Progress Report for week ended 10/26/08

Goals for October 2008:

1) Find a job for wife by month's end - SUCCESS - my wife found a job this week in childcare. I am much more relieved than I was over the last several weeks.

2) Finish editing of book - SUCCESS - I'm done. I've sent copies to a few friends for advice on editing. Now the plan is to sharpen up a query letter for book agents.

3) Decide on publisher - NO progress here so far

4) Blog more often - Still hoping to improve this goal before the end of the month.


So I have to say I feel a lot better now than I did at the beginning of the month. Hopefully the good news will continue.

Progress report for week ended - 10/12/08

Goals for October 2008:

1) Find a job for wife by month's end - I'm excited, tomorrow the wife has a interview at a very well known company. Now if I can only get her as excited as I am.

2) Finish editing of book - So far, I've edited chapters 1-3 again started on chapter 4 but it really needs to be re-written.

3) Decide on publisher - NO progress here.

4) Blog more often - Still working to improve upon this goal.

What can I say, I have been distracted by family matters as well as the markets going up and down and today - way up ...I have a feeling they may go back down tomorrow again.

Progress Report for week ended 10/5/08

Goals for October 2008:

1) Find a job for wife by month's end - I applied to 10 jobs over the weekend on my wife's behalf. She received 2 phone calls back today and has 1 "pseudo-interview" set up.

2) Finish editing of book - The plan is to work on this a little bit tonight but, we shall see.

3) Decide on publisher - need to get the book together - i.e., step 2...before I can honestly begin talking about publishers.

4) Blog more often - I am not doing that great a job at this goal right out of the blocks but, hopefully I'll improve it this week and next.


So many things going on - so many things to be distracted with. I think I just need to find some zen-like focus and get the necessary stuff out of the way while letting the unnecessary stuff (and there is a lot of it) fall to the wayside.

September results/October goals

So here are my goals for September:

Get computer fixed or get a new computer - SUCCESS - I got my computer back last week after 4 weeks of waiting.
Begin sharing funds for family budget - SUCCESS - is in effect no because my wife is still unemployed.
Finish final editing for book (no really I mean it this time) - FAILURE - Shoulda, coulda, woulda - I need to buckle down it's just hard to get motivated to do side projects when the main thing is my wife's lack of a job.
Work on mutual savings goal with wife - FAILURE - This is a goal is still postponed in the short term while my wife looks for a job.

I am frustrated on a few fronts right now. The stock market tanking on Monday is not really helping the situation. Hopefully the bill will get passed even though it's helping out fat cats.

Goals for October 2008:

1) Find a job for wife by month's end

2) Finish editing of book

3) Decide on publisher

4) Blog more often

I could go into more detail but right now I'm not exactly in the greatest of moods - that being said I'll update a bit later.

Progress report for week ended - 9/21/08

So here are my goals for September:

1. Get computer fixed or get a new computer - SUCCESS - I just got back my computer today finally from the dork squad. It turns out that my apartment management doesn't contact you when they have packages unless you have not picked up the item in over a week. They received my DELL disks last Friday. I obviously made the mistaken assumption that they would call or drop a note by if they had something that had been sent overnight, I thought wrong.
2. Begin sharing funds for family budget - SUCCESS - has started but it's basically me creating a budget for myself because I'm doing the majority of the spending as my wife still remains unemployed.
   
3. Finish final editing for book (no really I mean it this time) - So now that I have the computer back I plan to devote a large chunk of my time to get this book editing done and over with. I think I had possibly a chapter or less left when the computer went down last time. I might run it by a couple good friends first and then off to the publishers I shall go.
   
4. Work on mutual savings goal with wife - This is a goal that will be post-poned in the short term while my wife looks for a job.

Although My wife returning to the world of the 'employed' is a priority, I have to say that getting this book out of the way just to say it is done is a major priority that I have in my sights right now. I'm saying my silent prayers but I also have faith that this can open up other doors and opportunities for me in the long run.

Progress Report for week ended - 9/14/08

So here are my goals for September:

1. Get computer fixed or get a new computer - I still have my computer over at the 'dork-team' or something like that at a big box electronics store. Since then I was instructed to call DELL to get a special disk. And after staying on hold for a good half hour - last week - they said they were sending it in 2-3 business days. Of course as you might have heard, Hurricane Ike went through Texas and some of it ended up here in Ohio complicating the 2-3 business days for the disk. I am really resisting the urge to just buy a new computer mainly because my wife is no longer employed at her 3 week employer.
2. Begin sharing funds for family budget - SUCCESS - has already started with last week's groceries and bill paying. Unfortunately with her looking for a job again it looks like it's more or less my wallet OUR budget - oh well.
3. Finish final editing for book (no really I mean it this time) - The computer problem is keeping this goal from being achieved for the time being. To put it more bluntly the most recently edited version of the book is saved on my non-working computer. I spent a good 20 hours of free time on that version and I am really procrastinating trying to that all over again on a library computer so i continue to wait for the "dork squad'.
4. Work on mutual savings goal with wife - this is kind of the very back burner, collecting dust until my wife finds a new job. We may be able to squeak by with my salary but more likely, I'll probably have to either dip into savings or find a part-time job (again ...sigh) until she can find a job herself.

