Week 3 - Post 3 [Goalsetting]

OK, time to start discussing the areas where I am going to set my first goals.  Let's start with a list:

Health
Finances
Family
Business
Job
Spiritual

As I previously mentioned, I don't want to overwhelm myself.  After too many years of too little sleep, I know that it doesn't take too much to smother my motivation.  If I have to keep track of a whole bunch of things at once, things that I have to take action on, it's just way too easy for me - at this point in time - to stick with it all.  So, I want to pick just a couple of high-impact areas that I can focus on to start with.

Health - Right now I carry around 260 pounds on a 5' 8" frame.  One year ago I moved out of a house where we were subjected to toxic mold and low-level carbon monoxide poisoning for 6-11 years.  My immune system is probably compromised.  I have high blood pressure, controlled by medication.  I could seriously stand to make some significant changes in my health.  Getting 7-8 hours of sleep has been making a difference in my mental acuity and general alertness, especially in mid-afternoon, but I can't be satisfied with just that.

Finances - Not a strong area.  A really poor money personality coupled with medical bills incurred trying to get my wife healthy (being a work-from-home mom all those years in that house, she's suffered significantly more detrimental effects than the rest of us) has left us pretty much broke.  My wife and I have agreed that we need to get on Dave Ramsey's plan to get our finances in order.  We've taken some mini-baby steps, but have yet to get going and commit to the plan.

Family - I have some great daughters and a wonderful wife.  They deserve a better dad and husband.  I'm also a brother (with two younger brothers), a son, son-in-law, and brother-in-law.  Extended family gets even less of my time and attention than my immediate family, who don't get much themselves.

Business - I own an independent software development company.  We do web application development directly for our own customers, as a subcontractor for another design and web development company, and we are also developing our own software as a service product to put on the market.  Without goals, this company will continue to languish in mediocrity.  Financially, this business is probably the best bet for our family's future.

Job - I have a great job as an Application Systems Development Supervisor for a Fortune 500 company.  I am compensated well, with decent benefits.  I have a great team.  We have great projects to work on.  We're keeping busy and delivering well for our internal customers.  I do know that I have to continue to perform well there in order to progress and provide value to the company, but things are going quite well right now.

Spiritual - My spiritual life is hard to evaluate.  What are the criteria that define a healthy spiritual life?  I have deeply held convictions and I rely on God to get me through.  I don't subscribe to a lot of "religious" practices.  I don't feel a need to read my Bible every day or go to church every available opportunity in order to be "closer to God."  He's a big part of my life, but I do have to admit to not putting as much effort - in a non-religious manner - into the relationship as I could.  More attention here could do me well - could help me become a better, more centered and self-assured, me.

Since this whole deal is about living a principled life, let's approach this from a principled point-of-view.  What do you hear every time you fly?  "If the oxygen masks drop from the ceiling, put yours on first.  You can't help those around you unless you help yourself first."  With that in mind, which of these should I approach first?

[pause]

Okay, I just finished consulting my wife, who confirmed my own thoughts; start with Health and Spiritual for now.  Finances and Business are probably next...Financial goals will kind of take care of themselves when we get to the Ramsey stuff.  Business goals will be necessary next so I can get us really moving in a productive direction.

Tomorrow, let's talk about what goals I'm going to set for my Health and Spiritual well-being.