2024 Goals

New year – and a new set of goals!

If you are new around here, I have been intentional in setting goals at the beginning of the year (typically 5) and post-follow-ups at the end of each month, tracking progress. I do this for a few reasons, really, but the ones I want to highlight here are my own personal need to achieve them and setting a template for others to potentially follow.

To that end, let’s look at the 2024 goals I am establishing. They are:

1. Continue to post bi-monthly articles
2. Continue to release weekly Podcast episodes
3. Expand the brand
4. Write extensively on leadership
5. Expand my book review series

2024 Goals – Continue To Post Bimonthly Articles

Building and maintaining consistency – two articles a month

I have been doing this for over two years now, and I want to continue the cadence. Achieving this goal has enabled me to start – and maintain – a weekly release of podcast episodes. I wanted to be sure I could post articles and do podcast episodes, and I believe I have found the optimal schedule.

To that end, it’s important I maintain a consistent schedule of posting articles twice a month WHILE POSTING PODCAST EPISODES, TOO. For some, they might find this additional work overwhelming, but when you have trouble sleeping, and you can crank out articles relatively easily, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Still, having it as a goal this year amounts to telling someone you’ll do something – and when you do that, the chances it will happen increase dramatically. So there’s that.

What’s more, the podcast is an extension of this website, so neglecting to consistently post looks unprofessional. And with a recent facelift on the site – dark mode that’s easier on the eyes – I want to continue tweaking things. Now that fallen down the rabbit hole of video recording and editing, I’d also look for increased use of videos on the articles posted. Continued tweaking – that’s what I’d say it is.

This goal is a mainstay for the 3rd year in a row.

2024 Goals – Continue to Release Weekly Podcast Episodes

“You should start a podcast.” Something I’ve heard NUMEROUS times

I finally started the podcast in December – a milestone for us here at The Wealthy Ironworker. While last year the goal was to start it, this year it’s to continue with a release date of at least one a week – maybe more as time allows. I have so many topics, series, potential guests, and ideas to carry it through the year FOR SURE.

You may notice an increase in the quality of the episodes – a natural outcome as we continue to gain experience. There is a tremendous learning curve, but there comes a point when we just need to jump in and start swimming. It has been like drinking from a firehose with all the changes in 2023. Things will only get better, though, and you will see more polished content as the year goes on.

You can find the audio podcasts here, and the video podcast page is located here. Likewise, you can also listen/watch on Spotify, iTunes, IHeart Radio, YouTube or Rumble if that is your cup of tea, too. I have a Twitter handle, and eventually will drop podcast episodes there but I have yet to really build it up.

Oh, and I should also mention I’ve had some try to convince me to adopt Instagram and TikTok accounts, too. While I doubt I ever use TikTok, I may adopt Instagram in the future – time will tell.

Stay tuned, subscribe to the various social media platforms you listen to/watch it on, and share it with everyone. And, as always, you can (and are encouraged to) send us an email at any time via the contact page form.

Expand the Brand

2024  – it’s time to be more intentional about this

February 2018 – that’s when I started this website. So, for almost 6 years, this brand has grown organically – with NO promotion or intent. During that time, this website has reached thousands, as I’ve spoken with Ph.D. candidates, authors (I have a feature in a book rolling out in April 2024), journeymen in the field, business owners – all through a fairly organic process. I wanted to establish consistency. I needed to be dependable. I had to expand into the podcast space.

2024 is the year we are more intentional about expanding things. We are on Twitter, YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, LinkedIn, Spotify, Apple iTunes, IHeart Radio – and I’m open to the possibility of even more if it makes sense. Whether it’s videos (shorts and full episodes), business cards with a QR code taking you right to the Podcast page on the website, or rocking my own merch – it’s time to get busy.

Speaking of merchandise, I have a merch page where people can buy and rep one of the coolest brands out there. I also have some additional logos and whatnot in development, too; all in pursuit of expanding the brand. Show your support for this podcaster 😎

Of course, if anyone has any ideas, they can certainly go to the contact page, fill out the form, and I’ll receive the info – so don’t worry and I’m looking forward to any input you may have.

2024 Goals – Write Extensively On Leadership

2024 – the year we thoroughly explore Leadership

While 2023 became the year of the budget, this year (and maybe the next, too) is reserved for Leadership.

Why?

For a few reasons, really. First, when planning out the year, I wanted something that was not only substantive but also comprehensive; that is to say, I wanted an area of focus. Leadership has been on my mind for a while now (more on that in the articles to come), and I want to expand on The 4 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. I believe what I wrote – I just want to flesh out the remaining leadership traits as they relate to or stem from those 4 qualities.

Secondly, I plan on writing this in my own style and experience – backed up with data wherever possible. Moreover, I do not plan to lean too heavily on other authorities, either. Instead, I want to take a unique look at leadership from two distinct perspectives; from the skilled trades point of view and whether my model is the best one for a more practical and task-oriented approach.

Third, I have a robust list of people I’d like to have on the podcast, and I want to capitalize on the time I have with them. If I am working on leadership, then the topic is front a center. I’m looking forward to some really good discussions. And based on how those discussions go, I expect I’ll tweak some articles as a result of substantive dialog.

Something else worth noting is while I hope to post extensively about leadership, I would expect a mixture of both podcast episodes and articles.

Normally, I write articles in my own unique style, and when I want to turn an article into a podcast, I develop show notes to prompt, remind, and propel the discussion forward. What’s likely to happen – for some posts, though – is the opposite: I do a podcast episode, take the transcript, and develop an article from that (cleaned up, of course). Really looking forward to some engaging and thought-provoking discussions.

2024 Goals – Expand my Book Review Series

Reading is one of the greatest joys we have

I enjoy writing – I wouldn’t have stuck it out this long on the website if I didn’t. However, I also enjoy reading. Consider this from Literacy Inc:

“50% of U.S. adults are unable to read an eighth grade level book. 33% of U.S. high school graduates never read a book after high school. 80% of U.S. families have not purchased a book this year. 50% of books started are never read to completion.”

Then there is this nugget:

“Statistically two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Students who don’t read proficiently by the third grade are four times likelier to drop out of school.”

As far as I’m concerned, those stats are a travesty. And while I cannot change anyone’s operating status, maybe I can inspire some through the pursuit of and achieving results in what I do – and that also includes reading good books.

Now, compare the above to this tidbit found on Medium:

“In the book “Me We Do Be: The Four Cornerstones of Success,” socio-economist Randall Bell says, “Those who read seven or more books per year are more than 122 percent more likely to be millionaires as opposed to those who never read or only read one to three books.”

In the end, I strongly suspect most could benefit from taking the time, to read (or listen to) a good book, thinking over what they read, and applying it to their life where applicable.

The last caveat here is I will be tweaking how I do book reviews. Ordinarily, I would provide robust quality quotes under “notable quotes,” but I do not want to go through the legwork of obtaining permission from the copyright holder. Instead, I will reduce this section significantly, provide my own thoughts, a recommendation or two, and leave it at that.

I can think of at least 4 books right now I have I’ll review; look for them this year.

Conclusion

Even good articles have to end sometime

2024 is shaping up to be a fantastic year – one full of potential, and I am looking forward to seeing how things unfold. There are numerous things taking place at the same time, and there are so many possibilities – I am really excited about it all.

The overall main goal for The Wealthy Ironworker website and podcast is to be a juggernaut in the space they reside. Far too many people simply go through the motions, waste their time, and later are filled with regret.

Let’s get at it – and thanks for joining me on this adventure.