After the whirlwind of a year I had in 2008, I’m looking forward to this new year. As customary for many bloggers, I’m going to list some goals for the new year.
I hope you all look forward to some of the things I have in store as much as I do.
Life-related goals
I suppose I’ve come a long way since the days when my best friend and I would make resolutions about things we planned to accomplish with girls for the year. Ah, the good ol’ days.
I did set my sights a bit higher this year.
- Get my ass back into shape.
I had to start with a classic. Isn’t this everyone’s New Year’s resolution? - Meet WordPress users and other bloggers in person.
I’ve met so many people online in the last couple of years that I’ve become friends with, but I’d love to meet some of you in person. - Travel to a foreign country.
I’d really like to go to back to Japan, lie on a beach in Thailand, or visit a ton of other Asian countries. I’d also like to visit some of my Canadian friends. - Participate in a charitable event.
I want to be a little more involved this year in events that help others, such as the Alanta Breast Cancer 3-Day in October. - Save more money.
Last year, I managed to pay off $8,000 of debt from college. This year, I’d like to pay off and save at least as much. - Help others in their quest to work from home.
What we don’t see enough of is practical tips about working online. I want to share more of my experiences and how they apply to my life offline to help others. - Continue studying foreign languages.
I’ve got a little Spanish, German, and Korean under my belt, and I like to continue improving my skills with those languages and maybe start adventuring into one more.
WordPress-related goals
I have plenty of goals dealing directly with the WordPress community as well.
- Continue fostering the growth of Theme Hybrid.
Our community at Theme Hybrid is growing daily, and I can only imagine what it would be like in a year’s time. - Write more about WordPress.
Most of my posts here on this blog are about WordPress, but I’d like to write more tutorials, give more tips, and start more discussions than last year. - Attend at least one WordCamp.
Unfortunately, I came home to Alabama only about a week after WordCamp Birmingham in 2008, which would’ve been a perfect opportunity for me. I’d like to attend one this year. - Design some BuddyPress themes.
I’ve been tinkering around with BuddyPress for a while (whenever I have the time), and creating specific themes for it would be cool. - Provide bbPress alternatives to my WordPress themes.
bbPress is a fast, lightweight forum software that I’ve fallen in love with. Expect to see my WP themes getting bbPress makeovers. - Make more WordPress plugins.
I tend to focus on themes, but creating plugins is another passion of mine, which are typically ideas I get when developing a theme. - Create quality WordPress themes, of course!
I have loads of theme ideas in various categories that I plan to release this year:- Magazine/News
- Store/E-commerce
- Photo/Portfolio
- Video
- Book/Movie/Etc. Reviews
- Lifestream
- And many more!
Any goals this year?
I’m always interested in hearing what other people plan on doing for the year. For me, a large motivational factor is announcing my plans to others because I’m much more likely to follow through with them.
Please share any goals you’ve made for the new year. Or, you can just discuss mine.
Honestly, I don’t have any goal for this year. hehe! I don’t know. I just go with the flow.
BTW, is Philippines included in the list of Asian countries you want to visit?
I wrote some reflections for 2008 as well as my 2009 resolutions @ WordPress.com. I’m not sure if you’d like to read the many lists there, though, so here are my resolutions right from that post:
Read the Bible constantly and with a heart of desire to get to know and get closer to God.
Have at least one friend come to know God for the very first time.
Love as God loves.
Get myself comfortable and accustomed to new school life, new friends and a new future.
Be a better student.
Take good care of and cherish all that I have — I’ve lost enough last year…
Same as 2008: 1680×1050
I think I shall too! *updates my post*
As much as I’d like to meet you in person, I can’t, unless you’re planning to come to Singapore
I’d also love to attend a WordCamp someday!
Jenn Besonia — The Philippines are most definitely on my list of places to visit. I actually had a friend when I lived in South Korea that was originally from there.
Not everyone needs goals for the year. I tend to get lazy and do nothing if I don’t set goals for myself though.
BoltClock — I took The Bible as Literature while in college and we used The New Oxford Annotated Bible. It’s the most well-commented (plus loads of cross referencing and notes) Bible I’ve seen. If you’ve never read that particular version, it’s worth checking out.
Singapore’s not really high on my list of places to visit though. Thanks for sharing your list.
