The 40 Before: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

My reading queue - Item #30

My reading queue, a list of books that I might be reading next. They are in no particular order.

Personal Interest

(Completed) The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential...in Business and in Life, by Leo Babauta
(Completed) Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Twilight The Twilight Saga, Book 1, by Stephenie Meyer
New Moon, The Twilight Saga, Book 2, by Stephenie Meyer
Eragon, Inheritance Series, Book 1, by Christopher Paolini
The 37th Hour, by Jodi Compton
Monkeewrench, Monkeewrench Series, Book 1, by P. J. Tracy
Boogers Are My Beat, More Lies, But Some Actual Journalism from Dave Barry, by Dave Barry
The Associate, by John Grisham
Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
Wizard's First Rule, Sword of Truth Series, Book 1, by Terry Goodkind
Stone of Tears, Sword of Truth Series, Book 2, by Terry Goodkind
Follow Your North Star, by Martha Beck
The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
Tuesdays with Morrie, An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson, by Mitch Albom
The Color of Magic: A Discworld Novel, by Terry Pratchett (refer to http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/ for recommended order)
The Light Fantastic: A Discworld Novel, by Terry Pratchett
(Reading) The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One), by Joe Abercrombie
Best Served Cold, by Joe Abercrombie
Weaveworld, by Clive Barke

Outdoors & Scouting

(Completed) No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks, by Ed Viesturs and David Roberts
(Reading) Rocks in My Backpack, by Tom Sholes
Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts, by Alvin Townley
Scout's Honor: A Father's Unlikely Foray into the Woods, by Peter Applebome
AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership, by Alex Kosseff

Job Related

(Reading) Understanding A3 Thinking: A Critical Component of Toyota's PDCA Management System, by Durward K. Sobek
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen
The World is Flat, Updated and Expanded: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, by Thomas L. Friedman
Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum by Mike Cohn
The 4-Hour Work Week, Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Timothy Ferriss

It's Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. "The 40 Before" project is at T-4 days and counting. It begins this Friday. I should probably figure out which thing(s) I'm going to tackle first. One of those is going to be continued reading. I've been working on my proposed reading list.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

T -7 days and counting

I have 7 days left to finalize my last. At 12:00 AM on 4-June-2010, my 40 months begin. I'm posting the drafted list on the blog now. I'll will look over it a few more times before I consider it final.

I gave myself a task item on the list to review & revise after 1/3 and 2/3 completed. I hope for those edits to be small.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

T -27 Days and I'm working on the list

I currently have 64 things (out of 101) on my draft list. I have some work to do to add in more things as well as polishing-up the specifics for things already on the list.

The List

Making the List. (2/6)

1. ~~Create list for "the 40 before".~~ (1/1)
2. Create chart for "the 40 before". (0/1)
3. ~~Create blog for this project "the 40 before" and populate with the list.~~ (1/1)
4. Review and update list in month 13 and in month 26. (0/2)
5. Make the next list for "the 40 after". (0/1)

Clean. (49/71)

6. ~~Floss my teath at least 4x/week for 12 weeks.~~ (48/48)
7. Go through all the boxes from parents/grandma. (0/1)
8. Clean my desk/drawers/stuff at work and simplify/downsize. (0/1)
9. ~~Complete reading "the power of less" and set 3 objectives for the list.~~ (1/1)
10. Power of Less: Reduce and organize my Boy Scout materials. (0/1)
11. Power of Less: Create a time for solitude, use it for 12 times. (0/12)
12. Power of Less: list all my commitments, then make the short list. (0/2)
13. Clean garage to get 2nd car back inside. (0/1)
14. Clean out my contacts list, archive and update as needed. (0/1)
15. Eliminate the dandilions from the front yard. (0/1)
16. Clean/sort/file financial papers. (0/1)
17. Organize and clean camping gear and eliminate unnecessary stuff. (0/1)

Connect. (3/115)

18. Meet 10 friends for lunch, coffee, etc.. (1/10)
19. Follow-up with a colleague from my network each month. (0/40)
20. Take each employee out for lunch, snack, etc.. (0/31)
21. Know the names of each employee's family members. (0/10)
22. Visit my parents 4 times and each time do something that's fun. (2/4)
23. Send 10 notes/cards/etc.. (0/10)
24. Reconnect with 10 old friends. (0/10)

Create. (7/91)

25. Write in journal 40 times. (5/40)
26. Try 10 new recipes. (1/10)
27. Invent a new recipe for something. (0/1)
28. Write on scout blog 40 times. (1/40)

Enjoy. (28/107)

