This Saturday Evening Post is a bit different. The rain has stopped, and a soft breeze is blowing up the mountain. So much has happened this week. Grab a cuppa and snuggle in. Let’s talk.
Off My Chest
It seems, despite years of gritching to the contrary, I am subtle. Let me make something completely clear:
is fully launched and in business.
Click the logo if you have not been there. Even if you have, unless you have been there in the last 24 4 hours, you have not seen all the new reviews! We will now return you to your regularly scheduled special edition of the Saturday Evening Post.
A Year Gone
2012 held many things for M3.
- 567 posts for a total of 740
- 18 pages for a total of 29
- 527,760 words
- Total 20,911 comments (1,400 over estimate)
- More than 2,100,000 page views (1.5M over estimate)
- 10 guest posts
- 46 Writer’s Spotlights
- 82 fairy visits
- Clyde
Some of the posts really caught your attention. How about a baker’s dozen?
- Most enduring: War Sucks.
- Best of Quaint Series: And then there were none…
- Surprise post: So, maybe it is a porn site.
- Best Pix: Inked and Vermin
- Greenest: Nurdles: It’s what’s for breakfast.
- MAD-est: Pick That Up!
- Controversial: Just Another Train Wreck
- Worst hatemail: Erection & The FBI
- Best Follies: First, First, Again & First
- Saddest: The Leaving
- Good Money: How much is debt is too much?
- Longest Conversation: Bad (Also wins most Love!)
- Biggest Party: Happy Wombat Day!
The year held many things for Redmund Productions.
- 47-day delay in launch
- 22 books
- More than 200 flashes
- 51 pages
- 6 posts
- One fully functioning website
I even accomplished a few things this year.
- Taming the Terrible Twos, print and ebook
- Mantra for a Muse, print and ebook
- Killing Us Softly, ebook
- Darkness Introduced, ebook
- 241,253 words in books
- 30 flashes
- 6 guest posts
At least, I stayed busy.
A Year Here
Last year, I set some pretty specific goals for M3. I set them without foreseeing I would open Redmund Productions or publish two additional books in 2012. Rather than set goals I will not make (like a million words on M3), I am going to do this instead.
What I would be ecstatic to corporately pull off:
- 250 new followers (email/RSS)
- At least 10,000 registered users on RP
- An average of 50 comments per post
- 5 of my own M3 posts per week
- Reach the million word mark
- 3 posts per week on RP (mine and submits)
- 20 guest posts on M3
- 45 books for other authors (4 already signed)
If you are not one of the many who have blurred that line between the corporate me and the personal me, skip to the next section. Personally, I do have a few goals. One of them Clyde will cover, but these are pretty straightforward.
- Two real, unplugged vacations (Not even taking my CrackBerry)
- Develop an app for my children to communicate using touch screen technology
- Sell my house
- Move home
- Discover weekends (historically, Monday and Tuesday)
One of those will happen, even if all the others do not.
Right Turn, Clyde!
Clyde looks at the idea of resolutions with a bit of fish eye. Necessarily, to resolve something a problem existed to which a resolution was necessary. The only exception to this is the resolution which is actually a new goal. Deciding to open a new business is not a resolution as much as it is taking on something which did not exist before. (Yes, there are a few exceptions to this example, but it was the best an orangutan could do. Work with him. You will see.)
We spend a lot of time looking at our life situations and deciding what we can change. Most times it is totally reactionary. Gained ten pounds over the holidays? Lose weight is the first goal. Got the gift-giving credit card statement? Pay off debt is the next goal. Figured out you really cannot stand Quaint’s holiday behavior? Find new friends.
It all sounds terrific. You get busy, but you figure out after a couple weeks nothing is really any different. You do one of two things: Scrap the goals or be insane.
Yes, insanity is doing the same thing expecting a different result.
Enter Ape
Right turn, Clyde.
One of my goals everyday is to learn something. When I was younger, I may have been deluded enough to believe there would be a day when I no longer felt the need to learn, but it would have been completely delusional. In fact, I feel the need to learn more now than I ever have. It helps keep insanity at bay.
As the reigning queen of how NOT to do so many things, I have come to realize there is a true air of negativity all around me. As I listen to those in the inner circle and the ripples beyond, I keep hearing words I do not understand.