I have to say, this past week has been an interesting if not frustrating one:

• My wife is no longer gainfully employed and is in search of a new job.
• My computer has officially been in the shop for 3 weeks as of today.
• A hurricane is most likely causing technical difficulties as far as getting my computer up and running again.
• Power around the majority of my city has been knocked out due to the after-effects of Ike. Thankfully, me and my wife weren't affected.
• The stock market plunges 400+ points (again)

I have to say it could be worse. My heart goes out to those in Houston and Galveston who lost there homes or worse. I also feel for those at Lehman Brother's who lost there jobs as well as those at AIG who will likely lose (at least some of) their jobs. "Things are tough all over..." might be a bit of an understatement.

Progress report - for week ended 9/7/08

So here are my goals for September:

1. Get computer fixed or get a new computer - So currently I have my computer over at the 'dork-team' or something like that at a big box electronics store. I dropped it off there Wednesday and I called today for a check up. The 'dork' I talked to said that they are still having issues with it which might mean I need to clear out the hard drive and start from the ground up. I plan to decide tonight.
2. Begin sharing funds for family budget - SUCCESS - has already started with this week's groceries and bill paying.
3. Finish final editing for book (no really I mean it this time) - The computer problem is keeping this goal from being achieved for the time being.
4. Work on mutual savings goal with wife - working on this. My wife let me know today that she has every intention of getting a new job because she hates her boss at her new well-paying one. It looks like I might have to find a stable working environment for the wife before pursuing this will any major focus.

Slowly starting to get the hang of this being married thing but by no means am I (or do I see myself becoming) an expert. I might have to blow a bunch of money for a new CPU if the dork squad's nuclear option doesn't work. I hope that's not the case.

August 2008 Results*/September 2008 Goals

*August 2008 -

1) make a family budget - SUCCESS- We did make a rough draft of a budget but we need to go over it again- I had that small issue of getting married and going on a honeymoon that took up an enormous amount of my time.

September goals -

1) Get computer fixed or get a new computer
2) Begin sharing funds for family budget
3) Finish final editing for book (no really I mean it this time)
4) Work on mutual savings goal with wife.

OK The first goal is obviously going to become the most important one in the short term because as I type this I am in a public library with several children playing computer games, teenagers listening to their music or talking too loud and adults answering there cell phones ... Lord knows I miss my personal at home Internet.

Back from the honeymoon...

So I've returned from the honeymoon. Now I'm a married man.

I think it might take some adjusting, getting used to the married life and what not. Hopefully we'll be able to learn to compromise although we're both a tad on the stubborn side.

I guess I also need to touch up on my English 101 - recent and not-so-recent typo's and mistakes are being noted. Needless to say I was not an English major but, I like to write. Is that wrong? I hope not.

The finances will be OK for at least a little while due to some thoughtful (cash) wedding gifts. Now it's just a matter of refocusing on goals again - a vacation on an island tends to make one 9me) forget.

July Results/August Goals

Here are my goals for July 2008:


1. Break even or Increase Net Worth -SUCCESS

2. Set up website for business - SUCCESS*

3.Set up checking account for business - FAILURE

4. Get business cards for business - FAILURE



I will update the details a bit later but right now I've got to work on some more pressing concerns.



August goals:



I might just postpone these until after the big day but, I'd say at least one would be:



1) Setting up a family budget.

Progress Report - for week ended 7/20/08

Here are my goals for July 2008:

1. Break even or Increase Net Worth - This is looking like more and more of an unlikelihood. Wedding expenses are coming fast & furious and income is not increasing.
   
2. Set up website for business - Met with my new webmaster, bought the website carteblanchmedia.com now I just need to switch it from an ad for GoDaddy.com to a decent site explaining what I'm doing.
   
3. Set up checking account for business - I need to call the state on this one. I did receive an LLC certificate but it did not include any tax ID#.
   
4. Get business cards for business - I have a temporary logo set up talked to the nice people at FedEx Kinko's today and I really just need to verify what I want to say on my business cards.
   

The last couple of days, I've tried to drop a lot of the things that are going through my mind and focus on one thing at a time. Right now I'd like to get the business about 90% off the ground before heading on my honeymoon.