Yay please come to Thailand XD
I heard that Ma.tt’ll come to WordCamp Bangkok in April but even the schedule for WordCamp itself has not confirmed yet
Last year I already attended WordCamp Bangkok and met several bloggers in person
The nr 1 goal I have (internet related) is to create at least 20 quality wordpress plugins, I’ve just released the first one which improves the standard 2.7 plugin installation, allowing you to install multiple plugins at the same time. You can read about it on my blog http://www.improvingtheweb.com
Best of luck with all your goals,
Wesley
OK, I’ll take a look at that Bible if I can get my hands on one.
“The Philippines are…”? Sorry, but I’m just curious to know if that’s an error or there’s an explanation for that.
SE7EN — It’s cool that you got to attend a WordCamp. I’ll try to go to Thailand at some point. It’s one of those countries that I must visit sometime before I die.
Wesley — Twenty plugins? It’ll be tough, but it sounds like a great goal. I’d be lucky to release half as many this year.
Jenn Besonia — I actually questioned my writing of “The Philippines are” when replying to you as I wasn’t sure of the correct way to phrase it. So, I looked it up on Dictionary.Reference.com, which states that Philippines should be “used with a plural verb.” Other sources use the singular verb. I think if you place “the” in front of Philippines, you must use “are,” but if you don’t use “the,” then you have to use “is” instead. Basically, all of this just left me confused.
To be quite honest, I’m not sure if any English-speaking person knows how to properly write it. I really need to get my AP Stylebook out of storage as I know the answer would be in there.
Since we have you here, now’s your chance to let us know how you would say it (it is your country, after all). I’m guessing you would simply say “Philippines is” (referring to your entire country) instead of “the Philippines are” (referring to the islands).
hie…justin…
its very great that you have very big attentions….but…will you always follow with the people plans?so…maybe I can share with you.may I???
please come to my country, indonesia
My main goal this year is to get back and retain my focus. This past year I spent way too much time creating new projects instead of focusing on the projects I already have that were working and that I have let lapse and now need my attention. I stayed busy, but my focus was too scattered.
A third attempt at a failed business model knocked the wind out of me, but I’m back on my feet and ready to go another round.
I don’t think you will have any problems reaching your goals Justin. Your passion shows in your work. You will do even greater things again this year!
BTW I think your monetary goals stated are way too low, you should accomplish those by March/April easily with the value you are providing here lately.
Based on the stated facts here, I reckon the correct phrase is “The Philippines is”. It’s a collective noun. Meaning, even if the Philippines itself has so many islands, it still functions as one country.
BTW, I wish you would also develop a theme for wordpress.com users. I can’t find a theme that is simple yet elegant, just like your page.
all the best Justin
Yes, Come to Indonesia Please
chika — Not all goals will always be reached. That’s just how life works. I still think it’s important to have them and try to follow through the best you can.
Epat — I’ll definitely try to at some point in my life.
Ron — You’re much like me then. It’s hard for me to stay focused on one or a few projects at a time. I’m constantly working on too many things.
As for my monetary goals, I don’t have a lot of preexisting data to go on, so I wanted to keep a realistic figure. If at some point, I see that the figures are too low, I’ll adjust them.
Jenn Besonia — The collective-noun argument doesn’t always work because some collective nouns take on a singular verb while others take a plural verb. However, I did find a good reference for collective nouns in The Economist Style Guide that says that it should be “the Philippines is” (country names should always take a singular verb).
I’m not even sure how to get a theme on WordPress.com. If Matt ever opens up the WordPress Theme Marketplace, I’ll definitely add some themes.
dinu — Thanks. I’m hoping it’ll be a great year.
Jauhari — I’ll try to go to Indonesia at some point, but it’s not at the top of my list of places to travel.
Try to study Polish language, it is one of the most difficult languages on world. Straighter in terms of the structure from English, however the vocabulary and the amount of national signs are this way diversified and difficult, that learning Polish is an something like… art? Realy hard thing. I am offering help if You need
Well, I am your new blog friend, I am Clarky from China. if you ask my goals, well, I’d like to say that I want to make money from my blog, $10 per day I think, but the important goal is I want to speak English as well as Americans and Englishman, I know it is hard but I will try.
I did my goals just before new year using the ‘Best Year Yet’ process – and I’ve already ticked off number 1. Feels amazing!
Thinking you could combine Life Goal #5 and Wordpress Goal #6 – if you released plugin versions of your options recent posts slideshow and the sidebar tabs function I’d definitely be making donations to use them… or even buy them if you chose to charge.
Crystal
crystalsquest.com
Justin, it is almost the end of 2009. How is plans going on. Have you covered most of them?