Happy New Year.. so whats the game plan??

2008 was an interesting year. Definitely less geekier ( which I sort of did not prefer.. but was ok). All the personal goals I set for myself were met with relative ease.. learned to swim, learned to drive, got a car, got more involved with the local meetup groups (hiking and photography). Due to apparent lack of time, I had lesser time to update this blog, I however have gotten active on twitter.

I didn't believe in New Year resolutions until last year, but hey... if I can follow a deadline at work, I can definitely set a deadline for myself too right.? I just shouldn't be vague and should put concise goals (like it's done monthly at Mailshell). So here they are:

Conservative goals (Must be done):

•  Read 5 books.
•  Make two marketable arduino prototypes.
•  Practice atleast 1 topcoder challenge each week.
•  Cook atleast twice each week.
•  Earn atleast $5000 in the stock market.
•  Release ver 1.0 of my personal project.
•  1 Personal goal (undisclosed)
•  1 Professional goal (undisclosed)

Aggressive goals (Should be done, but .. ):

• Exercise atleast once a week (yeah right..)
• Have a new blog template... maybe move it from blogger to my own website.
• Limit monthly spending to $X, where X < Salary. It is currently true, but I want to smoothen the spikes.
• Drive carefully.
• Write atleast one blog entry per month.
• Attend atleast 1 LUG meets in two months.
• Attend Entrepreneur meetup every month. The amount of info you get about new technologies and the number of like minded people you meet there is amazing.
• Check out atleast two noisebridge events in SF.
• Atleast one hike every two months.

I know it seems like a lot even for one whole year, but the list is concise, either it will be done or it won't be done. I just hope that am better at time management this year and meet my goals. I am a big believer of Pavlovian theory, so to make sure I get these things done, I'm gonna gift myself something everytime I hit a schedule (another concept borrowed from Mailshell's work culture). Of course, awards for weekly/monthly goals would be cashed in at the end of the year (hmm.. I'll buy something really *nice*)

Anyhoo.. hope the new year brings new joy in your life and I do hope that you achieve all the goals you set for yourself. Have a *groovy* new year.. WOOHOO!!