These are not in step by step order yet, this is more of a rough draft solo brainstorming session. As such, these are pretty verbose and kinda awkward.
1. Stop being a Wage Slave
This doesn’t mean quit your job, it just means having the freedom to stop if you want to.
I consider myself very fortunate in that I genuinely enjoy my job. It is interesting, and it has a good balance of challenge and routine. I understand that my job will grow and progress and change form over the years, but I’d like to get to a point where if I somehow end up in a position I hate, I will have the resources available to stop doing it. I’d like to develop multiple streams of income, as well as focus on my (awesome) main molecular/micro biology career. No golden handcuffs for me!
2. Be invited to conventions to speak as a guest
Not a very universal goal, but I’d love to do it. I love speaking, and I love instructing on topics that I know about. I don’t have a lot of detail on this one (for example, the reason anyone would invite me as a guest *cough*), but it’s on my list because I want it to be.
which brings me to
3. Become Internet Famous
Again, I’m not entirely sure what for. I’m not an artist, and I’m no longer a business owner. I’m a blogger, and while that’s picking up steam, I don’t know if it’s what I want to be known for. It would be nice, yes, but is there something else that I’m better at maybe?
Even though I don’t know what I’ll magically be famous for, I have an idea of the level I’d like to achieve. I’d like to aim for somewhere in between NeonDragon and Wil Wheaton (pre-recent TV appearances, just when he was starting to break out of being known as just Wesley Crusher), though probably on the lower end. I certainly don’t want to be Hollywood style popular. A kind of “I’m a geeky person, doin’ my own thing and oh, hey, people like when I do that, and give me some money for the things I create while doing it” would be lovely.
4. Grow (and grow with) Con-G
Con-G is one of the most awesome things I’ve ever done. It’s fun, and it’s freakin’ hard work, and I love it. It brings joy and entertainment to others, it helps out local charities, and yeah, it’s a big ego boost. “I did this” is an amazing feeling.
I want to nurture it and help it grow, and I don’t mean necessarily in terms of attendance. I think the spirit can be maintained, while polishing and refining other parts of it, so that when people hear “Con-G”, they’ll think “the best damn Canadian con outside Anime North”. I don’t actually like that as a target – AN isn’t what I feel we should be comparing to, but I can’t think of anything better off the top of my head.
So thats the EMP rough draft so far. I’d love thoughts an opinions, but you can keep it to yourself if you just think the goals themselves are dumb. My goals don’t have to be your goals, and all that jazz.