It is the time of year again, and since Lariam has almost totally gone my life will return even closer to normal this year.

Professional Highlights of 2006

  • Lariam is barely holding me back now. About one day a month I still take a sick day, but such days are now fairly bearable. At this rate I expect zero sick days by 2008 (seven years since taking two pills!)
  • Returned to an Architect role again and for the first time in years

Personal Highlights of 2006

  • Almost have one rental house self sufficient. It should require little maintenance and pay for itself in 15->20 years
  • Polished DIY skills. Now able to effectively manage contractors
  • Track day at Road Atlanta
  • Gotten a handle on Retirement

2006 was really a major regrouping after Lariam and the start of crunching numbers for retirement planning, so what about 2007:

Professional Goals for 2007

  • Really make a difference at work instead of just nudging people in better directions
  • Give at least two high-visibility presentations
  • Re-read and fully digest classic foundation of Software-Development books such as Code Complete. Aim to be an world-class expert in directing software development teams
  • At least skim-read 7 Habits and Getting Things Done etc

Personal Goals for 2007

  • More retirement planning
  • At least one weekend at Road Atlanta and all Solo2 schools
  • At least a half-marathon, try for six minute mile or full marathon
  • Unless technology takes over again, attempt to buy at least one more rental property and use >90% contractors to upgrade where necessary

Surely no-one but me is interested, but what happened to last year’s goals?

Professional Goals for 2006

  • Start picking up the pace work-wise (Lariam willing)
    • YES! Now I am probably at 30% of my pre-Lairam work pace, which is not bad at all
  • Continuous improvement of speaking skills especially for Code Camps – rival Mark Dunn before 2007!!
    • Somewhat. The skills getting close to Mark Dunn et-al, but not quite
  • Find more time to help with requests for Podcasts, book writing, company foundation etc
    • No, I changed focus to locking down retirement goals instead
  • Ensure everything I do for the .Net community is of the highest possible quality
    • YES!
  • Read/ skim-read all the well known management/ personal success books (cringe)
    • Somewhat

Personal Goals for 2006

  • Do not annoy anyone if Lariam hits again
    • YES! There were only two bad sessions last year, and I was even polite to the incompetent clowns who fired me to protect their jobs
  • Live modestly, including driving a used car which gets good mpg
    • YES and no. In the USA new cars can be as cheap as used cars to run – I tried to buy a used Miata more than once, but used prices were just too high
  • Do at least one auto-cross every month
    • Somewhat, I did every school possible including one at Road Atlanta
  • Find time to achieve a 6 minute mile
    • No, but kept residual fitness
  • Move to a more central part of Atlanta
    • Somewhat, my wife and I now how very short commutes and are with walking distance of a great pub ;)