Goals are dreams with a deadline.

As a goal-oriented person, I spent a good deal of time this weekend thinking about where I want to be and how I want to get there. In 2007, I began my first my first list of 101 goals in 1,001 days. I succeeded at completing 60 out of 101 goals. While I was amazed at what I checked off, there are things I still wish to complete.

‘Tis time to launch my new list. A few thoughts first:

1. We can help each other. By articulating our goals and strategies, we become more accountable for our actions, support lofty ambitions, thereby elevating each other to the next level. A “rising tide lifts all ships” kinda way. The process itself yields rewards money can’t buy: we all improve.

2. I can help you. Just post a link below of your 101 goals in 1,001 days in the comments section. If I know your goals, perhaps I can help. Or I might know someone that can help you achieve a goal on your list.

3. You can help me. My mind needs a target to focus on. Encouragement and opportunity are huge motivators for me.

Here’s the new list: Start date: January 29, 2010 End date: October 26, 2012 (here’s a handy online tool to calculate your final completion date).

October 26, 2012 (45/101 completed).  *** Updated August 1, 2014 (56/101 completed)***

1. Decorate my studio space with my work, branded to my style. [COMPLETED 03.14.11]

2. Complete an online promo video showcasing me and my shooting style. [COMPLETED 03.14.11, PROOF]

3. Help others by posting a on photography forum once per week for 3 months.  [COMPLETED 04.05.11]

4. Conduct a reader survey to better understand my blog audience.

5. Take a week off from anything business or internet-related (including email). [COMPLETED 07.20.12]

6. Pay-off my car. [COMPLETED 02.10.11]

7. Customize my car to my liking. [COMPLETED 05.27.11]

8. Race in a triathlon. [COMPLETED 07.24.11, PROOF]

9. Run a half-marathon.

10. Squat 415lbs.

11. Create backyard vegetable garden. [COMPLETED 06.01.12]

12. Make homemade jam from the fruit of my backyard. [COMPLETED 08.02.14]

13. Meet a woman that loves me for who I am. [COMPLETED, PROOF]

14. Shoot a wedding on another continent. [COMPLETED, PROOF]

15. Shoot weddings on all seven continents.

16. Print a 40 x 60 to display in the studio.

17. Shoot a bridal session in Alaska. [COMPLETED 06.19.11, PROOF]

18. Give a platform class at WPPI.

19. Earn an Award of Excellence at the annual WPPI 16 x 20 print competition.

20. Get published in a nationwide magazine (non-bridal). [COMPLETED 01.31.11, PROOF]

21. Get published in a newspaper. [COMPLETED 03.09.12, PROOF]

22. Get published in Outside magazine.

23. Get published by a Grace Ormond Wedding Style.

24. Serve as a judge on a print/photo competition.  [COMPLETED 06.15.14]

25. Publish a book of my portraits of couples in love at Burning Man.

26. Go to Burning Man, again. [COMPLETED 08.26.12, PROOF]

27. Photograph wildlife on Kodiak Island, Alaska. [COMPLETED 06.19.11, PROOF]

28. Complete my cactus portrait project. [COMPLETED 05.11.11, PROOF]

29. Work with an SEO expert to optimize my WordPress blogsite. [COMPLETED 03.02.11, PROOF]

30. Complete my “Look Book” as inspired by Sean Low.

31. Re-design and print new thank you notes, post cards, and marketing packet.

32. Hang an original Jeff Newsom print on my wall. [COMPLETED 03.20.11, PROOF]

33. Hang an original John Michael Cooper print on my wall. [COMPLETED October 25, 2012, PROOF]

34. View my work in the Museum of Modern Art.

35. Shake hands with National Geographic Photographer Joe McNally. [COMPLETED 03.22.11, PROOF]

36. Purchase the next generation camera. [COMPLETED 02.01.11]

37. Photograph a birth.

38. Construct an album from scratch.

39. Shoot a wedding entirely with film.

40. “Third-shoot” a wedding by only taking 50 photos and showcasing them in an album.

