101 things to accomplish in 1001 days!

So Shelly B, sent me to the website of Shelby Leigh (http://shelbyleigh.com/), an up and coming photographer in the Baltimore area. One day during lunch I was poking around on her site and blog, I came across her 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days! I loved the idea and found it very inspirational; then lunch ended.

Well I couldn’t stop thinking about the concept. So, here I am sitting in Boston 16 days later, finishing my very own 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days! I hope you will join me over the next 1001 days, following in my progress and participating in my accomplishments. Bookmark this post so you can check back to see how I am coming along.

Note: I am directly ripping The Mission, The Criteria, Why 1001 Days? from Shelby’s blog post. Originally, published here.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.


MY START DATE: 11/09/2008
MY END DATE: 09/28/2011

KEY:
BOLD: Completed.
ITALIC: in progress.

1. Take a 35mm photography class
2. Learn another language
3. Buy a professional digital camera
4. Take a digital photography class
5. Read 10 books in 10 consecutive weeks (10/10)
6. Design, develop and launch my own professional website
7. Blog consistently for 12 weeks straight (4/12)
8. Paint portrait of Audrey Hepburn
9. Join the AAB
10. Be active in the AAB
11. Complete Passport application
12. Take trip out of the country
13. Arrange to speak to the Communications/Multimedia students at my alma mater
14. Have Mike Brown finish my back tattoo
15. Have Shannon Brown give me a tattoo of Rainbow Brite
16. Participate actively in the AMA
17. Get credit card debt down to 1 credit card
18. Get a new (new to me) car
19. Build a garage in the backyard
20. Pave the driveway
21. Setup and stick to a reoccurring cleaning schedule
22. Go to the gym 3 days a week for 2 months (0/2)
23. Buy new end tables and entertainment center for the living room
24. Put a breakfast bar in between the dining and living room
25. Join/use Flickr
26. Visit and be a tourist in six new cities (1/6)
27. Participate in a poker run
28. Get a functional magazine rack for the bathroom
29. Make the dining room & kitchen on big room
30. Setup a studio work place in the house
31. Finish the basement
32. De-clutter my house
33. Formally close Slumber Parties business, tax id information.
34. Read The Secret, and give the book back to Jackie
35. Start my day at the office no later than 9 AM for 20 days consecutively (0/20)
36. Get an email capable phone
37. Back up old Mac files
38. Get iMac up and running
39. Visit Colorado
40. Finish a cross stitch
41. Buy a sewing machine
42. Plan a killer 30^th Birthday Party for Brian
43. Have 9 days with Me, Myself & I where we go shopping, to the movies & eat lunch (1/9)
44. Learn to Rock climb
45. Learn Flash
46. Buy a Macbook
47. Go to a show at Center Stage
48. Go to see the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
49. Work a max of 40 hours a week for 12 weeks (0/12)
50. Tile the bathroom floor
51. Have a cookout and invite all the neighbors
52. Use Social Networking for professional growth
53. Find an underwriter for Duck Stamp
54. Replace the windows in the house
55. Buy a Wii
56. Take Sprocket to a Dock Dog competition
57. Actively work to socialize Drake
58. Participate in a MS Walk
59. Write descriptions for linked in profile
60. Visit the American Visionary Art Museum
61. Plan a DC weekend trip
62. Only eat out 4 times in one month
63. Setup and continue a weekly laundry schedule
64. Take Danielle to get an industrial piercing
65. Get closet organization systems
66. Get a dishwasher
67. Design Chrysler’s Nauti Girl Tattoo
68. Shoot and hit a bird (Goose, Mallard, Teal)
69. Improve aim, by shooting skeet
70. Learn how to duck call
71. Do a girls weekend with my mom
72. Hold an impromptu trip; by just getting in the car and driving
73. Read all of Seth Godin’s Books
74. Take a creative writing class
75. Put $20 a pay in my IRA, from start to finish of my 1001
76. Update my short-term disability to reflect my current annual pay
77. Ride Bob at least twice a year by myself (0/6)
78. Design my Snapdragon/Lucielle tattoo
79. Buy new bathroom towels
80. Buy two more sets of flannel sheets (1/2)
81. Attend Oktoberfest at the Maryland State Fairgrounds
82. Go to dinner/ with Megan R & Meghan B
83. Learn to deliver a presentation with CB enthusiasm
84. Speak to/See Grandparents 4 times a month (0/132)
85. Go to Xpose classes 4 times a month (0/132)
86. Finish portraits of Brian & I that were started in 2002
87. Finish scrapbooks of Brian & my first two years
88. Buy an old fix me up car & fix her up
89. Learn to drive the boat when crabbing
90. Visit OBX, preferably Duck.
91. Get a trade in on the camper
92. Grow an Herb Garden
93. Grow a Vegetable Garden
94. Visit the Florida Keys
95. Get a carbon fiber dot approved helmet
96. Go to an oxygen bar
97. Become more politically aware
98. Design Hawk Logo
99. Get a new dining room table
100. Sell extra motorcycle parts on ebay
101. Donate $25 to charity for every task not completed

LG

Note: Due to my employment status change, I have to change four of my 101 in 1001. Above, I have stricken the four items that I will need to replace. I am open to suggestions. (04/14/2009)