Attainable Goals.

Let me start off by saying, I adored the film, JULIE & JULIA, the 2009 film based on Blogger Julie Powell's journey through Julie Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julie set herself a goal of completing all 524 recipes from Julie Child's cook book in 365 days. The film was based on the books, Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously By Julie Powell and My Life in France By Julia Child

It was oddly inspirational to me, the hapless 28 year old male who often yearns for something creative to sink his teeth into. Only to find myself without the the time motivation, or more importantly, the organization.

The film's main character talks to her mother about how setting short, simple and attainable goals is good for your life and being. In looking for the exact quote, i could not find it for the life of me, but i did come across this quote from Tony Hawk that mostly fits:

"My best advice is to set small, attainable goals for yourself. Don’t think of the big picture all the time, because you’re just going to end up being disappointed the whole way there. You’ll be so fixated on the challenges that you won’t step back and realize you’re already there."

In the last few weeks i have watched this film a few more times and each time i feel myself yearning to do something of the sort in my own life. Create my own short and attainable goals. I thought of going through the Top 250 films on IMDB.COM and writing about each and every one. I had once started the dubious project of watching every film on the list in one year, this was about 5 years ago, and made it far, but found myself burnt out on high class, amazing films that zap your brain and soul. I regressed into watching much more Hollywood filth and schlock afterwards.

Still, during my unfinished goal, I did happen to find many, many amazing films and directors that i never ever would have found without this amazing resource and goal. Its still a goal of mine to watch all 250 films, but the list is an ever changing affair and i am quite proud to have seen at least 125 of these films, if not more. I would stop and count them all... but that can wait for another day.

So I've been debating what small and attainable goals for me to reach this year and what they should be. I've come up with two, very similar, simple goals for this upcoming year.

First. I'm going to use this blog and write one blog a week every week for 2010. That's 52 blogs. 52 writings. Each one with at least 500 words. Lets face it, I'm very verbose so chances are each post will venture into the thousand-plus wordcount. I will have no set theme, just one Blog entry a week. Each one a slice of my brain. I will try to refrain from postings about my boring days and keep these posting as interesting as possible.

Secondly. I'm going to begin working with Vanessa Speckman and her wonderful zine, Lubricated Magazine (fan Lubricated on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lubricated-Zine/166831369538). After a few back and forth emails about various plans and ideas we have, we both came to the conclusion that we just need to get off our asses and start working on the blog. Just start working and stop fucking talking!

For the zine, I am setting the same goal i have set for myself here with this blog. I will write 52 pieces for her blog. One a week for one year.


I've been itching to do a zine again in these last few weeks/years/entire life, but starting a zine is an incredibly large pain in the ass with very little rewards. It is lots and lots of hours sweating and pouring yourself into a project that very people will read and even less will appreciate. I think i have found a partner in Vanessa, whom is on the same page about what we want to do. I'm lucky in this because I very much need someone to help energize me and motivate me to actually do the work and not surf the internet for another three hours.

So rather than start my own zine and fight for the same very small audience that we will both cater to, I'll combine my forces and move to help make Lubricated a new powerhouse tour de force that i know it will be.


I use to write constantly on my livejournal and Myspace pages, but I have since fallen off the wagon. I believe that setting this small attainable goals of writing two pieces a week are very, very attainable, yet push me JUST enough.

One piece for each blog is of course is the minimum. If I write 200 blogs this year, then GREAT, even better! I should note that writing 2 blogs in one week, will NOT exclude me from writing the next week., but will rather be bonus.

I will also add, that at least for my personal writings, I plan on at the very least going back and writing a few backlogged blogs for this year. So by my account, after this one is published, I owe the world 3 more for January.

I'm still not sure what to do with my writings that are sure to overlap. I work in the music industry. Many of my friends are involved with the industry in some way or another. My upcoming tour with Drag The River will warrant many blogs, but do these blogs go to the Lubricated Zine? Or stay here as my own? I think I will keep my Lubricated work mostly focused on Interviews and profiles, "Journalism" work. My personal blog will focus more on me and my adventures.

I also have lots of advice for bands and other promoters as well, not sure where that will fall when those pieces are written... Perhaps I will post them in both? I don't know how that will work in my self-written rules..

And as readers, I won't be able to do this without you. Please, send me comments, ideas, suggestions and topics to write about. I should also note that my Lubricated work will not be just about music. I want to branch out and interview other people as well. Comic artists have my eye right now, since i am a rather large fan of the online comics communities. I have many other ideas for interviews and pieces as well for Lubricated. I also have a few ideas and tricks up my sleeve that i do not plan to unveil until I can actually get them accomplished.

Before i leave you, I would also like to highly recommend Julie & Julia. Its a chick flick of sorts, but it is no love story. Instead it is the story of two women who set goals for themselves and came out changed people in the end, and for Julia Child, Change the world! Its the story of growth and gain, and while its about two women, it should be universal for anyone with an open mind, and a yearning to better yourself. It doesn't hurt that its a damned sweet and cute little film. I absolutely adored it.

Will i change the world with these projects? More than likely NOT. I have no clue what i will get out of it. When i started the bookings and promotions at the Triple Nickel, i never could have imagined how it changed my life and opened me up for all kinds of amazing opportunities. Who knows where these roads i am embarking on shall lead. Maybe no where, but i doubt that. This is a good solid, small move. I can't wait to look back in a year and see the end results.

I only hope you all are willing to come along with me on this journey.

One posting down. 51 left to go.
-Damian
1/24/10