Three housecleaning items before we get going with the new stuff:
If you missed the prior post recapping my misadventures from Q1’2011, make sure you start HERE:
If you want to set your goals for 2Q’2011 using the 12 Week Year Challenge (12WYC) tools, make sure you get a free copy of the eBook HERE: (and post your goals on the blog!)
Finally, the remaining Street Corner Man videos have all been uploaded to my YouTube channel HERE:
Enjoy!
As you will quickly realize, I really don’t have a reason to use a David Bowie video in this post. None whatsoever. But I really liked my draft title for this post, so I’m running with it.
Let me confess that I’ve had some version of this post saved as a draft on my computer for several weeks now, but haven’t gotten around to publishing it. Facebook friends will easily be able to identify the reason behind my lack of spare time… but to my beloved non-FB readers, please know that I have double digit posts ready to publish with only some minor editing in the very near future.
Recognizing that nearly 4 weeks of this 12-Week year have passed, here are my main BHAG goals, including YTD progress, for my 12-Week Year of 2Q’2011.
BIG GOAL #1: Get back to 175 lbs, Get knees healthy enough to jump back into P90x, Cross Fit, or personal training. Get FIT.
I toyed with several different ideas here. As you may remember, I have gone on alcohol and caffeine fasts before, and I even considered going Vegan just to see if I could do it. This time around, I’m confident that I don’t have a problem with alcohol… although going to Starbucks twice a day may not be “healthy.” After a fun-filled March that included a Kentucky run to the Final Four, 3 concerts, and trips to New York City, Savannah, Cincinnati, and Fort Lauderdale… I was really feeling bloated. We’re talking bulging man-pregnancy belly here. As April began, I was nowhere close to my stated goal, weighing in at 187 and having to ice my balky knees after every short run or basketball game.
UPDATE: The first thing that I did was institute a vitamin regimen that was suggested by Tim Ferriss in the 4-Hour Body. Dubbed the PAGG method, it includes daily doses of Polycosinol, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, (decaffeinated) Green Tea Flavanols, and Garlic Extract. Since I’m already taking L-Carnatine (brain function), Fish Oil (heart, arthritis, etc), and Glucosamine (knees/joints), my co-workers pointed and stared as I brought in an utterly ridiculous vitamin holder every day to the office. To my amazement, Ferriss’ plan worked wonders, and I shed an incredible 12 pounds in the first 10 days of April. Granted, most of this was likely water weight and natural correction from overeating on vacation for two weeks straight… but the weight literally FLEW off me. Best of all was that I didn’t feel any side effects from the supplements. If anything, I felt more alert and focused during the days. If you are looking to lose a couple pounds, this would be where I’d begin.
I’ve done some additional research on knee health, and found several sources that recommend ART Therapy for knee recovery (including the 4-Hour Body). One potential snag is that my insurance does not cover this type of therapy… and since I don’t want to pay $150+ per session, I’m trying to work through that (minor) issue. Also, as mentioned in Born to Run by Chris McDougall, I’ve picked up a pair of Vivram 5-Finger shoes… which reeeeeeally help my recovery time when I’m running. Yes, I know they look ridiculous, but they work. I’m hopeful that I’ll be ready to rock with P90x, Cross Fit, or similar by the end of the year (June 2011).
BIG GOAL #2: Be in position to capitalize on market rebound by year end (June 2011)
I am uber-bullish on a rebound in the real estate markets in the next 5 years. In my opinion, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire real estate at crazy low levels, and I need to be mindful of how to get a piece of that opportunity, whether in personal or in business dealings. In fact, I recently read an article in Fortune that listed Atlanta as the most affordable housing market (own vs rent) in the USA. The goal here is to look at small deal cards, generate additional passive income streams, and find leverage.
UPDATE: Expenses, expenses, expenses. It all started with a simple phone call where I committed to going to Las Vegas. Two weeks later, I had a $1,400 airfare and hotel bill, a $500 roof repair, a/c repairs, $1,000 termite finding, $500 in car maintenance, 2 new suits… and 4 more suits with holes or patching needed. When it rains, it pours. No, this isn’t a deterrent for my goal, but it is quite an annoyance when you are trying to save money to make another investment. Of course, this goal may actually be more career-oriented than personal… only time will tell.
OTHER GOALS #3-etc: Quick Hitter Personal & Blog stuff!
This part is the over-arching, fun goals section… which might be the reason that you have read this blog in the first place.
Modern Love Essay. You might have heard that someone published a book that prominently used actual e-mails that I sent. I think this makes for a terrific Modern Love essay for the NY Times. Goal is submission to NYT before the EO May.
