Personal Goals

Well, I’m taking a deep breath and putting myself out there… these are my top 5 goals for the next 5 years.  If you, or any of your contacts can help me to accomplish my goals, I’d love to hear from you!

Amanda’s biggest 5 personal goals to reach before 2013…

1) Tour the Galapagos Islands

 This goal is the closest one to reality as it was booked a year ago, and scheduled for this October (2008).  I know it’ll be the trip of a lifetime, and we wanted to do it before retirement while we are still young enough to fully enjoy all of the excursions, and to make sure we see this world heritage site while it still exists (who knows what’ll happen to the Galapagos 25 years from now when we do retire…)  This is a pretty expensive trip, and we have saved 20% of our goal for it so far.  I’m starting to get nervous since we are behind in the trip fund due to some unforseen circumstances, but we’re working round the clock to try to catch up and get the rest of the money in before the trip.

2) Write a best-selling novel about my experience with the human-animal bond

I’m already a published author of some veterinary techical writing, but this book will have special meaning to me:  My mission statement as a veterinarian has always been to “help people better understand the animals in their lives”.  A book will allow me to fulfill my goal on a much larger level, and hopefully change the way people look at their dogs and cats forever.

3) Being a guest speaker on a cruise ship

This may sound strange, but it would allow me to combine two things I love: Helping others and cruising.  I’ve met so many wonderful people on cruises, and there can be a real sense of community when people come together over a common bond in a situation like a cruise.  I’ve been a past passenger on both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, and have nothing but good things to say about my experiences.  I have done public speaking on a smaller level, in the schools, and have thoroughly enjoyed what both myself and the audience got out of the experience.

4) Learn to speak Spanish

I love to travel, and love to enjoy food from all over the world.  Before I travel more extensively through more Spanish-speaking countries, I would like to have good fluency in this language.  I took an introductory course while in university, and am really looking to build on that so I may best enjoy my time in Central and South America, as well as Spain.

5) Start our company

Within the next couple of years, we’d like to start a business that caters to people that enjoy mountain biking and spending time outdoors with their dogs.  It’ll be a unique business that’ll offer high end equipment along with excellent customer service and advice from both my husband’s and my areas of expertise.  This is a big project that’s been in the works for a while… so don’t be surprised if you hear more about this within a year…

Well, these are the areas that I will be focusing my extra energy on over the next few years.  If you, or anyone you know can potentially help me with any of these goals, please contact me at valueforyourlife@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Amanda