My Obligitory ‘Goals of 2012’ Post

by Chris Woodward

Happy New Year everybody. My New Year’s eve was one of the boringest I’ve ever had and I really enjoyed it that way. I’m 29, not that old yet but not young anymore, and just didn’t have the desire to go out at all. I stayed in and watched TV all night, drinkin’ beers with a few friends. I appreciate my younger years as I did a whole lot of partying but I’m enjoying relaxing more and more as I get older.

I think everyone makes some kind of goal at New Years. It seems natural as it is a new start of sorts. Everyone has something they’d like to accomplish or improve on and the new year always provides a starting place. I’m sad to see 2011 go, mostly because I just got used to writing 2011 when I date my checks, but 2012 is here and its time to move on. Here are a list of my goals for 2012.

1. Get a new job. I’ve been at my current job for a long time and it’s time for me to move on. While I consider the company I work for a good one, there are several factors that have led me to the decision to find a new path in my career. Things are changing at the company and if the rumors that are spreading are true, things are going to go downhill. More importantly, I just have the desire to learn. Learning and expanding my mind is what drives me inside. When I get passionate about something, I can’t be stopped. I will work tirelessly at it until I’ve mastered every aspect of it. The first time I played golf I shot probably 180. I became addicted though and 2.5 years later I registered a 3 handicap. I used to have that same drive  years and years ago in my position with my company, but it’s gone now. Helping something grow is also one of the greatest satisfactions I feel in business. It’s why I joined this blog and it’s why I’m seeking out a small company to join. I love being apart of a team that is working to grow something into something big. Again it’s what I used to feel within my current company but we’ve grown so much since I started that I feel everyone’s just lost in the shuffle now.

2. Buy better domains. We’ve all heard it…it’s better to own 1 great domain name than 100 mediocre domains. When my business partner and I got started in the domaining industry, we bought a lot of domains that are mediocre at best. We also bought quite a few good domains at auction. This year it’s time to finally drop the mediocre domains and use the profits from the good domains to buy great domains. For example, sell 5 domains for a total of 5k, and invest that 5k into a great domain. Sell 3 more for 2k, and buy 1 more for 2k. Quality over quanity will be our motto for 2012.

3. Rap with Bobby Ritchie. Being from Detroit, I am a huge Kid Rock fan. I know a lot of people will roll their eyes but I’m tellin’ ya, its just my kind of music. I’ve felt a connection to every album he’s ever done, and he’s the best live show you will ever see, I guarantee it. I’ve seen him live more times that I can count and travel our great country and beyond to do so. I work hard for my money and enjoy spending it on seeing him in concert. Every year I go on a cruise with him and several other artists. It takes 2 words to describe it…shit show. It’s the biggest and best white trash party you could imagine and while most people would be miserable on the ship, I feel right at home. This year we’re going from Miami to a private island in the Bahamas for a few days. It’s my goal to catch up with him and just thank him for everything he’s done, music and otherwise. He’s not only an amazing artist that has provided me countless hours of entertainment, but he’s also a great humanitarian that helps a lot of people every year without it being publicized. I’d also like to somehow sing my favorite song with him on the ship, Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp (um, lyrics NSFW). Yes I know all the lyrics and you can catch me rockin’ this just about any day of the week in my lifted pickup truck . They do a Q&A session on the boat so if I don’t run into him on the ship this year maybe I’ll ask if I can sing through that. He’s such a nice guy, he might just say yes.

4. Finish the menu for my restaurant. No, I don’t own a restaurant, but I’d like to one day. Remember when I said that when I get passionate about something I will jump right in and devote myself to it? Well that happened with me and cooking. I’ve become addicted to making great food. I’m a Detroit boy but have the king of BBQ in my parts and love southern and cajun food as well. I have dreams of one day opening a small restaurant and have even considered moving to Portland and joining the food cart movement there. But before I can do that, I need to have my menu complete. So far I’ve finalized several recipes but have a long way to go to complete. I’d like to get that done in 2012.

5. Spend more time with family. I didn’t see my mom nearly as much as I should have this year. My grandparents are getting up there in age and I’m going to miss them when they’re gone. I’d like to take a vacation with my dad. As I said, I’m getting older, and with that comes the realization of how important family is. Of all the goals I have, this one is the most important to me.

Well there we have it. I hope everyone has a good 2012 and meets all the goals they make. Here’s to health and domaining wealth.