UPDATE: It’s coming. Stay tuned, my friends.
Write a book… on the blog. We all know that I’ve wanted to do this for a while. Maybe it’s called 5,000 Days of Single. Maybe it will be called something else. In any event, I’ve got some funny / crazy / interesting stories to tell.
13 Ugly Men. I had an amazing time throwing my birthday party this year. Obviously, it was fun because all my friends came out for my birthday. More importantly, we raised over $1,200 for the Atlanta Leukemia and Lymphoma Society… just by throwing a party. I want to / need to / will do this again. When I lived in Tampa, there was a philanthropic group called 13 Ugly Men that threw parties for the benefit of local charities, and this is absolutely the basis for my goal here.
UPDATE: I’m currently recruiting people to join my charitable organization. Our only goals for now are to throw parties, invite awesome people, and have the event donate money to a local charity. I think 13 people is entirely too many, but much like Ocean’s 11, we need one more. Applicants need only to help invite people, set up locations, and be generally awesome. Goal is by the EOY (June 2011, if you haven’t been paying attention), we will have A) a cool name, B) a web site, and C) one party on the calendar. If you are interested, reply in the comments section or send me an e-mail directly.
Reading and stuff. I’ve been slacking. After reaching 41 books in 2009, my reading has taken a decided turn for the worse. Like anything else in life, if you don’t schedule time for something… it probably won’t get done. Full schedule is forthcoming, but current reads include the Extra 2% by Jonah Keri, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neill Strauss, and many more. The goal here is ten books during the TWY.
UPDATE: I’m almost ashamed to admit this in public, but I began undertaking a massive reorganization of my personal library. Yes, this involves the Dewey Decimal. Admittedly, I toyed with the idea of the Library of Congress methodology, but I found it to be more cumbersome, and everyone has heard of Dewey. Midway through the project, I discovered that the Dewey system is neither intuitive nor logical, so I’m adapting it into a LCD Book System instead. Full results posted upon completion.
Travel. We all love it. I’ve certainly done my fair share in the past few months, and it has led to me wanting more.
UPDATE: I’m heading to Kentucky for some quality time with the family…. And the Derby, of course. I’m heading to Las Vegas the weekend after the Derby. I’m likely heading to San Francisco sometime in May, and there is likely another NYC trip imminent. More as it develops, but I’m hopeful to get to Europe, Asia, or Australia before the end of 2011.
Bloggy Bloggerson and the Arts. This blog is a fantastic channel for me to get out my creative whims. But writing is just one piece of the puzzle. As I have alluded to in past posts, I need to be doing more artistic endeavors to really feel satisfied. This means more art, music, video, blogging, and general ridiculousness. Goals here are to have another photo shoot with AlexThePhotoGuy that pushes the boundaries of stupidity (if you thought scarf, boxers and sunglasses were crazy, just you wait), digging out the old sketchpad to try my hand at pen and ink (where have you been, Busta Rhymes spliff star pic?!?), some form of revisiting the Street Corner Man, and at least ten blog posts by YE. Oh, and improved blog functionality.
UPDATE: AlexThePhotoGuy has been receptive to another shoot, and we have plenty of ideas to get on film… but he’s a busy man, and we haven’t picked a date yet. (Hey AlexThePhotoGuy! Let’s pick a date!) I did get back on the stage at Java Monkey in Decatur with Clap For Daylight… but I’m not sure that qualifies for this goal, because 1) it was only two songs, and 2) they both sucked ass. As for blog functionality, the site now has additional sharing options (I DARE you to share this on Facebook!), as well as a snazzy mobile device feed (I Double Dog DARE you to check out the blog on your iPhone!) I’m hopeful to have “Copyright Law” tee-shirts for sale on the blog in the very near future.
“I’m tired of pretending I’m not special. I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars.” – Charlie Sheen
Maybe it is my massive ego, ignorance of the way the world works, or just blind arrogance, but I’m totally on board with Charlie Sheen. I’m one of those crazy lunatics who believe that we are ALL capable of incredible things if we give it our all. Maybe my goals above for life, love, this blog and the pursuit of happiness just aren’t big enough. In fact, that is the very topic for a future series of posts on this very blog. I won’t spoil it all, but I’ll say that it involves Jellies and Jams, James Franco, and even Aesop’s Fables. I hope you’ll like it. 
Get excited, because in addition to those posts, this year’s Deep Lou Something: Kentucky Derby Breakdown is coming soon. And If you are going to be in Northern Kentucky for the first Saturday in May, look me up, and let’s get together. Cheers!
-Lou