This is a post that I meant to write towards the end of last month but never actually got around to it. I spent the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 in New Zealand and just couldn’t find the time during our travels to really sit down and flesh out what my goals are going to be. I’ve had a lot of discussion with my wife and with Josh Bartlett (my business partner) about what some of my goals are but, until now, I haven’t committed to them in any form of writing.
Earlier today I decided to take a little stroll down memory lane… I started this blog in July of 2009 and I decided that it would kind of be cool to go back through and read my old posts. Sometimes I really take for granted how far I’ve come. Reading through my old posts literally brought tears to my eyes. Just remembering back to some of my early struggles and putting myself back in to places where I got so excited about things that I’d now probably consider fairly insignificant. Back then it was those small triumphs that kept me driving forward. It was those little wins here and there that kept the belief in my mind that I could be successful in business on my own.
I read one of my early posts where I described how excited I was to have 61 subscribers on a mailing list. Today I have over 20,000 subscribers and it probably grows between 50-100 subscribers every single day. I read a post about the day that I finally knew I was going to make it… I had made $300 over a three week period… In another post I talk about how The WordPress Classroom was such a huge success because I officially had 20 members. A couple of days ago the WordPress Classroom passed 1,200 members.
I hope you enjoy my blog and I hope that reading my posts has helped you in some way or another. What I never realized in the past is how much of a huge impact my blog posts would make on me in the future. Reading back through my blog and imagining the scale at which my business has grown over the past year and half has really hit me like a hammer. I’ve come a long way! I will never take for granted how I started. If I haven’t been keeping this blog over the past 18 months, I don’t even know if I would have really taken this step back to really reflect on my progress.
As a funny little side note, I found this image of what The WordPress Classroom looked like when I first opened it up. I’m actually curious to find out if there’s anyone reading my blog who was actually a member back when this is what the WordPress Classroom looked like… It’s definitely come a long way!
Those were my awesome Photoshop skills back before I learned that I should hire people to do that stuff for me. I always read that I needed to outsource but was always afraid to incur the expense. I know a lot of people are afraid of spending money to get their online business going before they’re actually making money but take my word for it… Learn to leverage other people’s skills and you will reach your goals so much faster than if you attempt to do it all yourself.
So what I want to do in this portion of my blog is look at the goals I set for 2010 and hold myself accountable. I’ll admit right now that I didn’t meet every single one of them but I did come damn close… So here it goes.
2010 Goals Recap and score card
Business Goals:
- Launch my new product (6 figures in sales) February Launch – I launched the Autopilot Cash Formula in April of 2010. I was a little behind schedule and the launch fell slightly short of hitting the six figure mark (but not by much).
- Build my list to over 20,000 subscribers – I originally set a goal of passing 10,000 subscribers but a few people told me that I wasn’t shooting high enough. I set my sights on 20,000 instead and managed to pass that number in October.
- Create at least one blog post per week - Failed miserably. I got so caught up in the other aspects of my business that I completely neglected my blog. Towards the end of the year I managed to start to pick up the pace again.
- Promote more product launches – I definitely promoted some great product launches. My philosophies changed a bit over the course of the year. It’s no longer a goal to promote a ton of product launches. It’s now my goal to get the products that I find will be the most beneficial to my followers in front of them. This mindset shift naturally means less promoting other people’s products.
- Rank #1 in at least one launch lead contest - I didn’t hit #1 on any leaderboards. I came in 7th when Josh launched Easy Video Player, 7th when Mike Filsaime launched AffiliateDotCom and 7th when Adeel Chowdry launched Hyper Facebook Traffic. (The later two I promoted with Josh Bartlett) I seem to be stuck at 7… But again, my mindset shifted away from promotions and I didn’t promote as many launches as I actually could have.
- Round up an army of affiliates to promote current and future products – I definitely did this. When I launched Autopilot Cash Formula in April, I had over 500 affiliates on board. I currently have around 300 affiliates actively promoting The WordPress Classroom.
