focusing [0517.2000]

Two months ago, I wrote about Circles of Influence. I was complaining about spending all my time and energy on Client work. I decided to focus and get that project done. Well, it's done.

Now I'm happily working on Zike software, and taking time out to also relax.. But how to spend that time? A couple days ago, I set some goals... But now I'm realizing that they're pulling me in too many different directions.

I have five major goals for this year. I set them at new years, and I've thought about them every day since, even if I haven't been acting on them. Here they are, in order:

1. Get in shape.
2. Turn Zike into a profitable business.
3. Relaunch manifestation.com
4. Find a home for the next few years.
5. Find a girlfriend.

Right now, I'm focusing on 1 and 2. The software from Zike will help me get manifestation.com going. Then I'll make enough money to live wherever I want, and I'll be able to devote some free time to dating.

My list of three month goals.. My "birthday present" to myself.. Included all of the above except number 5, plus:

• Get linkwatcher working with personalization, automated blog submissions, etc.
• Get Java 2 certified (Architect and/or Programmer).
• Publish a Flash animation on Animation Express
• Be able to play at least two songs on the piano
• Understand enough spanish to hold a converstation or read a spanish popular novel.
• Have at least ten thousand dollars in the bank (after taxes), and a regular paycheck coming in (preferably from Zike!)

Well.. That's just not going to happen. For one thing, there's not much in the way of synergy going on here. None of these "little" goals support the others. And having money in the bank is a great goal, but not if it takes away from launching my companies.

It's like 3:00 in the morning. I'm really tired. I should definitely be in bed, but I couldn't sleep, because this was bugging me. I take my goals seriously, and I don't like it when they're not supporting me. So here goes:

• Health - no contest. This is the most important goal.
• Zike - no contest. This is the other most important goal.
• Manifestation.com - no contest. I've been promising this to myself for years.
• New home - definitely, but I guess I don't really care if I have this before August. That implies house/apartment-hunting, which is a big chunk of time I don't want to spend. Not to mention moving. Not to mention it's bound to be more expensive than where I live now. I guess I'm just not going to worry about it for now.
• linkwatcher - this is important to me. For one thing, I've made a commitment to people. For another, I actually want to use the tools I've dreamed up. For another, it supports Zike.
• Java 2 - I really don't see much point to this. The only real reason I have for learning it is to have a "fallback" if Zike fails. But that's dumb, because:
  • Zike isn't going to fail.
  • If I do need work while we get Zike moving, I'm already employable because of my ASP experience.
  • I don't have anything nice to say about Java, and I really don't want to spend all day working in it.
• Flash - I'm keeping this one. I've always loved animation. It's a creative outlet and I really enjoy learning about it for its own sake. Besides, any graphical skill I pick up can only help with Zike, and flash is especially suited for interactive applications on the web... which just happens to be the business we're in. :)
• Piano - Maybe someday. Not today. I may play around with the python-midi interface though, and work on my music teaching program.
• Spanish - I keep thinking this is a good idea.. But I really don't know anyone who speaks spanish and not english. (I did, once, but she moved away..) Perhaps later.
• $10,000 - not sure about this one. From my current perspective, this is a big goal. But that's because I'm not getting a paycheck. On the other hand, I really believe in the merits of what I'm building, and in Zachs' ability to sell. I think I'll stick with "making my living off of zike" and leave it at that.

Which leaves me with my new birthday present:

• Get in shape / complete Body for Life
• Launch Zike
• Launch manifestation.com
• Fix linkwatcher
• Flash movie (for animation express)

Huh. That's pretty heavy on the computer stuff, but it feels right. Believe it or not, I've gone months at a time without writing a program.. I'm just in a heavy hacking phase right now... And once most of this is done, I'll be in a heavy "people" phase.

I like this. I'm going to bed.