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My Three Goals for 2009

goalWhat do you think of new year’s resolutions? I for one am not a big fan, but Chris Brogan had a good idea for setting goals in the new year. Since 2006, he has been using a few simple words to guide him towards achieving his goals.

The simplicity of such a strategy makes it easier to keep focused on the tasks at hand. It also makes it easier to know whether or not you have even reached your goals, because the measuring stick is very easy to read. I’ve decided to implore his strategy with these three goals in mind: listen, engage, and develop.

Listen

This is something that I began doing more of shortly after I created this blog. However, it is still an area of importance that deserves attention. Listening means finding more sources of information I find interesting and making note of them.

I also need to try to listen more on the social networks (Twitter, FriendFeed, and the like). This is an area where I’m having difficulty in filtering the signal from the noise. I probably need to start making use of some nifty tools like TweetDeck or PeopleBrowsr to help me to achieve this.

Engage

In the immutable words of Captain Picard (oh, wait, it’s actually just one word). Listening alone is not enough. I need to engage those who provide the words of wisdom I find fascinating. This is something I know I have not done enough of, so I’ve made it one of my goals this year.

Most of the discussions I had last year took place in comments on blogs. I don’t plan on abandoning commenting on blogs, as it is still a great way to remain involved. However, I will make more of an effort this year to try to increase my involvement in the social networks. Last year, the majority of my involvement on social networks came from broadcasting my blog and my Google Reader shared items to FriendFeed.

Develop

I will try to develop more useful tools and gadgets for whatever interests me at the moment. I’ve developed some nice free tools and iGoogle gadgets (most recently my Amazon Search gadget), and I hope to do more this year.

Development will not just be limited to programming. I also intend to develop more useful and interesting content for GeekLad as well as MakeUseOf. I would say I intend improve my own personal development as well, but I find that to be way too cliché and generic. This year I’ll just stick to programming and content.

Photo Credit: scottwills.

4 thoughts on “My Three Goals for 2009”

  1. Wisdom teeth is a nonsense.
    What to me pleasure of what at me in 25-30 years has grown a teeth without which I already easily manage for a long time?
    Where they were, when I in a youth teeth opened bottles with beer because it was abruptly? When I clicked a teeth nuts?
    And then, why from name “Wisdom teeth” – I that, somehow in another way to chew has learnt? Not how earlier when I was the young fool? Whether business if to years to 30 grew, for example, wisdom fingers! Better, of course, on each hand on the additional index. But on the second big – too it is normal. And then it would be wisdom fingers – because now I precisely know, for what I should seize both hands, to hold strong-strong and never to release. Or from what to wave away – yes, now I know, from what I should wave away very much, sometimes so there is no pair of superfluous fingers on hands that from it to wave away.
    Or here, a wisdom eye. It is necessary certainly, to change the passport by 30 years because you on a forehead had one more eye… Well also I represent, as it will be scratched. When it begins to be cut through – hard, yes. But – what pleasure to look in three eyes at that, on what you could not see enough in both in any way… And points cool can be carried – represent, what turn the fashion industry can make!
    I ask me to excuse, it is simple a teeth strongly are ill

  2. Goals are great, however, I know some people who are obsessed with concrete goals like I will earn this much money by this time. When you set goals I prefer your approach, a simple and general approach. Why? You will live a happier life, not so focused on a specific goal as the general direction you are moving in. Listen, engage, develop are general and positive. I will earn 120,000 dollars a year by 2010 is specific and I do not know if it is positive for anyone but the person setting the goal. This is why, I like your general – simple approach to goals. ps Your e-bay plug-in looks nice (check one off for -develop).

  3. Goals are great, however, I know some people who are obsessed with concrete goals like I will earn this much money by this time. When you set goals I prefer your approach, a simple and general approach. Why? You will live a happier life, not so focused on a specific goal as the general direction you are moving in. Listen, engage, develop are general and positive. I will earn 120,000 dollars a year by 2010 is specific and I do not know if it is positive for anyone but the person setting the goal. This is why, I like your general – simple approach to goals. ps Your e-bay plug-in looks nice (check one off for -develop).

  4. http://www.Hound.com is gud medium for job seekers… its a amezing site everyone should try this site … 
    it help us to search job world wide n it is very convienient . in this sit e you did not need to search more just type your qualification and in which city do u want to do job thats it ……… it is not a advertising website it is just gather all the job seekers n n the employers at one place ….. it helps both the job seeker n also the employer
    ceo jobs 

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