2024 August Review

2024 Goals – August Review

 

If you are new around here, I have intentionally set 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.

Don’t miss the importance of that last part. Setting goals is vitally important in your life, and I hope you can apply what I do here for your own purposes.

To that end, let’s look at the 2024 goals I’ve established, and we are reviewing the progress for August –the hottest month of the year and the first full month I’ve returned to being back in the field after 4 years of business development. They are:

 

1. Continue to post bi-monthly Start posting (at least) three four articles a month
2. Continue to release weekly Podcast episodes
3. Expand the brand
4. Write extensively on leadership
5. Expand my book review series

 

2024 Goals August Review – Start Posting (at least) Three Four Articles a Month

 

Building and maintaining consistency – two (now three four or more) substantive articles a month

 

I have been doing this for over two years now, and I’m all about continuing (increasing, actually) the cadence after reviewing this goal for the coming year. Achieving this goal has enabled me to start – and maintain – a weekly release of podcast episodes, too – more on that later. I wanted to be sure I could post articles and do podcast episodes, and while I believe I found the optimal schedule in the past, it’s time to increase publishing.

Moreover, the podcast is an extension of this website, so neglecting to post consistently looks unprofessional. And with a facelift on the site done at the beginning of 2024 – dark mode that’s easier on the eyes and various other tweaks – I want to continue improving things. Now that I’ve 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 – it’s just being tweaked.

 

So, how am I doing now that we are at the end of August 2024?

Given that this year is a year to explore leadership – and I want to increase book reviews – the list of potential articles is rather deep. I’ve been working on several articles, have A LOT in draft form ready to go, and this year, I’m tweaking it by increasing articles to three, now at least four. August is the third month I’m doing this – but I am not too sure for how long. This month is the first one that I am fully back in the field running work; for the past 4 years, I have been working from home doing business development for contractors.

In any case, articles for this year include:  Middle Class Vs. Working Class, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader – Book Review, What is a Union?, Trade School Vs. Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), Managing In The Next Society – Book Review, The Principle of Leading By Example, What is a Collective Bargaining Agreement, The Five Minute Foreman – Book Review,  Tools To Help Address The Stigma Against The Trades, Education Vs. Experience Part 2: The Future,  The Art of Intentionality in Your Life, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – Book Review, and The 15 Invaluable Laws of Personal Growth – Book Review, were published from the beginning of the year to now. Start the new year with new goals, track them with me, and surprise everyone with the result. I’ve been pleased with the pace thus far.

 

Just out here musing

 

Moreover, April also saw The Wealthy Ironworker begin another new posting category: MUSINGS.

Musings, by definition, are “a period of reflection or thought.”

Here, they are a specific way to bring shorter content to the website. What’s posted isn’t articles, per se – at least not in the way I qualify and post articles. They are quicker reflections and enable me to get more thoughts out, whether current events or just something on the mind.

Current Musings posted are: Unionism Finds Support From Economists and Conservatives, Greedflation and Corporate Gouging, Skilled Labor Shortage is Extensive, NLRB Cemex Rule Explained, The Rise of Intellectual Influencers, Colleges Are Closing Their Doors Rapidly – What Does That Mean?, UPS Wins Postal Service Contract – Why That Matters, The United States is Destroying Young People, Offshore Wins In Impressive, The Positive Ripple Effects of the UAW, Federal Trade Commission BANS Non-Compete Agreements, DOL Expanding Overtime Availability for Salary Workers, Volkswagen Workers Vote to Join The UAW, New Ways Forward, Prevailing Wage, NLRB, and the Skilled Trades Shortage, and Gen Z Joining the Skilled Trades – and this is after just five months. There will be many more going forward, and by the end of the year, there will likely be A LOT more.

AND I’d also like to point out THIS is one of the reasons we put goals up here in the first place: to provide a template for others along with reviewing each month to check progress. As you check on them periodically, you sometimes have to change things up. The practice is invaluable – but if you aren’t setting goals – or tracking them with periodical evaluation – you’re missing out on a lot.

Because I set a goal of writing two articles a month, and recognized I needed to change it for more, I changed my goal and thus the amount of content on the website – to three.

And after JUST ONE MONTH, I realized I could write more – and changed it AGAIN. Time will tell if this pace can be maintained – the addition of the podcast and now working back in the field may strain creativity and quality – but for now, it’s full steam ahead.

I encourage you to set some goals since most people don’t – you’ll be glad you did in the end.