29. Spend 15 min outside each day for consecutive 30 days. (0/30)
30. ~~Complete reading/listening to 12 books.~~ (12/12) Completed see posts
31. Watch 20 movies that were nominated for Academy Award "Best Picture". (1/20)
32. Listen to 10 new artists. (0/10)
33. Go to the Rennaisance Faire (maybe in costume). (0/1)
34. ~~Transition Troop CC to another person.~~ (1/1)
35. ~~Watch a full season of a favorite TV show.~~ (12/12)
36. Visit 10 new restaurants. (0/10)
37. Have 4 game days or nights with friends. (0/4)
38. See a live show, like Prairie Home Companion. (0/1)
39. Go to the movies with K&E, 4 times. (2/4)
40. Take a day off for my birthday. (0/1)
41. Attend a madrigal dinner. (0/1)

Exercise. (18/71)

42. Walk 20 min, 3 days a week for 12 weeks. (0/12)
43. Exercise at least 2x/week for 12 weeks Set a schedule. (18/24)
44. Lose 10 pounds. (0/10)
45. Participate in an exercise class, 1x/week for 12 weeks . (0/12)
46. Increase upper body strength over a 12 week period. (0/1)
47. Keep the 10 pounds off for at least 12 weeks. (0/12) see posts

Faith. (1/61)

48. Give up something for Lent (40 days). (0/40)
49. Go to a men's retreat, church outing, bible study, etc.. (0/1)
50. ~~Sing in church choir as a substitute/volunteer.~~ (1/1)
51. Do at least 1 devotion a week for 12 weeks. (0/12)
52. Do a Lenten Holy Week fast. (0/7)

Family. (14/94)

53. Do my will. (0/1)
54. Call parents at least 2x/month. (13/80)
55. Go to the St. Paul Winter Carnival. (0/1)
56. Set up a household chore schedule. (0/1)
57. ~~Establish an allowance for K&E.~~ (1/1)
58. Visit E at school for an special day/event (3 times). (0/3)
59. Visit K at school for an special day/event (3 times). (0/3)
60. Do my taxes before *before* April 1. (0/3)
61. Store important papers in safety deposit box. (0/1)

Give. (1/28)

62. Complete $ to the Coming Together campaign. (0/1)
63. Campmaster 3 times. (0/3)
64. Be counselor for 10 scouts/merit badges. (1/10)
65. Earn the scouting "Scouter volunteer knot" award. (0/1)
66. Bring bagels/snacks/something for my work team 12 times. (0/12)
67. Update wardrobe with some fresh clothes & style and donate the old. (0/1)

Go. (99/132)

68. Take K and/or E camping 6 times. (3/6) Started see posts
69. Hike or Backpack 100 miles . (90/100)
70. Take K and/or E on a backpacking trip. (0/1)
71. ~~Visit the Pacific Northwest.~~ (1/1)
72. Visit 3 state or national parks. (2/3) Started see posts
73. Canoe in the BWCA. (0/1)
74. Go to Valpo homecoming. (0/1)
75. ~~Make every effort to attend my 20 year high school reunion in 2011.~~ (1/1)
76. Have 2 weekends at "the cabin". (0/2)
77. Visit the Wisconsin Dells. (0/1)
78. Have lunch outside 15 times. (2/15)

Learn. (0/33)

79. Try geo-caching. (0/1)
80. Learn to play guitar or harmonica for at least 4 songs. (0/4)
81. Sign-up and attend Wood Badge training sessions. (0/1)
82. -- Wood Badge ticket item #1--. (0/1)
83. -- Wood Badge ticket item #2--. (0/1)
84. -- Wood Badge ticket item #3--. (0/1)
85. Complete Wood Badge. (0/1)
86. Earn the scouting "Leave No Trace" award. (0/1)
87. Try a week as a vegetarian. (0/7)
88. Take golf lessons (3 lessons). (0/3)
89. Try snowshoeing. (0/1)
90. Try a meal preparation place like "Let's Dish" or "Meals in the Bag". (0/1)
91. Vist the library 10 times and learn about something new. (0/10)

Save. (2/136)

92. Get stamp collection evaluated. (0/1)
93. Have at least 30 brown-bag lunches over a 60 day period. (0/30)
94. Go to the coffee shop no more than 8 times a month for 4 consecutive months. (0/4)
95. Save $5 for each item completed. (2/101)

Work. (1/67)

96. Read 1 article a month from a trade/business magazine (HBR). (1/40)
97. Complete PMP or other significant certification. (0/1)
98. Update my Resume record each quarter (M-Tools). (0/12)
99. Interview at 3 companies. (0/3)
100. Listen to 10 business podcasts (i.e. Manager-Tools). (0/10)
101. Implement one new thing from Manager-Tools podcasts that matters. (0/1)

The 40 Before