Looking Forward In 2010

The word resolution can be intimidating. Someone who is resolute is firm and determined, bold and steady. That is a lot to live up to if you ask me. Most of the time, on the journey to figuring out career, happiness, the meaning of life, people are more likely to waver than stay firmly planted in their decisions. Resolutions are usually made because of our very nature to teeter back and forth. Should I eat the cupcake? Should I not eat the cupcake? Trust me, you should eat the cupcake.

2009 was a big year for me because I made the decision to start pursuing this crazy idea of writing for a living. The end of my stint in Montreal, meant I return to NJ and look for a job. It was then that I decided to take matters into my own hands. This blog, and a few others along the way, got me into the habit of writing. It is a great discipline and there is no better teacher than practicing on a frequent basis. You yourself are accountable for your success. This site has been a huge learning experience for me, in many ways. In 2010 I hope to expand my audience, gain more contacts within the industry, travel more, and basically do the things that make me happy and keep me jonesin.

In 2010 you can expect…

A new photography section, including travel photography and other pictures that strikes my fancy.
A growing travel and city guide section.
More personal travelogues.
Articles on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Articles on working in new media and the freelance world.
More South America and Mexico.

I have a lot to be grateful for in this past year. I was able to visit South America for the first time in my life and wander about Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. I saw sites like Machu Picchu, Salar de Uyuni, and Mendoza’s wine country. I ate some of the best beef you could imagine, and got a serious bout of altitude sickness that didn’t completely ruin my digestive system. I wrote extensively about my two road trips to Montreal and this year I will write more about South America and the time I spent in Mexico.

In 2010 I’m looking forward to…

Becoming a Digital Nomad – This is still one of the main goals that inspired this website. I continue to be inspired by so many people on the web like Timothy Ferris, Nomadic Matt, Chris Guillebeau, Christine Gilbert, and the Frugal Traveler.

Using 80-20 Principle – So this Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, came up with the idea that 80% of all effects come from about 20% of causes. That means 80% of your finished work comes from about 20% of the effort you put in. Now here’s a thought. What would happen if you spent more time on the 20% effort that actually gets the job done. Well you would save a lot more time and headaches, that’s what. I plan to test out the theory and find out exactly what 20% of effort I put into daily activities has the most desired result.

Deconstructing a New Language and Refreshing the Old – The techniques to learning a language is very popular topic among travelers. Writers, like Tim Ferris, claim that language classes don’t work, that you can learn any language in as little as 3 months, even 1 hour. Based on a recommendation from a friend, I picked up the book How To Learn a Language in 7 Days, by Ramon Campayo. (I wasn’t able to find an English version). I want to experiment various theories of learning a language and see if it is possible to quicken the process. Maybe we have approached the process incorrectly. I would like to chose two languages, one that will be fairly easy because I already speak Spanish, and another that will be more difficult because it doesn’t use the roman alphabet. So I’m thinking Portuguese and Hindi.

Becoming a Master Cook (in my kitchen) and Gourmand - I decided to keep my expectations high learn not only to cook, but to cook well, so well in fact that people are licking their fingers and begging for more. It won’t be easy, as I’ve learned with a few mishaps in the kitchen, but it is enjoyable. Food has always been a very important part of my life, beyond the whole nourishment and daily bread aspect. Eat Drink & Travel documents it.

Writing an EBook – This year I will get started on my eBook and post it on this site. I have a bunch of ideas and I still haven’t selected the exact one yet, but it will be in a similar vain to the content found on my sites.

Less Clutter Less Junk – Toss it! That’s my new mantra. I will finally get rid of my pack-rat tendencies and move on to having a simpler, less cluttered life. Hmm I should probably start with my pile of fashion magazines.

Figuring out my Canon Rebel XSi - It seems only fitting, since I included the photographs of one of my favorite photographers on this post, that I think about finally figuring out my new camera! This year I want to get more technical, pick up a few books, and finally conquer the art of Photoshop.

Oh and at some point I want to lie on my back on a beach of pebbles with an umbrella over my head.

Do you remember this song? I think it came out around the mid 90s. Jesse from Rising Bean used the Baz Luhrmann song “Sunscreen” in his video documenting his various trips around the world.