 

2024 Goals August Review – Continue to Release Weekly Podcast Episodes

 

The Wealthy Ironworker Podcast – Weekly Episodes

 

I finally started the podcast in December of 2023 – 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 (probably)  more as time allows. I have so many topics, series, potential guests, and ideas to carry throughout 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 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; the video podcast page is 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, Instagram, and Facebook, and eventually will drop podcast episodes (or shorts) on them, but I have yet to really build them up (currently researching this more heavily in the coming months).

So, how are things with this goal – eight months already into 2024?

There are around 35 episodes published thus far, and I have A LOT more in the works. What’s more, there is interest from guests, too, which would enable me to begin the spotlight series I want. The rest of 2024 will be very interesting as things unfold. Look for The Wealthy Ironworker Podcast wherever you consume podcasts for more.

Stay tuned, subscribe wherever you consume content – and drop by the contact page if there is something you believe worthy to explore. I am always looking to have guests on – and be sure to share with others.

Lastly, and as an addendum, I am having some quality control issues with recording podcast episodes. After consulting technical support, it seems the consensus is that my laptop – which is around 6 years old – is strained to the point it has trouble keeping up. This accounts for the audio glitches I’ve noticed when reviewing unpublished recordings. I am in the market for a new laptop, then, and until I get it, my once a week goal may suffer. If it does, at least I have a good reason.

Remember, I have been a big-time advocate for learning from failure and uncomfortable circumstances – and that’s what this ultimately is. This will force me to get a new laptop, set it up how I want/need, and ultimately expand things. In the short term, it’s a pain, but in the long term, it’s a new positive.

 

2024 Goals August Review – Expand the Brand

 

One of the new branding items I’ve been working on

 

February 2018 – that’s when I started this website. So, for over 6 years now, this brand has grown organically – with NO promotion or intentional promoting. During that time, this website has reached tens of thousands, as I’ve spoken with Ph.D. candidates, authors (I have a small feature in a book that rolled 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 relevant. I had to be dependable. I expanded into the podcast space.

With that as the foundation, 2024 has been the year I’m more intentional about expanding things. We are on Twitter, YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, Apple iTunes, and IHeart Radio, along with a host of other podcast platforms – 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 long been time to get busy.

So, what does this goal look like now that it’s August? (Already? Where did the time go?)

 

Related: Read The Milestone Theory

 

I’m glad you asked.

Starting out, I want to drop more podcast episodes to create dependability in the space. Since I’m new to the game and will continually improve with recording, posting, editing, etc., I want a little more experience before I really go full blast.

I have taken small steps, though, in pursuit of achieving this goal. Things like wearing my merchandise more, expanding the footprint on various social media platforms, telling others more frequently – and it all contributes to the build-up.

This month (and the next few, to be honest), I have been focused on a few specific things to improve my attempts to satisfy this goal.

First, I have been tweaking the website, and it has improved each time. And this is a work in progress that’s likely to continue. I’m always playing around with things. (it probably needs to be tweaked again for a more streamlined process, honestly). What’s more, I have been thinking about hiring a consultant for a fresh perspective. A fresh pair of eyes from someone who is not in this space could help – and I’ve been thinking about trying to speed things up, too. I don’t know when this will occur, but in the interest of tweaking things on this website, it’s one of the possibilities at some point.

Second, I’ve been researching things people recommend when growing their presence – and that has led me to create a Reddit account. Reddit has proven to be my favorite platform in this short time – it reminds me of old-school internet, where you can interact with others worldwide. I’ve gained followers, views, and platform growth because of it. I’m very pleased with Reddit so far.

 

Related: Read The Art of Intentionality in Your Life

 

I’ve also been researching how to market the website and YouTube channel because, up to this point, I have done ABSOLUTELY NO MARKETING. This really needs to change. All the traffic I’ve received thus far has been organic – which is exactly the type you should want – but achieving this goal means getting the word out. There are things I should research, and I will be diving into them in the next couple of months to see how achievable they are for me.

This means I may get bogged down in the details and slow-rolling things, but in the end, things always seem to improve – and that is my aim here, too.

There are two things I’ve figured out thus far: How to do YouTube shorts from DaVinci Resolve (the editing software used for the podcast) and how to remove dates from permalinks. I’ve been doing the shorts – but the permalinks will be done in a few weeks sometime soon (I hope – I need to schedule the time and walkthrough). I got caught up in some additional work that took some time. Both should help with getting the brand out there more.

Lastly, I have become acquainted with The Labor Radio Podcast Network and I’m beginning to see increased traffic (along with their promotion). I have no doubt this will help with this goal.

More to come.

