If you're wondering what this "Quarterly Goals" thing is, check out my previous recap or the outline for this past quarter.
What Were My Goals?
- Get a working prototype of a game Tech Dungeon (working title).
- Failed. As this quarter was winding down, I was running out of time. I did find programmers that could take on the task while my contribution was a design spec. The trigger failed to be pulled on getting this prototype ready.
- Write letters to my past selves.
- Failed. No letters written, hardly an outline. These were to be pieces of life advice, though even that is getting turned around as I type.
- World-build the Diesel Dark (working title) universe.
- Failed. It's unclear what I have here. World-building, story outlines, but what's different about it? Seemingly little from its inspiration Warhammer 40k. The best that can be said about it is that I've enough to use the IP as a converted outlet for any current or future WH40K fan fiction!
- Blog twice monthly.
- Failed. Kept up for the first month, only went half-way the second month, and here in August the blog has been neglected. I'm learning something: I prefer not to write copy! That, and what do I have to say? There's still so much to learn...
- Clear Facebook and Reddit of saved content.
- Won. Pretty darn clean. The best part was sparking off a huge Facebook discussion on a years-old post all because I 'liked' the thing!
- Record all saved Warhammer 40K loglines.
- Failed. Got started moving these hundreds of loglines for plots, characters, settings, and gameplay items. Could finish in a weekend, but would it be anything but "shuffling papers" around?
- Let go of a bunch of material things.
- Failed. Got rid of some, still have a lot. Could stick them all in a box for donation... Not ready to do that, so some will get donated while others will eventually be up for sale.
- Refresh C# knowledge.
- Won. So much covered! And so much new stuff learned in the project at the job that's been taking up attention... Plus, a lot of C++ cramming took place for interviews. (There's a story how these talks went and how I'm maybe being a little more flexible in career considerations~)
- Visit the family.
- Won. Got to see the cats - have to chalk that up as a win.
- Last Will and Testament.
- Won. This sucker is good to go! Any next steps would be sending out information packets with Will copies to a few folks for safe keeping.
- (Two personal goals.)
- Won (both). Some important things got done. I'm better equipped for the future because of the effort.
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| Phone Lock Screen Reminder; Photo by Alex Konstrad |
Six out of twelve. Not too good. So what went askew? First, no timelines - this was all done 'seat-of-the-pants' style, allowing time to slip away. Second, no dedicated time to work on goals was allocated - it was all ad hoc, taking a few minutes here, a few there. Third, easy distractions that took away from goal-time weren't corrected for or made up. Lastly, some of the goals were not part of who I am - not enjoyable, not profitable.
How to make better games and other things? I'm thinking either 1) expanding the goal list to include day-job activities, but those aren't always dictated by me; or, 2) condensing the number of goals and improving the quality (fewer trivial pieces of low-hanging fruit).
Because I subscribe to 'work-life separation', the next quarter's goals will seek to reduce the number of goals but make their impact / quality much higher. This'll start with defining my 'Purpose', followed by goal brainstorming, then followed-up on creating timelines versus 'winging it' (what's been business so far). A new, massive task is on the horizon at the day-job, so we'll see how well time and attention can be protected!
Sound good? Good. Hope to have you along as I continue this trek to accomplish more :)
