Resolutions 2011

This is my annual list of resolutions. It's a bit different than my 2010 list in that I finally have focus, though it may seem a bit scattershot. I really want to spend more quality time with my family and be relaxed when I do so -- all of these bullets serve that ultimate purpose.

1. Make music again. My wife, Rachel, and conspiring ninja Philip Scheffer had a meeting. It has been decided. There are too many unfinished projects to mention here and the opportunities are endless if I count electronic music and distance collaborations. I had my udu out for the kids this weekend as a start -- it felt great.
2. Lose twenty pounds. Go to the gym a few times a week, on a schedule, whether it's snowing or not. Drink less beer; on the other hand, drink really great beer when I do. Minimize lunch meetings. Don't snack at night. Don't "fuel the all-nighter" with carbs. Lots of opportunities for advancement here. Plus it's a goal to which I can assign a % success rate. Or a new golf handicap. Ideally, those will have a confluence.
3. Maintain fewer contractors, retain where necessary, hire in the best. This is of course a business goal, but it seriously impacts my personal quality of life. I love, love, love working with the core Fending Group ninjas, and have started to retain services beyond the scope of projects. It feels awesome. I'll continue to do that, but need to constantly fight the urge to "try out so-and-so" unless I need to diversify or have a particular need. Room for failure is non-existent in 2011 -- we have too many fronts on which success is critical.
4. Get into a real coworking space. My home office and the small number of spaces in which I work are very, very productive. A number of people I know are big fans of their collective/collected office space and that's great. But I want more than a war room for a few guys or to be part of somebody else's hive of prospective talent. That latter play is really presumptuous and annoys the hell out of me. So I need to make something happen or change some circumstances. This is complicated, all told, but the part that's really exciting is that once I have a space or capital to finance it, inhabitants are available… people that don't necessarily need more work, just a space in which to do theirs as they please. Wish me luck.
5. Finish my current list of home improvement projects. My family room has been 25% renovated since Rachel was pregnant with Norah. She's four now. Liam is one. Still no family room. The built-ins for my office? Still incomplete. Basement shelving. Garage organization. The list goes on. There are a lot of factors in these, but it's on me to better control them and increase my happiness. Part of it is the quantity of what I commit to; much of it is what I fail to delegate or otherwise hire out and schedule. No excuses in 2011.

As with the 2010 list, I'll post back with updates. In case you get curious.