Progress Report - for week ended 7/13/08

Here are my goals for July 2008:

1. Break even or Increase Net Worth - it will be a nail-biter till the end to see if this goal can be accomplished. After spending $300+ last week on my car this week I have no real pressing expenses other than the expense of setting up my website for my business which appears to be up and running now per the Ohio Secretary's website.
   
2. Set up website for business - Just need to contact my webmaster and start the ball rolling. I plan to start with a minimum investment but I'd like to hold off until payday this week just in case anything comes up while I'm low on funds.
   
3. Set up checking account for business - At this point, mainly waiting on my next payday before I set this one up. Also need the paperwork back from the state for my TAX ID number.
   
4. Get business cards for business - really just need to nail down the logo design - hopefully this week - and I should be able to wrap this goal up.
   

My focus has been all over the place lately; 1) on the impending wedding, 2)on my impending business, 3) on a charity project I'm supposed to do for the church of my relative. I always tend to do this - start a bunch of different projects simultaneously and then end up having mediocre results on all - I really need to cut this habit out if I am to have any success in the future. Time to start living by that Zen focus - give all your energy & your time to one thing that is happening(or can happen) right now...everything else is meaningless in comparison.

For those of you reading - wish me luck! Thanks in advance.

Progress Report- for week ended 7/6/08

The last few days I've been having car trouble so my apologies for not updating earlier. That being said, here are my goals for July 2008:

1. Break even or Increase Net Worth - a few days ago I thought this goal was definitely within reach. Then over the weekend, I had some car trouble which made that goal all the more difficult to achieve - to be specific, in excess of $300 more difficult. It could be worst though.
   
2. Set up website for business - still have not done this. I am waiting for paperwork back from the state.
   
3. Set up checking account for business - still have not done this . I am waiting for paperwork from the state.
   
4. Get business cards for business - and to sound even more like a broken record 'still have not done this. waiting on bureaucratic state forms to be approved.
   

So not much progress I'll admit but it was a holiday weekend and I did have car trouble. This week I should have more time to focus.

Progress Report - for week ended 6/29/08

So, here on the last day of the month - are my goals for June 2008:

1. Publish Debt Freedom book (online or otherwise) - FAILURE - Got a little input from a family member that the book needs a lot of work. So it looks like publication won't be happening this month. I did send in my forms for the LLC but because a minor omission (forgot to add LLC at the end of the Co. name) the powers that be in the great state of Ohio sent the form back to me - along with my check. You'd think the fact that I was filling out an 'LLC application form' would make the LLC part inherent but, what do I know - especially about state bureaucracy.
   
2. Join (or start) an entrepreneur's group - SUCCESS - I just went to great group last week and I plan to check out another one this coming week and a 3rd at the beginning of next month. I'm pumped. Hopefully the next two are as great as the one I went to on Thursday!
   
3. Post at least 25 blogs this month - FAILURE - As I look at my blogs for June it looks like I've published 21 so far including this one. Close yet no cigar I guess. handling last minute wedding issues hasn't exactly helped the matter either.
   
4. **Subscribe to Inc Magazine - SUCCESS -Done - yup I finished this simple goal way early. Maybe as a confidence booster for my other goals.

Well it looks like I'm hitting .500 - which as far as my goals go is not exactly great. Haven't figured my goals out for the coming month yet but, I'll get to those as soon as I can - a lot of wedding planning is finally coming to a head.

So I think I found some meetings.

As I've mentioned earlier one of my goals for this month is to either join or start an entrepreneurship group. It appears that there are already quite a few groups in my area and I sent a 'request to attend' more or less to at least 3 of them.

The only thing, I'm slightly nervous about is the 'open networking' time as I can either be extremely gregarious with people I've never met before or a complete and total Wallflower.

Two of the entrepreneurship groups had a 'screening process' where the group leader will contact me back in 'a couple days' with a 'yes, you can attend' or 'no, you cannot' . One of those groups meets this coming Thursday so I hope they get back to me soon.

In the meantime I'll keep my finger's crossed.

Progress Report - for week ended 6/15/08

So here are my goals for June 2008:

1. Publish Debt Freedom book (online or otherwise) - I'm completely done with the typing of the book. Now I just need to make some last minute adjustments before I let some friends & family take a first look at it and give me some pointers. I talked to two family members yesterday about that and they seem willing to review it so we shall see. I think this week will be about adding additional info and having people review it. Might also need to get an LLC started while I'm at it.
   
2. Join (or start) an entrepreneur's group - Still haven't seen a bunch of groups posted or anything, I might have to make my own. The one at the end of June may not coincide with my schedule.
   