- Launch a monthly membership site to build a recurring income - I switched the model of the WordPress Classroom from a one time fee to a monthly membership. This has been a huge success and everyone seems to agree that I still over-deliver for the price! I also partnered with Josh Bartlett to launch the Elite Marketing Foundation. This is another monthly membership site that is growing rapidly.
- Set up a coaching program with a partner – The Elite Marketing Foundation with Josh is the beginning phase of the coaching. We are working together to help as many people through mastermind calls and webinars as possible.
- Attend at least 4 internet marketing related seminars – Done and Done. I attended Affiliate Appreciation in Vegas in January, List Control in San Diego in May, the Info-Summit in Baltimore in November and AffiliateDotCom Live in Vegas in November. I made a ton of new contacts and have built some strong relationships. I also joined the local San Diego chapter of the Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle which meets once per month.
Personal Goals
- Finish remodel of master bathroom - Finished this project January of 2010.
- Remodel guest bathroom - Finished this project January of 2010.
- Cut back on the sweets and the junk food - I basically created a whole new diet for myself that limits carbs and almost completely cuts out sugary foods. I’m still sticking with it. (Although I’ll admit I’ve fallen off the wagon a few times during periods of travel)
- Exercise at least 4 times per week - I managed to maintain a 5 day per week exercise schedule for a good part of the year. Once again, constant travel really interfered. (I was away from my home for a grand total of 10 weeks in 2010)
- Purchase a netbook - Bought a netbook, outgrew it, bought a MacBook and can’t live without it.
- Purchase a Jacuzzi – Still working on this one. Decided to spend money on travel and this was something I’ve sacrificed.
- Make enough income that wife is comfortable leaving her job - We’re still working on this one as well. Although my income has probably gotten to a point where she can safely quit, it’s still a scary leap. We just haven’t felt comfortable enough to take that next step.
Goals for 2011
Business Goals
- Triple my current monthly income
- Build my list past 100,000 subscribers (Shooting for the stars)
- Launch a new membership site (More broad than just WordPress)
- Develop and launch a piece of software that makes life easier
- Introduce direct mail marketing in to my business
- Create one new piece of content every day / 5 days per week (This will be hard!)
- Speak live at at least one live event
- Attend a minimum of 4 more marketing events
- Write a book on my journey so far
Personal Goals
- Stick with my low-carb / low-sugar diet
- 6 pack abs by June (Never had them in my life. This is the year)
- Leave the country at least twice
- Attend the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in November
- Begin taking Improv Comedy classes in March
- Become a regular ToastMasters attendee (Starting tonight)
- Alana finally quits her job
- Buy a new house (Minimum 4 bedrooms)
As you can see, I’m setting my goals quite high. I’ve learned that when it comes to goal setting I need to set my goals for a notch past what I conceive myself capable of. I’d rather set a goal of a 100,000 mailing list and fail because I only hit 98,000 than set a goal of 30,000 and hit it and stop trying. I don’t think any of my goals are completely out of reach if I do everything that I know that I need to do. If I stick with the plan that I’m laying out for myself, every single item on my list should be a definitive success this time next year.
What are your 2011 goals? Is there any advice you’d give me in achieving my goals? I want to hear from you! Your feedback is what keeps me going.
Thanks so much and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else is striving to accomplish this year.
 BAB 008 – Creating Training Videos and Mailing Lists |  How I Got To Where I Am Today |  2009 In Review / 2010 Goals |
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Hey Matt,
This is a great round-up and just shows how much progress you have made in the space of 12 short months. I am sure 2011 will be even more exciting and lucrative after the groundwork put in last year.
I didn’t write a post outlining my own goals this year but I have them written down in my journal and am working each day to achieve them. Last year was a bit of a nightmare with problems, a lack of focus and direction but that will be rectified this year.
