2010 Annual Report completed

So, yeah, it's a little weird for a private person to make an annual report. I did think about making it all super-glossy and beautiful, but this is only the first year. Maybe I'll step it up next year.

It was an interesting exercise, and I would like to continue it. In addition to spelling out my mission, vision, and objectives, did a fairly comprehensive assessment of 2010- financial, emotional, social, and creative. I have all my credit reports and retirement account statements and tax info, as well as the results of a personal survey that I prevailed upon my social network to complete about my personal relationships. (Yes, I know the results are skewed, because those people most connected to and invested in me are the most likely to complete the survey, but it's still interesting.)

The biggest source of tension in the whole document is that I'm pretty specific about my financial plan and goals (it's easy to be specific about that kind of thing- it's so clearly quantifiable and measurable), and yet I'm also pretty sure that those goals are in many ways in conflict with my other goals. And yes, yes, I know that a person's goals in terms of personal wellbeing and professional fulfillment aren't necessarily in conflict with financial goals (isn't that the story of America? Isn't that the story we all tell each other, that we can pursue our dreams and still make money? But let's get real, in many ways that story comes true for only a small number of people). And it's the position that I've been in so many times before- if I really wanted to make money, or, in another sense, if I want my 2011 report to reflect meaningful progress toward the goals laid out in this document, then I have to be willing to make real sacrifices in the service of that goal that I am, quite honestly, not prepared to make.

And that tension causes a schism in the report itself- that I can put those goals out there, but then immediately acknowledge that I won't be putting a lot of energy into pursuing them. It's something to think about for next year- maybe I do the financial assessment, but don't attach any goals to it? And yet that doesn't work either- financial goals are, in many ways, life goals. If I'm going to take good care of myself, for my whole life, money forms a significant part of that caretaking... it's difficult.

At any rate, I'd like to share my goals. Maybe you can let me know how I'm doing as the year goes on:

Rebekah is the agent of positive change
Rebekah creates beauty in her work and her life
Rebekah has amazing experiences with fascinating people
Rebekah helps others to achieve their goals
Rebekah lives a life worth talking about

And from that you can probably infer a whole lot about the rest of the report.