Tesar-Reynes

With 2010 around the corner, I thought it was a good time to draft resolutions for the New Year. Judging by how I did in 2009, more due diligence will have to be played on my part. Of the 10 resolutions I set in December of 2008, less than half of them were accomplished.

I took a beach vacation to Santa Barbara (which is gorgeous by the way), figured out Twitter, and built a network on LinkedIn. I did a halfway decent job of keeping a work schedule and working out at the gym. But I failed miserably at being punctual, putting a dent in student loans, and learning French.

Below are my New Year’s resolutions for 2010. Here’s hoping we can all start the new decade off right, and put the mostly miserable 00’s behind us.

1. Do cardio twice a week. I’m actually quite happy with my workout schedule, but since moving back to the parent’s house, I don’t get to walk around quite as often.

2. Draft social media strategies for every client at Sterling Kilgore. After a couple months, it’s clear most of our clients want social media, but perhaps need some guidance and assurance it will work for them.

3. Learn to be a better consultant. My boss reminded me last week while I was drafting an educational handout for a client that we’re sharing information, as opposed to teaching our clients something they don’t know. In a way, we’re like lawyers advising clients on their options.

4. Stay disciplined with finances. With steady paychecks coming in, it’s imperative to plan for a financial future that enhances my lifestyle, rather than one that acts as an obstacle to it.

5. Prioritize action tasks weekly and daily. Important to ensuring a sense of urgency for clients, both at work and to Tony here on the blog. This resolution is about staying productive.

6. Add 100 LinkedIn contacts. LinkedIn is like an online rolodex. Every business card should be added to the network.

7. Stop wasting money on weekend nightlife. Going out, dining out, the countless sums of money thrown at bartenders across Chicago. What’s the point? I’d rather spend $100 enjoying the city’s impressive culture than wasting it at a bar or restaurant. Plus I need to save for a vacation someplace WARM.

8. Remember to give something back. At work we get a few paid days off to do charity work, such as our current project assisting the Guild for the Blind or maybe volunteering. I also have a lot of teachers from Columbia to thank, which means classroom visits and social media presentations for students.

9. Become a more engaging blog reader. I have a list of around 30 blogs on my Google Reader account. I should be reading them at least twice a week and commenting just as often. Here’s a list of 25 social media blogs you can read to stay current.

10. Reserve 1 hour a day for productive personal time. This is an important one for me. I easily get lost in the daily to do lists. Spending an hour a day doing what I love – whether it’s reading a book or writing or chatting with friends – will remind me to enjoy the journey and help to keep me balanced.

Anyone have any New Year’s resolutions they’d like to share?