Goals for 2010

Last year I wrote about my goals for 2009. Yesterday I looked over them and evaluated my performance. I think it was pretty good, not not perfect. However setting goals that you easily reach every year is probably not the best way to do things. I feel like I’m cheating if it’s easy.

However I’m not so goal driven anymore, certainly not anything like Mark Cuban. In fact, I haven’t often set goals, and don’t often look at them at work since I like my life, and I enjoy it. I’ve accomplished a lot, more than I ever thought I would and don’t really feel the need to do a lot more.

That’s not great for a person, and I’ve seen many people get a little lost in the world without a purpose. I don’t want to get that way, so looking on to 2010, I reluctantly set these goals.

• Continue managing the forums, but at a reduced, 300 post a month level.
• Blog 5 times a week, M-F, on at least 2 SQL Server technical topics a week.
• Learn Reporting Services – at something better than an average level. Maybe not an expert, but work towards being able to use it and answer > 50% of the questions I see.
• Attend one SQL Saturday – At least, though I think I’m slated to hit 2 in 2010 at least.
• Write a book – I’ve had three topics in mind for awhile, but I haven’t moved forward well on this. I need to finish one in 2010.
• Build 2 new presentations. I’ve given one of two presentations pretty regularly over the last few years, but I need to expand, and find some other things to talk about. Not that these aren’t still relevant and good presentations, but I need to try some new ones.
• Take all my vacation in 2010 – I’ve been bad about this in the past, carrying some over, selling some back. With some good guest writers, there’s no reason for me not to get away from work more.
• Travel to one new city for work – Likely this will be Vegas, but I ought to spread my time around the community.

That’s a good list, perhaps not everything I want to get done, but this ought to keep me fairly busy at work this year.