January 5th Resolutions

So, I never really do the whole “resolution” thing.  I lack resolve, what can I say?  Erika always gets annoyed during Lent, because I give up stupid things.  Like the year I gave up swimming (success), or the year I gave up fasting (also success). So I find New Year’s resolutions kind of silly. Often fueled by a dangerous combination of alcohol and low self-esteem, it’s no wonder most don’t see the light of Valentine’s day.  Another significant problem with them is the type of goal.  I have had my own experience with corporate leadership training, seven habits, fish principles etc, so I’m no stranger to S.M.A.R.T. goals, and at risk of destroying my hard-won type-B personality, allow me to encourage you to use this format for goal setting, as I am about to. Here are my beer-related January 5th goals for 2012.  An added bonus to doing goals this way, especially as a serial-procrastinator, is I can really put my back into them come January 1st 2013, and finish in time.

S.M.A.R.T.

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Time-sensitive

(By the way, I’ve always felt Covey or whoever copped-out on A/R, as attainable and realistic in this context seem to mean the same thing, but I digress)

First Goal – Become a Legend

Legendary Badge on UntappdGet my “Legendary” badge on Untappd. If you don’t know, Untappd is an app for iPhone/BB/Droid which allows you to “check-in” to beers, sharing what you’re drinking and where.  It’s a neat little app that creates a fun community of people.  I’ve got followers from all over North America, who apparently want to know what beer I’m sipping.  A big part of the app, is earning badges.  It’s digital boy-scouts for beer lovers!  There are badges for drinking specific beers, as well as specific types; for drinking beers on holidays or during events; badges for drinking at specific places; and badges for your total number of unique beers.  That’s the one I’m concerned with. Currently I’ve checked-in 284 unique beers.  This means I have my “Master” badge. Legendary means 500 unique check-ins. That means that in 366 days (it’s a leap-year), I need to drink (and remember to check-in) 216 unique beers.  Which means at a pace of one beer per day, I get 150 non-unique-beer days off.

Self-check: Specific?  Yes.  Get badge.  Measurable?  I’ll either have it or not. Attainable/Realistic?  For the average drinker, not at all.  For me, totally. Time-sensitive? These all will be, as they need to be done on January 5th 2013 (I’ll omit “T” from now on).

Second Goal – Get my passport

Visit 3 Breweries in the USA. I’ve currently only visited one, and it was at Busch Gardens in Florida, and I was like 12.  I’d like to increase that number.  Now I just need to renew my passport.

Self-check: Specific? Could be more, but I don’t want to pick the breweries now. Measurable?  Same as before (let’s omit this one from this point on too). Attainable/Realistic?  Yes, but difficult.  I don’t travel to the states much, and have no current plans to do so, aside from this.  But that makes it fun!

Third Goal – Mash-in

Copper Brew-house

It will look just like this

Get my home-brewing system set up. I have wanted to do this for a while, and slowly but surely I’ve been collecting bits and pieces that are needed to brew at home.  There’s a few more items to go, but I’m nearly there.  Then I need to actually bring it all together.  Then I need to use it.  I’m really excited about this one.

Self-check: Specific?  Honestly there’s some wiggle room here, as I really haven’t defined “system”, other than it creates beer.  Which can be done fairly simply.  I’ve got grander plans.  But I like having outs. A/R? Very.  I could, in theory wander into the kitchen and brew up a simple batch of beer right now, but that hardly is what I’m planning.

Fourth Goal – Be the new Ricky Gervais

Start Podcasting.  I would love to start a weekly craftbeer podcast focusing on Toronto/Canada beer stuff, and I think I’m now connected and respected (haha) enough to actually get people interested in being on the show.  But will people be interested in listening?  Gladly, audience is not part of this goal.

Self-check: Specific?  Yes, a little too specific (weekly, eeeek), though at least I didn’t set a duration. A/R? Honestly, the biggest hurdle is actually hardware related.  I need a decent recorder and stuff.  But that’s easy enough.

Fifth Goal – Give Dumas a run for his Francs

Alexandre Dumas

Goal 6, get that hair-style

Publish my 500th post here. If you’ve ever read the full-text original version of The Count of Montecristo, you might have deduced something.  The story was released to the public in chapters published in a weekly paper.  Dumas was paid by the word, and knew he was totally able to stretch the story.  It’s almost painful for the first few chapters, until you get used to it.  Anyways I don’t write here nearly as much as I would like.  I’m hoping this won’t be the case for the upcoming year.  In fact, I hope that I will be able to add an additional 175 posts, as this is number 325 (okay, 174, because obviously I’ll do a follow-up to this on January 5th 2013). I would like to make it to 600, but I would really be pushing the realism.

Self-check: Specific? Oh yes. A/R? As mentioned, at this level, yes.  It won’t be easy, but I can make it.

So here’s to 2013! If I actually succeed in all these goals, you’ll be able to say “Yeah, I read that blog when he was just some doofus in the Beach”. So what are your beer-related hopes for 2013?

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