#ultimate me

THE PROUD WINGMAN KAZOO KID (ULTIMATE WINGKAZOO) 

HAS SUCCESSFULLY GOT TWO GAYS TO GAY!!!

well yeah here you go

wait no sorry that’s the wrong one

here it is

Because obviously I’m your better half and you get way too well distracted by my fabulous aura.

I really hate failing. It is the opposite of succeeding and winning, and I really like winning. Sometimes though, in order to succeed we must fail. This is a tough lesson to learn and one that I’ve been struggling with just about every single day this first quarter of 2014.

How Does Success by Failure Happen

At the beginning of the year, I published 31 goals in the 7 different areas of my life that are most important to me right now. This is my operating framework for success this year. This was overly ambitious, and I was well aware of this from the start.

This should come as no surprise — I succeeded at the goals that were most important to me and failed miserably at the things that weren’t. I’m still coming to terms with this, but I think I’m ok with that. If I can consistently succeed at the things that are most important, then it just becomes a matter of priority and focus.

Where I Focused, I Succeeded

There are certain goals that I absolutely crushed. Lose 15 lbs. Wake up at 5am. Eat Paleo and no fast food. First Quarter Sales Target. Pay off Credit Cards. Read 2 books a month. Totally crushed these goals.

We smashed our Q1 Sales target at Firehawk Creative by 34%. This sales target was something that we agreed was “very ambitious but achievable” back in December although we had no idea how we’d get there at the time. Giving myself a 34% “raise” over an already ambitious target is a monster success.

Reading. Reading has simultaneously a wonderful source of pleasure and the bain of my existence. On the business side, I read The Ultimate Sales Machine — complete (best book I’ve ever read on sales and marketing), Jab Jab Jab Right Hook and Built to Sell (and even Go Pro as a bonus). Those 3 books were amazing. The Ultimate Sales Machine is the best book I’ve ever read on sales. On the personal side, I read the first 3 Game of Thrones book. Equally amazing. The only problem is that they are 1000 pages each and I only had 2 weeks to read each one to stay on schedule. I love the idea of “binge reading” but this is definitely not ideal. I found myself stealing time to read instead of doing many of the things on my list that I failed at. I have 2 Game of Thrones books left and I’m committed to getting through them by the end of May. After that though, my pleasure books are going to be supremely tiny :)

I also succeeded at doing P90x2 7 days a week even though I missed a few weeks because of a back injury. My recurring revenue is starting to take off which is beyond exciting. I’ve done considerable work with designing my own site although none of it is visible yet, and I’ve done an ok job with mentoring and volunteering.

Conflicting Goals and Not Enough Time

One thing I realized very quickly is that I had conflicting goals. I want to wake up at 5am every morning AND get a minimum of 6.5 hours of sleep every night. I admit they are not directly conflicting as it is possible to go to bed before 10:30 every night and achieve both. But what about reading, and working out, and eating healthy and crushing my sales target and blogging. Oh blogging.

Maybe conflicting isn’t the right word. Maybe competing is a better word. All these goals were competing for my time and there was no way I could get everything done in 17.5 hours of awake time every day. Naturally, my sleep suffered to get more things done. My blogging suffered. My monthly experiments have basically failed. My monthly experiment for March was to “maintain a strict email routine.” Know what that routine was? I only answered emails once a week. Not exactly what I had in mind when I dreamed up that one.

Moving Forward

The first quarter of 2014 was a complete success for me and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Even though I failed (quite a bit), my productivity and accomplishments were through the roof. And I don’t mean accomplishments strictly in the business sense. I was able to spend a lot of time with my family and friends, schedule some “me” time in there and start the beginning of what I’m calling the “Triple Option” of business success.

I need to sleep more. I need to pick smaller books to read. And I need to continue to prioritize the things that are most important and execute them with laser focus. Oh yeah, and keep having fun every step of the way.

Overall Grade for the Quarter: A-

Month number two in the books. February was a tough month for a few reasons, but I’m still very happy with my overall progress.

I’ve committed myself to making 2014 The Year of the Ultimate Me with some super ambitious goals (not bullshit resolutions, but musts). These goals span the 7 areas of life that are most important to me right now. As with anything you deeply care about, you must measure it to improve it.

