This time last year I wrote down my goals for the year and stuck them to my wall to inspire me. I tried to be specific and measurable and make sure I had down personal aims as well as business ones. So why did I take it down and how did I do?

 

Well to answer my first question I took them down coz they were getting in the way and then I moved house to stay with my Mum whilst my purchase went through and they kinda got lost. I kept them digitally however so I can remind myself what I have achieved and base this year’s goals on what I learned last year.

 

The main thing I learned is that setting a turnover goal does not motivate me. No, not at all, in fact it has the opposite effective of making me worry stupidly about not reaching it. But I will be doing something similar again because it really is the best way to measure if my business is turning over more than I need it to – which is my goal. I have, at least, managed to get it up to what I need and learned that it is important to work with the right people to keep me on track and that they are worth paying for even if I think I can’t afford them.

 

I STILL have not revised my business plan so I do REALLY need to do that as things move in a slightly different direction. I actually need to write it down and face the thing I fear – the financial forecasting!

 

I did run my workshops and speak at an event and I will be running another workshop or 2 this year in my role as the Women in Rural Enterprise group leader for the Oswestry and Borders area. If you want me to come and talk about using social media effectively for your business or how to make your work flow more efficient then let me know!

 

My blogging has got more consistent which is brilliant but the personal blog idea never really took off. Ah well, there is always this year. I plan to be more disciplined and set aside a speicifc time each week for my own blogs updating.

 

And my Marketing plan was implemented with some success and lots to learn from. This year’s will be more focused and I have help to keep me on track and to assess what works and what doesn’t.

 

As for my personal goals I manged them all, yeah me!! BUT I have had to loose my cleaner in the move but that will be rectified very soon. Well, once the builders have finished anyway.

 

But this year is really all about balance. Yes I want to grow my income to the next stage and to be as consistent as I can get it but I want to do it in a way that I am comfortable with. A way that is much more me. I also have recognised that in order to be at my best for my clients I need to be happy as a person. I have not been doing anything creative for a good 6 to 8 months due to workload and the move etc and I have suffered and my work has suffered as a consequence. I will be taking time to draw and photograph regularly with the goal of a small, local exhibition in the summer to work towards. It will do me good to let my flow, well flow.

 

In case you are wondering here are a few of my goals;

• to add more of my personality back into my blog – it was getting a bit boring in my opinion
• to earn a bit more than I actually need every month
• to re-engage a cleaner once the building work is finished!
• to really focus on what I do and do it better – particularly with regards to Social Media (I need to get my head round Google+ better!) and to running WiRE
• To be stricter with myself about how I structure my working week and when I don’t work!
• To make time to create – its the best stress relief and centreing of myself I can do, which is good for everyone

 

So will I be sticking my goals up on my wall again in 2012?? Hell yeah! Let’s hope I keep them there for the whole year this time! I’d love to know one or two of your goals too, to help us be realistic and celebrate our successes. I want to let people know if I or you achieve them on here! So please share your goals in the comments below.