Lee Munroe » goals

Goals for 2012

Lee — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:01:03 +0000

A quick blog post about things I learned and accomplished in 2011 and goals for 2012.

I hope that by writing them down there’s more chance of me actually doing them.

Things I learned and put into practice in 2011

Learned Haml and Sass for a couple of Rails projects
Started using HTML5 Boilerplate
Started making websites responsive
Am now using HTML5 and CSS3 for every web project
Learned how to deploy web apps with Capistrano
Redesigned TweetNI
Redesigned WebDesignire

Books read in 2011

New software/apps for 2011

Some of these apps I had used before, but in 2011 I found myself becoming more reliant on them and working them into my daily routine.

Axure for prototyping
Evernote for taking notes (and sharing across multiple devices)
OnePassword for remembering usernames/passwords
Omnigraffle for wireframing and sitemaps
Tripit for keeping track of travel plans

Goals for 2011

A look back at the goals I set this time last year.

~~1. Read more books~~
Success: I read a good few books.

2. Talk at more events
Fail: There were a few Barcamp and Bizcamp opportunities, but I struggled to find the time to commit to any.

3. Develop an iPhone app
Fail: Purchased “Beginning iPhone 4 Development” but struggled to get past the first chapter. Started looking at Appcelorator instead.

4. More side projects
Fail: Started off the year well by redesigning a couple of older projects, but didn’t get around to working on anything new.

~~5. Blog more~~
Success: Blogged more this year than I did last year.

Goals for 2012

1. Be more mobile focused
Kind of broad but comes down to designing/developing for mobile. Whether that’s native apps, html5 apps, responsive websites – who knows.

2. Release an iPhone app
Related to the first goal, I want the experience of developing an app from scratch, submitting it to the app store and seeing it go live.

3. Compete in a triathlon
I don’t own a race bike yet and can’t swim very far, but I figure I might have a go at it.

4. Snowboard
Just something I’ve always wanted to try.

5. Release at least 3 side projects
There are 46 items on my “Someday” list so at least 3 of them should be achievable.

What do you think, decent list?

Goals for 2011

Lee — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:48:21 +0000

It’s that time of year again. I’ve put together some goals to help me focus on achieving them this year.

A look at the 2010 list

These are the goals I set myself last year.

~~1. Bungee jump~~
Success: Jumped off the Goldeneye Dam in May (watch the video)

2. Be a yes man
Kinda: Think this just ended up in more trips to the pub. Maybe not such a good resolution.

3. Learn something new
Fail: Did some martial arts classes but didn’t keep at it. And my guitar just gathered more dust.

~~4. Attend an international conference~~
Success: Had the pleasure of attending SXSW in Austin, Texas.

~~5. Redesign this site~~
Success: Simplified it and it’s been a work in progress ever since.

~~6. Launch/design an iPhone app~~
Success: Designed and launched the Lookaly iPhone app (Ecliptic Labs did the hardcore development)

7. Review at least 1 book per month
Fail: Stopped reviewing books after a while, although I did listen to quite a lot of audio books.

~~8. Work with some really cool clients~~
Success: Of course I did.

Goals for 2011

I’m going to try and keep it simple and stick to some basic goals that are achievable. Most of them are sharpening things up. I spent too much time on the Xbox in 2010 and let a few things slip.

1. Read more books
I listen to audio books while at the gym but have too many unfinished or unopened books. Need to get back in the habit of reading. Would love to say I’ll read 12 books but I think 6 is more realistic.

2. Talk at more events
I shied away from a couple of barcamp/bizcamp talks this year mainly due to not being prepared. Would like to get better and more confident at public speaking so no excuses this year.

3. Develop an iPhone app
I want to have a stab at this, at least so I understand how Xcode and Interface Builder works. If I’m able to develop something that gets into the App Store then I’ll count that as a success. I opened Xcode over Christmas so that’s a start ;-)

4. More side projects
Didn’t do too many of these in 2010. They’re a great way to keep up the learning and to keep ‘shipping’ stuff. I’m thinking 3 side projects in 2011, or maybe a tidy up of some of the ones I have out there.

5. Blog more
I don’t blog as much as I used to, mainly due to lack of time. Blog posts start off as 30minute tasks but end up taking hours. Will try for shorter manageable/consistent blog posts.

Nothing too adventurous or extreme in there this year. I’ve got a wedding in 2012 to plan for so that will take up some time (and money :-?).

Work wise I’ve been doing a lot of work with Sharethrough over the past year, who are really kicking ass in the field of social video advertising, and two other projects/businesses I’m heavily involved with Lookaly and Referalot, all which will continue into the year ahead.

Conferences I’m definitely attending this year are #naconf, #sxsw, #buildconf and a few more I’m sure.

Any other suggestions?

Am willing to take on other goals to accomplish in 2011 if you have any suggestions. Serious and/or random welcome.

New Years Resolutions For 2010

Lee — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:56:24 +0000

Every year I take a look back at the past 12 months and set some goals for the year ahead. It’s good to get it down on paper (or screen) and by making it public there’s more chance of actually following through.

A look at the 2009 list

This time last year I set myself some goals. Take a look at 2009′s post.

Run another marathon
Success: Ran the London Marathon although failed to beat last years time

Read more
Success: Have read a good few books this year and started listening to audio books

Bungee jump
Fail: Haven’t seen any about and didn’t try hard enough to find one

Learn to play the guitar
Fail: Haven’t even touched it and it continues to gather dust

Go surfing
Success: Surfed in Santa Cruz over summer

Spend less time on the computer
Fail: Probably not

Blog more
Success: Blogged quite a bit and did a load of guest posts

Speak at an event
Success: Spoke at FOWD Belfast Tour and Barcamp Belfast

Launch a successful web application
Pending: Launched Lookaly (and a few other side projects) which has grown and formed a super community around it but still a bit to go

Do something for charity
Success: Thanks to some really generous and supportive people I raised over £2,000 for Action for Kids

Be an extra in a movie
Success: Was an extra in a Mo Mowlam movie starring Julie Walters (to be on channel 4 in 2010)

Climb Kilimanjaro
Fail: Never even got around to thinking about it

Secret resolution
Success: Got engaged to Miss Suzy Smith

Also managed to tick off another objective from 2008, which was live away from home for at least 1 month, which I did by staying in San Francisco over the summer.

Goals for 2010

1. Bungee jump
Find a bungee and jump

2. Be a yes man
Be more like Danny Wallace (or Jim Carrey) and say yes more

3. Learn something new
Take a class on something that doesn’t include programming or designing

4. Go to an international (i.e. outside of UK/Ireland) conference
SXSW, Web 2.0, Le Web – something like that

5. Redesign this site
Getting a bit outdated now and could do with a fresh coat of paint

6. Launch/design an iPhone app
iPhone app design/dev is something I’ve still to look into

7. Review at least 1 book per month
Hopefully this will encourage me to read more and take notes while doing so

8. Work with some really cool clients
Fortunately I already do work with some really cool clients and I want to find and work with more who are working on exciting things

What are your goals?

There isn’t really anything too serious or extreme in there, everything is very doable.

What are your plans for 2010 and what did you accomplish in 2009?

Happy new year!