I like your daily content goal. I think I have managed this pretty much so far in January, whether it’s a blog post or guest post I have written, reports, videos, outsourced content etc.
It’s tough but definitely achieveable if you want to get a lot of stuff out there this year!
Speak soon.
David
Hey Matt,
Its very inspiring and motivating to read your post about reflecting back on where you were to where you’ve gotten because of all the hard work put in the beginning. It gives me the courage and confidence to keep working on my business and to keep setting goals. Its exciting to know if I model my steps after successful people like yourself and Alex Jeffreys, that I can actually take myself somewhere and help people along the way!
Looking forward to your new launches!
Yoichi
Hey Matt,
Great post and goals. I definitely would use more discernment on what you promote, as subscriber I like quality stuff.
I also think you did awesome in the launches you helped promote, there are some big names that you mentioned.
Fran
Love the post ,could do with a hand to monetize mine ,any tips i sure would appreciate them .Kind Regards Billy
Hey Matt. Great to set goals and tick them off. Don’t worry that 6 pack will come. I am 48 and made that promise to my self 3 years ago. I was 40 pounds overweight. My abs are just starting to show. Another couple of months.
I have some re-modelling to do on the house too. Once again the boxes are getting ticked each month.
My big aim is the same as most online marketers. To finally quit my day job as a sales manager and start working for myself fulltime. Last year I started building websites for businesses and ranking them in google. Although I enjoyed it I must say I’m kinda over customers. I made money and probably could have given away the day job but I just couldn’t see myself doing it for long.
So this year its concentrate on building ecommerce sites. Physical products for me.
Great post, I guess setting goals and working towards achieving them is key element to success. I must admit I am the kind of guy who is excited about goals but sometimes having hard time achieve it. Too much distractions along the way somehow. Setting up a goal that is up one notch higher could help you to work harder and I guess I will do that too, Thanks for putting your thoughts in words..cheers
I just have to say that your goals have really inspired me Matt. I’m looking forward to more posts from you.2011 is going to be an awesome year. Some of my goals are to exercise more like yourself, and get involved with more product launches. I’ll be checking things out more here on your blog, and through your emails.
Let’s rock 2011!
Gilbert Medina
Hi Matt,
Great set of goals and way to go to honestly evaluate your goals for the past year. Best of luck on your goals for this year.
My goals for 2011 are to build a list, Make $2000 per month by the end of the year, Build a membership site, Establish my blog and post to it regularly, Make sure that I would only sell affiliate products that I myself would use, Retire from my JOB (I am doing that next week). Attend one seminar. Now I need to go get busy! Thanks for the post!
Rich Wright
What’s up, Matt!
I’ve got to say, this may be the blog post of yours from which I’ve received the most value.
Goal setting / goal getting blog posts from fellow Internet Marketers are immensely successful.
It allows those of us a few steps behind, to understand the methodology and logic behind decisions that result what we see in front of the curtain.
Thanks for being so candid. And congrats on an awesome year!
Let me know how I can support you on any of these goals. Very seriously. It would be a privilege.
Since you asked, here’s a link to my 2010 accomplishments:
http://www.whoisbolaji.com/does-goal-setting-really-work-part-one
And my 2011 goal theme:
http://www.whoisbolaji.com/whats-the-point-of-having-a-3-word-theme-for-your-2011-goals
Looking forward to your more frequent posts, Matt!
Bolaki
Thanks for sharing your progress and new goals.
I will be keeping my goals simple this year.
1. I am financial free – today that means I have a recurring monthly income of $5,000 on or before 02.28.11
2. I am physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally healthy and getting healthier everyday- currently this means I weigh 165 lbs with body fat between 6-8%, high muscle mass, aerobic capacity to run at least a marathon, flexibility to touch my head to the ground while standing and the strength to easily manipulate at least twice my weight. I meditate daily, spend time in nature daily and attend at least two personal development seminars.
Financial freedom is defined by the ability to afford my current lifestyle including building an investment account.
