Welcome to 2016! Last year, I was struck by the historical origin of the word resolution as a “process of reducing things into simpler forms. I focused on small but significant steps that with a little investment could significantly impact my effectiveness and enjoyment as a freelancer. This new year, I am emboldened by the words of Neil Gaiman.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something. – Neil Gaiman (Source: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/12/my-new-year-wish.html)

Now that I have found some rhythm as a freelancer, it is time to shake up that comfort zone to stretch myself and grow into new possibilities. I likely will make some mistakes along the way, but I will be “Doing Something,” learning new things, and growing from any mistakes along the way.

  1. Be more creative – I want to devote more time to being creative. My daily work and responsiblities at home recently have tended to focus heavily on financial, logistical, and organizational needs. My heart, mind and soul need stimulation beyond just the intellectual. Gaming is a creative outlet, but I find I also need to be personally involved in the creative and making process. Using my hands and mind to create relaxes me and then helps me regain focus for my intellectual work. Creativity also challenges me to strength myself. I want to write more, which I expect will also increase my proofreading and editing talents. I will be writing a monthly article for the InnRoads website entitled Cyclopaedia, and I will be watching for more opportunities to write as a freelancer in RPGs. I also want to get back to doing more crafting, such as board game inserts and gaming enhancements.
  2. Be more personal – When I started this blog, I was not sure where it would lead me. Along the way, I have experienced so much and have realized that when I am writing from the heart, you all respond more. Offering information and factual experiences can be useful, but they are not as interesting to read as personal experiences, heartfelt insights, and teachable failures that lead to growth. I also want my relationships, even my business ones, to be more personal.
  3. Be more relational – Modifying a resolution from last year, I want to spend the year devoting quality time to one new relationship (personal or professional) and strengthening an existing relationship. Building two new relationships seemed simple last year but really was challenging to dedicate time to building two new relationships in addition to maintaining existing relationships. Along the way, I realized there were existing relationships that I should dedicate more personal time to as well. So this year, I want to be very dedicated to new and existing relationships, with special focus on one new and one existing that needs bolstering.

Beyond resolutions, there are some exciting things I am looking forward to in 2016:

  • We have celebrated the completion of the final book for the Achtung! Cthulhu Kickstarter. It will be available in print early in 2016. I am looking forward to continuing work on various other projects with Modiphius and growing that relationship even further.
  • A new year means new projects to look forward to! I am already in discussions with publishers about some new product lines I might work on, and I look forward to working more with Stronghold Games after the successful 504 project.
  • I look forward to attending Gen Con 2016 with my entire family for the week. We were going to do that in 2015 but things did not work out for my wife to be in attendance all week. For 2016, we have already worked out accessible housing and our Exhibit Hall work schedule so my wife can attend the entire week. Thus, in 2016 my wife and twin daughters will be there for the entire week with me. Really looking forward to it.

What new things are you willing to try in 2016? I encourage you to take some risks and be willing to make some mistakes so you continue to grow.

Happy New Year!

Resolutions for 2016

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4 thoughts on “Resolutions for 2016

  1. Great resolutions, all doable. Not necessarily measurable, just constant reminders of life goals.
    Good to have specific projects and adventures to look forward to.

    1. Last year I had more objective goals, this year I decided to be more subjective and stretch myself. Looking forward to discussing our projects again at lunch soon.

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