For the past few years I have been posting about what I have accomplished in the past year and what I would like to accomplish in the coming year. I have decided to do this for two reasons. First, to give me something to shoot for and to look forward to. I have always been a goal driven person and writing things down gives me a written record of what needs to be achieved. Second, to analyze the past year to see what I would like to improve on or what I would like to do different in the coming year.

I was a little disappointed this year in my results last year. I was able to bike to work but not 45 times. It was just lazy on my part. The multi-pitch route that I wanted to do all year, I never made it down there to do. I looked at it all year and thought I really need to make some time and hit that route. But as we all know life is busy. Running was the last goal that I set and I was able to get out, just not as much as I would have liked. I was hoping to run a marathon last year but never did.

So now looking forward, how can we or I be a little more committed and accomplish the goals that are set for the coming year? I have come up with 6 ideas to help us set, achieve and to be successful.

1. Make goals specific and measurable

In the business world saying that I will sell more widgets is not enough. People are looking for a number as in I will sell 25 more widgets this year. As we are thinking about setting a goal we should be thinking of how much and not just more. I think that was one of my problems last year when setting goals. I said I would like to climb more or run more but how much more? Give a specific amount or number to reach if possible. The more specific the goal the more measurable it is. So if you wanted to get out hiking or climbing more. Give a number to that goal, like 6 times a month or once a week. This will give you a target that you can aim for and the ability to measure if you are achieving that goal.

2. Write them down

By putting your goals on paper, computer, smartphone, or the web, will make them official. With all the technology we have now it is easy to have our goals right in front of us.

3. Find someone to hold you accountable

Even though there are many ways to have the goals right in front of our faces each day, we can all eventually ignore them or hide them. But if we can find someone who will follow up with us and hold us accountable the success will follow.

4. Celebrate your successes

This is where baby sets are congratulated. Sometimes the overall goal is huge. But if we never celebrate the little accomplishment along the way we might just drop the goal all together. So an example would be if you wanted to run a marathon and you have never run anything before. Reward yourself as you increase your miles or speed. When you run you first 5 miles without stopping, take yourself out to dinner or do something nice for yourself. Acknowledge successes along the way and be happy.

5. Be prepared for obstacles and setbacks and re-evaluate and adjust

Are there going to be days or maybe weeks that things are not going to be going well? Of course. Be prepared for these setbacks and make the appropriate adjustments. Don’t allow any obstacle or set back derail your goals. Have a plan “B” (and “C”) in place that will keep you on course. If things are still not working out the way you would like it to, adjust the goal, don’t just give up on it. A new job or kid in the family, are valid excuses that might interfere with your goals. So be prepared to adjust and continue.

6. Don’t allow failure to be an option

We all know the story of the little engine that could. The engine wasn’t big or strong but he never gave up. If you think you can, you can.  As in idea number 5 there are going to be days that failure seems to be the only option. But those are the days that we just need to dig in our heels and find ways to achieve.

So how am I going to apply these things? First I am going to write my goals down and post them here so hopefully family, friend and people I don’t know will follow up with me. I am also going to post them on the corkboard in the kitchen so I can see them and make adjustments daily if needed. I am also going to set a reminder in my Google and Outlook calendars for 6 months out to make me re-think what I have been doing and make the appropriate changes at that point if needed.

So with that said what my goals are for 2012:

• Bike 45 times to work.
• Run a marathon.
• Climb 12 new climbing routes.
• Take my kids to the mountains at least 2 times a month.
• Write at least 500 words a day.

Now I would love to hear from all of you. What are you planning this year? What goals have you set for you? I would love to hear what big plans you are making for the coming year and I would love to help follow up on those goals. Leave a comment and make it official. And let’s have a great 2012. We are also giving away to one lucky winner who replies to this post the book, “The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running” by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs. If you have ever thought about trail running this is a great book to get you started. If not make it a goal this year.
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We have been going strong now for two years and we have been seeing continual growth through the whole thing, but we are happy to see that we made it on the frontpage of Hiking The Trail Daily. We hope this is a trend that we will continue to see. And we thank everyone who has been spreading the word about us and has been there from the start.

So I don’t usually talk or write about golf or for that matter even play golf all that often. But if there was a way that you would get me on the course more often it would be in a shoe like the ECCO Street Premiere. I am always looking for a shoe that can do more for me, while still being comfortable. So even if you don’t golf you probably know someone who does. That is why I have posted this blog article. As Christmas is coming and as you might be scrambling to find a gift for your Dad, this might just be your ticket.

This coming Monday or known as Cyber Monday, ECCO is having a Deal on these shoes. On Monday (11/28) starting at 6 AM EST you can snag these shoes for a great price. Be sure to check out the Deal here. You might be able to check another person off your Christmas list.

