Goals and Other Updates
How did you do on your goals for 2011? With the year nearly over, I thought it was time to give an update on what worked and didn’t work for me this year.
My official 2011 goal was to at least “quadruple my total 2010 gross non-employment income by improving the quality and sales of my existing side projects (iPhone apps and blogging) and by creating at least one new side project that I carryout to completion.”
How did I do?
Early on I thought quadrupling my total gross non-employment income was a real possibility, since I was on track to double it. But, sadly, I haven’t kept up that trajectory. At all. I did increase my gross non-employment income by about 7% though, so that’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Next year my aim will be to increase it by a flat sum of $30,000. (I’m taking the OnlineMoneyBloggers Challenge.)
I did carryout the one side project to completion: I have a new web site about blogging. It’s still looking a little rough around the edges, but it’s up and running. Check it out and let me know what you’d like to see more of there.
More mortgage progress
I really wanted to pay off our mortgage early (meaning by the end of this year!). Short of some kind of sudden, unanticipated inflow of cash, we’re not going to get that done. But! We are down to $39,103.46 as of today, and we will be able to send more to it before the year is out. So we’re at least getting closer to having that knocked out. My new goal there is to have it paid off by May, which would mean coming up with some major cash to send to it — a whole lot more than I managed over the past year. Now I just need to get a plan in place to actually make that happen.
Your turn
So now it’s your turn. How did you do for the year? Did you use any kind of different approaches that helped? Let me know!
At least you’re making progress! That counts for something. I also didn’t meet all of my goals either. I was hoping to save $9,000 this year and only saved about a third of this amount. I’m reanalyzing my goals for next year and making them more realistic. I should be able to keep on track if I work hard. But progress is progress!
Yup, progress is something :)
I need to stop getting distracted by other things and focus. Although, that’s a little bit like saying “I need to be someone completely different”…
I didn’t really make specific plans for 2011, haha. I know a lot of people will set out some goals before the year starts, but my goals are so generic they’re hard to miss “save a bunch for retirement” and “get married” were the big ones I hit, but I also bought a house (a cynic would say acquired a mortgage) in June. Let’s call 2011 a thumbs up?
Sounds like a thumbs up to me :)
I didn’t have huge goals for 2011. A mini-goal was to keep the blog going, and looks like that’s been done. Good luck on the challenge!
Blogging can be a pretty big undertaking right there :)
Can’t wait to see how this challenge goes Jackie. I’m sure you’re going to kick butt! :)
Hah I hope so! I would like to kick butt at that :)
Nice job achieving your goals. You should be able to get that mortgage paid off so soon!
Here’s aiming for May!
I didn’t set any yearly goals for 2011 and went with monthly goals instead. I didn’t do too well at making them. I’ll start over in 2012 with some monthly and annual goals.
Do you do better with the annual goals?
I’ve been meaning to write a post about this. I think overall I did pretty good with my goals this year. I already got a jump start on my goals for next year and am hoping to increase my productivity and focus! Nice job on your new site! -Sydney
That’s awesome that you’ve already gotten a jump start on next year’s goals! And thanks :)
Congrats on joining the challenge! If it was about 1/3rd less…I would consider it. 30K seems way out of my reach.
Maybe you can do your own version of the challenge then :)
Good to see you back!
Despite being in a commission only position and having less than half the income from my previous “employment” position, we made some significant progress in paying down our mortgage. Ubeknownst to me my wife was posting additional principal payments for several of the months I thought we should be retracting a bit. Surprisingly enough, we’re doing fine!
I was on track for the majority of my 2011 goals. But… fate had a different path. Unemployment, knee surgery, and now a full time caregiver for my parents. I joined the challenge to earn 30k online this year. I am hoping to learn lots of great things with this challenge!
Hope 2012 turns out to be a great year for you to make up for 2011 :)
Wow, having your mortgage paid off will be awesome! To me that seems a pretty hefty sum to get rid of my May, still… having it done by the end of the year will also be a great accomplishment. Good luck with the 30k challenge!
Yeah it is still a huge stretch goal for May. If we actually quit doing all kinds of other stuff, or start making a ton more money, it’s doable though :)