I have no choice.
When I hear them, I squint a bit and curl my mouth into something resembling Elvis’ snarl. For me, the claim should begin with the word but; truly, it is cracked.
Let’s look at Clyde’s example. For the person who is stuck in a job with less than stellar hours/conditions and which pays enough to live as someone’s roommate and occasionally eat something other than Ramen noodles, one of the resolutions made every year is to get to a better place. This person may look at starting a new business as a fulfillment of the resolution for better.
For the person who is retired and enjoying the calm of not punching a clock, starting a new business is creating something where nothing existed before. It may be this person sees an opportunity which had been elusive during the clock-punching days.
Question
Always with the questions.
How often is the person working for someone else saying, “I have no choice.”? They can barely afford to pay attention so feel overwhelmed by the idea of beginning a business which would lift them above their current place. They believe they cannot get enough money together to make it happen because everyone knows it takes money to make money. More often than you may believe, this person is just chicken of being an egg.
How often is the retired person saying, “I have no choice.”? They are not. In fact, this person is creating a choice. If the cards are played appropriately, the person working for someone else could become part of the retired person’s business, making both situations better.
Answer
The fact is we all have choices. All choices have consequences. Making choices means taking chances.
When you say you have no choice, you really are saying:
I am not willing to take the chance because the only thing I can see is the possibility things could be worse than they are right now before they get better.”
Before those words come out of your mouth, take some time to learn something. Someone you know may have an answer. It may not be an easy answer. It is worth listening. What are you willing to do to make this year better than last?
Opportunity may have knocked at your door so long with no answer it left a post-it. Time has come for you to call the number and learn where your package is.
Until next time,
How long does it take you to break (or scrap) resolutions? Are you chicken to become an egg? Can you think of one situation in your life where you can stop saying I have no choice?
Hashtags: #resolutions #choices #empowerment
Laurie
/ January 5, 2013I don’t make resolutions, it’s a waste of my time. So far I’m doing good, the only thing I promised myself toward the end of last year was to sleep more. I made that good by saying “NO” to people that had no concept that there are others in the world.
Laurie recently posted..Lonely (150)
Red
/ January 9, 2013No is such an empowering word.
Laurie
/ January 9, 2013It’s becoming one of my favorites! I have to much to do to cater to those that refuse to do for themselves!
Laurie recently posted..In the Spotlight
Red
/ January 9, 2013Then, no is empowering for them as well. It forces them to think for themselves as well as do for themselves.
Androgoth
/ January 5, 2013You have truly excelled in 2012, no this is not one of my rhymes but your goals have exceeded all expectations and what a brilliant example you are for anyone wishing to explore their own possibilities towards success. Sometimes all one needs is a push in the right direction and your accomplishments surely engage the thought processes into pushing the envelope on creativity and giving it a positivity boost.
I for one have thoroughly enjoyed reading your postings here at M3 and know from the multiple comments that are generated here that your successes are very well deserved, it is not easy to keep everything on track when adding numerous themes and it needs constant maintenance in order to sustain a healthy blogging site that thrives with every single posting.
You have done this and so much more, your determination and superb drive for perfection has added a wealth of expertise for everyone to digest and the creation and development of Redm3und Productions, the Forum and all the help given to new and existing Indie Authors, the many hours of coding nightmares and the sheer will to fulfil every goal that you set out for yourself shows what a wonderful genius you really are.
We, the readers and contributors to this M3 and your Redm3und Productions website owe you so much my great friend and I thank you for everything, it is a real pleasure to know you Red and I am sure that everyone here will be of the same thinking.
Now onto 2013 and so much to look forward to, I know that the journey has been brilliant so far and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Enjoy your vacation and do try to close that laptop and relax a while 🙂 Or else? 😉
Andro xxx
El Guapo
/ January 5, 2013Yeah, like he said!
El Guapo recently posted..Friday Foolishness – Svelte Edition
BuddhaKat
/ January 6, 2013I’ll 3rd or 15th that comment!!!!!
Your drive is an inspiration, and nothing less, Red!!!
much love and gratitude for sharing your self and your dream!!!
