Thursday, January 28, 2010
Resolution No. 3 Update
I've already started my next S/PG book - Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I've had this on my list for a while, but I never got past the first chapter or two. Thanks to the train, I'm about 2/3 through it already. Review forthcoming.
Resolution No. 2 Update
I have my next business book on hold - Business by the Book by Larry Burkett. Technically it could go in spiritual growth, but I've already started the next Spiritual/Personal Growth (S/PG) book.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Update
Goals
Blog Goal: Post once a week
Progress: Missed week of the 10th and 17th, but have posted 4 times this week, so I'm making the average
Plan: Set a reminder in my outlook to post every week during lunch.
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
Progress: Still haven't read one
Plan: Identify a book by the end of the week
2) Read one business related book a month
Progress: Read Developing the Leader Within You (see Business Book Reviews)
Plan: Identify February's book by the end of the week
3) Read at least 6 spiritual/personal growth books
Progress: Read How to Win Friends and Influence People (see Spiritual/Personal Growth Reviews)
Plan: Identify next book by the end of the week
4) Complete one video game (there are video games that do have an end, I've just never actually finished one before. I got two for Christmas that are that way, so I am going to finish one of them)
Progress: Haven't really played any lately, but I did start Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction right at Christmas, so that will probably be the one I focus on.
Plan: Play one level and save.
5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
Progress: Haven't been on one (unless you count going to TX for a week for a funeral a date...yeah, me neither).
Plan: Have to talk to a guy at work for tickets to Iowa St v. CU b-ball at the end of Feb. Need to find a sitter too (by end of the week)
6) Becoming healthier (I don't want to say lose weight or drop this many sizes, etc. because then I won't. Rather, it is more creating the habits with no goal in sight. In the past, I've tried to start exercising with the goal to lose weight and failed. I want this year to approach it, whether I lose weight or not, I'm going to exercise)
Progress: Progress isn't probably the word to use here...yeah...moving on.
Plan: Um....start?
7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
Progress: I have some ideas on characters and plot, but they are all in my head.
Plan: Put pen to paper and write an outline of characters, plot, and start to put a overall "story board" together by the end of February.
8) Payoff all debt with the exception of my student loans (which are still too large at this point to tackle in a year), and our largest two credit cards.
Progress: Same as 6
Plan: Same as 6
9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
Progress: Same as 6 & 8
Plan: Payday is Friday, so I'll go to the credit union and start this Friday at lunch.
10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October.
Progress: Same as 6 & 8
Plan: Some recent events have me thinking whether I should pursue this or an MBA in the fall. Need to discuss with the wife more and think on it.
11) Become more organized. I'm like quasi-organized (ex. I have my comics in a box and they are in order, but the boxes aren't where they should be and I don't have a inventory of them written down anywhere) (less nerdy ex. our bills paying process is still not as defined as we had it when we were in Indiana, so we need to get fully "recovered" from our move. It still seems we are still in relocation chaos).
Progress: Same as 6 & 8...& 9....& 10
Plan: Well we have been gone for a week, but no excuses. This weekend, once I talk to family planner (i.e. the wife), I want to work on the garage. Sweep it out, put the stuff that belongs there in its place and all the stuff that doesn't where it goes. Also with pay day being Friday, the bills thing has to get in place to help support the debt goal.
Mini-Goal - Clean garage to the point where I can park in there too.
Mini-Goal - Create budget and set up any all automatic payments possible to make sure stuff is paid on time.
12) Post progress on each of these on the blog
Progress: Well this is an update
Plan: Keep up the good work (nice to end on a high note)
Blog Goal: Post once a week
Progress: Missed week of the 10th and 17th, but have posted 4 times this week, so I'm making the average
Plan: Set a reminder in my outlook to post every week during lunch.
