It’s my birthday today. And that makes today’s post particularly relevant. Blogging successfully, while being something that potentially anyone can do, is something that needs planning.

If you are serious about blogging you need a roadmap.

You need to know where you are going and at what time you intend to arrive at each important destination along the way.

And the most important aspect of your blogging plan is that it is just that, your blogging plan, not anyone else’s blogging plan. You will only be able to stick to your plan, or even come close to sticking to it, if it is built around your own capabilities, circumstances and ambitions. For instance, today I start another year of my life. This leaves me with two years to go before a major event in my blogging plan. In July 2010 it is my intention to have grown my blogs into a business with a $250,000 annual turnover.

But that’s my plan. I have my own reasons for making 2010 an important deadline. Your plan needs to be constructed by you to reflect your own circumstances.

If you blog and don’t have a blogging roadmap then spend a few minutes today sketching out some ambitions and expectations along a timeline that is relevant to you. Putting your goals down on paper is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective motivational tools available. And guess what? It works for blogging too.

You may be wondering why 2010 is such an important date for me, and since it’s my birthday you may even be wondering how old I am. Never one to turn up the chance to give something away here’s a quick competition for you.

Guess my age.

Simple. How old am I today?

As a clue, the photo on my about page is one year old. First one to leave a comment below with my correct age will get a free $25 iTunes gift certificate. The competition is not open to anyone who obviously knows my age already since that wouldn’t be fair, so friends and family can’t join in the fun. Well not online fun anyway, it is my birthday after all!