FEBRUARY PROGRESS REPORT:

Executive Summary

February. Ugh. Strikes and gutters. Ups and downs. I had some minor setbacks. Pulling a muscle in my back was annoying and slowed me down a bit physically. There were also some major accomplishments, particularly in the business and financial goals. In January, I made better progress overall toward my goals, but I really think that February was a kickass month for me. It was a big setup month with a lot of exciting things coming soon.

Where I’m Kicking Ass

Health Goal: 175 lbs and 10% body fat

Started the month: 179 lbs and 13.9% body fat

Ended the month: 174.8 lbs and 13.4% body fat

Weight Goal Unlocked. Next step: 2x multiplier for Body Fat Goal.

Health Goal: Eat Paleo and no fast food

Eating supremely healthy continues to be a successful endeavor. I’ve discovered a few new wonderful Paleo recipes that I enjoy with all my heart (think bacon-wrapped avocado fries). Still no fast food. I decided to reward my healthy eating with a Sonic Blast Milkshake thing at the end of every month. Not at all healthy, but it’s wonderful. I crushed my weight goal for the year by the end of month two, and I've done it in a healthy way. Nutrition is in check.

Business Goal: 1st Quarter Revenue Target

This is an exciting one. Assuming we close out the month as expected, we are going to have blown this revenue target out of the water. It’s too early to say, but I think we have this one in the bag.

Business Goal: Yearly Revenue Target

Another exciting one. I’ll have some more updates for this at the end of the quarter, but we are very much on track for this goal.

Growth Goal: Read 2 books a month (1 Business, 1 Personal)

This is by far my favorite goal. I am a reading machine, and yes I am very proud to say that. I never fully enjoyed reading until a few years ago, and as a result, I never made it a priority. Now it is. That makes me happy. In February, I read (and learned a lot from) Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Jab Jab Jab Right Hook” before crushing “A Clash of Kings” in the second half of the month. Yup — 960 pages just for “A Clash of Kings” in the shortest month of the year. Solid.

Relationships Goal: Strengthen my “Core 5”

I think I’ve made the most progress in this goal month-over-month. It is important to me that I surround myself with the right people — people whom I can learn from, am inspired by, are doing good things. That also means removing those who don’t fit into this category. Moving in the right direction.

Where I’m Acceptable

Health Goal: Wake up every work day at 5am

During the week, I missed my 5am wake up time 2 days this month. That brings my total for the year to 2 days. One morning I slept an extra two hours because I accidentally started my day at 3am the day before :) Will do better in March.

Health Goal: Completely unplug for 2 full days per quarter

I had my first unplugged day! 24 hours without any electronics, internet or anything else that feels like it has a direct plug into my body. It was tough. I spent the entire 24 hours in my apartment which is probably why I got a little antsy at times. I’m going to do another day in March and I’m going to try to fill it will exploration.

Business Goal: $5,000 / month in passive recurring revenue

Still reporting $0 so far. That will change by our next report! Two months into the year, I feel that I have a very solid plan of achieving $5,000 / month in passive recurring revenue by year end.

Business Goal: Blog 6x / month (2 personal and 4 business)

How can this be partially complete when you look at this blog and see nothing and look at Firehawk’s Blog and only see two posts for the month?! Well, a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff is happening that will be out soon. We also had this wonderful FullStart article come out which attracted a great response.

Money Goal: Goal: Pay off credit cards in 3 months

Almost. Thought I could have this done in February. All about cash flow. Definitely on target here to have this done before end of March.

Money Goal: Build back up a comfortable savings account

It makes me a lot more comfortable to say that I can move this into the “Acceptable” bucket. Not yet where it needs to be, but things are moving in the right direction.

Growth Goal: Complete February’s Monthly Experiment

These monthly experiments are difficult, but that’s why I like them. I made 15 introductions of people who should meet. Not the one a day I was going for, but people definitely benefited from the introductions for the most part. I’m also happy that this has become more of a habit. I’ll consider February’s Monthly Experiment a success even though I didn’t hit the target.

Contribution Goal: Mentor 2 entrepreneurs

Again, I would say — partially successful. Right now, there is nothing formal in place. I’ve been doing a lot of informal mentoring and that works for me right now.

