It's Not A Goal Until You Write It Down

I have been meaning to write this post since the first of the year. Here I am a month and a half later finally getting around to it! I have not had the energy to do much besides workout, go to work, walk the dogs and cook dinner. (Married life is great, huh?) After a very surprising great day I am full of energy and ready to write (having a husband passed out in bed before 9:00pm on a Friday night might also be part of the reason I am finally blogging).

I was in a meeting earlier this week and someone said it's not a goal until you put it on paper. My ears perked up as I nodded in agreement. I have had that same thought going through my mind since the start of the year. I set my goals during the first week of January while working out (I get my best thinking done at the gym), but have not written them down. I am not only writing my goals, but I am also making them public (to all 10 of my followers). Here they are...K's goals for 2010!

Goal #1 - Get my name changed (not really a serious goal, but need to get it done if only the damn state of CA would cooperate). I successfully made it through the social security department (which took two tries with the same documentation) and have a new last name associated with my SS #. I went to the DMV to get a snazzy new license with my fabulous new last name and I got rejected. There is nothing worse than going to the DMV, waiting in line and putting up with the grouchy workers only to get denied! The CA DMV worker would not accept my certified copy of my marriage license. She said she couldn't read the seal. It makes no sense that the SS office would accept my copy, but the DMV wouldn't. Seriously, aren't they both government offices? Now, I am stuck in limbo with 2 last names. I am having a major identity crisis and on top of it have to battle with the state of MO to get a new certified copy with a readable seal. I am starting to understand why women don't take their husbands' last names. What a pain in the you know what!

Now for the real goals. 2009 was a good year and full of a lot of change, but I didn't accomplish any goals. (I might not be giving myself enough credit. I did successfully move to a new city, start a new job, adopt 2 puppies and get married last year. Pretty much every major life change, with the exception of having a baby, occurred all in the same year. So I guess happily surviving all of the changes is an accomplishment.) I want to pop champagne on December 31, 2010 and celebrate some real accomplishments, so I set personal, professional and financial goals.

I am focused on a lot of personal growth. I am going to take hip-hop (already took my first one!) classes to mix up my workouts and take cooking classes to learn to make more dinner options. (My poor husband must be tired of pizza and pasta by now.) I am going to read a business book each month to sharpen my skills and stay on top of my field (this might be a cross into professional, but I still consider it personal growth).

My big personal goal...I am going to run a half marathon under 2 hours. I have said this before, but I have not taken the appropriate action to make it happen (I've also never written this goal down). I have already run my first 10k of the year and have been focused on logging some weekly miles. Look out Disneyland half...here I come!

Professionally I want to become a certified coach. (This all depends on if I get into our company's program. I'm on the wait list.) If I get to go through the program, I want to complete the necessary steps to become certified. I also plan to have at least one rep from each training class I coach achieve the 6-month benchmark. So far, I am 2 for 2. :)

Financially I am going to have 10% less credit card debt by the end of the year. You are probably thinking that 10% seems a little low. I felt that I needed a very reachable financial goal to make some progress in this area. I had to be realistic when setting this goal. I am still going to shop (spring sandals and dresses are right around the corner). 10% will make me feel like I made a dent in the damage, but won't force me to have shopping withdrawals. Did I mention I already have my eyes on my next Louis Vuitton?

I am excited about the new year. Now that I am settled in LA it is time to make some big things happen. Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated on my progress towards achieving my goals. I'm sure I'll throw in some workout play lists and random posts along the way.