2024 Goals – Year End Review

For the third year in a row, I’ve taken to writing 5 goals that I’d like to accomplish, tracking the progress monthly, and publishing what I’ve been able to achieve. The 5 goals I set for 2024 were:

 

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

 

Below are the links to the monthly progress reports:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

 

Now that the year is over, I felt it was prudent to assess how well I actually did in achieving those 5 goals. Let’s take a look at each – starting with regular and consistent article publishing.

 

2024 Goals – Continue to Post Bi-monthly Articles

Publish regular and consistent content is important

 

This was the initial goal I set at the beginning of 2024, and throughout the year, it was tweaked depending on circumstances. I eventually settled on posting at least 3 times a month, which I believe is sustainable. For what it’s worth, a regular cadence of publishing, coupled with intentional series building like The Budgeting Series and The Leadership Series, has really helped hone the content and its consistency.

What’s more, the addition of Musings to the website has definitely allowed the publication of more content I wouldn’t have normally considered as an article.

To that end, let’s look at what has been published in 2024 in pursuit of this goal:

1. 2024 Goals
2. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth – Book Review
3. 2024 Goals – January Review
4. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – Book Review
5. 6 Years of The Wealthy Ironworker!
6. 2024 Goals – February Review 
7. The Art of Intentionality in Your Life
8. 2024 Goals – March Review
9. Education Vs. Experience Part 2: The Future
10. Tools To Help Address The Stigma Against The Trades
11. 2024 Goals – April Review
12. The Five Minute Foreman – Book Review
13. What is a Collective Bargaining Agreement – and Why is it Important?
14. 2024 Goals – May Review
15. The Principle of Leading By Example
16. Managing In The Next Society – Book Review
17. 2024 Goals – June Review
18. Trade School Vs. Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
19. What Is A Union?
20. 2024 Goals – July Review
21. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader – Book Review
22. Middle-Class Vs. Working Class
23. 2024 Goals – August Review
24. What is The Representation Gap?
25. 2024 Goals – September Review
26. Leadership and the Task-Oriented Trades
27. 2024 Goals – October Review
28. Situational Leadership and the Skilled Trades
29. 2024 Goals – November Review
30. Leadership and The Art of Intentionality
31. 2024 Goals – December Review
32. 2024 Goals – Year-End Review

 

Musings, the shorter form content I mentioned earlier, contributed to numerous bits of content, such as:

1. Gen Z Joinng The Skilled Trades
2. Prevailing Wage, NLRB, and The Skilled Trades Shortage
3. New Ways Forward
4. Volkswagen Workers Vote to Join the UAW
5. DOL Expanding Availability for Salaried Workers
6. Federal Trade Commission BANS Non-Compete Agreements
7. The Positive Ripple Affects of the UAW
8. Offshore Wind in Impressive
9. The United States is Destroying Young People
10. UPS Wins Postal Service Contract – Why That Matters
11. Colleges Are Closing Their Doors Rapidly – What Does That Mean?
12. The Rise of Intellectual Influencers
13. NLRB Cemex Rule Explained
14. Skilled Labor Shortage is Extensive
15. Greedflation and Corporate Price Gouging
16. Unionism Finds Support From Economists and Conservatives
17. Ever Wonder Why YouTube Reaction Videos Are So Popular?
18. Human Beings and Capitalism
19. Grief – The Great Equalizer
20. Regret – The Unsuspecting Aspect of Grief

 

As you can tell, there has been a fair bit of content put out here. What grade does this particular goal get?

A+

 

2024 Goals – Continue to release weekly podcast episodes

The Wealthy Ironworker Podcast – listen to/watch wherever you consume podcasts

 

I finally started the podcast in December 2023, and throughout 2024, I was fairly consistent in achieving this goal, releasing at least one episode a week – and sometimes more.

But then, a series of events derailed things.

First, being back in the field full time – working scheduled overtime, shutdowns, etc. – definitely ate up some of my time previously allotted for podcast recording.

Then, in November, my adult son passed away – and from then until now, I haven’t had much desire to sit in the podcast studio and record episodes. I’ve been a guest twice on another podcast and had a guest on mine, but that’s it.

For those interested, here are the links to each one:

 

The Construction Mentor Podcast – Is It Easier To Fool A Man, Or Convince Him He’s Been Fooled?

 

The Construction Mentor Podcast – Building Foundations: Mental Health In Construction

 

The Wealthy Ironworker Podcast – Guest Feature – Timothy James, The Real Boston Cowboy

 

In any case, I hope to resume podcast episodes in the new year with a renewed focus. So, what grade do I give to this goal?

B-

 

2024 Goals –Expand the brand

Expanding the brand

 

For 2024, I had an ambiguous goal of expanding the brand. No real direction nor a definitive line to cross; just get the name out there more.

Recalling 2024, there are a few things I can write that have been done to achieve this goal.

1. Partner with a union-made merchandise company for apparel
2. Get union-made stickers to give to others
3. Create a profile and be active on Reddit
4. Get noticed by others (in every space – social media, other podcasts, authors, etc)

Each of these has certainly helped to expand the brand. What’s more, they have helped build a foundation to help achieve the goals I’ve set for 2025.

How do I grade the achievement of this particular goal?

B+

 

2024 Goals – Write extensively on leadership

 

Starting out as I reflect on this goal, I realize almost immediately I should have been more specific with the goal – which is why, in 2025, I have a goal of “Expanding The Leadership Series.”

In any case, I DID achieve this goal to my liking. As of this yearly review, there are 5 articles written and published – with twice as much in draft form ready for expansion in 2025. Here is the outline of The Leadership Series, which, as you may know, is subject to change/expand:

 

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

 

There are additional articles that will be added in 2025 to this series, but for this year’s goal, it has been a success.

This goal gets a grade of:

A

 

2024 Goals – Expand my book review series

There are numerous books to include as time passes

 

2024 was a great year for The Wealthy Ironworker library: I believe we added close to 30 books to read/review and numerous others on a to-get list for the same reason.

What’s more, I didn’t want to simply post this goal a second time for 2025, instead opting to add it to a new rotational goal of AT LEAST 6 BOOK REVIEWS IN 2025.

But, for 2024, how many did I write and publish? Let’s take a look:

 

1. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth – Book Review
2. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – Book Review
3. The Five Minute Foreman – Book Review
4. Managing in The Next Society – Book Review
5. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader – Book Review

 

To that end, I’d say I did, in fact, achieve this goal. The grade:

A

Wrapping up the year

Let’s put a nice bow on 2023, shall we?

 

I’ve had some success but also setbacks with the goals for 2023. Nevertheless, I’m convinced goals are worth setting and pursuing. Otherwise, you are wandering aimlessly through life, being tossed to and fro with every little wave. When I look back, I can see how things in life just happen and derail you – and that’s alright. What’s important is that you achieve and pursue something. And when you are thrown curveballs? Adapt and overcome.

Overall grade for the 2024 year?

B+

 

Overall, this seems like the best year yet for goals – which inspires me to overachieve in 2025. Onward goals!

So, wrapping this all up, I have a question for you, the reader: what were your goals, and how well did you achieve them?

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