Category Archives: Personal

Goal Setting.

It is one of those things that I have grown to love this past year.  I have always been a list maker and a list crosser and really thrive by doing so, but this past year I became more intentional about the goals I set.  Looking back to this post and this post from last January brings me a lot of joy, not because I accomplished all the goals (because actually I only accomplished about half of them!), but because I set them and worked hard at achieving them.  I also realized throughout the year what was important to me and what needed to go to the wayside. Looking back, I was really happy to see the results!  Progress not perfection was my mantra!

So what worked and what ended up needing to be put aside?? Red:: Accomplished!! Blue:: Nope

BUSINESS

• Purchase a new lens (I love my new 35mm!)
• Create a monthly/ if not bi-monthly newsletter (Keep watching for them in your inbox monthly for 2018!)
• Blog at least 3-5 times a week with one special focus day (Let’s be honest, In October this went to they wayside because I was SO busy, but progress is better than perfection, right?!!)
• Connect social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) to those blogs (Hired a VA!!  Thank you Susan!!)
• Photograph another styled wedding shoot (I did actually did TWO; watch for the publication soon!!!  eeekkk!!)
• Connect with at least 2-3 other wedding vendors a month ( I really drove this hard until June, and then had to let it go to back burner)
• Create social media calendar (Again, thank you Susan!)
• Photograph a wedding in another state or country (besides Wisconsin!)
• Submit weddings and sessions at the end of each month
• Learn more about my camera and attend at least two educational seminars in the world of photography this year
• Create some kind of mentor session- (not sure the details of this, and still working through how this would look, or if it even something I want to do)
• Shoot x amount of weddings, newborns, and family sessions and make x amount per year. (I have this number written down, but feel comfortable not sharing on the Internet for personal reasons! (Super excited to watch these numbers.  Honestly when you write things down, it IS amazing what happens!!)

PERSONAL

• Taking our kids out one-on-one weekly (I didn’t do this, but Kevin was awesome at it, and by him doing so, I got to spend time with my other 2, which changed the dynamics of our home tremendously!)
• Reading one book per month (While I finished 2 actual real live books you can hold in your hand, I finished 17 Audible books with my kids this year!  I seriously call that a win, and am now addicted to Audible!)
• Taking a day off , like really off. (Nope, just did not happen, but we are working on this one as the slow season sets in!)
• Connecting with family and friends, either by going out, or through texting/ e-mailing/ phone calls throughout the week ( I worked hard at this one in the off season and connected with my Grandma on a bi-weekly basis which has been incredible for our relationship, and have connected with friends at various times and gone on some wonderful girls weekends!!)
• Running another 1/2 marathon ( No half marathon for me, but I did run a 10K in August and did not train for it at all! My good friend pushed me the entire way, and I was super happy with my time and the fact I can still run 6 miles without training… maybe its those 9 hour wedding days that help..!!)
• Doing a Bible Study/ quarter with other women (Again, progress not perfection on this one!  First quarter I was able to be in a Bible study with some dear women, then invested into our small group on Sunday evenings!)
• Investing into self-care (Honestly, I don’t think I did well in this area.  I worked hard to get out walking every day in the beginning of the year, but once summer came and my kids were home and business was back in full swing, my schedule was wonky and I just went to the wayside.  Working on this again for the 2018 year!)
• Date night with Kevin once every other week (Although we did date, it was not weekly.  I think this was an unrealistic expectation and am putting it monthly for the 2018 year!)
• Create and print photo books of my family for the year ( Working on this too, I hate that I am a photographer and have NO books to show my kids.  It is going on the goals list for 2018!)
• Work on a personal photo project for myself (If I can’t do self care how do I have time for this?  Again, unrealistic expectation and maybe for the future!!)

I’m SO, SO glad I set these up, and they are SO helpful as I look into the New Year on where to go with my goals!

For 2018, I have decided to go even deeper with my goal setting and in November purchased Power Sheets from Cultivate What Matters. I have heard all about these sheets in the entrepreneurial world that I run around in, but never really took the time to invest in them and use them. The rest of this week I will be sharing my goals for the 2018 year!!