Goals for 2010

Long gone are teenage expectations of making my first million by the time I was 30. In May, I will become the answer to the Ultimate Question, and my expectations have become much more pragmatic.

This is a big year for me. Having survived the past decade as a first-, second- and third-time parent, the Tens will bring me teenagers with cars, dates and college tuition. I’ll feel more prepared to take that on if I can wrap up my own education.

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, but here’s a few goals I have for 2010:

1. Graduate.
   I’m so over this academic thing. Being in the Ph.D. program has made me reflect on the type of work I like doing, and that is the research, development, and design of stuff. I need to dissertate with abandon this year to make it happen, but I don’t want this particular goal to ever show up on my radar again.
2. Write a book.
   The Twitter API experience with O’Reilly scratched a lot of itches for me, giving me the confidence to do it again and do it better. When the dust finally settles on my dissertation proposal this month, the focus of my plan will be having a new book at the end. If I am to squeeze any more learning out of the Informatics program, it will be directed at gathering the skills and research rigor to tackle any topic and turn it into a 180-page tome in 9 months. Hell, with a little help, maybe I’ll do two.
3. Drop 20 Pounds.
   This is a fairly arbitrary number. Despite what Wii Fit keeps telling me, I’m not in dire shape physically. Whatever I lack in endurance, strong knees, and a love of the outdoors, I make up for in confidence. I survived age 35 a while back, so now I feel like Fame. As the kids grow older, though, I see opportunities for biking, softball, soccer, and a host of things I used to enjoy. Shedding some weight is the tangible payoff for the more important goal of re-establishing physical activity in my daily routine.
4. Launch a startup.
   As if I didn’t have enough on the plate … Actually, this may be the easy one since it’s underway right now. I have been privileged to latch onto an interesting design challenge spearheaded by a Bloomingtonian at the Business School and funded by a French Turk. I never followed my gut with ideas I had in the 1990s, and I have generally lacked time and other resources in the Oughts, but I’m sticking with this particular project. We’re currently in Phase 3 leading to a Beta launch in February, but if all goes well there’s at least two more major iterations left before next Christmas.
5. Tame the homestead
   Due to a number of factors, our home has suffered our occupancy for over a decade. I may be reaching on how much can be done under financial duress, but I’m hoping for a summer of green grass and reduced clutter. To help my dissertation quest along, I’ll start by reclaiming the space that used to be my downstairs office. Anything else will be gravy.
6. Play.
   I want to transition back to a life with more games, from the board variety that Archie is starting to love to the computer kind I’ve shunned to keep from being distracted. I miss running fantasy sports leagues and participating in game nights. There’s a lot to do in 2010 to succeed with my first two goals, so I’ll consider it a victory if I merely spend the next 12 months transitioning to a life that includes Madden NFL.

Wish me luck!