At the end of each month, and now at the end of the year, I report on the progress of my New Year’s resolutions (or lack thereof).
This is my end-of-year report. After 365 days of striving and reaching, here are the results of my planning and effort.
Overall, I completed 37 of my 57 goals for a completion percentage of 65%.
If it were a grade on a report card, it would be a D.
But better than my 15-year average of 56.7%
The letter grade for my last 15 years would be an F, so my D turns out to be pretty good.
I also strongly believe in setting audacious goals. I love exceedingly high bars and embrace failure as an indication of high expectations.
It was also a year where several goals were near completion, but I didn’t get them over the finish line by December 31. However, I will likely complete them in early 2025.
Overall, it was a solid year of success with some notable failures.
2010: 44%
2011: 62%
2012: 30%
2013: 60%
2014: 60%
2015: 59%
2016: 59%
2017: 71%
2018: 50%
2019: 48%
2020: 54%
2021: 45%
2022: 69%
2023: 66%
2024: 65%
Some of my goals were missed for understandable reasons.
I failed to finish organizing the basement because I needed Elysha to go through more than a dozen bins of clothing and other things, and with the start of the school year and a new grade level, she didn’t have the time.
I failed to finish my next novel, but only because the deadline was extended into January. It would almost certainly be done if I had been given a 2024 deadline. The same holds for my new solo show, pushed back into April 2025. Had the original dates in November remained, that goal would be complete.
I’m also nearing completion on two new books, but again, I didn’t get them quite over the finish line in 2024, but both are close.
Others were very much my fault, and some were downright disappointing.
I didn’t practice my flute regularly even though I wanted to play.
I didn’t re-launch our podcast, which fans are clamoring for, and it would likely drive many potential customers to my Storyworthy.com website and the products I offer.
After finally extracting the footage from our wedding from an ancient computer, I didn’t edit the footage into something we could watch. My production manager is uniquely qualified for this work, but I failed to get it done.
I also had some notable achievements in 2024.
Completing my Eagle Scout project more than 36 years after a near-fatal car accident derailed it was a highlight of my year. It hasn’t had the effect I had hoped — eliminating my sense of regret —
Completing my new Storyworthy for Business course was a monumental achievement.
Reading 28 books and writing 224 letters far outpaced those original goals.
All told, 2024 was an excellent year for overall goal completion.
My 2024 New Year’s Resolutions
PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
SUCCESS.
My ears gave me a lot of trouble in the last few months of the year, resulting in tubes in my ears. It wasn’t fun, and it was painful, but it wasn’t life-threatening.
On a happier note, my calcium score was a perfect 0 (meaning I have no detectable plaque in my arteries), my last dental appointment went exceptionally well, and I’m fully vaccinated.
Another successful trip around the Sun.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
FAIL.
I’ve ended the year at the same weight I started. This is a failed goal, yet it somehow also feels like a success, given I lost 40 pounds last year. Keeping weight off is just as important as reducing weight, so an unplanned goal was achieved.
But a planned goal was a failure.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least four times per week.
SUCCESS.
My new regime, which calls for different types of pushups on different days, has been excellent.
At my recent physical, my doctor said, “Strength is certainly not your problem.”
Positive reinforcement is always appreciated.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups four times per week.
SUCCESS.
I often completed this goal more than four times per week.
5. Complete three one-minute planks four times a week.
SUCCESS.
I still hate these things.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
SUCCESS.
I exceeded my goal by a wide margin, recording 347 rides in 2024.
7. Meet or beat the USGA’s average golfing handicap for men of 14.2.
FAIL.
I finished 2025 with a handicap of 24.2. It’s a high number but is improving steadily and more than three better than the start of the year.
But I’ve come to realize something important via research:
The average male golfer’s handicap isn’t 14.2 because most golfers don’t maintain a handicap and those who do tend to be a minority of better, more serious golfers who are active members at country clubs. The average recreational golfer has a handicap of 20-25. My score still sucks relative to even those numbers, but not nearly as much as in comparison to the average golfing handicap.
WRITING CAREER
8. Complete my eighth novel.
FAIL.
The due date for my book is January 6, so it’ll be done on January 6. But it was not completed in 2024.
9. Write my next Storyworthy book.
SUCCESS.
The book is written. It won’t be the next book published, but the first draft is ready to go.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
FAIL.
Work has begun adding to and revising, but it’s not nearly complete.
11. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
FAIL.
