The cliched look at the year past

My big achievement for the year is having quit smoking and getting back into shape. Another was having my parents over for a vacation that they enjoyed and allowed us to bond again. Professionally a rather terrible year with nothing being achieved other than a realization that I need to start working for myself. I have something set for next year as a clear target. I'll be happy if I get even halfway there ;-) No, not lowering the bar that I set out a min back, but an acknowledgment that we often look at a year ahead as a lot of time.

Well, when I was 17 or so, I had a clear life plan. By 30 I was to make my 1st $20Mn, start my own fund or company, have found the girl I wanted to marry, lived in at least 4 countries and be able to speak german, french and spanish in addition to English. I was to do this by getting an MBA, going into Investment Banking and moving to NY. Haha. I was rather naïve even for that age. Blame it on the consumption of financial fiction ;-) I hadn't developed a world view then to realize that the financial services industry was reaping the fruits of a rapid expansion from the go-go late 80s and early 90s.

Now I am 32 and I am nowhere near most of my original targets except for having found the girl whom I'd like to marry. But a decade is a long time in the eyes of a 17 year old and when you are that age, you ignore the possibility that your life plan might need to change - that the path that you've decided to achieve your goals may not get you there. Now I have some things in mind I'd like to do before I hit 40. And I've given myself time till I am 35 to sort out professional targets. If that happens, I'll try learn at least one new language before I turn 40 :-)