🙂
BuddhaKat recently posted..First Friday Fractal Feature of 2013
Red
/ January 9, 2013You are such a sweet heart, Janet. I have enjoyed participating in everyone’s dreams. Funny, really, to think my reality is to be the fabric of others’ escape from reality. Hmm… mayhap there is a post in that. See, this is why I absolutely love my audience. You are such a source of inspiration!
Red
/ January 9, 2013Love the echo in here 🙂
Red
/ January 9, 2013I did close the laptop at least for a little while. I will report that later in the week, though. I am glad to have had you here for 2012. You are right about 2013…there are many great and wondrous things for us to discover and explore. I am truly looking forward to this year.
My Inner Chick
/ January 5, 2013–OMgosh,
you accomplished so many things, Red.
You. Inspire. Me. Xx
Love.
My Inner Chick recently posted..Blogging Out Loud
Red
/ January 9, 2013I love you, Kimmy. You have oodles of things for 2013 to look forward to, my sweet dear. xxx
Deb
/ January 5, 2013Wow, Red, you accomplished more than many people can’t accomplish in a lifetime!…well done!
♥ xxx
Deb recently posted..Fraz Builds and Abominable Snowman
Red
/ January 9, 2013I just keep doing, Deb. Look at all the art you created in 2012! That is nothing to sneeze at! <3 xxx
Binky
/ January 5, 2013Congratulations on achieving so much in 2012, Red!
I need a nap after reading all that.
Binky recently posted..Holiday Jolly Muscle
Red
/ January 9, 2013LOL! I schedule a nap directly after writing that!
raymond alexander kukkee
/ January 5, 2013Red, what you have accomplished is almost impossible to believe, –yet there we are, participating in our official book launch.
Well done, my friend! I can’t say it better than Andro did.–thank you. The corner office is seriously impressed..and way beyond.
Ray
raymond alexander kukkee recently posted..Hockey: Don’t Cry, Boys….
Red
/ January 9, 2013There is the secret, Ray. I have oodles of people helping me accomplish so much.
El Guapo
/ January 5, 2013Keep making great choices, Red!
El Guapo recently posted..Friday Foolishness – Svelte Edition
Red
/ January 9, 2013That really is what it is about, Guap. I do not choose to fall short. At this height, it would be disastrous to fall through the floor. 😀
El Guapo
/ January 9, 2013Unless you’re wearing a squirrel suit.
hehehe…
El Guapo recently posted..Edward Hotspur and the Birthday Wishes
Red
/ January 9, 2013ROFL! Rats with furry tails… Ooo that is going to have to become a post. 😉
Gail Thornton
/ January 5, 2013Dear Red,
You have so much to be proud of, and I am proud with you. It’s mind-boggling what you have acheived and what your goals are. I have only one goal I have set for myself, and that is to finish my second memoir by 2014. I may have a second book of poetry in me, as well. I’m setting myself up for a great year 🙂
Gail Thornton recently posted..The Girl in the Iron Lung – Trailer
Red
/ January 9, 2013That is so encouraging, Gail. You can accomplish what you set your mind to getting done. xxx
prenin
/ January 6, 2013Yes, you have exceeded all expectations Red – I’m astounded at what you have done AND HOW!!!
Please pardon my slow motion passage along the path we have joined – for me every day is a struggle – and I hope for many more years of friendship!!! 🙂
We are indeed family…
Love and hugs always!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Saturday – Pay Pal Problems.
Red
/ January 9, 2013You will get there, Pren. This is a very exciting time. I am glad you are along for the ride, Prenin. It is a great feeling to be part of a family. {HUGZ}
Valentine Logar
/ January 6, 2013I can only walk in your footsteps and hope to accomplish a quarter of what you accomplish, you are my hero. You have been my hero for nearly as long as I have known you.
You are so right, we all have many choices. It is our fortitude, our inner light and our willingness to step out of ourselves and take risk. Whether that risk is on another person or on a new endeavor. It doesn’t matter, it is still what is inside of us.
The best risk I have taken in many years was the day I got in my car and drove to Louisiana to meet a stranger.
I love you my sister.
Valentine Logar recently posted..Something More-Awaken
Red
/ January 9, 2013You know, it has to be the most memorable trip I have taken. I am so very glad you did. I love you, too. And I love what you hold inside. It is far lighter than you have ever imagined. From where I stand, it is a heat source. <3