Excellent progress has been made, and it’s likely a month or two from completion, but the draft is not yet complete.
2. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
SUCCESS.
I’ve written children’s books about Connecticut’s infamous October 2011 snowstorm, the gypsy moth invasion of New England in 1981, and the lullaby “Rock a By Baby.”
I hope to submit one or more to publishers in 2025.
13. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least twice per month.
FAIL.
My sister and I spoke about the project but have yet to follow through. A stupid fail on my part.
14. Launch a Substack.
FAIL.
I didn’t launch a Substack this year, partially because of the controversy surrounding Substack and partially because my thoughts on what I want to write about are uncertain. I didn’t really pursue this goal in 2024 as my thoughts shifted and became less certain.
15. Write a new solo show.
FAIL.
The original plan was to perform the show in November, but scheduling issues with the theater pushed the show back to April of 2025. Had the original November date stuck, the goal would have been achieved.
At this point, the show is fully outlined, and work has begun on the details, but much work still needs to be done.
16. Write a musical.
FAIL.
I honestly didn’t put an ounce of thought or effort into this project in 2024. It was probably a pipe dream given everything else I needed to complete in 2024.
17. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
SUCCESS.
Four submitted for consideration in 2024. All were rejected.
18. Write at least four letters to my father.
SUCCESS.
Four letters were written in 2024.
19. Write 150 letters.
SUCCESS.
I wrote 27 letters in December to authors, clients, my in-laws, students, colleagues, and more.
I wrote a total of 223 letters in 2024, far outpacing my original goal.
20. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
SUCCESS.
Letters were written to Andrew Wilkinson, Joe Rocco, Josh Peck, Lauren Groff, Gary Gulman, and Jacqueline Novack.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
21. Perform a new solo show.
FAIL.
I planned on performing at TheaterWorks in Hartford in November, but complications with their scheduling have pushed that back to April 2025. This was a failure beyond my control.
22. Complete the re-recording of Storyworthy For Business.
SUCCESS.
A huge achievement given its size and complexity.
23. Record and produce at least two new Storyworthy courses.
SUCCESS.
A total of four new courses were produced in 2024.
24. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2024.
SUCCESS.
A total of seven shows were produced in 2024.
- “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” on March 2 at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
- “Sportsing” on March 16 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- “School” on May 3 at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, CT
- Speak Up – CPA Prison Arts show on June 5 at The Pond House in West Hartford, CT
- Great Hartford Story Slam on July 27 at Hartford Flavor Company
- “Stories Sell” book launch on October 5 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” on November 17 at the Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT
25. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
SUCCESS.
Three pitches were submitted in 2024.
26. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
SUCCESS.
A total of 15 Moth events were attended in 2024.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
SUCCESS. I won:
- Boston StorySLAM on February 27
- Boston StorySLAM on June 25
- NYC StorySLAM on July 17
28. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
FAIL.
Two second place finishes in 2024.
29. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to at least a dozen theaters and/or directors in 2024.
FAIL.
I pitched “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to two theaters in 2024 and performed in both.
Two is not a dozen.
30. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
FAIL.
My most disappointing failure of the year. I hear from people every week who want Elysha and me to re-launch our podcast, but we failed to make it happen in 2024.
31. Perform stand-up at least six times.
FAIL.
Almost as disappointing as my podcast fail:
I performed stand-up four times in 2024 — including twice in Ottawa, Canada.
I should be performing a hell of a lot more.
32. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
SUCCESS.
Three stories pitched in 2024.
33. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
SUCCESS.
Three pitches made in 2024,
34. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
SUCCESS.
72 newsletters sent in 2024.
HOME
35. Organize the basement.
FAIL.
Excellent progress was made in 2024, but one basement section remains undone. This goal requires the assistance of Elysha. She gave me enormous effort during the summer months, but I struggled to get her help once the school year started.
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
SUCCESS.
All unwanted and unneeded material was removed from the garage. We need to replace our shed, so everything typically placed in the backyard shed now occupies the garage, but that is a new problem to solve in 2025.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
37. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
SUCCESS.
38. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
SUCCESS.
39. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
FAIL.
I only achieved this goal in six months in 2024.
It really shouldn’t be so difficult.
40. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
FAIL.
While I still desperately want to make this happen, it seems as if the longer I wait, the harder it becomes.
41. I will not comment positively or negatively about the physical appearance of any person save my wife and children to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
SUCCESS.
