“I have a lot in front of me that needs to be accomplished”

January is quickly coming to an end. It is time to evaluate progress on goals during the month. I emailed my One Hundred Day Plan to you back on January 13th. The following is a summary of how I am doing with my goals. All goals are set to be accomplished by May 1, 2010.

Goal 1: I will weigh at most 191 pounds.

Progress: I was as low as 204 pounds, and then went back up. As of January 28, I as 207 pounds.

February Work: Eating less does not lower weight. Drinking pop has to end and replaced by water. Exercise has to happen, 20-30 minutes a day. Balanced diet. Goal is to catch up with the weight loss and be 200 pounds or less by February 28. This has to be a goal put in the front of everything else.

Goal 2: I will ready myself to begin a master in social work program.

Progress: On January 27, yesterday, I sent my application in to the school. Deadline is February 1. When my reference forms arrive from my references, the school will have all the paper work necessary to make their decision.

February Work: None needed.

Goal 3: I will have enrolled in two more Northwestern University courses.

Progress: The courses do not take place until the summer months. I did not have to enroll in January. I will enroll in the spring when the enrollment opens.

February Work: None needed.

Goal 4: I will be earning an average of $1625 per week through several streams of income including a. pulpit supply; b. worth through the county health department as an educator and mediator; c. selling items on eBay; d. freelance mediation work; and e. independent business writing work.

Progress on pulpit supply: Without a mailing, I already had one pulpit supply last Sunday and three more in the next three weeks. Four dates out of seven Sundays thus far this year. Bottom line income: $150 per service plus mileage.

February Work: Send out 115 pulpit supply letters. Accept supply requests for February 21 and 28.

Progress on Health Department work: I have been asked by the administrator (Lynne’s boss) to develop a mediation service for the health department. The health department would then provide mediation services to the poor (and others) in our county. This is a fantastic opportunity, not only because of income but also because I get to develop a program! (It’ll be good for the resume too.) Also, I have been invited through the health department to give a presentation on how divorce affects children at a Day Care Provider conference in March. This is an opportunity to speak in a public forum, offer my mediation services, and possibly develop a public speaking reputation.

February Work: Monthly divorce class. Begin developing mediation services. Complete a presentation on how divorce affects children.

Progress on Selling on eBay: I only have shells from Florida up on a permanent auction. $7.99 for a pound plus postage. I have about 50 pounds. Sold one pound thus far. February Work: Because I plan to use income from eBay to pay for the $3000 AWAI Infinity Program, I have to get books, coins, stamps, rocks, shells, comic books and other items online. See Sterlinghobbies at eBay for further details….

Progress on Mediation Business: Officially approved as a court approved mediator for the 14th Circuit Court. Application in to be approved as a court approved mediator for the 15th Circuit Court; approval underway. Mediation Certificates and offer sent to bishop of my synod; I have not heard from him. Certificates and offer sent to psychologist friend in Moline, Illinois (near where I will attend school part time beginning in May); Dr. Doug McCollum is interested in discussing options! Certificates sent to county health department; already discussed the progress earlier. Purchased several mediation books from Amazon to read; completed one book on January 28.

February Work: Develop services at health department. If approved, develop services at McCollum’s place of business. Set up website. Develop brochure, business card, flyer, cover letter. Send information to 14th Circuit Court judges, lawyers, therapists. Create business forms and marketing forms. Begin research so that I can send information of my services to businesses, schools, churches, government agencies, chamber of commerces.

Progress on Freelance Business Writing: Though on the back burner, I still am interested in this area. I did what I should not have done – I used a credit card to purchase the AWAI Infinity Program. The purchase was not impulsive, but I cannot afford it at this time. So eBay selling has to go into full throttle in February in order to pay off the bill. With the purchase, however, I was able to enroll in a website making class and the Online Accelerated Writing Class.

February Work: Attend the online accelerated writing class. Sell $3000 of miscellaneous on eBay in order to pay off the Infinity Program bill. Use some of the programs available from AWAI in my mediation services business.

Other February Work: 2009 Income Tax Return for Lynne and me, Jonathan, Kristen.

*****

January was a good month, overall; however, it was a start. February has to be a month of hard work and dedication to The Plan. I have a lot in front of me that needs to be accomplished. Some would say too much. But I am aiming high any way.

Today is Day 93. 93 days until May 1st by which time I will be making an average of $1625 per week.

Work the Plan.

Thank you for taking time to read my January summary. Attached are a four pictures of my plan on the basement wall. Poor Lynne. But the visual aid is there to help me keep pressing on. And, God willing, by May 1 she will see that putting up with my “map” was worth it!

Take care. All the best.

David