2025 has finally arrived, and I’ve given careful thought to what I want to accomplish this year. People often make New Year’s resolutions that never become a reality, so this post will help keep me accountable. When 2026 arrives, I’ll be able to look back with a more objective perspective on how I did. If I am able to accomplish all of these goals, then I can confidently say it has been an extremely productive year for me.


Goal 1: CCNA Certification

Earning the CCNA is somewhat of a baseline in the field of computer networking. I do not believe that this cert will open up better doors for me but it’s likely to open more doors. My reward function is maximizing freedom. Therefore, it is important to make decisions toward increasing professional autonomy.

  • Exam Timeline: This is likely the first goal I’ll achieve, since I plan to take the certification exam at the end of the month.


Goal 2: 1500 Rapid Chess.com Rating

This goal is long overdue. My peak true rating is around 1400, and my current rating is around 1300.

  • Current Mindset: I have never taken chess training seriously in the past. Coming home from work, queuing up for a rapid match, getting caught off-guard by an opening gambit, and then not even reviewing the opening was a common occurrence for me.
  • Training Strategy: A great deal of time will be spent increasing my raw calculation abilities and reviewing responses to the most common openings.


Goal 3: Weightlifting Stats

My physical health has begun to deteriorate. This year, I’m aiming to hit or exceed the following lift numbers:

  • Bench Press: 225 lb × 5 reps
  • Squat: 315 lb × 5 reps
  • Deadlift: 405 lb × 5 reps
  • Overhead Press (OHP): 135 lb × 5 reps × 5 sets
  • Pull-Ups: 20 strict reps

Why These Numbers?
These lifts are not anything extreme or pushing my genetic limits. I simply wanted to pick clean numbers that serve as a solid benchmark between the intermediate and advanced levels. Obviously, bodyweight plays a factor in how achievable these lifts are, so I also included 20 strict pull-ups.


Goal 4: 350-401 ENCOR

Earning the CCNP Enterprise certification is very likely to open better doors for me. It requires two exams: the core exam (350-401 ENCOR) and a concentration exam of my choice. I am only hoping to pass the core exam in 2025.

  • Study Commitment: This is undoubtedly the most challenging goal for 2025, requiring hundreds of hours of focused study. Achieving this goal also hinges on completing Goal 1 early in the year, as I expect this will take around six months of efficient preparation.

  • Trade-Off: Choosing this goal wasn’t easy. My workplace offers “cyberpay” for earning various cybersecurity certifications. By deciding to pursue this certification in 2025, I’m effectively forgoing the possibility of receiving a cyberpay increase by passing exams like the CISSP for a pay increase.


Goal 5: $400 Per Month Food Budget

Since I began living alone, I’ve been spending far too much on food, about $700 per month on average. You might wonder how that’s even possible. The main culprit is eating out.

  • Daily Budget
    If I can stay within roughly $13 per day for food, I can meet this goal. I also plan to maintain a high-quality diet consisting primarily of whole foods like beef, eggs, rice, oats, fruits, and vegetables.

Note: Because my job often involves traveling around the country and staying in hotels, I don’t always have the freedom to avoid eating out.


Goal 6: Read 5 Non-Certification Books

The bar has been set intentionally low here. Given all my other goals, I do not think I will have much time to read. However, I recognize the importance of furthering intellectual growth. This goal isn’t just about skimming through books, it’s about dissecting the material. I’m particularly interested in AI and ideas about the future of society. I plan on reading The Network State next.

  • Selection Criteria
    • Any book that isn’t part of formal certification study (e.g., CCNA or CCNP exam guides).
    • Tech or business books are allowed, as long as they’re not purely exam-focused.


Final Thoughts

These six goals alone will occupy much of my year, especially with a full-time job in the mix. There’s a range of other pursuits I’d love to explore, language learning, competitive programming, additional certifications, running, etc. But my time and energy is limited and completing all of these goals is already a considerable challenge.

By narrowing down my objectives to these chosen goals, I’m focusing on what I believe is most important. If I can successfully complete each goal by the end of 2025, I’ll consider the year a resounding success; conversely, if these goals go largely unachieved, it would be a significant disappointment.