January 2011 (!) .:. Biz Goals

After just 3 days of stepping away from work, from schedules, from anything that started with "I must..." I am not feeling ready to start it all up again, which then leads me to realise that I don't make enough down time for myself.

I don't have enough time to regenerate and reinvogorate my ideas, my creativity, my business, and this needs to be addressed in a very big way. A friend posted something this weekend that I need to reiterate for myself: Work Smarter, not Harder.

Right this minute, I have absolutely NO idea how to incorporate working smarter into my life, I actually can't even quite fathom what it totally means, but I know I want it badly. I know how to work harder, but working harder often always ends up with me working longer, and packing more stuff into a day, and sitting in front of the computer for hours that are ridiculously long, and leaving out many of the things that make a life fun and enjoyable and, well, a Life. Translation: I might be working dumber.

I think my #5 for December's goals is a start toward the Working Smarter thing, and #6 for sure, and definitely #7, and then I can't help but wonder, with all the things on my to-do list this year that carried over from month to month to month, how much of that is burn out and how much of it is overwhelm, and how much of it is that I have served up far too much for myself.

So here was December. I got none of it done, except My Word, (more on that later), because I had too many deadlines and too much work that had nothing whatsoever to do with this list of things I want to create, and everything to do with making money to make the budget work.

December Goals

1. website
2. New Resin jewelery designs
3. New Colour Story pieces
4. Finish my announcements to send to other blogs/websites
5. Create for fun and joy instead of deadlines and money
6. Let go of the things that are creating too much stress, and re-evaluate their importance/priority
7. Spend some face to face quality time with friends
8. Think about my word for 2011

SO, all that's to say, my January 2011 Goals:

1. Figure out what working smarter is, and how I can make it a regular and central part of my life and my work.
2. Create for fun and joy.

Hope you all had wonderful holidays, and am looking forward to an amazing 2011 with you all!

________________________

IF you are new to The Meetup or would like to play along, here's the scoop:

• Post a list of your business related goals for the current month on the 1st of each month on your blog. {If the 1st falls on a weekend, post on the following Monday.}
• Come back over here and leave a link to your goals blog post in the comments of my current month's goals.
• And then {and this is the most important part, since we are a community} visit all the links in the comments, stop in and say hello, have a conversation, meet and greet and etc.

Comments

[grace]

anything that breathes life into your wonderful laugh gets my vote x0

[Debbie]

Wow I'm right there with you on this one. December was really hard for me too. There was just so much non-business stuff to do and so much pressure. But now that all of that is done and we can breathe again and sit and think, I'm sure it will all make sense again. Oh, and if you figure out that working smarter thing, please share. I know I could use it too.

Here's mine:http://bluehourstudio.blogspot.com/2011/01/january-2011-meetup-is-here.html

[Carrie K]

When you figure out what working smarter is, let me know, please? Wow, gorgeous stuff, Liz!

[Deborah]

You are so right! All of the goal setting and planning is for nothing if we don't nurture ourselves and our creative spirits. We all have to remember to remember to just breathe. I did something a little different this month. Here is my year end review for December: http://www.graysonstudios.com/blog/2010/12/31/2010-in-review…lin-gooooooood/

Here is my Creative plan for 2011. The first three items on the list are my focus items for January: http://www.graysonstudios.com/blog/2011/01/03/got-my-song/

Happy New Year!

[Deborah]

Sorry, the first link was buggy. Try this one: http://www.graysonstudios.com/blog/2010/12/31/2010-in-review-still-feelin-gooooooood/

[Lindsey]

here are mine, more comments and things later, have to get ready for work!

http://fallenpeach.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-2011-january-meetup.html

[Pippin Schupbach]

Little late to join the fun. At least I got a list together. Isn't it hard to keep everything in balance? Maybe the secret is there is no balance.
http://artpippin.blogspot.com/2011/01/january-goals.html

[Cindy Jones Lantier]

I'm with Carrie -- When you figure out "working smarter" be sure to let me know!

It will be tomorrow before I'm able to visit and comment. Hope everyone had a great holiday season!

http://lantier.org/2011/01/january-goals-meeetup/

[Liz]

I love the way you stream line your goals... I'd like to know more about "working smarter" I find it hard to find a balance between working and family.

All the best for a creative 2011.
http://bizzilizzicreations.com

[twitter.com/CandiedFabrics]

Liz - I too am with you...my word of the year gets to the heart of your "working smarter..."

Anyway, here's my goals post:
http://www.candiedfabrics.com/2011/01/05/looking-forward/

Thanks for all the support last year, I truly am looking forward to what this year will bring, and part of this is brought about by the support I get from my meetup pals! :-)

[Swirly]

I just wrote in my journal this morning that I need to start devoting at least as much time to my own inner self as I do to my laundry! I like your January goals, and think that if you can tackle those, everything else will flow beautifully.

[kelly]

it is this simple...you guide and inspire me.
i love you deep girlie.

[Chantelle]

Hi, new member here. I am excited to be joining your group and learning from all of you. No pressure!
I have already made a post about my goals for the month, so I hope it fits
http://organicquilter.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/stash-reduction/
As for the poster. (sorry I am not sure of your name, is it Liz?) You sound like you need an unschedule.
http://www.lifeclever.com/how-to-unschedule-your-work-and-enjoy-guilt-free-play/
I read the book years ago, and still refer to it. It really helps.

[sarah s.]

hey everyone....I was very efficient in getting my post up but no so efficient in getting it over here to Liz. Liz, create for fun and joy and work smarter, I am right there with you....it was such a pleasure to meet you at renegade and hope we will have more meeting opportunities in 2011. Cheers....Sarah

http://sarahgstevenson.com/blog/?p=694

[Mz. Niya]

OMG, I'm so there in this one. I resolved to spend at least 2 hours a week finding help and re arranging budget to pay people to help me. Everything from digitizing my drawings to cleaning the toilet. Because I'm tired a lot from doing everything, the people I've hired to help at very affordable rates are doing things so much faster then I was. It's been an amazing and rapid relief. Why didn't I do this before?
I still have a ways to go. But maybe this is a start.

Love how you write Lizzie