2022 Goals Check-in

Howdy from Denver,

Welcome to the 4 new subscribers from this past week!

The van is back on the road, and I'll be headed out of Denver on Friday.

Today, we're checking in on my goals for this year in order to get 2 of them back on track.

As always, photos of the week can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.

My 8 goals this year.

1. Build the van (Done)

2. Build a writing habit (On track)

3. Live in the van (On track)

4. Build a lifting habit (On track)

5. Mentor a UIF cohort (On track)

6. Read on the road (Needs attention)

7. Build a business (Needs attention)

8. Podcast from the road (Descoped)

I accomplished #1.

I've published 28 straight newsletters each Thursday at 8:00 am EST for #2.

I've traveled to 17 states in the van over the past 3.5 months for #3.

I started 3 accountability group chats around fitness and lift 3x/week for #4.

I've started the process of onboarding a cohort for #5.

I've neglected #6.

I haven't made enough time for #7.

I determined that I did not have the time for #8.

Let's touch base with #6, #7, and #8 (the goals in red) to see what's going on.

Digging into goal #6 - read on the road.

I am exhausted from only reading what has been produced in the last 24h.

Content with such a short-life cycle has diminishing returns.

I need to be intentional about reading works with more staying power.

My goal is to make time for 3 types of reading:

• Ancient religious/philosophical texts

• Novels - historical fiction, mystery, and American history

• Long form essays on emerging tech, anthropology, and well-being

I have done some reading in each of these categories, but I have not been consistent.

My previous thinking: I thought solitude in the van would allow time for reading.

What I learned: Long stretches of alone time make me eager to interact with folks, and I've kicked back to cheap content as a result.

Plan of action: set-up accountability group chats with folks who also want to build a reading habit, define weekly cadence for reading, and send text updates each Monday on progress.

Digging into goal #7 - build a business.

It drives me absolutely insane that we send students into the world without the skills they need to succeed as an adult.

My mission is to build a curriculum that teaches folks ages 18-24 essential skill sets.

I declared this mission back in the March 10th newsletter, but I haven't made much progress since.

So what the heck happened?

As my academic advisor in college used to tell me, "you're trying to fit 10lbs of flour in a 5lb bag."

I'm still locked in on starting a business this year, but I underestimated the mental operating cost of living in the van. 

My head is constantly on a swivel - where am I going to shower? Where am I going to park? How am I going to eat? Do I need to refill my fresh water? 

My previous thinking: I thought I would be able to start to build the business from the road.

What I learned: the mental operating cost of living in a van is steep and takes energy away from starting a business.

Plan of action: set-up accountability group chats with folks who also want to build a business, define weekly goals, and send text updates each Monday on progress.

Digging into goal #8 - podcast from the road.

Building Out Loud is structured as an interview-style podcast.

Given its format, I seek to make the experience for guests as seamless as possible - clear scheduling, strong wifi for the recording, prepared questions, etc.

The volatility of the road makes facilitating a positive guest experience more difficult.

It's one thing if I inflict the wackiness of the road upon myself. It's another thing if I inflict it upon someone who is being generous with their time.

I will return to podcasting, but not until I've settled down in a specific spot in the fall.

Time away from Building Out Loud has made me miss it. I can't wait to jump back in, but it made the most sense to descope this goal.

My previous thinking: I thought I would be able to produce 1 podcast/month in the van.

What I learned: creating a seamless guest experience in the van is not feasible.

Plan of action: descope the podcast goal and revisit it in the fall when I settle outside the van.

Photos of The Week

Locations this past week: Denver, CO -> Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, CO -> Denver, CO

Many thanks to my Colorado family for so many great memories these past few weeks!

Went golfing with Jack McWilliams, his buddy Taylor, & my buddy Harrison.

Put back 10 miles and 3300ft elevation gain on a backpacking/flyfishing expedition with a great group of guys on the Venable-Comanche trail in the Sangre de Cristo wilderness. (L to R: Adam, Harrison, Greg, Clay, me, Harvard).

On the trail.

In the valley at dusk.

I got blanked on the fly-fishing expedition, but my pal Harrison sure didn't so please enjoy this photo of him with a cutthroat trout.

There's a stream amidst this brush that we would bushwhack through to fill up water/fish.

View of my tent at dusk. We had almost the whole valley to ourselves.

Shot of a couple of keepers before we cooked them over a fire.

My former roommate Brian helped me give Caroline a haircut by taking the ladder rack off of the van. I kept it on to keep the van stealthy, but I am now more comfortable in the van and wanted to improve fuel efficiency.

View of downtown Denver at night from Jack and Christina's apartment.

Went bouldering again with my buddy Sam. I'll likely join a climbing gym where I settle post-van to meet other folks who enjoy outdoor recreation (plus this technique could use some work.)

After having me over for dinner, friends Greg and Sky gave me a 35-pack of sparkling water AND new books. This is great for the van because I haven't been drinkin' this year. I mean come on - a home-cooked meal, non-alcoholic seltzers, and books? Talk about great hosts.

One last Wash Park bike ride with Mike and Emily before hittin' the road again!

Thanks for reading

What goals do you want to achieve before 2022 is up?

Hit the reply button and let me know!

Josh

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