How Did I Do On My 2012 Goals?

First off, it’s not a very good sign that I half-forgot I had even published my goals publicly until a few days ago. But when I dug up the post, it turns out I didn’t actually do all that poorly. Perhaps my first goal for 2013 should be to remember I have goals?

2012 Personal Finance Goals

Increase my net worth by $60,000 – Success

Thanks to a strong year in the markets, I met this goal by a pretty decent margin. In retrospect, I don’t really like the “increase net worth by $xxx” goal because it depends too much on things I can’t control (market returns). Next year, I will focus solely on the amount I save.

Fully fund both my 401k and SEP IRA next year – Success

Not much to explain.

Fix up the ol’ homestead to prepare it for sale or rental – Success

Well, it’s in rentable shape but I’m so far down the waiting list with the HOA that it won’t matter. I’ll be more likely to sell it before I’m allowed to rent it. Anybody in the market for a condo in Atlanta?

Personal Goals

Spend at a very minimum 2 weeks this year on another continent - Success

I spent a total of 5 weeks abroad, including 4 on different continents (Jamaica still counts as North America, right?) Granted, two of those weeks were for work in China, but it still counts. Three weeks of solid vacation abroad is a good thing to shoot for. I think I’ll do it again next year. Of course, it does cut down on my ability to save, but oh well. Maybe the job will send me somewhere cool in 2013.

Do some sort of exercise at least 5 days per week – Fail

I did alright in the exercise department, but I was nowhere near this consistent. Some weeks it would be 5, others it would be 1. I need to work on this.

Eat better – Fail

I eat pretty well most of the time, but I definitely need to improve. I literally just ordered a pizza after I wrote that last sentence but it’s New Years, so I get a pass.

Business Goals

Break 1,000 RSS subscribers - Fail

Ha! Actually, I don’t think RSS is nearly as important as it used to be so I’m not really concerned about this one. Engagement is more important.

Consistently post about 3 times per week – Fail

Ha!

Write at least 1 quality guest post per month for a popular blog in my niche - Fail

I started off pretty well but finished weak. I missed this goal but a few guest posts. Still, quality is more important than quantity when it comes to guest posts.

Start a mailing list – Fail

I did not do this. I should.

Increase business income by 50% - Fail

This was a very ambitious goal and I was actually on track to achieve it until around June when I got hit by Panda. Income dropped by around 40% for a few months. It’s up from those levels, but I’m still about 20% below what I was before. Overall income was pretty much flat from 2011 as a result. 2013 is looking up, though! I doubt I’ll grow income by 50% from where I am now, but 20% looks reasonable.

Write an ebook - Fail

What was I thinking?

So that’s it. I accomplished all of my personal finance and some of my personal goals but I didn’t meet any of my business goals. I think part of the problem was that some of my goals were just stupid and I decided to focus on other things during the year. Still, it’s a bit discouraging seeing all this red. How did you do this year? Did you meet most of your goals?

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