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
Progress: Still haven't read one
Plan: Identify a book by the end of the week
2) Read one business related book a month
Progress: Read Developing the Leader Within You (see Business Book Reviews)
Plan: Identify February's book by the end of the week
3) Read at least 6 spiritual/personal growth books
Progress: Read How to Win Friends and Influence People (see Spiritual/Personal Growth Reviews)
Plan: Identify next book by the end of the week
4) Complete one video game (there are video games that do have an end, I've just never actually finished one before. I got two for Christmas that are that way, so I am going to finish one of them)
Progress: Haven't really played any lately, but I did start Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction right at Christmas, so that will probably be the one I focus on.
Plan: Play one level and save.
5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
Progress: Haven't been on one (unless you count going to TX for a week for a funeral a date...yeah, me neither).
Plan: Have to talk to a guy at work for tickets to Iowa St v. CU b-ball at the end of Feb. Need to find a sitter too (by end of the week)
6) Becoming healthier (I don't want to say lose weight or drop this many sizes, etc. because then I won't. Rather, it is more creating the habits with no goal in sight. In the past, I've tried to start exercising with the goal to lose weight and failed. I want this year to approach it, whether I lose weight or not, I'm going to exercise)
Progress: Progress isn't probably the word to use here...yeah...moving on.
Plan: Um....start?
7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
Progress: I have some ideas on characters and plot, but they are all in my head.
Plan: Put pen to paper and write an outline of characters, plot, and start to put a overall "story board" together by the end of February.
8) Payoff all debt with the exception of my student loans (which are still too large at this point to tackle in a year), and our largest two credit cards.
Progress: Same as 6
Plan: Same as 6
9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
Progress: Same as 6 & 8
Plan: Payday is Friday, so I'll go to the credit union and start this Friday at lunch.
10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October.
Progress: Same as 6 & 8
Plan: Some recent events have me thinking whether I should pursue this or an MBA in the fall. Need to discuss with the wife more and think on it.
11) Become more organized. I'm like quasi-organized (ex. I have my comics in a box and they are in order, but the boxes aren't where they should be and I don't have a inventory of them written down anywhere) (less nerdy ex. our bills paying process is still not as defined as we had it when we were in Indiana, so we need to get fully "recovered" from our move. It still seems we are still in relocation chaos).
Progress: Same as 6 & 8...& 9....& 10
Plan: Well we have been gone for a week, but no excuses. This weekend, once I talk to family planner (i.e. the wife), I want to work on the garage. Sweep it out, put the stuff that belongs there in its place and all the stuff that doesn't where it goes. Also with pay day being Friday, the bills thing has to get in place to help support the debt goal.
Mini-Goal - Clean garage to the point where I can park in there too.
Mini-Goal - Create budget and set up any all automatic payments possible to make sure stuff is paid on time.
12) Post progress on each of these on the blog
Progress: Well this is an update
Plan: Keep up the good work (nice to end on a high note)
How to Win Friends & Influence People Review (S/P G) (NYR 3)
I just finished How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I know a lot of people have read this, but I serious didn't hear about this book until a few years ago. I really wished a high school teacher would have made this mandatory reading freshmen year or something. I learned more pratical real world principles in this book than I ever did from A Separate Peace or anything like that.
Regardless, the wisdom in this book is so strightforward, I somewhat upset at myself for not realizing these things on my own. It is so powerful, I will take the books advice and read it repeatedly (plus, the looks on people's faces from the train when they look at what I am reading is somewhat humerous).
This book has made me want to work and improve the relationships I am in and furthermore, make sure the new ones I start are strong ones.
This is a 10 out of 10 easily. Everyone should have to read this book (or at least be taught it in high school/college).
Regardless, the wisdom in this book is so strightforward, I somewhat upset at myself for not realizing these things on my own. It is so powerful, I will take the books advice and read it repeatedly (plus, the looks on people's faces from the train when they look at what I am reading is somewhat humerous).
This book has made me want to work and improve the relationships I am in and furthermore, make sure the new ones I start are strong ones.
This is a 10 out of 10 easily. Everyone should have to read this book (or at least be taught it in high school/college).
