to concentrate on to make things better. Still, it wasn't the worst year of my life either. Let's take a look at my 2009 goals and see how I did.

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1. Work on finding more ways to earn money from home rather than being on the road so much. This one became a necessity rather than a supplement, as I spent almost the entire year at home. I found a way to make money by starting my writing services, which includes blog writing for others. It hasn't reached the level yet where it's replaced the income I make from health care consulting, but it's brought in money and that's the most important thing.

2. Lose 25 pounds. I went into a malaise early this year that took a long while to break out of. Working out wasn't a part of my goal, unfortunately, though it needed to be. I lost some weight, only to regain it, and at this point I weigh what I weighed last year.

3. Figure out a way to reduce my glucose level when I’m on the road. This wasn't an issue since I never went on the road. However, it became an issue while I was at home, and I ended up having to put myself on an eating plan that drastically reduced my glucose. In my own way, I'm still on that eating plan, and I haven't had another major problem with it since.

4. Present in five states that I’ve never presented in before. I didn't go on the road to give any presentations this year. I did do my first ever webinar, which was exciting, and I plan on doing a lot more in 2010. I also have at least one speaking engagement planned for this year; I need to step that up.

5. Finish writing another book. I didn't get to this either. Instead, I created a new website and began a writing career. I need to find more time to write for myself, and I don't just mean blogs.

As you can see, I didn't hit my goals all that much, which is very disappointing. That doesn't mean I won't continue having goals; it just means that I have to try harder to reach my goals in 2010. Let's look at those:

1. Find a way to have my first real vacation in almost a decade. People tend to think that when you work for yourself and don't have to go to the office every day that it's like having a vacation. That's not even close to the truth. Your entire income is based on your working and scrambling for the latest dollar, and it absorbs your mind totally. I haven't had time off since 2001, March to be a bit more exact, and my wife and I haven't taken a vacation together since 1999. I need some rest, and that's going to be one of my big goals for the year.

2. Lose 25 pounds. This one is going to be on the list until I achieve it, as it was also on my 2008 goals list. I've shown I can lose weight when my mind is in the right place, so I need to work on that.

3. Attain some more tranquility in my life. I really don't have the right to complain about anything, and I'm generally a very positive person because I believe that every day I awake is another opportunity to do something great. However, I don't sleep well, and the pressure is always on. I may need more direction in my life, or more planning, or more personal restrictions on myself. I mean, can I continue trying to work as many days in a row at upwards of 16 or 17 hours without adding any real breaks into my life, especially at age 50?

4. Get those paid presentations up. My friend Renee and I are expecting to do way more webinars and local seminars in 2010, but I also want to travel and get my name out there. Many people know that my long range goal is to be a professional speaker and presenter, and I need to work more towards that overall goal.

5. Release things and people that aren't helping me to grow and stay positive and reinforce what I have with those that do. This one is tough, and it's cruel, and it's rejuvenating at the same time. I have a Palm rather than a rolodex, and in it I have nearly 400 names of people I've met over the last bunch of years. I also have the names and addresses of friends who I haven't spoken to in a long time, either through email, regular mail, or even a lousy Christmas card once a year.

I'm someone who holds onto my past very tightly, and I'm also someone who holds onto things that I believe might benefit me some day; kind of a packrat in that fashion. Not this year. I have to take care of me, and thus I'm going to do that. And I'm going to reach out more to my good friends and make sure all of them know what they mean to my life. It may be time for another Mitch's List post; it'll be two years come April.

Anyway, that's my list of 2010 goals. I hope you have the opportunity to reach your goals as well this year; let's do this together.