Every New Year, my family gathers around the fireplace and makes two lists: one list of accomplishments from the previous year, and one list of goals and resolutions for the year to come.
Some resolutions continuously appear (such as John wants to lose 15 pounds) – but never make the accomplishment list. Other resolutions are written only once, and are quickly forgotten (like Tim wants to kill a deer).
What’s most satisfying is to see a resolution become an accomplishment from one year to the next, like when Tim wants to “lrn haw to rid and wrt” became “Tim learned how to read and write.”
In the spirit of the New Year, the three of us here at BNT decided to cozy up around a virtual campfire stretching from Vancouver to New York to Tierra del Fuego, and put together our own lists of accomplishments and resolutions.
A lot has happened in the past year since Ian’s last year-end roundup, and we have big plans for 2008.
Accomplishments
- Feb – The RSS feed passes over 100 subscribers. Ian celebrates by doing a shot of vodka at 7am in the morning..
- May – Ian got married! Then got stung by a scorpion on his honeymoon.
- July – We officially became a paying publication offering $20/article.
- Sept – Ian expands the BNT team to include Tim and Laura
- Nov – Our biggest month ever, with traffic peaking at almost 40,000 unique visitors.
- Nov (again) – Tim’s Manifesto From a Young American garners the record for comments (currently 42)
Resolutions
What’s a year without goals? Here’s what we’d like to accomplish in 2008:
- More Readers – We want to crack 1000 RSS subscribers and triple the traffic to the site.
- Higher Pay – Making money online ain’t easy, but we’re going to continue raising our pay rates to contributors as we can. Starting January 1, the payout will be $25 per article.
- Keep It Real – While some of our advertising has generated controversy, we will continue to maintain editorial independence and publish unique, thoughtful travel pieces
- Keep It Relevant – Gathering continual feedback from our readers is massively important; we want to write about what you want to read!
- Keep It Fun – What’s the point of anything if you’re not having a good time?
As we made these lists, we realized that all of our accomplishments and resolutions depend on you: our wonderful readers and contributors. So thanks for a great year, and here’s to many more!
BNT contributing editor Tim Patterson travels with a sleeping bag and pup tent strapped to the back of his folding bicycle. His articles and travel guides have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Get Lost Magazine, Tales Of Asia and Traverse Magazine. Check out his personal site Rucksack Wanderer.About the Author
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5 Comments... join the discussion!
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Hi there Ian, Tim and Laura. Hope you achieve your goals for 2008. I am sure you would
Thanks for providing such a refreshing website, it is nice to read content that is not dressed up for glossy travel mags. The fact that BNT can actually pay it’s writers and remain independant from big corporate publishing syndicates and advertising moguls, shows a lot of determination. Well done!
May 2008 be a wonderfull year for you guys. I am sure that you will attract a lot more readers as the quality of content is exellent. I am looking forward to read a lot more on BNT in 2008, and who knows, maybe I will become a regular contributor as well…
All the best, and hope you guys had a wonderfull festive season.
Cedric↵ -
Coming at you from Los Antiguos, Patagonia – my first WiFi connection in a week and it sure is wonderful.
Thanks Julie, for signing up and for all of your support. And thanks Cedric, for your excellent comments. If you want to run an article idea by me and Ian, just shoot us a mail.
I’d like to add one more resolution, in the spirit of a New Years hangover – Solemnly, I resolve that although it’s OK to write under the influence, I will never publish until the morning after.
Here’s to a great year!
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Hi Tim,
Well, I’m one of your subscribers from 2006 – so I can’t help that one resolution along. But I too have decided to have more fun in 2008.
There were too many funerals, not enough travel and far too much stress in 2007 for it be a stellar year for me. But I’ve passed a milestone birthday (just a couple days ago) and I’m starting a new decade and a new year with a strong focus on fun.
If it’s not fun, it’s really not worth doing – my new mantra!
I leave in 3 weeks for a much deserved vacation in the Southern Caribbean – not a brave travel by any means but a fun one!
Julia
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Congrats on all the milestones this year, BNT, and looking forward to seeing everything you come up with in 2008!
I resolve to figure out how to make RSS feeds work… and then to sign up promptly.
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