How badly do I want this? | personal | April Goals

I had a terrible case of the Mondays yesterday. I wanted so badly to sit down at my computer and write this post, but it just didn’t happen.

I have not had much time to think lately, but I have had a lot of talks. Talks with others and myself. Thinking to myself is different than talks with myself. Thoughts are more rambling and free, but talks are succinct and motivating, actually, more commanding. Kind of like locker room talks or team huddles. I seem to be having a lot of these with myself lately.

Maybe its because we’ve been watching a lot of college basketball. I am an Ohio State fan and I really enjoy watching Aaron Craft play. (For those who bleed Carolina blue, he reminds me of Tyler Hansbrough.) He is full of energy and a little bit of desperation. He knows what he has to do and doesn’t care what happens to him when he does it – he lays it all out there on the court. That energy is transferred to the other players. I just love that. It is so inspirational. I want that energy and that drive.

But there is a reason basketball games are only 40 minutes long. No one can operate at that capacity 24/7, for most of us its not even possible for 8/5. We need rest, we need downtime, and we need motivational speeches – times to just listen and be inspired.

This balance of preparation, rest and action are key when running a home business. In order to reach goals, all three of these must have a place in everyday life. Its like a career athlete, he starts out at a young age on a pee-wee team and, sure, his dream is to one day win the NCAA National Championship, but right now he must focus on the fundamentals.

Running a business is so similar. I start with a dream – this is my ultimate goal for my business? Now, how do I get there? I break it down into years, months and then days. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance, and the earlier this is realized, the better.

On Saturday, I had a transformational pep talk with myself (now… who doesn’t do this?). One question arose and it really hit me: “How badly do I want this?”  I realized later that two other questions must come after the first: 1. What will I have to give up? 2. Is it worth it? And I am a Christian, so there’s always the ultimate question that must precede all others: Is this what God wants for me?

So… how badly do you want your dream?

Here are my April Goals. The ones crossed out are March’s accomplished goals.

Edit and deliver all School Picture Day proofs

Clear out my desk (I have got to do this!)

Update my website portfolio (ditto!)

“Build” an awesome new desk

Put up new shelves in my office

Organize the laundry room

Work on Three eleven Photography branding

Take a photo every day

Memorize Psalm 31:3-4 (Memorize 12 Bible passages this year)

Read Judges through II Kings (Read the Bible in a Year)

Escape to the beach with Josiah for our anniversary

Organize, organize, organize! | March Goals

We almost had too much fun this February! McG’s Very Hungry Caterpillar Party was the highlight with lots of out of town guests. I also did my first “School Picture Day” for a local homeschool co-op with about 85 students. I went to Branches and Light and came back with a new look at my business. My mom visited for almost two weeks! (We will miss her dearly and can’t wait for her and my dad to move down here!) And I finished up my thirty photos in thirty days challenge yesterday! I absolutely loved taking a photo everyday and I really enjoyed blogging them, but it was definitely a challenge. I am going to keep taking a photo everyday and I will keep blogging them every few days.

So what’s up in March? Well, I will be spending a lot of time in the office and in meetings preparing to start spring sessions and weddings in April. Organize, organize, organize is my March mantra!

March 2012 Goals

1. Edit and deliver all School Picture Day proofs.
2. Clear out my desk
3. Update my website portfolio
4. “Build” an awesome new desk
5. Put up new shelves in my office
6. Organize the laundry room
7. Work on new Three eleven Photography branding
8. Keep taking a photo every day

february goals | branches and light workshop

I’ll tell you what, I am fired up about February! I look back at February 2011 and it was super crazy! My daughter turned two, we threw her a fun party, I helped run a church-wide yard sale, and we moved. This year, February is going to be packed as well. My daughter will turn three and we are throwing “A Very Hungry Caterpillar” birthday party (watch for photos!). I am doing portraits for the Kinston Classical Conversations home school group, which means up to 85 student portraits within a few hours. We will have visits from Papa, Grandma, Nay nay and cousins. Exhibit my work at the Greenville Boulevard Starbucks! Woohoo! And! Yesterday I attended the Branches and Light workshop with Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy.  The workshop totally lit a torch under me to get some things done for my business.

At Branches and Light, Caroline and Nancy really helped me cast a vision for what I want my business to look like in the next few years. They gave some great action points that we could very practically apply to our business and, really, our everyday life. If you are a lady and a photographer, you should seriously consider attending Branches and Light next year.

The mug and little notepad pictured above were in our Branches and Light swag bag. The five action points from the workshop are written on the notepad. I’ve included some realistic goals below that I hope to accomplish towards those action points this February along with my other goals for this month.

February 2012 Goals

1. Have romantic Valentine’s Day date with my husband.
2. Throw an awesome Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party!
3. Paint our living room.
4. Edit and deliver all School Picture Day proofs.
5. Hang some awesome prints in some awesome frames at Starbucks.
6. Face my Fear – Everyday, write down 5 positive things about myself, whether they are characteristics, things I do well, people who love me, etc.. (My fear is that I am not good enough, well, really, it is that I am not perfect – which is obviously unattainable. Please tell me any suggestions you have on conquering this fear. I truly appreciate any comments you leave!) 
7. Organize – Clear out my desk!
8. Get published –  Join Kimberly Ellis and take a photo everyday for thirty days and post it facebook, my blog, pinterest, or twitter. Today is the first day! If you want to join Kim, me and several other photographers around the country, jump over to her blog for the rules and leave me a link in the comments so I can check out your photos.
9. Establish a brand – update my website portfolio!
10. Set goals – Take the vision I have for my business and personal life and get it onto paper. Break it     down into yearly goals, monthly goals and weekly goals.
11. Set goals – get all of my business equipment/supplies in one room.

Alright! I am so excited for this month! Are you? If you have monthly goals, I want to hear them. Leave a comment with your goals or a link to where I can read them. Let’s do this thing!