2006 Inventory
As this year draws to a close, I was wondering how 2006 could be summed up. At first, an accounting of my financial objectives was considered. But that doesn’t feel right to me. My quest has been to improve: improve myself, my knowledge, and my skillset as an entrepeneur, investor and individual. Those are objectives that cannot be assigned a dollar value.
Without a doubt, the year of 2006 has been a big year. With very little knowledge to guide me, I was able to complete the momumental task I had started in 2005. Namely, the refurbishing of the two houses. Even though events did not transpire exactly as planned, the end result was very favorable.
In addition, I am pleased my mind was open to other possibilities when problems arose. Two instances come to mind. First, the monumental decision to not sell the houses and instead rent them. During the first year, my thoughts were dominated with selling the houses. At the last minute, the selling of the houses would have been a detriment to my financial goals and was halted. In order to keep moving forward, an alternative route was planned. Second, with the help of my esteemed readers, an alternative solution was found for my problems with the old tenant.
There has been bumps and bruises along the way. Mistakes have been made. But there are two lessons I’ve learned. First, it’s alright to make mistakes. Fortunately the mistakes that were made were correctable. Second, I don’t have to whip myself for making a mistake. I am brutally hard on myself at times. This really serves no purpose. Afterall, governments did not collapse; wars were not started; planets did not collide because of mistakes that I had made.
One flaw that deserves my complete and undivided attention is my hardness on others. Sometimes, I do become brutal and this needs to be curbed. This feeling is not generated because of some "win-at-all-costs" type mentality. This is mainly brought on by stress. When plans aren’t working exactly as I had hoped, sometimes my self-control gets the better of me. Fortunately for those that are around me, they except this flaw. And of course my apologies.
With that idea in mind, my knew objective is going to be lifted directly from "The Four Agreements". That objective shall be "Be impecable with your word." I am going to strive to meet this objective, every day, until it becomes a way of life. This, above all else, is where the most improvement can occur.
My personal relationships with others has grown stronger. By fostering understanding, cooperation and communication I’ve been able to get more accomplished this year than in other year. Also I feel more comfortable in the fact that the relationships in my life are more solid than ever. These working relationships with those around me have added to my confidence that future projects will flow more smoothly.
With the birth of 2007 lingering around the next corner, it is with high expectations that I enter the new year. Not only for doing similiar projects like the one completed in 2006 but other, new projects; projects of different scopes. And with each success, and failure, I will be here to document those stories. Afterall, the main reason why this blog exists is to share my experiences with others.
This next year promises to be fun. There are a few experiments I’m dying to try out; new adventures I want to have.
