Recently Angela Finney was asking about goal setting on her blog (and has since posted her goals for the upcoming year.) And from that post sprung some deeper thinking (I tend to keep to the shallow end of the pool when thinking) about how I feel about goal setting. Here’s a few thoughts of mine from the comments section I left on Angela’s blog.
I work very hard. I set goals to accomplish things above and beyond my current standing. However, life and relationships (including that with one’s art) are ebb and flow. They move, change and evolve.
My goals in my younger days were become a vet tech and work in a zoo, which when accomplished turned out to not be what I wanted. When we moved to Iowa I got a lung infection . . . When just barely recovered my husband got severely burned. Our plans to be organic farmers while not ended, were definitely changed by our financial issues over [farming] start-up costs and paying off the hospitals.
It was a wild card that I started a gallery and pursued my art. It was never a plan or a goal. It was more like what can I do out here in the boonies to help make some money. . .
I’m a survivor type. So for me, not punishing myself for failed ambitions (which is what I’d do if I took my goals too seriously) is how I cope with change.
I set goals and work toward them. But mostly it is my intentions sent out to the universe (or God if you prefer) saying this is what I want. But I’ll roll with whatever you give me.
So with all that in mind, Here’s my goals for 2010
Increase gross sales by at least 10% This has been my course of action for several years. Of course each year the gross goes up so I must earn even more to make that 10% Once we appear to be leaving this recession behind I will bump up the percentile. 10% means I am doing slightly better than keeping up with inflation, which is a must to stay in business. But really I want to strive for more.
Write an article for every Apples ‘N Oats issue. I’ve yet to do this and this is gonna be the year. I can feel it.
Update my Inventory Paper work. This hasn’t been done in a few years and I add and delete so much artwork it is getting to be a nightmare to keep inventory records.
Stretch my comfort zone. I think for this year I’ll try to learn more computer stuff. Like how to update my website myself. I tend to rely on Mike quite a bit especially since he actually writes the code for stuff like my blog and website. It’s not like I can read a tutorial. I need him to show me.
Create 20 new paintings. I didn’t manage to do this last year but will give it another go. It’s a big number for me to do, but seems worthy of a good stretch to try it.
Continue to do 4 blog posts a week. Since last year I was 3.846 this year I want that number to be over 4. without having to round up.
Create more Squidoo lens. I’ve already begun that, see sidebar for new additions. I think I’d let to have a total of 20 lenses by year end 2010. I started with 7 and now have 9. So just 11 more to go. Still, it will be challenging.
Business Expansion. No new expansion planned for this year. Mike is planning to take classes on massage therapy and this will be a big financial commitment.
Remember to take “me” time.
Tags: business
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Congratulations on being so successful towards your goals last year. Best of luck this year. Wow, all your readers will benefit from more Squido articles — that is a huge number! I often refer to your articles now when contemplating using some water color pencil or framing an oil pastel.
How long is the message therapy training? I am from a small town and there is a woman there doing quite well with it. My mom is in an assisted living facility, she comes and does freebies for them regularly and then many of the residents buy gift certificates for friends and family.
The classes run for a year. In the winter months it’s 3 days a week 2-3 weekend a month. In the summer it drops to one weekend per month. Still it’s like a year tuition at college. Mike signed up for the year. But can change his mind after class 1 and cancel the rest. Hard to say what he’ll do. He’s taken some classes last year at the same place and really liked them.
Downside - Big Debt and perhaps doing a couple of art fairs alone.
Upside - free massages. Lots and lots of free massages.