I'm not sure if this will be my last post of 2006 or not, but I thought I'd try to get a leg up on at least half the general populace and come up with my new years resolutions for 2007. Of course, I was beaten by Kimberly & Albrecht Powell, but so be it; theirs was very nice also, though it wasn't really all about them.

New Years at 101
Luis Beltre via Compfight

Now, I have to admit that every year I do come up with at least a few things that I want to work on for the coming year, and like most people, I fail miserably at them. I've wondered why, since I'm usually pretty good at at least striving for goals at other times of the year, and I figured that, like almost anything else, I tend to not be as accountable to myself as I might be to others. I also don't always have a written plan, as discussed by MyGoals.com, for sticking to a plan.

I also realized that having a generic type of goal, such as the types mentioned on FirstGov.gov, don't really work well, because you could call yourself a success without really having done much of anything. Not specific enough, if you catch my drift.

So, without further ado, here are some of my real life goals, or resolutions, for 2007:

1. Lose 35 pounds. I figure I'm already on my way, since I've lost 28 pounds already since July. It's been harder during the holiday season, so I allowed myself a little bit of leeway in saying that if I gained 3 to 5 pounds during this period I'm not going to beat myself up over it as I would have in the past, but just pick up from wherever I left off and get back into the true swing of things come the new year. Through a minor change in eating habits and a major change in activity, I lost the initial weight. And, I really have more than 35 pounds that I want to lose. I have a number in mind that I want to be at by the end of next December, and if I'm lower than that, even better.

2. Have $50,000 sitting in a savings account. I've done fairly well over the last three years, but there are bills, taxes, etc, that eat into one's cash. I also have some money in stocks and such, but it's not quite the same as being able to check one's bank account and see this pot of cash just sitting there, ready to be used at a moment's notice, without having to jump through hoops to get to it. Having cash puts one's mind at ease, and allows one to be ever more creative. Now, how am I going to do all of this?

3. Create/start/obtain two more businesses. What, am I trying to drive myself crazy? Or am I just feeling the spirit of entrepreneurship, looking for multiple streams of income, tapping into the secrets of the millionaire mind? I have three businesses now, addressing four different fields. I hope to either start a new one or acquire a pre-existing business with a partner of mine along the lines of medical billing, where, finally, I'll have actual employees.

Not that this has been a big dream of mine; matter of fact, it's never been even a minor wish. However, I'm learning that one can make a lot of money by oneself, but it's harder and takes a lot more time. The second business,... well, I have many ideas on that one, but I have time.

4. Donate $2,000 to charities this year. The spirit of giving has always been a part of me, but the wallet hasn't always been able to accommodate. Sure, I give $10 here and there, and whenever I'm in my favorite store, Wegmans, I almost always pull off one of these little tags they have at the checkout counter and have them swipe the extra $1,19 or $1,98, I'm not sure which, to help feed someone who can't fend for themselves. But setting an actual budgeted goal of giving just feels right, especially since, if I hit the figure, will be the most I've ever given in one year.

5. Introduce a new fruit or vegetable into my diet this year. I don't like either, so I eat very few of either. However, early last year I introduced broccoli into my diet because, well, I'm getting older, and recognize I'm going to need more roughage along the way. I still don't like it, but I find that if I cover it up with something else or eat it with something else at the same time that I can get it down.

Fruit is another story, because it's not something one can usually eat with something else. Maybe with Jello, but I don't like Jello. If I could get away with eating banana pudding every day, or sweet potato pie every day, I might have a chance, but that would defeat the first goal. I'm thinking it's either going to be bananas or green beans right now; either choice isn't making me smile with glee right now. The things we do for our health.

I think that's enough. Now they're out here in cyberspace for all to see, and it will be interesting to see how close I come to those particular goals. Then again, I could take The Onion's way out; at least it would be funnier.