3. post at least 25 blogs this month - As I look at my blogs for June it looks like I've published 10 so far and this will make for 'number twelve' so at this pace I still have a good chance of reaching the goal - I just slacked a little last week because I was trying to finish up the book.
   
4. **Subscribe to Inc Magazine - SUCCESS -Done - yup I finished this simple goal way early. Maybe as a confidence booster for my other goals.
   

As I mentioned in goal #1 I think something I need to do in the next couple of weeks is get an LLC or 'Limited Liability Corporation' started before I venture off and start making money. That along with looking for entrepreneurship groups will be my mini-focus for this week.

Progress Report - For week ended 6/8/08

So here are my goals for June 2008:

1. Publish Debt Freedom book (online or otherwise) - I am doing the editing (Typing ) process right now. Just gone done with Chapter 3 and i plan to finish chapter 4 tonight as well - God willing. If I can get focused I can get all the typing done this week. Then I'd like to add a few extra sections and possibly some quotes but first I need to finish up typing - again hopefully by the end of next week.
   
2. Join (or start) an entrepreneur's group - I looked for one online last week but there first meeting isn't until the end of June - maybe if I look harder I'll find one for this week?
   
3. post at least 25 blogs this month - As I look at my blogs for June it looks like I've published 6 so far and this will make for 'number seven' so at this pace I will achieve this goal on time but, It wouldn't hurt to achieve it way early either.
   
4. **Subscribe to Inc Magazine - SUCCESS -Ha ha! I beat up the procrastinator-side-of-me and locked him in a closet shortly after writing this goal so I could send in a handy dandy check for Inc . & Fast Company for the super-low price of $15. Now If I can just find a way to get that procrastinator-side-of-me from the closet over to a walk in industrial freezer somewhere - I think I might have a very productive rest of the year.
   

So the first week is going pretty good. It doesn't hurt that the sun is out and I become more enthusiastic when it's sunny and warm outside. If i can keep hype the whole summer I might accomplish something great. Or at least meet my New year's resolution...

May results/June Goals - 2008

My goals for May were as follows:

1. Write a book about Debt - SUCCESS - I finished all 10 chapters on Thursday, a day early.
   
2. Increase budget on Wedding account to $7500 - FAILURE * - * I've kind of backed off of contributing to the wedding account for some reasons of my own. There is also the fact that our budget will most likely be a little (or a lot) less than originally thought.
   
3. Put at least 3 items on E-bay to sell - FAILURE - nope didn't really even try. I was mostly focused with writing the book.
   

Even though I only accomplished one goal, I think I will stick with the 3-goal approach. Although this spreads out my energy a little if I accomplish all three then I feel pretty darn accomplished. If I accomplish one I've got that one.

1. Publish Debt Freedom book (online or otherwise)
   
2. Join (or start) an entrepreneur's group
   
3. post at least 25 blogs this month
   
4. **Subscribe to Inc Magazine
   

So there you have it. I am optimistic that all the above goals are highly attainable. Just need to focus and forget about watching the Simpson's.

**By the way, the last goal is so easy, in theory I should owe someone money if I DON'T do it. ..and I hate owing anybody money.

Progress Report - for week ended 5/26/08

Still no home computer. I relaxed a little bit too much over the holiday weekend - nevertheless, here are my Goals for May:

1. Write a book about Debt - I've written just about 8 chapters thus far. two more to go. It should be done by the end of the month.
2. Increase budget on Wedding account to $7500 - Still holding off on contributing to the wedding fund. I don't think the fiancee has contributed anything so far this month anyway.
3. Put at least 3 items on E-bay to sell - still slacking - what can I say? having no Internet access at your house kind of defeats the 'sell it on E-bay' goal before you get started .

I'll try and keep this updated as much as I can while I try and figure out my plans for Internet. Having to rush through Internet sessions at the library does not help in the typo section I'm slowly learning so I need to fix this issue soon.

Progress Report - for week ended 5/11/08

I've been doing some thinking recently and I may be changing my strategy in a specific area of my life. That being said - here are my goals for May:

1. Write a book about Debt - I've written the 1st and 2nd chapters have the 3rd half- written. I plan to finish that chapter up tonight actually time permitting.
   
2. Increase budget on Wedding account to $7500 - I need to re-arrange my banking receipts and take a second look at the budget to see exactly where we're at on this one. I know that about $400 has been added to the account in the last couple of weeks but some wedding expenses have been purchased as well.
   
3. Put at least 3 items on E-bay to sell - I have been slacking on this goal and have no good excuse. The main focus is the book and the wedding - due to lackluster results on craigslist and lack of knowledge (i.e., ignorance) about E-bay I have been procrastinating.
   

I've been talking to one of my good friends about starting an entrepreneurial interest but were just in the 'research' stage right now. I'll give more news on that as it progresses.