Making It Count – My Goals for 2012

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. That’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll forget about them before the end of January. But I am a very aggressive goal-setter, so I tend to pick a Big Theme for the year and develop a set of goals surrounding that theme.

The past two years have felt a bit stagnant for a mixture of reasons, only some of which have been in my control. So 2012’s theme is Make It Count, and I spent the last two months of 2011 preparing to hit the ground running.

• First and foremost, I’m moving back to New York. I’ve given it a real shot out here in Bethlehem, but it’s not the right time in my life to settle down here. It was a tough decision, because I have a job I love doing really interesting work. But work isn’t everything and it’s time to get back to the excitement and bright lights I’ve been yearning for. I also think New York is going to be the Next Big Thing for the internet industry; actually, that’s pretty conventional wisdom, but it’s really going to explode in the next 2-3 years, and I can’t resist that.
• My career focus is going to shift slightly to ensure that most everything I do professionally provides a benefit to society at large. I’m a big believer that innovation and business can change society, and I always want to be exploring that intersection.
• I’m excited to start exercising again. I had a major injury of my leg in October and while it’s still healing, I’m hoping I can start running in the spring.
• With the help of my friend Jon Geeting, we’re reinvigorating Keystone Politics. He’ll be leading the editorial side of things that I’ve been too busy to focus on, while I work on the business stuff. I’m very excited for that.
• In 2011, I was able to give back and donate more than ever to the causes and charities I believe in, and I’d like to top that in 2012. I’ve shifted much of my giving away from politics and toward those in need, and I think that trend will continue.
• I’m going to do a better job of valuing the people in my life. I think I do a pretty good job of it already, but this weekend’s visit to NY reminded me that I have some pretty damn amazing friends. So there’s always room for improvement, and nothing is more important than one’s friends and family.