41. Shoot a wedding entirely with one lens.

42. Hug mentors Anna Kuperberg, Susan Stripling, Laurence Kim, Fred Eagan, and Jacklyn and Nate Kaiser.

43. Participate in a Mammoth Men trip.

44. Create a Chrysler 300 Letter Car calendar. [COMPLETED 10.15.11, PROOF]

45. Photograph a US President.

46. Photograph the Denver Broncos with a sideline pass.[COMPLETED 10.04.12, PROOF]

47. Update my the headers on my blogsite. [COMPLETED, 12.02.11]

48. Update my portfolio images on my website at least once a year. [COMPLETED, 06.01.11]

49. Create a template for email newsletter and distribute.

50. Build a totally different bridal show booth.

51. Create a fancy email footer. [COMPLETED, 07.01.12]

52. Redesign my website for improved functionality and share to others what they can do. [COMPLETED, 03.02.11, PROOF]

53. Write, publish, and sell a set of pdf books detailing my lighting secrets.

54. Photograph a nude model.

55. Write a blog post on understanding aspect ratios. [COMPLETED, 06.24.13, PROOF]

56. Write a blog post about my album design process. [COMPLETED, 08.29.13, PROOF]

57. Write a blog post on how to choose a wedding photographer. [COMPLETED, 08.12.12, PROOF]

58. Write a blog post on how to balance tradition with modernity in weddings. [COMPLETED, 05.07.14, PROOF]

59. Participate in the Help-Portrait project.

60. Photograph my grandparents. [COMPLETED, 04.25.14]

61. Photograph Irish Landscapes for several days. [COMPLETED, 08.12.12, PROOF]

62. Volunteer my photography for a charity event.

63. Frame print publications.

64. Photograph a swim meet when my Mom is officiating or competing.

65. “Redo” 5 photographs by I love created by other photographers.

66. “Redo” 5 photographs by I hate created by other photographers.

67. Shoot landscapes with Trey Ratcliff.

68. Exhibit in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

69. Shoot a celebrity wedding.

70. Hang a solo art show of personal photographic work. [COMPLETED 08.01.14, PROOF]

71. Finish my seed pod project.

72. Complete my Toastmaster’s Competent Communicator manual. [COMPLETED 05.25.11, PROOF]

73. Take at least one new business workshop from Score.

74. Photograph musician(s) for album cover art

75. Learn to whistle with two fingers (great for rounding up those huge groups).

76. Shoot production stills for a major motion picture.

77. Redesign my home office emphasizing function and form. [COMPLETED, 01.7.11]

78. Drink wine in Tuscany.

79. Spend a week living on a sail boat. [COMPLETED 11.05.13, PROOF]

80. Attend a Colgate University alumni re-union.

81. Get published in my alma mater alumni magazine, The Colgate Scene. [COMPLETED, 08.04.11]

82. Learn to use a large format camera. [COMPLETED, 01.24.14]

83. Become a member of Nikon Professional Services (Nikon Pro). [COMPLETED, 05.18.13]

84. Get to know the work of another 25 dead photographers. [COMPLETED, 04.24.11]

85. Get to know the work of another 50 active photographers. [COMPLETED, 04.24.11]

86. Surprise one of my neighbors. [COMPLETED, 05.15.11]

87. Create a signature dish recipe.  [COMPLETED, 10.05.12]

88. Sail in the Greek Isles. [COMPLETED, 07.15.11, PROOF]

89. Take a one month sabbatical.

90. Enter a WPPI Print contest. [COMPLETED, 02.15.11/01.09.12, PROOF]

91. Review a photographer workshop to benefit others. [COMPLETED, 02.13.11, PROOF]

92. Construct a proper digital address book. [COMPLETED, 04.15.12]

93. Digitize my parents’ photo archives.

94. Photograph my father’s 1:24 scale model car collection.

95. Get a significant mention on the Strobist. [COMPLETED, 09.25.12, PROOF]

96. Ski/Snowboard at least 20 days in a single season. [COMPLETED, 04.12.11, PROOF]

97. Photograph a same sex wedding.

98. Host a giveaway on my blog. [COMPLETED, 04.07.11, PROOF]

99. Create awesome kern-photo client schwag. [COMPLETED, 12.21.11, PROOF]

100. Help someone make their own 101 in 1001 list. [COMPLETED 05.25.11, PROOF]

101. Share this list of goals. [COMPLETED, 04.13.11, PROOF]

While this list has a few super lofty goals, there are some others that I just need to get done. I relish the challenge of setting a goal and obtaining it.

And because every post is better with photos, here are two previously unpublished photos of my little bro golfing in Hawaii. He makes a great model for an inspiration/motivational posters, “Goals: There is no end to the amount of things you can accomplish.” I dedicate this post to my younger brother, Sean. While he’s worked hard to become one stellar Urologist in the US Army, he needs more work on his golf game.