A haphazard plan

Hah!!! Happy Birthday to me! I think being a narcissist for a day is absolutely fine.

My observation is that people are either excited, in celebratory mood – the party makers, and then there are those who do their best to avoid the lime-light – the party evaders.  I am to some extent a party evader too.

So what do party evaders look out for? I have no clue.  The few that I know, who are also party evaders tend to introspect. They try and make sense of what are the good things that they did over the last one year. And how many mistakes they made in the year gone by. And there is some amount of planning on what to expect or plan to achieve in the next year.

This seems like a good idea. Good enough to try. Despite that I think I will not remember what all I have done nor that I will have a single clear goal for the next year. Since, my belief is that no plan ever goes according to plan, therefore, its best that we keep more than one plan and few backups as well along the way.

Last year I had made plans to read some books. To be exact I wanted to read more than 14 books during the year. At the same time I also wanted to do some courses from Coursera and one complete a course in risk management, something I had been pursuing on the side-lines. Did manage to complete parts of it here. On the office front I changed jobs and managed to write some interesting stories in the new job. 

So how should I set goals for the next year one year? This seems difficult.

Well I think reading about 12 or more books is necessary. And this time will review or write summaries of each book as well. That should make it interesting.

For quite a few years I have been wanting to learn calligraphy and voice modulation. Although at this point it looks highly unlikely but at least will do my best to cover some ground in finding out on how to learn.

Also during the year, I will do my best to read about a new subject. Maybe learn something from some friend as well or about a new industry. This should be fun.

On a serious note, I would like to get more clarity on where I should take admission for a Masters’ program. 

Completing some more additional subjects from Coursera will obviously be part of the goal. Which subjects? That is a difficult to state at this point. Although most of the courses are very flexible on a weekly basis. But I have come to realise I need to do courses where the option is to watch the videos is such that I am able to finish it in about 3 hours a week followed by a weekly or fortnightly quiz in multiple choice question format. It’s easier for me to complete and fulfil the program.

An intensive program which also requires peer valuation is difficult for me. It takes more time, although I agree it is a better way to learn. Therefore for a working professional I find it difficult.

Now let’s see if next year on the same day, how much am I able to achieve. And what are the things that I had not made plans for but did complete.