I set too many goals for 2017, and I only hit one.
In 2018, I’m going to try to set just one or two goals this year and focus hard on them.
My goal for 2018 is to have a total of 100 blog posts here by the end of this year. That’s it.
I also would like to read a lot of books this year. I’m not going to set a goal this time though. I’ll just keep track here:
- Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance – Completed Feb. 2018 – (10/10) – What an inspiring book! It’s amazing what can be accomplished by a man on a mission. He may not be the nicest guy, but he sure can get stuff done. I have a lot more respect for him now and am inspired to do something on my own too.
- The Art of Non-Conformity: Set your own rules, live the life you want, and change the world by Chris Guillebeau – Completed Feb. 2018 – (8/10) – Some solid points about changing your perspective on the way you live your life and doing what’s important to you.
- How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Completed Feb. 2018 (10/10) – This is a classic that’s been around since 1936. This is a book that everyone should read. Great anecdotes to illustrate points.
- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein – Completed March 2018 (9/10) – Slow start, but the second half of the book is gripping and fabulously written. Told from the point of view of a dog, Enzo, this story really pulls at your emotions. What an ending!
- Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick – Completed May 2018 (10/10) – A look into the lives of six North Korean defectors, how they lived, and how they got out. Extremely well-written and worth a read.
- Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez – Completed May 2018 (7/10) – This is a classic for the FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early) movement, but there wasn’t anything too groundbreaking for me. However, if you’re new to FI, this is an excellent place to start.
- Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel – Completed July 2018 (7/10) – Kimmel suggests parenting with grace to provide a sound foundation for growing morally strong kids that will thrive in any environment. A decent read but a bit repetitive at times.
- These are the Generations: The Story of How One North Korean Family Lived Out the Great Commission for More Than Fifty Years in the Most Christian-Hostile Nation in Human History by Mr. and Mrs. Bae – Completed Sept. 2018 (7/10) – The story of a couple who truly lived out their Christian faith and eventually defected to South Korea.
- Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker, M.D. – Completed Dec. 2018 (8/10) – Emphasizes the importance of the father-daughter relationship. Provides anecdotes to support each point.
Well, I failed. It’s January 2019, and I had a total of 88 published posts. I did read a good number of books though. And we had a baby girl in May. Well, onto 2019!