 

2024 Goals August Review – Write Extensively On Leadership

 

2024 – the year we thoroughly explore Leadership

 

While 2023 became the year of the budget, this year (and 2025, 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 both Leadership, Management, and the Skilled Trades, along with The 4 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. I believe what I wrote – I 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 don’t want 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 best 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 my time with them. If I am working on leadership, then the topic is front and center. I’m looking forward to some really good discussions. And based on how those discussions go, I expect I’ll tweak some articles due to 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.

So – what do the 2024 goals look like overall with the end of August?

I’ve purchased or will buy several leadership books to broaden my perspective and understanding. For example, I have three more books by John Maxwell to review – “The 5 Levels of Leadership,” “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader,” and “No Limits.” One complements his 21 laws, and the review is here.

I also have “Start With Why,” by Simon Sinek, The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzer and Barry Posner, Dare to Lead by Brene Brown, and Primal Leadership by Daniel Goldman. Sometime later in the year (or the next), I’ll dive into them, do some lengthy reviews, and publish them, here.

I want to expand what I read, who wrote it, and deepen my understanding to broaden the application to the skilled trades. For many reasons, the next couple of years will yield some very interesting results.

As of this writing, I have at least eight more articles complete and outlines for two more. I want to have most of the series complete before I start dropping them so there is no time lag between articles in the series. I’m hoping to have some inspiration and tackle a few more in the coming months and be able to start dropping them by the end of the year.

Below is the outline for the leadership series as it currently stands:

 

NOTE: This article is part _ of a series on Leadership here at The Wealthy Ironworker

1. Leadership, Management, and The Skilled Trades
2. The 4 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
3. Leadership and The Task-Oriented Trades
4. Situational Leadership and the Skilled Trades
5. Leadership and The Art of Intentionality
   1. Skills Developed From The Art of Intentionality
6. Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
   1. Skills Developed From Emotional Intelligence
7. Leadership and Humility
   1. Skills Developed From Humility
8. Leadership and Listening to Understand and Not to Respond
   1. Skills Developed From Listening to Understand and Not to Respond
9. Skills Developed Overall in the Leadership Process

***The above is subject to change as this series expands***

 

As this outline currently stands, I only have 3 more articles to write.

So, essentially, I AM writing more articles on leadership – even if they are still in draft form. 😎 I’d look for the first one to drop in a couple of months.

 

2024 Goals August Review – 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. Additionally, I enjoy reading too. It would seem, though, that there are a lot of people who don’t. Or, perhaps, they just can’t. 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 pursuing and achieving results in what I do – including 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.”

 

That’s an interesting outcome. Now, I strongly suspect other specific behaviors and characteristics undergird it, but reading is one of the greatest gifts mankind has to offer. I’m also encouraged by the rise of audiobooks. According to WordsRated:

Well, here are some of the books I’ve got in my library and will be reading in the future (HYPERLINKS indicate the book review already published):

 

• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
• The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
• Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall
• Remarkable by Randy Ross and David Salyers
• The Common Path to Uncommon Success by John Lee Dumas
• Skip College by Connor Boyack
• Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
• The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner
• Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• The Legacy Journey by Dave Ramsey
• 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang
• The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John C. Maxwell
• No Limits by John C. Maxwell
• The Five Minute Foreman by Mark Breslin
• Pensionless: The 10-Step Solution for a Stress-Free Retirement by Emily Brandon
• Managing in the Next Society by Peter F. Drucker
• Mad Genius by Randy Gage
• Bullsh** Jobs by David Graeber
• Bad Therapy by Abagail Shrier
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

If I read and review the books I want in pursuit of my 2024 goals (and probably every year going forward), I will have enough book review articles to continually publish without end.

Stay tuned for more, and if you have any book recommendations, I’m all ears.

 

Conclusion

 

Even good articles have to end sometime

 

August 2024 – along with the subsequent goals (even ones I’ve tweaked), looks good. We are also gaining momentum on all fronts, too. Subscribe for monthly progress emails here at the website and on whatever platform you consume podcast content, whether it’s YouTube, Rumble, Spotify, iTunes, etc. or wherever else you listen – and I encourage you to set your own goals and pursue their achievement. Otherwise, you are merely meandering through life, allowing it to simply happen to you. Maybe that’s you reading this, today. It could be you are tired of the status quo, feel the need to change, and are willing to pursue – but do not know where to start.

Wherever you are – or find yourself in these turbulent times – start by setting some goals and pursuing them, periodically evaluating where you are, and making necessary adjustments.

So, what are you waiting for? Set some goals and change your life.

 

2024 Goals August Review Done!