42. Surprise Elysha at least 12 times.
SUCCESS.
Two surprises were added in December:
- An advent calendar to replace the terrible one originally purchased
- A box of her favorite chocolate bars was sent to her school to help get her through the last weeks of December
A total of 18 surprises in 2024:
- Tickets to “Little Shop of Horrors” on Broadway
- Tickets to “Merrily We Go Along” on Broadway
- Tickets to “Tommy” on Broadway
- Cheesecake delivered to Elysha and her teammates during an especially challenging day
- A surprise weekend spent in Rhode Island with friends
- Tickets to “The Outsiders ” on Broadway this month
- A well-timed sweet tea
- A basket full of things Elysha loves
- Dinner on the table
- First-class tickets to San Fransisco
- I sent flowers to Elysha and her class just because.
- I located and surprised Elysha with a 100-Grand bar — one of her three favorite candy bars.
- Tickets to “The Shark Is Broken” at the Playhouse on Park
- Tickets to “Jekyll and Hyde” at The Hartford Stage
- Flowers sent to Elysha at school
- Desserts delivered to Elysha and her colleagues on a tough day
- Replacement advent calendar
- Box of chocolate bars
43. Play poker at least six times.
SUCCESS
A total of seven games in 2024.
44. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
SUCCESS
We’ve spent eight days together in 2024.
MUSIC
45. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
SUCCESS.
Six songs were memorized in 2024.
“Our Wonderful Lives” by Styx
“Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Young Americans
“Fox on the Run” by Sweet
“Fairyland in New York” by The Pogues
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
“You Need to Calm Down” by Taylor Swift
46. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
FAIL.
I practiced occasionally in 2024, which cannot be characterized as practice.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
47. Read at least 12 books.
SUCCESS.
I read two books in December, bringing my total to 28 in 2024.
- “Sandman” by Neil Gaiman
- “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara
I’m still reading:
“The Power Broker” by Robert Caro
“Excellent Advice for Living” by Kevin Kelly
”Miracle and Wonder” by Bruce Headlam and Malcolm Gladwell
Books read in 2024 include:
- “Upstream” by Chip Heath
- ”Happy Pepple Are Annoying” by Josh Peck
- ”Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama” by Bob Odenkirk
- “The Power of Regret” by Daniel Pink
- “Fluke” by Brian Klass
- “Misfit” by Gary Gulman
- “How to Weep in Public” by Jacqueline Novak
- “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt
- “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson
- ”You Like It Darker” by Stephen King
- ”A Short Guide to a Happy Life” by Anna Quindlen
- ”How to Say Goodbye” by Wendy McNaughton
- ”We’re All In This Together” by Tom Papa
- ”Smart Brevity” by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
- ”Hello Molly” by Molly Shannon
- “The Deerfield Massacre” by John Swanson
- ”Duma Key” by Stephen King
- ”Never Enough” by Andrew Wilkinson
- “Opposable Thumbs” by Matt Signer
- “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson
- ”On the Edge” by Nate Silver
- “Green Lights” by Matthew McConaughey
- Mediations” by Marcus Aurelius
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
- “Outline: The Science and Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia
- “All Things Aside” by Iliza Shlesinger
- “Sandman” by Neil Gaiman
- “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara
48. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
FAIL.
I read nine additional books off this list in December, bringing the total number to 45.
Less than half.
49. Unify my passwords using a password manager.
SUCCESS.
50. Learn to use QuickBooks for my business.
SUCCESS.
51. Rectify the heating problem in my studio.
SUCCESS.
I considered creating a new heating zone in the office, but it would’ve cost a fortune. Two electric space heaters on Bluetooth outlets have me warm and toasty whenever I am working.
52. Learn the names of every employee who works at my school.
SUCCESS.
I could not find anyone in December in our school whose first or last name I did not know.
53. Assemble a complete toolbox.
SUCCESS.
54. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
FAIL.
Another one of my more disappointing failures of 2024. My production manager could probably do this in a couple of hours, yet I never got around to it.
55. Memorize three new poems.
SUCCESS.
I memorized:
James Joyce’s “Tree”
Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”
Act V Scene 5, lines 18-28 of “Macbeth.”
56. Complete my Eagle Scout project.
SUCCESS.
One of the best days of 2024. A total of 42 volunteers, plus my family, joined me on a perfect day to complete this long-awaited project. I hope completing the project eventually makes me feel better, as I originally hoped.
57. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
SUCCESS.