Developing the Leader Within You Review (S/P G) (NYR 3)
I finished Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell. I'm a big fan of his books (which I discovered through Dave Ramsey's recommended reading list). This book, I think needs to be read with The 21 Irrefutible Laws of Leadership by the same author. Basically, 21 Laws is the building blocks and Developing is the blueprint.
While it is mainly business oriented, it does have some good leadership reference toward marriage and biblical support statements (the author is a preacher after all). The great thing about this book is that with its stairstep outline on leadership, I can easily see where I am and even see which steps I might be trying to skip, because as the author points out, I cannot be a leader successfully if I skip steps.
It is a very quick read (I finished it in about 3 train trips which is about 3 hours, give or take) and written in a very conversational style.
I'd give it a 9 out of 10 as a stand alone book, but if it is read and used with the previously mentioned 21 Laws book, it is a 10 (I need both the blocks and the plan to the build)
While it is mainly business oriented, it does have some good leadership reference toward marriage and biblical support statements (the author is a preacher after all). The great thing about this book is that with its stairstep outline on leadership, I can easily see where I am and even see which steps I might be trying to skip, because as the author points out, I cannot be a leader successfully if I skip steps.
It is a very quick read (I finished it in about 3 train trips which is about 3 hours, give or take) and written in a very conversational style.
I'd give it a 9 out of 10 as a stand alone book, but if it is read and used with the previously mentioned 21 Laws book, it is a 10 (I need both the blocks and the plan to the build)
Little behind on the resolutions
Ok, so January hasn't been a good month as far as checking things off the list, but hey at least it is still January while I've realized it, right? I've finished a couple of books and need to write their reviews, and post a resolution update. Will do today.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
So...
I'm starting this blog as one of my NYR's (New Year's Resolutions). Yeah, I know, I know. It is already the 6th of Jan. I'm behind. My goal is to post once a week (i.e. 52 posts). Get into the habit of adopting new ways to communicate. The rest of my resolutions are as follows:
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
2) Read one business related book a month
3) Read at least 6 spiritual/personal growth books
4) Complete one video game (there are video games that do have an end, I've just never actually finished one before. I got two for christmas that are that way, so I am going to finish one of them)
5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
6) Becoming healthier (I don't want to say lose weight or drop this many sizes, etc. because then I won't. Rather, it is more creating the habits with no goal in sight. In the past, I've tried to start exercising with the goal to lose weight and failed. I want this year to approach it, whether I lose weight or not, I'm going to exercise)
7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
8) Payoff all debt with the exception of my student loans (which are still too large at this point to tackle in a year), and our largest two credit cards.
9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October
11) Become more organized. I'm like quasi-organized (ex. I have my comics in a box and they are in order, but the boxes aren't where they should be and I don't have a inventory of them written down anywhere) (less nerdy ex. our bills paying process is still not as defined as we had it when we were in Indiana, so we need to get fully "recovered" from our move. It still seems we are still in relocation chaos).
12) Post progress on each of these on the blog
Anyone who chooses to follow, feel free to comment, offer support, etc. Thanks
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
2) Read one business related book a month
3) Read at least 6 spiritual/personal growth books
4) Complete one video game (there are video games that do have an end, I've just never actually finished one before. I got two for christmas that are that way, so I am going to finish one of them)
5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
6) Becoming healthier (I don't want to say lose weight or drop this many sizes, etc. because then I won't. Rather, it is more creating the habits with no goal in sight. In the past, I've tried to start exercising with the goal to lose weight and failed. I want this year to approach it, whether I lose weight or not, I'm going to exercise)
7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
8) Payoff all debt with the exception of my student loans (which are still too large at this point to tackle in a year), and our largest two credit cards.
9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October
11) Become more organized. I'm like quasi-organized (ex. I have my comics in a box and they are in order, but the boxes aren't where they should be and I don't have a inventory of them written down anywhere) (less nerdy ex. our bills paying process is still not as defined as we had it when we were in Indiana, so we need to get fully "recovered" from our move. It still seems we are still in relocation chaos).
12) Post progress on each of these on the blog
Anyone who chooses to follow, feel free to comment, offer support, etc. Thanks
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