10 (Huge) Goals for 2017

Need some ideas for your New Year's Resolutions list?  Consider these huge goals which will not only give you something big to aim for but the skills you develop to reach these goals could also save your life.

1. Be debt free including the house (or make giant strides towards this).  For help and inspiration on this goal check out Dave Ramsey's site.
2. Run (or walk) a marathon.  When TSHTF and all roads are closed/washed out/etc. and your only option for bugging out is via your own two feet, knowing that you are able to walk long distances is a good thing (plus the daily act of walking or running is pretty good for your overall health).  More info on this topic here.
3. Participate in an IPSC shooting competition.  This is one of the best ways to practice tactical shooting (well, besides having Uncle Sam breathing over your shoulder about it but I digress...) and an excellent way to sharpen your overall gun handling skills.
4. Put an extra $1378 in your emergency fund by the end of the year (or more).  The 52-Week Savings Challenge is a good way to do this.
5. Go backpacking for an entire week.  Can you imagine being totally off the grid for a week?  Can you think of a better way to practice your outdoor survival skills?  A week-long (or longer) backpacking trip is a great way to get away from it all AND practice living without the comforts of modern life.  More info here.
6. Get all of your documents in order.  Do you have all of your important documents in an easily accessible but secure place?  Are they up-to-date and not expired?  Check out this list and make sure all of your important documents are ready to go at a moment's notice.
7. Be prepared to earn money.  You might already have a job or a business but should that income source dry up, are you ready to easily transition to a new venture that keeps the money rolling in?  Update your resume, start a side gig, grow your business, network in your industry...basically all of the things you would have needed to be doing before TSHTF and an income crisis happens.
8. Learn to save a life.  There are a lot of ways to save a life so take your pick, but consider learning/honing some life-saving skills.  Take a CPR class, volunteer to be an EMT, take a wilderness first aid class, volunteer with Search and Rescue, volunteer with the Suicide Hotline, donate bike helmets to kids in your community, etc.
9. Build your homestead.  You don't need to move to the middle of no where and buy a thousand acres to create a homestead, but where ever you live, make it a place that has all of the comforts of a homestead--a garden, a security system, multiple heating options, etc.
10. Go after a big 'I never thought I would ever do this' sort of goal.  A Front Sight course, shooting a range of full-auto firearms at Battlefield Vegas, an Evasive Driving course, etc.