I really liked breaking down my planning last year into shorter term and big picture goals, and I am going to follow that same structure for 2017. I am also shortening my goal lists for 2017 with the aim to have a bit more focus, which is probably due to the fact that I have been feeling very overwhelmed and scattered these last few months of 2016.
Shorter Term / Actionable Goals
- Co-host 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop
- Goal 1: Move the schedule up so that it is over by summer.
- Goal 2: Work for a smooth transition with new co-hosts and start phasing myself out (I think 2017 will be my last year to co-host).
- Give myself a raise (I am going to $25/hour for my time).
- If I continue to get interest in local clientele for long arm quilting, I will need to put thought into cost per square inch, I think. However, only having done one quilt so far, the need for putting thought into that is not high. 🙂
- Focus on pattern writing (I have soooo many ideas!).
- Submit ideas to magazines more frequently.
- Say “no” to most bees, swaps, and quilt alongs for the year: basically, I’m aiming for slightly more “selfish” quilting for the year (although focused quilting is probably more accurate).
- In that vein, I did not sign up for the Stash Bee in 2017, but I am participating in Molli Sparkles Honey Pot Bee as all the blocks I make in that bee I will be keeping for myself.
Big Picture Goals
- Remember my overarching life goal of seeking mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual balance.
- Continue to embrace the “seek rejection” philosophy.
- For those unfamiliar with the idea, reaching out and asking for something (magazine submission, for example) can seem overwhelming and hard due to the fear of rejection or being told “no”. Letting myself ask and submit with the risk of being told “no” is scary, and resiliency in rejection is something I want to continue to cultivate within myself.
- Be gentle with myself.
- What a great reminder. I have not been doing a great job of this lately.
- I have some big picture goal thinking to do. Honestly, I want to be open and flexible with my plans in case life continues to be a bit unpredictable in other non-quilting areas.
- This sounds vague, and it is intentionally so. Please know that I am well, my family is well, and there are no “major” changes on the near horizon. I just want want to keep family and my big picture goal #1 above really keenly in focus.
Linking up with the 2017 Planning Party.
That all sounds very do-able to me, specially to be gentle and flexible. I wish you all you would wish for yourself, and hope that 2017 is as good to you as you so deserve. Fond greetings from NZ.
Your philosophical insights are always fresh and truly motivating… for me to plan more, organize better, let go of clutter stuff (not just in the sewing studio), give more, be flexible (with a retired husband, I HAVE to be), place value on my creations… best wishes to you, Yvonne, for a fabulous 2017! You continue to amaze me with each blog post… much success to you and check marks by all your goals and wishes!
Looks like a good list, doable and not too much. I have a hard time saying no as well sometimes, there is so much fun stuff to do. But, you are making a career of quilting, and I wish you all the best!
This is a good direction. Good luck. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!
All the best to you and yours in the coming year.
This sounds good Yvonne: You do take on a lot and you do seem to manage it but your number one big picture is really important.
This looks like a great list of goals, Yvonne. I like that you’re giving yourself a raise…paying yourself appropriately makes it easier to do everything else you want to do. And I look forward to seeing all the patterns you’ll be bringing to us 🙂
Very commendable goal list Yvonne! I especially like the “be gentle” with yourself reminder and “keep family #1” items that you put in the list. You’ve got an exciting year ahead. 🙂
Always remember that “It never hurts to respectfully ask.” The worst that can happen is you will end up exactly where you already are. I’ll be planning partying with you soon!
I like how you have your goals separated. I love checking things off of lists. And I agree it is important to picture balance in our lives.
And one more thing. My dad frequently says, “The answer is always no unless you ask.” I think I needed that reminder. 🙂
Great idea to really think about goals. I love your goal of being gentle with yourself – that’s always a challenge, isn’t it? And the seeking rejection one is good, too. Sylvia Plath once said “I cherish my rejection slips. They show me I tried.” I love that. I think I will take some time to write down goals as well. I have a hard time with it sometimes because there’s always so much I want to accomplish. But really to set goals that are actually doable is the -heh heh – goal! Anyway, Here’s to a fun and productive 2017. I’ll be here, rooting for you Yvonne.
These are great ideas. So important to give yourself a raise and to embrace rejection. I am not good at that at all. I was inspired to begin my list and will join the linky party!!!
I like how you broke down your list into the two sections. It keeps the reminder there that we all need to focus on self care too and not always the “what needs to get done”. I am going to take a page from your book and add some of these things to my list as well. 🙂
I will be with you on numbers 3 and 4. I have started thinking about patterns too. Expect me to pick your brains a little bit. 🙂
I wish you luck! I think you’ve got an awesome list, and I’m hoping your 2017 will be simply amazing! 🙂
I need to sit down and write my post, but you and I have some very similar goals. 😉
Great post, as always. I like that you added ‘be gentle with myself’ in your list of goals. We are often our worse enemy. Wish you the best of the new year.
All the best for 2017 Yvonne. I hope it all goes really well!
Good luck with these goals – it looks like you have an interesting time planned but are keeping your priorities in order. I hope 2017 is everything you want it to be.
Saying No is tough for some, and giving yourself a raise is so inspiring. I love the balance of goals, and your writing is so smooth. Happy New Year, Yvonne.
Seeking rejection is a big scary, but so amazing, becasue if you are prepared for rejection how absolutely wonderful are the acceptances. I hope you 2017 is everything you want it to be. E xx
I like your separation of attainable and big picture goals. I think you have a good balance of things that will challenge you (without breaking your spirit) and ones that will boost your confidence allowing you the satisfaction of checking things off your list. I still need to sit down and think about my goals for next year. I’m not sure if I want to get more specific or more vague this year. Need to review how I did last year.
Your goals have a good balance and coherence. I really struggle to articulate personal goals but I can see that goals are important and l need to overcome my fear of failing (indeed develop resilience), learning from failures as well as successes. I intend to add a post to this link… In the meantime, Happy Christmas Yvonne!
You sound so wise and I applaud your honesty. I wish you a wonderfully successful and happy new year.
I love your “seek rejection” big picture goal! So many things wrapped up into those two words! Hope to connect with you more this year! Best wishes on a fantastic 2017!
Very practical and well-thought goals. I hope your year is wonderful, just like your quilting.