This is step one – as the goal is surpassed, I will set new ones.
I find that we sometimes set too many goals and defeat ourselves before we start.
I know we can all accomplish what we set our minds too!!
Thank you for the opportunity to put this down and share it.
Darrell
Internet Marketing Consultant
Hi Matt,
I think what I’m most impressed by is how many personal goals you were able to achieve in 2010 while also making your business soar! Very impressive. I achieved my most important goal in 2010 and that was to be able to quit my day job and go full time online. This was HUGE, and my major goal for 2011 is to triple my current income. With good guys like you leading the way, I’m feeling pretty good about it! -Norene
That’s amazing Norene! Congratulations on managing to go full time in 2010! That is huge. I know you’ll be able to achieve your goals in 2010.
Good luck!
Matt
Mark, some great goals here. I know you can succeed with each one of them. You are right about setting goals high.
That is important for success, however you have to be reasonable. You can set goal to high and be disappointed.
Just a caution!
A few of my goals for 2011 are:
Thank you Mark for letting me share these goals.
Success,
Ken Pringle
Forgot my goals, sorry.
1.Help 31 people earn at least $10,000/month.
2.Build a new responsive list of 10,000 people.
3.Help 2011 people start and begin building their online businesses.
Ken,
I love your goal of helping 2011 people in 2011! -Norene
Well done Matt. I think one of the lessons here is the importance of setting goals, even if some of them are really aspirational. Be ambitious and focused. Speaking of which here are a couple of mine.
1) remain focused on providing great value to my subscribers
2) stay authentic and consistent with all work online
Good luck with yours
Matt,
As always I enjoy reading what your post on your blog and FB. I’ve been inspired by your start in 2009 and have been working to do the same. This year I launch my first product as a WSO and I was excited that I now have 28 people on my list. While I know it isn’t much it is a start.
In 2011 I plan to create more products that truly help people achieve a specific goal or task. There is too much BS out there already and I want to stand out.
I would love some one on one coaching from you. I think it would be great to have someone to hold myself accountable to and who understands the business we are in.
All the best!
JR
Hi Matt
Start your day off with a positive mindset. Every morning before you get out of bed say out loud “something good is going to happen to me today.” Put your goals on the wall next to your computer screen so you will be looking at them while you are “working” and tape them to your bathroom mirror as well as carrying them in your wallet so they are always with you.
You already have your book, just go back to day one and organize an outline of the progression for the book style. Whenever you think of something for the book, record that thought into your smart phone so you will be able to capture that thought at a later time, other wise you won’t remember what it was.
My goal for the first quarter of this year is to get my book published and in digital format.
Roger
Go out and make it a $ucce$$ful day!
Hi Matt,
You are an inspiration and reading how you have achieved so much in such a short time has fired me up. I have yet to still earn any money but I have been totally without focus and didnt understand a lot of things so my initial goal is to start building a list and to earn £500 (approx $750) a week. At the moment it seems pretty big but I am hoping I can make it by the end of the year. (although next month would be good too lol!!!)
Have a great year Matt and thanks again
HI Matt, You have done so well in what you have achieved in 2010 since the early days… Congratulations. I just attended a Leadership Lockdown this weekend with Max International, which is launching in Australia February 15th. What a company and what growth with such a unique product. The important thing was setting goals, higher in some cases as you wrote, but breaking those goals down into actionable steps towards the main goal. Earning a passive income with this business and online is one of the many goals for this year. Earn enough to cope with the retirement years, with heaps of travel. Wish me luck.. so far learning heaps, but not earning heaps! It will happen…
Hey you have bigger goals than me, mine is to eventually sell something online!