Contribution Goal: Volunteer once a month

I’m moving this up to “Acceptable” even though it’s not far from the “Failing” section. I gave blood in February. That was the extent of my “volunteering” if you could call it that. It certainly wasn’t what I had in mind when I made this goal, but it is better than nothing.

Rewards Goal: Trip to Brazil

Flight will be booked by end of March. Business seems to be lining up for all things to be a go. Fuck yes!

Where I’m Failing

Health Goal: Perform a P90x2 workout every day

Major failure. I pulled a muscle in my lower back on 2/16. Quite annoying. I stopped P90x2 for 3 weeks just to be safe. I still rode my citibike around a few times, but no workouts for the 2nd half of the month. This really destroyed my morning routine. Annoying, but that phase is past.

Health Goal: 6.5 hours of sleep a night

This is just not a priority for me. I only hit my target of 6.5 hours a night 9 times for the month of February. Only 6 of those 9 nights occurred during the week meaning I couldn't even hit 6.5 hours on every weekend night and definitely wasn't hitting my target throughout the workweek.

I averaged 6 hours and 15 minutes of sleep for the month of February. What really killed me is that there were two nights were I got less than 5 hours of sleep — one was 4 hours and 42 minutes and the other was 4 hours and 3 minutes. I can certainly survive on 4 hours of sleep, but it is not optimal. Still trying to find the right balance.

Rewards Goal: Drink to taste

I’m moving this one to the failing category. I only drank 2 times in February, but both times I drank more would have liked. I will improve here.

No Progress

Business Goal: Attend Business Mastery next winter

No progress.

Business Goal: Get twitter handle @jbp3

No progress. Grrrrrr… Damn you Jaqueline Penrod.

Business Goal: Properly shut down PWM

No progress.

Money Goal: Pay off car payments in 6 months

No progress, but based on credit card goal, I’m comfortable with this.

Money Goal: Refinance / Sell house in 12 months

I have a plan. In my head. Which isn’t helping anything. But at least it’s a start. Still. No progress.

Growth Goal: Overhaul of jbp3.com

After making some great progress with my redesign in January, this fell off the map in February. It wasn’t a priority. No excuses.

Growth Goal: Code personal side project

No progress.

Rewards Goal: Trip to Europe

No progress.

Rewards Goal: 12 rounds of golf

No progress although I watched golf on TV once which got me excited for nicer weather.

One month down in the new year. Time to call myself out publicly on the things I’ve done well and not-so-well.

I’ve committed myself to making 2014 The Year of the Ultimate Me with some super ambitious goals (not bullshit resolutions, but musts). These goals span the 7 areas of life that are most important to me right now. As with anything you deeply care about, you must measure it to improve it.

JANUARY PROGRESS REPORT:

Executive Summary

I made some radical changes in quite a few areas in January. Overall, I am super happy with how I performed against my goals. Did I complete 100% of what I had hoped? Nope. Does that mean last month was a failure? Absolutely not. I am very pleased with the consistency that I was able to establish and know that consistency is going to allow me to do even better in February.

Where I’m Kicking Ass

Health Goal: 175 lbs and 10% body fat

Started the month: 190.8 lbs and 15.5% body fat

Heaviest I weighed: 193.8 lbs and 16.0% body fat

Ended the month: 179 lbs and 13.9% body fat

Health Goal: Wake up every work day at 5am

100% complete. Crazy, but true. There were 3 mornings in January were I woke up at 5 but didn’t complete my morning routine. Will get better next month.

Health Goal: Perform a P90x2 workout every day

Oh so close to perfection. I missed one day in January, and it was an optional Sunday stretching session (not even a workout). But a miss is a miss. 30 out of 31 very solid and I’m very proud of this one.

Health Goal: Eat Paleo and no fast food

I’ve been very good with what I eat. I’d say my diet is somewhere around 90% Paleo which is perfectly acceptable to me. I eat super healthy during the week. The only time I eat food that isn’t strictly Paleo is the supremely delicious pancakes I cook myself on Sunday morning and on rare occasions when I go out to a restaurant but can’t find a Paleo option. As reflected in my loss of 10+ lbs in January, we’re firing on all cylinders here.

