2008 Goals or why a job half done doesn't feel too bad

In the first quarter of last year, I sat down and came up with a list, subdivided by the part of my life it relates to, of the goals I wanted to achieve last year. After tallying the successes and failures, I had a 50% compliance rate for the 32 goals. Some of the remainder are partial successes, but like a partial pull up or pushup, it doesn't actually count. Here is the list:

Fitness:
1. Muscle-up DONE
2. 5 second perfect form handstand FAIL
3. Run Urbanathlon 10 minutes faster DONE
4. 300 or better score in Fight Gone Bad DONE

Travel:
1. Visit 2 Major U.S. Cities for the first time San Francisco 50% Compliance
2. Visit a foreign country DONE
3. Visit Montreal or Toronto FAIL

Adventure:
1. Ice Climbing DONE
2. Skydiving in a different landscape FAIL
3. Swim under a natural waterfall FAIL
4. Climb a mountain DONE
5. Go Camping DONE

Cooking:
1. Prepare 5 course meal for 4+ people DONE
2. Make hand stuffed ravioli again DONE
3. Make 3 course meal w/ rabbit for entrée DONE
4. Take another knife skills course FAIL
5. Successfully bake a loaf of bread FAIL

Learning:
1. Basic Conversational Spanish FAIL

Career:
1. New job as in house counsel FAIL
2. Finish all NJICLE requirements FAIL
3. Get company to pay for subscription to corp counsel periodical FAIL
4. Read business/economic news periodical at least once a week 50% Compliance

Relationship:
1. Take Melissa to Mesa Grill DONE
2. Tango Lessons DONE
3. Dance in the rain FAIL
4. Take non-couples dance class w/ Melissa FAIL
5. Get a few good pictures of her and us DONE

Gaming:
1. Only buy for one faction at a time DONE
2. Don’t spend more than $35/month on miniatures DONE
3. No more than 3 total video games this year DONE

Financial:
1. Fund trip to another country and to 2 major U.S. Cities 66% Compliance
2. Set up a budget Partial Compliance
3. Pay Access loan down to $2,000 FAIL
4. Have Taxes done before end of March. DONE


Some of the failed goals will be moved into 2009 as continuing quests for improvement. Some will be dropped altogether, as priorities change. It was a good year and I was blessed with both fortuitous success as well as the much more invigorating kind that comes at the end of sweat and determination.