I recently had to re-evaluate my goals because I am taking a gap year and have absolutely nothing planned. I initially wanted to get a placement job that is based on my degree, (business management) but I would much rather spend the whole year on self improvement. This basically means that I want to be in a much better place mentally and physically. Here is what I can think of so far: (in order of importance)

Get injury free: This is my most important goal, for the past 5 years I have had a serious knee injury, and my tendon is totally screwed up. This basically means that I walk around with a noticeable limp, and in pain with every step I take. Its not only painful but very embarrassing to walk around like an old man! I am fixing my injury by strapping an ankle weight to my right ankle to slowly build back the muscle in my right leg. I have done it for like a month now and the improvements have been massive. The ultimate goal is to be able to run and get back into martial arts.

Pass driving test: It sucks having to ask for bus money from your own mom every day, its not that I don’t have money but rather then I never have coins… so anyways not only that but obviously the whole freedom of having your own car is amazing. I will be able to work and travel anywhere I want to without having to worry about transport, I will be able to have much more freedom with girls. It’s probably just my paranoid thinking but I’m sure the majority of girls have a mental checklist for guys they would like to date, and owning a car is probably a high priority.

Get the body I’ve always wanted: I want to be muscular, the majority of guys say they want a body like Brad Pitt in fight club, but screw that, I’m thinking Spartan style, or like Mike Tyson (well in his early days…) Oh yes!!! I’m pretty short bordering on 5’3 so I just really don’t want to be skinny. Id rather be built like a tank, So that way I’m more of a threat, inside and outside of the ring. (note this is not me…lol, this is my goal!)

Grow my hair: I’m currently on my second attempt at growing my hair, last year I managed 7 months before I got sick of looking like a fat scruffy douchebag. But its something I definitely want to do. I don’t even know exactly why, but on thinking now, I’m pretty sure the real reason is that during the ages from 16-18 I’ve been very self conscious and trying to fit in, especially having a cool hairstyle, and the reason I want to grow my hair is because I want to rebel and show that I don’t care what other people think anymore. So it’s my own little rebellion against society. It should take around 12-16 months to reach the desired length.

Get good at MMA: I absolutely love watching UFC on the TV, and from doing my own research I think MMA is the most deadly and effective martial arts out there. I want to be the best fighter I can possibly be for my weight class. This goal will have to wait until I fix all of my injuries.

Start an online business: Its my absolute dream to be able to sit at home and make an income from my computer. Thousands of people do it, and I know for sure that it can be done. It’s just a matter of learning and then implementing techniques.

Another big goal for me is to improve family relations, but I don’t want to get into the gritty details.

On a daily basis i stumble upon something crazy on the internet, whether its something that makes me laugh or leaves me in a state of shock. Todays crazy ‘thing’ i found is a combination of both. (make sure to watch til the end)

I love this video and the funky guy at the start, it reminds me that ‘we should do what we want too, without worrying about what other people may think’ because 99% of the time other people are also worried about what others think.

if we all just worried about what others think, then humans would be in a constant state of a worried sickness, not achieving anything or being happy.

i kinda over evaluated the video, but its defintely a youtube-gem for sure.

Like with any goal in life, it is very important to have a plan of action.

not only should you know the goal, but you must also understand how to achieve it.

heres a simple tool I like to use when im trying to achieve a goal.

SMART

• S - specific (what exactly are you trying to achieve?)
• M - measurable (how do you know you are getting closer to achieving the goal?)
• A - attractive (is this something that you really want? is their REAL desire in your core, that almost cant be happy until this goal is achieved?)
• R - realistic (i am a natural optimist, but i dont plan on ending world hunger, or becoming a zillionaire…)
• T - timely (a specific timeline must be set, e.g. start date & time / finish date & time.

In terms of finance:

I want to achieve an income of £15,000 year ending 2009. (my current bank balance is around £1500, so this leaves me another 6 months to earn around £14,000.

-Then during 2010 I want to achieve an income of £30,000 by the end of the year.

-Monetary goals can easily be measured by my bank balance.

-The figures are extremely attractive to me, and this goal is something i NEED.

I honestly believe that these goals are achievable, and I will be using 3 main methods to produce income.

making profitable websites

having a “normal” job to gain a steady income

and finally investing (stock market and also purchasing assets that increase in value)

and the greatest thing is that you guys can follow my journey, and as i write about my money making ventures, you guys can just implement my advice in order to achieve a similar income to me!

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We all have family problems, some more  then others…

it is easy to forget just how much you love your whole family, usually until something really bad happens which forcefully unites the family, …well may be until the next feud.

in my family, my older brother is definitely the black sheep.

right now i kinda have butterflies in my stomach. Im upstairs in my bedroom, whilst i can hear my mom shouting at my brother downstairs. This makes me nervous because i know this isnt the normal “clean your room” or “you still owe me money!” lecture .. oh no!

long story short, my older brother keeps sneaking out to meet his girlfriend, and disapears for days at a time. Leaving my parents worried sick, because he wont return their calls. He’s also given her lots of money and gifts(instead of paying his rent at home), and the fact that her family dont get along with mine doesnt help either.

I know this doesnt sound like a big deal, but my parents were raised with eastern values and something as trivial as this can break up families.

in all honesty i kinda used this post as an excuse to get away from the shouting, and watching my mother get upset.

a quick tip that i will give, in terms of family problems, is to understand that how ever you are being treated by family members, YOU have played a part in the way your family treat you. for example if your older brother picks on you, and has been doing so for the past few years, then its time to do something about it. If your father has disowned you, or seems to lack caring for you, then its time to let him know. If your mother is too controlling over your life, then its time to take action. The only reason these people act this way is because you have let them get away with it.

remember this peice of golden advice:

“If you always do, what you have always done, you will always get, what you have always got”

would it really hurt for you to just try and have a heart to heart with your father? (mother?brother etc)