Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Power of Writing Down Goals...

I've been sitting here thinking about last year's scrappy goals and how this year will compare. What I am about to write is not meant to be boastful, but to hopefully inspire you to set/reach for your goals. When I set them last year I really didn't think they'd all happen (afterall, I can't control other people's decisions) but I was hopeful. For the first time ever, I decided to write them down and I think that really made all the difference.  Writing them down and keeping them in plain sight here at my scrappy desk really helped me navigate and focus on what I wanted to accomplish.  I never really set goals like this before but now I can see how important it can really be.

My 2011 Goals:
  • Make a manufacturer design team - thank you Imaginisce & Lori Allred. For the record, there were teams I tried for and did not make as well.
  • Design for a kit club - have you seen the kits from Scrapbook Circle and Birds of a Feather?
  • Become a Sketchy Thursdays design team member - I have loved getting to know the team and players this past year!
  • Get published in an online magazine - Thank you ScrapStreet.com & Scrapbook News & Review
  • I didn't write this one down, thinking I'd save it 'til 2012 but it was in the back of my head - High aspiration goal to get published in a print magazine - See page 14 of Creating Keepsakes January 2012, picked up mid-2011. 
  • I even accomplished a few things that weren't on my list - other great challenge blog design teams like The Studio and a guest designer spot for a new manufacturer, Simple Stories, etc.
  • Make new scrappy friends and grow bonds with my "old" friends - see my blog roll to the left.
 
So here I sit pondering this year's scrappy goals. I don't have them all ironed out yet but I'll share a few:
  • Make a new manu design team and/or secure guest spots; submit projects to be "spotted" 
  • Participate in more online challenges
  • Take a photography class to get off auto mode; maybe a scrappy one too
  • Get published in at least two leading print publications - must remember that I have to actually submit my work in order to meet this goal!
  • Take a photo a day - Project 365
  • Q&A sessions with each member of the family
  • Participate in Project Life or Project 12
  • Hoard less, giveaway more...
  • Do more, faster so I can have more time to make memories with my family! This is the most important of all - more time with the family!
What are some of your goals? Leave me a comment or link me to your blog so I can read about your plans for 2012. As I clean out my scraproom I might just find some scrapilicious goodies for a RAK.

Before you go, I meant to post my "Best of 2011" projects on New Year's Day but better late than never, right? Here's a few of my FAVES in no particular order. Click to Enlarge.


Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget to share your 2012 plans in my comments! I'm going to sit down with my family and do this exercise as well. I think it will be a great learning experience for us all. When doing it with the kids, I add some short term goals in with a long term goal because I think we all know 1 year is a long time to the kiddos.

11 comments:

Diana Fisher said...

I love your faves from 2011 and I completely agree about the goal setting. We do that here at work. I have visions for my dept. as well as a mini plan for myself and it totally works. :)

Congrats on such a great year!

Chelsea said...

You've had an amazing year, Heather! Your work is beautiful, I love seeing what things you have up your sleeve... :)

My scrappy goals for 2012 are to work MORE with manual mode on my photos, to submit more (way too scared to sometimes), and to blog on a regular basis!!!!

Patricia said...

Congrats to you on all your successes! My scrappy goals for 2012 include starting a blog, submitting, and working through my stash!

Jennybean said...

Congratulations on exceeding your goals from last year! Here's the link to my blogpost with my 2012 goals... http://scrappingreilly.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-goals.html

Carol W. said...

Congrats on all your goals from 2011 and meeting and/or exceeding them! My 'written' goals for 2012 are in-progress but two of my main goals 1. make a design team - DONE! and 2. get published. TFS

Carol
www.workmanscraps.com

Rebecca Keppel said...

Congrats on reaching your goals and I love all your layouts--each is more gorgeous than the last! Happy New Year!

Diana Waite said...

truly inspiring--your goals, success and your layouts! Great job Heather! My scrappy goals are kept in my little trusty calendar (it's the first year I've written them down!)

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Michelle said...

Way to go on your goals!! It was great being on Imaginisce with you this year! Yes, Thank you Lori! I am working on shooting in manual. What kind of camera do you have? I have a Nikon. Let me know if you need any help. I can pass on what I have learned so far.

Paige Taylor Evans said...

Congrats on accomplishing so many of your fantastic goals! Well deserved and you're so talented!

heidi said...

It's so nice to see when people accomplish the goals they set! We love having you on Sketchy Thursdays and I'm glad to have gotten to know you! Good luck with this year's goals!! Happy New Year!