Update 2.17.10

Goals
1) Read at least 6 books for fun (i.e. no business books)
Progress: Haven't started, but own both The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, so I'll start them, now that just finished a business book.
Plan: Start reading the above novels.

2) Read one business related book a month
Progress: For March, I'm going to read The E-Myth Revisited , since I already own it. Hopefully, since it is focused on small business, it'll give me a better understanding of our customer base, which is mainily small businesses.
Plan: Begin reading March 1 (or earlier if finished with other books).

3) Read at least 12 spiritual/personal growth books
Progress: Updated to 12 books instead of the original 6. Currently reading One Year to an Organized Financial Life (so far definitely want to buy this one for reference)
Plan: Finish current book and identify the next one.

4) Removed (see previous post)

5) Plan 6 dates with my wife (one every other month - she has the other six)
Progress: Still need to go to the box office.
Plan: Call box office, and buy tickets next payday. Arrange for a sitter.

6) Becoming healthier
Progress: Well, fell off that wagon quickly..., but for Lent, I am giving up sodas (huge for me), and fast food (i.e. mcdonalds, sonic, qdoba, etc.)
Plan: Let's see how Lent goes.

7) Start drafting a book (yes, I want to write a book)
Progress: None. 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: Little hiccup with bills, but we are getting there. Was told how much my bonus was and that will definitely help.
Plan: Use bonus at end of the month to get caught up and clean up some out standing debts. Use rest to start emergency fund. Set up automatic payments. Stay current on bills and build to $1k.

9) Start a christmas club account for christmas 2010 so that it isn't a financial burden this year.
Progress: With bonus, may be able to start sooner rather than later.
Plan: Start as soon as 8 will let us.

10) Apply for (and hopefully take) the Professional Engineers exam in October.
Progress: Definitely going to focus on the PE so I need to start figuring out a schedule and getting my applciation finished in time.
Plan: Research study plans and being to schedule start dates. Finish appliacation by end of March to submit. Find and budget for classes to submit to work for approval.

11) Become more organized.
Progress: So the book from NYR 3 has got me motivated. I bought all the necessary items to get the financial papers in order. Am going to do that this week. Also bought a few garage items (broom, extension cord) to get that done this weekend. With the finances in order, when the bonus check comes, we'll be set to get NYR 8 rolling and with the garage cleaned out, some of the to do list can get done.
Plan: Organize finances per the book by Friday. Clean out the garage Saturday/Sunday.

12) Post progress on each of these on the blog