They say time flies because you’re
having fun or aging. I must be having a fun time growing old because, Mr.
Scott, it feels like the year is flying by at warp speed.
You can’t slow down time but you can
make the best of your time. Setting goals is one of the best ways I’ve found to
make my life count for something great. Reviewing my goals regularly is a way
of making my goals count.
Goals!
I’ve been setting professional and
personal goals for over thirty-five years. Only in the past two years have I
set writing goals. December is typically my goal-setting time. I dream my goals
up, pray my goals in, write my goals down and start living in the direction of
fulfilling them.
Every day is my goal watching time.
Every single day.
Typically, I don’t share my writing
goals with other people. So the rest of this post is a bit of a risky departure
for me.
Will people think my goals are too
small? Too audacious? Not audacious enough? Inspiring? Boring?
My new behavioral goal is
vulnerability so here goes.
My Goals For 2016:
#1 Write two blog posts/week every week
of the year.
#2 Reach an average of 1,000 views/day
on my blogsite by December 31st.
#3 Publish six articles in my
denomination’s national magazine.
#4 Publish one article in a national Christian
magazine.
#5 Publish one article in a national
newspaper.
#6 Publish sixteen articles in local
papers.
#7 Enter my book, “Ornament” in the Word
Guild’s Writers Contest.
#8 Sell the rest of the copies of my
book.
#9 Read six books on writing in the
year.
Reviewing my goals daily in January is done with a lot of
optimism. Reviewing them daily in April
is a combo of thrill, chill and anxiety.
Reviewing them in September is a
reality check.
So, how am I doing?
#1 – On track. Check
#2 – No where close. The one day I had 1760 views was a
guest post.
#3 – 3 articles published so far.
#4 – Zero articles submitted.
#5 – Zero articles accepted.
#6 – Ten articles published so far with four months to go.
#7 – “Ornament” was awarded “Best Life Story in 2016” WOW!
#8 – Sold 2630 with 870 to go.
#9 – I’ve read two books to date. “Bird by Bird” A. Lamott
and “The Writing Life” by A. Dillard
What are your goals for the rest of this year?
Robert (Bob) W. Jones is a recovering
perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced Tea. His
office walls are adorned with his sons’ framed football jerseys, and his
library shelves, with soul food. He writes to inspire people to be real, grow
an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover their
life purpose.
