Every month, I report the progress of my yearly goals to monitor progress (or the lack thereof) and hold myself accountable.
PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
I’ve been battling bronchitis for most of the month. It’s not deadly, but it’s a giant pain in the ass.
Almost defeated.
Still alive.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I have maintained my gain of four pounds, largely thanks to copious amounts of cough drops.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least four times per week.
Despite my illness, I completed this goal by doing the bare minimum each week.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups four times per week.
Despite my illness, I completed this goal by doing the bare minimum each week.
5. Complete three one-minute planks four times a week.
Done.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
Done. Thanks to travel and illness, I only rode the bike for 21 days in October, but that meets the goal.
I’ve recorded 289 rides in 305 days in 2024.
7. Meet or beat the USGA’s average golfing handicap for men of 14.2.
My current handicap is 25.2, down from 25.5 last month. Still a high number but improving.
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.
I’ve set a goal that may be unrealistic.
WRITING CAREER
8. Complete my eighth novel.
I continue to work on the book based on the editor’s feedback. I am making excellent progress. It was supposed to be done at the end of August, but I am not quite finished.
Very close, though.
9. Write my next Storyworthy book.
My next book will not be a storytelling book. My agent and I have decided upon a novel instead.
That said, I have another storytelling book written in first-draft form, and I’m wrapping it up. It won’t go to the publisher soon, but it’s done.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
Work has begun on adding to and revising. As golf season ends in a month — or two or three — this book will keep me company through the winter months.
11. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Excellent progress made. A rough draft should be complete by the end of the year.
2. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
I’m writing 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.”
The rough drafts of all are complete. I’ve read one of them to my class for feedback. I’ll finalize them in the final months of 2024.
I have three other ideas I’m beginning to work on, too.
13. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least twice per month.
Kelli and I spent a day together in February but forgot to discuss this topic. Eight months later, we still need to discuss it.
14. Launch a Substack.
Substack is forthcoming, I think. I’m still unsure if I want to put anything I write behind a paywall.
But I’m discussing monetizing with experts, and I’m enrolled in a course on managing Substacks effectively.
15. Write a new solo show.
All the work on this project is done in my head since I’ve never written down anything I say onstage, so I don’t have much to show for my efforts, but I am working hard nonetheless.
I’ve accumulated all of the stories I plan to tell as a part of the show, and I have them ordered properly. I’m now crafting transitions and considering other elements in the show.
16. Write a musical.
No progress.
17. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
Done!
Three so far in 2024. All rejected.
I also submitted all three to the Washington Post. Also rejected.
18. Write at least four letters to my father.
One letter was written in October.
Two letters written in 2024 so far.
19. Write 150 letters.
Done!
I wrote 24 letters in October. The recipients included people who assisted in my Eagle Scout project, students, and friends.
I’ve written a total of 176 letters in 2024.
20. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
No letters were written in October.
I’ve written letters to authors Andrew Wilkinson and Joe Rocco so far.
I have a list of five authors to write to before the end of the year.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
21. Perform a new solo show.
Initially, I planned on performing at TheaterWorks in Hartford in November, but complications with their scheduling have pushed that back to April 2025.
22. Complete the re-recording of Storyworthy For Business.
Recording complete! I need to do some voice-over, and then I’m done!
23. Record and produce at least two new Storyworthy courses.
I produced and sold another webinar in October, bringing the total to four in 2024.
We’ll also carve up the new Storyworthy for Business course into smaller, separate courses, extending this goal considerably.
24. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2024.
Done!
My “Stories Sell” book launch event — complete with lots of stories and special guests — took place on October 5.
Six shows have been produced so far in 2024. They include:
- “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 on October 5 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
We also have the following show scheduled for 2024:
- November 8: “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” at the Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT
You should come! Tickets here.
25. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
No progress.
I spoke at TEDxBU on April 20. It went very well, and the recording should be online soon.
26. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Done! I attended one Moth StorySLAM in October in NYC.
My name was not pulled from the hat.
A total of 13 Moth events so far in 2024.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Done. I won:
- Boston StorySLAM on June 25
- Boston StorySLAM on February 27
- NYC StorySLAM on July 17
I’ve won three of five StorySLAMs where I’ve told a story so far this year.
28. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
I competed in the Moth GrandSLAM in Boston in March and placed second.
I should’ve won, but I think that a lot.
29. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to at least a dozen theaters and/or directors in 2024.
I’ve pitched “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to two theaters so far in 2024.
I performed the show on March 30 at the Mopco Improv Theater in Schenectady, New York.
30. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
No progress.
31. Perform stand-up at least six times.
I’ve performed stand-up twice in 2024 — both shows in Ottowa, Canada.
I have a stand-up open mic planned for December, but this will only get me halfway to the goal.
32. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
One story has been pitched thus far.
33. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
No progress.
34. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
Done!
At least seven newsletters were written in October, bringing the total in 2024 to 51.
HOME
35. Organize the basement.
Progress continues but has slowed.
Since school began, Elysha has been less speedy about sorting through bins with me.
The goal:
- Organize all bins in the basement in a logical, identifiable order
- Eliminate anything no longer wanted
- Store Elysha’s classroom materials in an organized manner
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
Elysha’s long-forgotten classroom detritus is the last pile to be eliminated. She has begun bringing the bins to school, and this project is nearly complete.
Two bins to go.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
37. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
Done.
38. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
39. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
Done!
40. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
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.
Done.
42. Surprise Elysha at least 12 times.
Done!
Four surprises in October:
- 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
A total of 14 surprises in 2024 so far:
- 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
43. Play poker at least six times.
Done!
I’ve decided to count poker games with Charlie since they are serious affairs with candy at stake.
A total of seven games in 2024.
I’ve also scheduled a game with friends for October but failed to get enough players to make it happen.
I need better friends.
44. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
Done!
We spent one day together in October —eight so far.
MUSIC
45. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
No progress in October. I need to find a song I want to know.
Memorized so far:
“Our Wonderful Lives” by Styx
“Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Young Americans
“Fox on the Run” by Sweet
46. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
I did not practice in October. I’ll blame it on bronchitis.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
47. Read at least 12 books.
I read two books in October, bringing my total to 24 in 2024.
“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
”Mediations” by Marcus Aurelius
Though I’ve finished “Meditations,” I will continue to read it, probably for the rest of my life.
I suggest you should, too.
I’m currently reading:
”Outlive” by Peter Attia and Bill Gifford
“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
- ”One the Edge” by Nate Silver
- “Green Lights” by Matthew McConaughey
- Mediations” by Marcus Aurelius
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck”
48. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
I did not read any of these books in October. I read plenty of picture books to my students, but no new ones from the list.
I may need to find or purchase some of the books on the list that are not in my school’s library. I also need to get my students to start hunting down these books in the school library.
I’ve read 36 books from the list thus far.
49. Unify my passwords using a password manager.
Done!
50. Learn to use QuickBooks for my business.
Done! Invoicing, payroll, and taxes are now all managed via QuickBooks. It’s much easier than I thought.
51. Rectify the heating problem in my studio.
I received estimates on this project, which is more than expected.
As a temporary measure, I purchased an electric radiator and plugged it into a Bluetooth outlet to turn the heat on before going downstairs, allowing the room to be warm when I entered.
This solution might be better than the thousands of dollars required to install heat, and it might be my permanent solution, depending on the possibility of finishing other parts of the basement.
My friend Chris may have an idea, too, so I’m holding off on declaring this complete.
52. Learn the names of every employee who works at my school.
In October, I could not find a colleague whose name I did not know. Someone may still be lurking in the building who I cannot identify, but I haven’t found them yet.
53. Assemble a complete toolbox.
Done! Completed as a part of the basement cleanup.
54. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress. I’m actually looking forward to this job, but it will require me to learn how to edit videos using a new program.
Thankfully, I employ someone who knows exactly how to do this.
55. Memorize three new poems.
I memorized James Joyce’s “Tree” and Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”
I’m still working on Act V Scene 5, lines 18-28 of Macbeth.
56. Complete my Eagle Scout project.
Done!
Completed on October 12. A total of 42 volunteers plus my family joined me on a perfect day to complete this long-awaited project.
I’m hoping that completing the project eventually makes me feel better, as I had originally hoped.
57. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
