• Learn German
• Summit Mt Kosciusko
• Be more financially stable
• Be more generous
• Keep my house cleaner
• Publish two papers
• Keep PhD on track for completion in early 2013
• Spend more time on non-computer aided activities

• Be out of all NZ debt (excluding student loan) by year’s end.
• No more depression.
• Refine what I believe and find a church that meets those beliefs.
• Expand my network of Sydney-based friends to beyond computer science.
• Keep my house cleaner and tidier.
• Get funding to travel to a conference in either Europe, Asia or America.

I also have one goal that will cover the next two years. That is to finish my PhD on time.

Because I was working yesterday and today (don’t you just love retail) I decided to take an easy night and not worry about new years.

The plan was simple. Go to bed early (say 10ish) and if I woke early enough get up and check out the sunrise.

Well that didn’t exactly happen. Instead at around 7.30ish I started playing Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts. And boy oh boy is it addictive.

My 10pm bedtime turned into 12.45pmish at the earliest. Yup I gamed right through new years didn’t hear the neighbours, fireworks or anything.

But I don’t care. I did what I was enjoying and it was relaxing. And that is what I plan to do this year.

You see this year I’m not really creating new years resolutions or goals or anything.

I have one goal, one resolution, one purpose this year, one and only one.

That is achieving First Class Honours.

Now this is a massive goal. But this is my whole focus for the year.

So how do I achieve this goal?

Well everything in my life pretty much needs to help me achieve this. Anything that doesn’t should probably be cut out.

What I have thought about so far is this:

• Putting myself first. 2008 was about putting others first, serving the community through ASA etc, this year it is about me being selfish. Me being me. Me doing the best for me, because this year will determine how much further my academic carreer goes. You see first class honours leads to PhD anything less and im looking for a job.
• Being healthy. This isn’t just in the physical. This is across the board including mental, financial and spiritual. I need to be of sound mind and mentality. I need to remain focused and positive. I need to remain in constant and consistent employment that will give me the dosh I need to survive on but not overwork me or over stress me. And spiritual like mental needs to be balanced and positive.
• Planning. I am reasonably good with planning. But one thing I was thinking about before was sometimes I over plan and under deliver. I need to reach the balance where instead of planning I start doing but at the same time not rush into things. I think if I plan to plan then I have already gone to far with preparation and not enough action.

More to come…

• Lead the ASA with professionalism
• Get a real job or do Post-Grad
• Live everyday for God
  • Continue to build and grow relationship with God
  • Regularly attend church
  • Read the Bible regularly
• Keep time for personal space
• Get Fit
  • Go tramping/outdoors at least six times
  • Go to the gym at least twice a week
• Take over the world
• Live life with a foundation of honesty, trust and integrity

* Maintain A-Grade average – ACHIEVED
* Get into post-grad – ACHIEVED
* Maintain at least 30 hours a week in study – ACHIEVED
* Build deeper relationships with friends -Hard to measure, hopefully achieved
* Continue to build and grow relationship with God – Ongoing
* Lead the ASA with professionalism – ACHIEVED
* Not get too over-committed in extra curricular activities – ACHIEVED
* Regularly attend church – Failed, badly, I must make a better effort in 2008
* Read the Bible everyday – Failed, had my moments, but more effort required
* Get full drivers license – ACHIEVED
* Go tramping at least three times – Failed, lets see, Skiing, other then that two tramps in the Waitakere’s but they don’t count. I did do the Pinnacles once.
* Keep time for personal space – Haha, Yeah Right.
* Go to the gym at least once a week – Did I go to the gym once?
* Live everyday for God – Ummm, unless I am God I failed this one
* Take over the world – Failed
* Live life with a foundation of honesty, trust and integrity – Achieved, I hope

In no order:

• Maintain A-Grade average
• Get into post-grad
• Maintain at least 30 hours a week in study
• Build deeper relationships with friends
• Continue to build and grow relationship with God
• Lead the ASA with professionalism
• Not get too over-committed in extra curricular activities
• Regularly attend church
• Read the Bible everyday
• Get full drivers license
• Go tramping at least three times
• Keep time for personal space
• Go to the gym at least once a week
• Live everyday for God
• Take over the world
• Live life with a foundation of honesty, trust and integrity