Business Goal: 1st Quarter Revenue Target

On the third day of the year, we closed an amazing project that brought us over 60% of our quarterly revenue target. That is one hell of a way to start the year. We’re working on a few things now that will bring us over 100% for the quarter, but we’re not there yet.

Business Goal: Yearly Revenue Target

Based on our 1st Quarter Revenue Projections, I feel comfortable with our progress so far.

Growth Goal: Read 2 books a month (1 Business, 1 Personal)

Great success. I’ve been crushing this one. It’s amazing how much time you can find to read if you really look for it. Why is this in the kicking ass when I’m only meeting expectations? Simple, one of the books was 850 pages of Game of Thrones and that’s a hell of a lot of reading to find time for.

Where I’m Acceptable

Business Goal: $5,000 / month in passive recurring revenue

$0 so far. I feel really good about this one. There are serious plans in motion that are going to allow me to crush this goal. All I can say for now is more to come soon.

Business Goal: Blog 6x / month (2 personal and 4 business)

Partially complete. I wrote 3 personal posts and 3 business posts. Hit me 6, but needed one more business post. This goal is tough as business priorities dictate when I have time to blog, but with anything in life, we make time for the things that are important.

Money Goal: Goal: Pay off credit cards in 3 months

On target to have this done before the end of February.

Growth Goal: Overhaul of jbp3.com

Solid progress. The initial design is almost complete. It needs some minor tweaking. I’ll be ready to begin coding in March.

Growth Goal: Complete January’s Monthly Experiment

January’s experiment was to come up with 10 ideas a day. This was really tough. I think I missed 5 days. Other times, I came up with over well over 10. Full writeup coming soon.

Contribution Goal: Mentor 2 entrepreneurs

Partially successful. I’ve been working with a handful of entrepreneurs who are at the earliest stages of starting their startups. I would say though that it would count as informal mentoring. Improvements in this department coming soon.

Relationships Goal: Strengthen my “Core 5”

Success, but this goal is never ending. More to come here.

Rewards Goal: Trip to Brazil

Plans are in motion to make this happen. So excited.

Rewards Goal: Drink to taste

For the month of January, I had exactly 9 alcoholic drinks. This is a little higher than I would have liked. Half of them came from a few whiskey tasting events I ended up at for business. I’m ok with these. The other half came from a night out with friends where I drank a little more that night than I would have liked. It happens. I’m human. I’m working on it.

Where I’m Failing

Health Goal: 6.5 hours of sleep a night

Not even close. I hit 6.5 hours of sleep only 10 nights. I averaged 6 hours and 10 minutes of sleep. The most sleep I got was 8 hours and 13 minutes on a glorious Saturday night because I slept in with no alarm clock. The least amount of sleep I got was 4 hours and 8 minutes (that happened twice). I must do better in this department. Sleep was the one goal that I compromised in order to achieve the others. Now that I am starting to find a rhythm, I will fix this.

Contribution Goal: Volunteer once a month

Failure. Damn. Upset with not getting this one done. Will volunteer twice in February to make up for it.

No Progress

Health Goal: Completely unplug for 2 full days per quarter

No progress. This one is going to be tough. I am going to schedule one day in February to make it happen though.

Business Goal: Attend Business Mastery next winter

No progress.

Business Goal: Get twitter handle @jbp3

No progress. Grrrrrr… Damn you Jaqueline Penrod.

Business Goal: Properly shut down PWM

No progress.

Money Goal: Pay off car payments in 6 months

No progress, but based on credit card goal, I’m comfortable with this.

Money Goal: Refinance / Sell house in 12 months

No progress. Zillow tells me that my home increased $31,000 in value during the past month and $58,000 in the last quarter, but I don’t believe anything they say. Sorry Zillow.

Money Goal: Build back up a comfortable savings account

No progress, but based on other financial progress, I’m comfortable with this.

Growth Goal: Code personal side project

No progress.

Rewards Goal: Trip to Europe

No progress.

Rewards Goal: 12 rounds of golf

No progress. I can’t find my ball on a clear summer day. With all this snow, I’d go through a case of balls per hole.