Life

My goals for 2013, and a reflection on each:

1) Regular physical activity every day

This goal was an epic fail for me (again) until about November, when I decided to use something I typically hate — the loss of sunshine when Daylight Saving Time ends — to my advantage and reclaim my extra hour in the morning for a simple exercise routine. Good news: so far, I’ve been able to keep this up! In addition to some stretches I start with (from here), this is my workout.

2) Sell 2,500 books

While I haven’t received the official count for 2013 yet, I know I didn’t hit this goal. Optimistically, I moved about 500 books in 2013. I don’t consider this to be a big failure, however, especially when considering what I’ll say in the next two goals. Though it may seem absurdly obvious to you, I learned something vitally important about selling books in 2013 that will help my sales strategy moving forward — books don’t move unless I promote them. For example, when I do a speaking engagement, I sell books. Many times, I sell lots of them. But when I don’t do some kind of “event” to promote them, they don’t sell. Like I said: very simple, but now I know that if I want to sell more books, I just have to increase my speaking, etc.

3) Increase speaking income (target = 30% of total revenue via speaking)

In 2013, my speaking revenue was only 5% of my total revenue. This was a percentage decrease from 2012, when I averaged about 10% of my total revenue just from speaking. My overall revenue increased 72% over 2012, however, so even though the percentage decreased, the actual speaking revenue amount stayed about the same.

4) Double overall business revenue from 2012

While I didn’t quite double from last year, I do feel pretty good about a 72% increase.

5) Release a brand new eBook (about my time working at Apple)

Wow, I didn’t even look at this project this year. This may happen in 2014…?

6) Re-edit and re-release my first book, Blur, as an eBook

Didn’t look at this either. This will probably get pushed back to 2015.

7) Officially launch The Work Revolution project

Our website (workrevolution.org) had a quiet launch in the summer, and then The Work Revolution Summit made quite a splash in NYC in September. There is a LOT more to come from this project in 2014. Go here to join the movement and stay in the loop.

8) Blog less, publish more

I definitely did this. Here are a few of my favorite posts:

Accomplishments & Big Stuff From 2013:

  • Participated in a pilot for a mindfulness group called “Amazing Year” (we’re hoping to take this more public soon)
  • Not a highlight: one of my closest friends, Will Gray, passed away at 32 from cancer (I know this is no fun, but it had a huge impact on my year)
  • New original articles published in Fast Company, Forbes (12, and 3) and Switch & Shift (1 and 2)
  • My wife and I moved from a one bedroom to a two bedroom apartment and had our first baby… on the same day (yes, for real)
  • Traveled to Kansas City, Seattle, Portland, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco, Phoenix, Ohio, San Diego, Austin, San Jose, Napa/Yountville, Cambria, Sacramento, Detroit, and Coeur d’Alene
  • Saw a Holocaust survivor speak
  • Had two “babymoons” before baby arrived (Hearst Castle and San Diego Safari Park)
  • Moved my business into a small office in downtown Toluca Lake
  • Visited Disneyland four times (not bad, considering we were pregnant — tough for rides — and then had a baby in July!)
  • Had sixteen speaking engagements
  • Learned to play ukulele

2013-14

Goals For 2014:

  • Increase overall revenue 50% over 2013
  • Increase speaking revenue percentage from 5% to 15% of overall revenue
  • Clarify and integrate the consulting side of my business brand
  • Post one new blog entry every week (some of these will probably be links to new articles of mine in other publications)
  • Record and release audiobook version of Igniting the Invisible Tribe
  • Sell 1000 books (i.e. roughly double 2013 sales)
  • Grow the Work Revolution movement via (at least) one large event, through doubling our tribe size, and by doubling our Revolutionary interview database

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