Goals for 2014

[billyjoe]

Back by popular demand (sixfeetfour). What are your goals for 2014?

-------------billy

[billyjoe]

Here's my first goal. Increase my winning stock % by at least 5%. Last year I had 53% winners. Lots of the losers were small since it was mostly swing trading. Many $100-$200 losses. This year my methods have changed, longer holding time, greater gains, higher quality stocks, more like Mr.Market if that is possible.

------------------billy

[sixfeetfour]

Here are my goals for 2014:

1. Double my Vanguard and Scottrade accounts
2. Finish the SG Tri or Kokopelli Tri (sprint distance) in under 1 hour 30 minutes. Best time yet is 1:35:57
3. Play a Christmas piano piece during our church service in December 2014. Took lessons as a boy for 5-6 years. Haven't really played since besides a song I still have memorized (Axle F)

Good luck on reaching your goals!!!

[Massimo]

My goal will be the same as in any other year,

Let my winners ride longer
Cut my losers quicker
Have more winners than losers !!

The one big difference this year is to curtail my purchase of "higher risk" stocks.
As I age, I find I am getting a little more conservative.

Cheers!

[jiesen]

My goals are two:
1) Earn an 87%+ return in one of my investment accounts.
2) Run 13 Marathon or Half-Marathon PR's in 12 races, including the Boston Marathon.

If I accomplish either or both of these, I'd be super happy!
(and if I can do both early, I'll invite 6'4" over to my place to learn Heart&Soul before Xmas!)

[Louetta]

My goals are to keep up my running and to get myself laid as often as possible.

[billyjoe]

My goals are to keep up my running and to get myself laid as often as possible.

Louetta, I thought you'd be looking to settle down with a nice conservative educated young man with a good background such as Mr. Neidermeyer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dy2fo6E_pI

-----------------billy

[Louetta]

Louetta, I thought you'd be looking to settle down with a nice conservative educated young man with a good background such as Mr. Neidermeyer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dy2fo6E_pI

-----------------billy

Truth be told, next to Cambridge the Hamilton area is one of the most liberal areas in one of the most liberal states.

Perhaps I should point out "as often as possible" doesn't necessarily rule out being settled down.

[Duniyo]

1. Earn at least 10% return on my investment
2. Develop an investment strategy (I am now piggybacking on this forum picks and get rich quick gurus)
3. Pass the Foreign service interview on March 17th.
4. Develop my public speaking and leadership skills.
5. Learn how to swim
6. Read three books from cover to cover.
7. Improve my writing skills.
8. Learn at least 100 new English vocabulary
9. Take at least 3 Business courses at Coursera
10. Take a vacation (I haven't taken a real vacation in my life and that is true)

[Louetta]

snip....

5. Learn how to swim

There actually are some pretty good books available, e.g. "Learn To Swim In A Weekend" via Amazon. You can't really learn in a weekend (especially all four strokes, like they try to teach you). But you can learn a lot of helpful stuff about the freestyle, which is probably where to begin, like hand entry and side to side motion and breathing.

After you read the book and maybe practice a smidge go to a meet to watch. Seriously. Preferably a college meet. This is the season for swimming, thru end of February. Watch what the swimmers do. You will see them doing the stuff you read about. Helps to see it in action.

[Duniyo]

There actually are some pretty good books available, e.g. "Learn To Swim In A Weekend" via Amazon. You can't really learn in a weekend (especially all four strokes, like they try to teach you). But you can learn a lot of helpful stuff about the freestyle, which is probably where to begin, like hand entry and side to side motion and breathing.

After you read the book and maybe practice a smidge go to a meet to watch. Seriously. Preferably a college meet. This is the season for swimming, thru end of February. Watch what the swimmers do. You will see them doing the stuff you read about. Helps to see it in action.

The biggest problem is finding a suitable swimming pool. All the local swimming pools are "infested" by children.

[Louetta]

The biggest problem is finding a suitable swimming pool. All the local swimming pools are "infested" by children.

Yup. You may know all of what follows. I pay up for a membership at a gym with a nice pool because I'm a serious swimmer. Next option might be a YMCA. There will be restrictions there on times set aside for lap swimming as opposed to "family swims" as you imply. Another option might be a local college. Some, not all, offer memberships to persons not associated with the school. Again there will be restrictions, e.g. closed for varsity swim from 3-6PM daily, closed for vacations. Some hotels sell memberships to locals for pool use. Few hotel pools are suitable for serious lap swimming tho. You might be able to find a local "Masters" swim club, that is a group of older folks who want to swim. You pay them for a membership and they contract with a place that has a pool for swim time. You could check with people who offer lessons at local gyms with pools and YMCAs and ask for suggestions. If you sign up for lessons someplace they should offer you a chance to swim on your own and you could perhaps for a fee continue using the facility when lessons are behind you.

[billyjoe]

My son had a hard time finding a useable pool in Coumbus also. I get to the pool around 6:15 A.M. By 7 A.M. the first batch of regulars are gone and sometimes I've got the pool to myself for 15 minutes then the arthritis or aquanastics people mostly women start wandering in. They used to crowd me out but after a couple years they give me my space. Their classes start 8 A.M. By then I'm gone. Usually with 2100 yards under my belt. I stop and do exercises every 300 yards. I'm one of the few under 70 years of age.

------------------------billy

[Louetta]

My son had a hard time finding a useable pool in Coumbus also. I get to the pool around 6:15 A.M. By 7 A.M. the first batch of regulars are gone and sometimes I've got the pool to myself for 15 minutes then the arthritis or aquanastics people mostly women start wandering in. They used to crowd me out but after a couple years they give me my space. Their classes start 8 A.M. By then I'm gone. Usually with 2100 yards under my belt. I stop and do exercises every 300 yards. I'm one of the few under 70 years of age.

------------------------billy

2100 yards. Methinks few people would realize what a long swim that is.

[sixfeetfour]

During the summer when the water temperature warms. I run (1 mile) to a local reservoir, swim 0.5 miles, and then run home. Great morning workout at 5:30 or 6:00am with the early morning summer sun. I just purchased a waterproof ipod last summer. I quite enjoy it.