Tag: comedy goals

For the past eleven years, I set goals at the start of the year and then review how I did at the end of the year [see 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009]. I’m not sure if this is actually useful, as the goals have been pretty similar the last few years and I only look at this post the first and last day of the year, but I like traditions, and maybe it helps subconsciously, so here go my goals for this year.

For the second year in a row, I’ve separated “process goals” (aka things I can control – in black), and “goal goals” (aka things that depend on other people as well as me – in grey text). But this year, I made all my top 5 goals things I can control.

This year I changed my categories so that all things related to stand-up are one category, and then all other comedy-related goals are separated.

I have the same number of goals as last year (15) and then whittled down my top 5. Since I can control all my top 5 goals, success is doing all of them this year.

Stand Up

• Perform at least 500 times
• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 20 of those minutes into “A” jokes
• Write 5/7 days of every week
• Have Amazon Prime Video stream my new comedy album on their platform (as well as an abridged version of my third album)
• Get my new comedy album “Don’t Shake Your Miracle” to #1 in the iTunes Comedy charts
• Do a stand-up set on TV or Netflix that airs in its entirety (not a stand-up clip show)

Writing/Producing (non-standup) 

• Publish my second book
• Create and release 3 new sketch videos
• Develop and film a sizzle reel for my gameshow idea
• Sell a TV show and get it on air

Learning

• Take at least one class
• Read 20 books

Financials

• Earn $50,000 from entertainment-related business income

Misc

• Average weight of 176 pounds or less

Top 5 Goals

• Publish my second book
• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 20 of those minutes into “A” jokes
• Perform 500 times
• Average weight of 176 pounds or less
• Develop and film a sizzle reel for my gameshow idea

On January 1st, 2019 I posted my goals for this year. Since it’s the last day of the year, it’s time to go through them and see how I did. Black text is the original goal and bold text is how I did. 

Performing (2 out of 6 accomplished, one more still in progress)

• Record my fourth comedy album
  Completed! “Don’t Shake Your Miracle” will be out on February 7th. More details coming shortly.
• Publish my second book (details coming soon)
  In process. I have about 40 illustrations completed and the book text complete, but it’s taking longer than anticipated.
• Perform 500 times
  Performed 569 times
• Do a stand-up set on TV or Netflix that airs in its entirety (not a stand-up clip show)
  Did not do a TV/Netflix set
• Do two acting gigs (non-stand up) that air on TV
  Did not have two TV acting gigs
• Perform at a NACA showcase
  Did not perform at a NACA
• Perform at 10 colleges
  Did fewer than ten colleges

Writing/Producing (2.75 out of 4 completed)

• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 20 of those minutes into “A” jokes
  Yes
• Write 5/7 days of every week
  Yes
• Film a sequel to The Slice and create 4 more videos
  I co-created a sequel called “The Shakedown” and created some other videos, although they were all part of one web series, so I’m only giving myself 75% credit
• Sell a TV show and get it on air
  Did not sell or get a show on air, although I came close more than once

Learning (2 out of 2 accomplished)

• Take at least one acting class
  Took one sketch acting class
• Read 20 books
  Read 23 books

Financials (0 out of 1 accomplished)

• Earn $40,000 from entertainment related business income
  Did not earn $40,000

Misc (0 out of 1 accomplished)

• Average weight 176 pounds or less
  Weight was above this

Top 5 Goals (2 out of 4 accomplished, one still in progress)

• Record my fourth comedy album Yes
• Publish my second book Halfway done
• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 20 of those minutes into “A” jokes Yes
• Do a stand-up set on TV or Netflix that airs in its entirety No
• Sell a TV show and get it on air No

Overall note: This was the first year I separated “things I can control” and “things that depend on other people as well as on me” – I accomplished 6 out of 7 goals I could control (damn is minor weight loss hard!) with 1 still in progress. Of the things I couldn’t directly control, I was 0 for 6.

For the past nine years, I set goals at the start of the year and then review how I did at the end of the year [see 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009]. I’m not sure if this is actually working anymore, as the goals have been pretty similar the last few years and I only look at this post the first and last day of the year, but at this point it’s a tradition, plus I do think subconsciously it helps, so here go my goals for this year.

One thing I’m doing differently this year, I’ve put “process goals” (aka things I can control) in black, and “goal goals” (aka thing that depend on other people as well as me) in grey text. There’s an extra line break in between the two.

I have more goals this year (15 up from 11 last year) and then whittled down my top 4. If I nail 3 out of these top 4 goals, and don’t achieve a single one of the others, I’ll consider it a very good year.

Performing

• Perform 600 times this year, including 400 club spots
• Go on 30 acting auditions, get 3 callbacks

• Perform at 8 college shows
• Do a stand-up set on TV that airs in its entirety (not a stand-up clip show)
• Do two acting gigs (non-stand up) that air on TV

Writing/Producing

• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 15 of those minutes into “A” jokes
• Submit 5 writing packets

• Sell a TV show
• Have a consistent entertainment writing job for 8+ weeks

Learning

• Take two acting classes
• Read 25 books

Financials

• Get my new album, The United States of Russia, to hit #1 on the iTunes or Amazon comedy sales rankings
• Earn $40,000 from entertainment related business income

Misc

• Average weight 174 pounds or less
• Do my morning routine 4 out of 7 days every week

Top 4 Goals (Out of 15)

• Create 40 new minutes of material that I try on stage, turn 15 of those minutes into “A” jokes
• Sell a TV show
• Do a stand-up set on TV that airs in its entirety (not a stand-up clip show)
• Get my new album, The United States of Russia, to hit #1 on the iTunes or Amazon comedy sales rankings