This is one of those absolutely uninteresting posts about the near future of the blog. One of those filler – stay tuned for more information – type of posts specifically designed to fill space and possibly tell you of what may (or may not) be coming in the future. In all truthfulness, posts like this serve two basic functions.
- Allow bloggers (like myself) to flesh out what they are doing.
- Create something to hold yourself accountable.
So, in the spirit of such principles, here is what is on tap for Glorious Five Year Plan.
Blog Related
- Chapter by Chapter analysis/discussion of The Nerdist Way by Chris Hardwick.
- I will update at least twice a week.
- I will finish (or at least get as close as I can) to finalizing the look/feel, categories, and overall style of GFYP
- I will write out my plan for getting from January 21st, 2011 to January 21st, 2012. (Year One.)
It's a Book!
The Nerdist Way
This is a book that released on November 1st, 2011 written by the semi-famous (if you’re cool you know who he is) Chris Hardwick of the Nerdist website and podcast. I have listened to the Nerdist podcast for about a year and a half, and have listened to every episode. It’s a pretty funny, really interesting interview type show. (Something great to pass the time at menial, paper-pushing jobs like mine.) I thoroughly enjoy the podcast, and jumped at the opportunity to both support Mr. Hardwick and see what his perspective is on the “get your life together” book. When I came up with the idea for this blog, I realized a great segment would be to use this book to give me some direction in my own attempts at getting my life together.
Update Twice a Week
This one is probably the most difficult of the blog-related items I intend to do. Partially because of the non-blog related things I will detail below, and partly because of the age-old question “Do I have anything to say?” Starting out, no more than one of the blog posts will be reviewing/commenting on The Nerdist Way because if you want to read the book you would read the book. Also, this is not a book review blog, it is a “Mark is getting his life together” blog. It is the Glorious Five Year Plan. Of course, sometimes the updates will be rants, sometimes they will be updates on important steps and goals, and sometimes they will be short stories or other creative works. Which leads me to the next item.
The Look/Feel of GFYP
Solidifying the look/feel of Glorious Five Year Plan is of course a fallacy. Anything creative that is also long-lasting has an evolving quality to it. If it doesn’t change to meet the demands of the creator or the audience then it dies. As much as I would like to say that I will establish the brand and set it in stone, things may/will/should change over time.
Year One
This will be a large post that I fully intend to write sometime before my 26th birthday. It will also be the post that I will probably link back to on occasion, checking in on my successes or failures as I proceed or regress in achieving my goals. One of these goals will be writing out the grander plan for the next five years which I intend to host on its own page for quick/easy viewing.
That’s all for the blog now.
Non-GFYP Related
- Reducing personal expenditures
- Increase personal revenue
- Manage free time better
Reducing Personal Expenditures
Money is tight. I have had more than a few moments of clarity that all point to the same fact, I need to get the reins on my finances and break the boom-bust cycle that dictates my life. I will definitely have some posts detailing this experience (and requests for accountability in this endeavor.)
Increase Personal Revenue
I need a second job. Which is kind of crazy considering that I am currently creating a second job by starting this blog, but unfortunately the blog doesn’t make money. As much as I wish cutting expenditures would fix my money troubles, I’m enough in the red that if I don’t increase the money coming in I will bleed myself dry. Of course, this will make my free time even more precious, and I hope that if the quality dips you (the person still reading this extremely long post) can find it in your heart/mind to delicately ask that I put more work into the Glorious Five Year Plan. Criticism is great, as long as it provides me a foundation I can build on.
Manage Free Time
There are 24 hours in a day. I sleep 7-9 hours a night and work for 8 (9-10 hours including driving and meal time.) That leaves me with about 5 hours a day (during the week) of free time. Currently, I spend a large part of that time in front of the television or the computer. If I am going to find time for GFYP and a second job, I need to stop bleeding out my available time in front of the idiot box or on the wasternet. This is another thing I will hold myself accountable for through some sort of system that I will come up with later. I imagine if anyone is following my Twitter or Facebook I could log my hours spent on any activity a day, but only as long as that wouldn’t be too invasive. I’m not here to shout at you, but instead have a polite conversation.
Finally, I will write shorter posts. My intention is to limit myself to 750 words at most, and would prefer to come in somewhere around the 500 word mark. I don’t have time to waste, and neither do you. So I will try my very hardest to not waste either of our times.
To Do:
Write overly long post.Pimp ceaselessly on social media.- Sleep.
Not that it matters, as I have no real following, but I have updated my Mark Abbott link on The Bleacher Seats. It no longer links to Gettin’ Reel and instead goes here.
My way of showing support for The Glorious Five Year Plan!
Why thank you very much. Any little bit helps, right? Besides when you get more of a following, it’ll be nice to know I have your support.
It would be a bit presumptuous of me to refer you to Alex’s blog for help in your financial matters. The presumption comes in assuming you don’t already know of it. And if you don’t know of Dave Ramsey yet, it might be helpful to peruse that “wasternet” to find him.
As for what the content of your posts should be, maybe you need to decide on a particular theme or category. Most (successful) blogs cater to some predetermined flavor of content and the posts are shown through that filter. This is still a developing project for you, but as time goes on I think you will find that particular mojo you want.