Hi Matt, Thank you for this post, it certainly gives encouragement to other people that are starting out on this journey. my own goal for this year is to get my first customer for my new venture into helping local businesses, get off the ground with helping them get a optimized listing on google places, and building good websites that have really good onpage optimization, and promoting them in their local areas. I am well on the way with it and I´m talking to some very large National companies with over 200 local outlets, the only problem I have with this is finding someone who has expeirience in outsourcing the actual work for this, as it would not be possible to do it all myself. my own expeirience is in sales and I am used to dealing with large companies and I feel that I would be better off spending my time on this. therefore I am looking for someone to take on the other side of it. If you know anyone please let me know.
Great goals.
Become an executive in my company.
Write one blog a week.
Become better at building my opt in list
Work out 30 minutes 5 days a week
Start my book on my journey from bankruptcy to financial independence
Participate in one trade show
Go to 2 marketing events
Hi Matt,
Great list of achievements for 2010 and goals for 2011.
Loved your goal to go to the Rugby World Cup in NZ in Nov. I’ve now added that to my list. Forgot all about it. Been to loads of Olympics and now want to attend a Rugby World Cup.
As well as that, I too want to bring my other half home so she doesn’t have to work, as well as accelerate by business massively.
My piece of advice (on top of all the good ones above) would be to make your goals the last thing you think about before you go to sleep. Visualise or read them before you sleep because your brain thinks about what you were focusing on for the last 30 minutes before sleep 15-17 times in the night!!
How cool is that. Have you brain work towards your goals 15-17 times faster – while you’re asleep.
It’s a trick I use and I’ve seen huge advances since starting it.
Looking forward to you, and everyone here, achieving your 2011 goals, and maybe we can catch a few games down in NZ in Nov.
David
–
Thanks for the tip David. That’s a great idea. I have a little mini notepad that I have all my goals on. I keep in my pocket pretty much all the time and make mini daily goals that work towards the larger ones. I’ll make sure to read them over every night. Cool idea
Matt
Hi Matt,
As a ceritified Financial Planner in practice many years setting goals from short term to long term has been a way of life both for myself and my clients.
I decided not quite a year ago to expand into the affiliate marketing business and found your posts and emails insightful.
This year’s goals includes transforming my website from what I call a website brochure into a website full of free content to assist individuals to be more successful in their financial life.
An excellent way of making New Year Resolutions. If you are serious about your goals, writing them down is one step in the right direction. Broadcasting them to the world for all to see and then reviewing your progress is one giant leap beyond.
It can be a harsh form of self discipline, but you are well able for it! I commend your honesty too.
Prospero
Great post Matt!
I wish I would have found your site sooner. I would have loved to chat with you and pick your brain at Kern’s event in San Diego while I was there.
I started writing down my goals years ago, but it kind of stopped there. They just sat there in a notebook. Last year I finally started reviewing my goals on a nightly basis like David mentioned above. Definitely a positive impact!
I like how you’ve decided to post your goals here. Seems like a great way to put some positive pressure on yourself and get that little motivational bump from your readers every once in a while.
I’m really enjoying your blog and look forward to reading more.
Matt,
Awesome recap of your year, and what’s working, where you have come from ,etc. That is absolutely awesome.
Looking forward to seeing you crush your goals!
Brandon
Matt–
Thanks for sharing your goals–it takes guts, because you are telling everyone what you expect to accomplish. My goal this year is to get my new membership site squared away and making money. As you know, it’s brand new, and is dedicated to the construction industry–specifically, scheduling for construction projects using Microsoft Project. The content is great–now if I can just get all of the pieces put together! That’s my goal for February.BTW, I am taking your advice to heart, and creating a different optin box! Thanks for the suggestion.
Best,
Coach Gary Micheloni
MicrosoftProjectClasses.com
Hi Matt
just watched your webinar on 5 essential plug ins and it is a credit to you. two points
popupdom.com didn’t link, so I googled it and found a pop up dominator, a pop up domination.com and a pop up domination.net – a few confusing synonym sites – could you clarify the one you recommend.
also, I think “peace of mind” is what people are looking for, rather than “piece of mind”. Unless they are fans of Iron Maiden.
look forward to future posts…
prospero