The video below shows Fred Couples in these shoes and what he has to say about them.

One of the best parts about this post is the giveaway. ECCO USA is giving an autographed pair of golf shoes to someone. All you have to do to enter this contest is to simply comment on this blog post. It doesn’t get easier than that. The shoes are an approximate value of $400. The best to all of you.

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Well a couple weeks back we picked us up a 1976 Volkswagen Westfalia. We are pretty excited about our new toy. We have a lot of work a head of us but we are ready for it.

When we got it, it didn’t run, but with a little work and a lot of love it is now running. I did a little trouble shooting ad figured it wasn’t getting any gas. So I got under the bus and pulled off the fuel filter. I found that the filter was solid full of gas gunk and the fuel line as well. I pulled the line from the tank and fuel came draining out. I drained about 11 gallons of varnished old gas. Lucky for me, the gas gunk stopped at the filter and not through the rest of the lines, pump and engine. I did replace the lines and installed a new filter.

I also had to set the points and figure out the firing order. Also the previous owner installed a new battery cables backwards which had fried some of the electrical lines so I replaced them as well. After a little starter fluid, the engine turned over and started up. It was nice to get it up and running.

I am going to try to keep everyone updated on the progress of our Westy as we clean it up and get it up camping. I would love to hear any suggestions or stories about any of your VW buses. Keep riding.

The first day of the OR Show is always a good time. I had a blast meeting up with old friends and making new ones. Also it is a great day to be able to get out and try some of the gear that is going to be coming out. One thing that I have wanted to try lately is Stand Up Paddle boarding. We first met up with Steve from Stand Up Paddle Company. He was super energetic and told us to give it a try. Steve’s son gave us the run down and away we went. It was a good time and not that hard. I really didn’t come dressed to get wet so I was hoping not to fall in and luckily I didn’t. The first board that we tried was pretty big. They also had a smaller board that was not as stable but a lot easier to control and navigate.

We then meet up with Kahuna Creations. They are makers of longboards for land not water. They also use a paddle-like stick to push and slow down the board. I have longboarded for a couple years now and this was a great alternative to pushing with the legs.

The last SUP board that we tried was a soft board made by the oZoBoard Company. Their boards were wide and short. By this time the wind had been picking up and the water was getting choppy. It was a different feel from riding the boards earlier on smooth water. But these boards were stable and felt great. Again I didn’t even fall in. Stand Up paddle boarding made a great showing. I didn’t know that there could be so many different makers of boards.

The show was big and there were companies everywhere. We were able to check out some of the new packs from MHM. They are going to be sweet when they hit the market.

It was a great showing for the first day. I am excited for the next few days to meet up and see all the new stuff that will be coming out. Stay tuned for more details.

Here is a video of me coming back in from paddle boarding.

Here are a few other images from today.

Others of us weren’t as lucky not to fall in.

So beginning this year I have been thinking of the goals that I set last year and how I either achieved them or failed at them horribly. I am happy to say that I was able to accomplish one of the biggest goals that I have wanted to do for a while and that is bike to work more. As you can see in my last few posts I was able to do that and it was great. I had a goal of 15 times and I did that and more. I am going to triple that number for the coming year and shoot for 45 times.

Another goal of mine was to go climbing a bit more. I have to say that I wasn’t able to accomplish this. I did go out, but not the 30 times I was hoping. I did however go out hiking more as that is a lot easier to do with young kids. Both my boy and girl love the outdoors, and I have carried them, held their hands and watched them grow in the outdoors this past year. A little mud has never bothered my little princess.

This year I am not putting a number on how many times I would like to get out climbing. I am going to shoot for maybe a little more lofty goal of doing a few more multi-pitch climbs this year. I have picked out one in general and I have pinned in up on the cork board in the kitchen to remind me of it daily. I will be doing a lot of indoor climbing this winter to prepare myself for this climb.

Running is also another activity that I need to do a lot more of. I remember the days of coming home from work and trading the work shoes to the runners and hitting the pavement almost everyday. I have been trying to figure out when and how I am going to workout a little more and the answer that I keep coming up with is cut out a little sleep. I probably don’t really need 8 hours anyway. I never got that much sleep when I was back in college and working two jobs.

Something that I said last year I think is still applicable this year to all of us. “I am good at coming up with excuses at why I can’t reach a certain goal or maybe why I haven’t been able to go outside as much as I would have liked (Kids, work, family, tired). But when it is all said and done, these are just that, EXCUSES.”

I hope we can all figure out a way to stop making excuses and start living our dreams. I would love to hear from all of you. What are you planning this year? What goals do you have? What excuses you might have as why you didn’t accomplish your goals last year and how you are going to achieve them this year. Please reply to this post and by doing so we can all help each other succeed.