April 2011 .:. Biz Goals

First of April, April Fools Day. Does anyone else ever get curious about the origins of some of these "holidays"?  Wikipedia is not always totally reliable, but it's a quick source of information, and so, April Fools Day:

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). In the Middle Ages, New Year's Day was celebrated on the 25th of March in most European towns. In some areas of France, New Year's was a week-long holiday ending on the 1st of April. So it is possible that April Fools originated because those who celebrated on the 1st of January made fun of those who celebrated on other dates. The use of the 1st of January as New Year's Day was common in France by the mid-sixteenth century, and this date was adopted officially in 1564 by the Edict of Roussillon.

OK, end of the research, and on to the goals:

March went a little something like this:

1. Finish up design for at least 2 more product categories, and submit. - done! New shop at Society Six! I need to upload more art, but there are 2 pieces available as iPhone covers, and more coming for laptop skins!
   
2. Work more on re-branding and asking for testimonials/words from peers. - asking really does work, and I need to do more!
3. Be BOLDER in presenting showing and talking about my work - this is a life lesson for me. - baby steps, working on the bold, shoulders back, chin up!
   
4. Create AND finish 2 new paintings or illustrations, and I mean FINISH! - ignored my own directive, BUT got a few pieces started.
5. Make some time to dig in the garden a bit, pull some weeds and make a plan for planting.- started!
6. When feeling down or frustrated or impatient (or any other related feelings) spend a moment to count all my blessings. Mmm-hmmm, always a good list item

And then there is April.

1. Come up with work for one more product category, and that will complete the list of 4 new products. And then it's on to marketing...
2. Approach the finding a mentor thing a little differently. I am going to get really really specific with myself about what I would like a mentor help with, and put it out there again.
3. Work on portfolio for fabric designs, so I will have something to show when I arrive here in May.
4. Write some announcements and info pieces on my work to send to blogs for stories, and get them out by mid April. 
5. Hire a Wordpress coder to finish the site. THIS is my second lesson in how to work smarter. 
6. Put design portfolio together and target places that I'd like to design work for.
7. Paint, that's all I'm saying, no quantity directives, no finish dates, just paint.
8. Walk. Every. Day. Rain or shine. Get your butt (and feet) up on the hill and Walk.

OK, GO April. Hope you all have a great month!

________________________

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.
• You can also "meet" the Meet Up peeps, go here and visit the links.

Comments

[Kristen (Creative Stash)]

Whoa, am I the first one here today?! Amazing! Liz I love your April fools writeup, neat tidbit. love your dive into new product categories. I am finding it very inspiring to see all the cool ways you can market your art. Testimonials are so important, I have them hidden in a folder on my computer - such good that is doing me right?! Love that you started your garden and counted your blessings in March, both very good for the soul. Good luck in April! Here are my biz goals for this month: http://kf-creativestash.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-biz-goals.html

[Laura McDowell]

I'm been a bit lazy the last month and a half, so here is my renewed commitment to Progress...

http://lmdstudio.blogspot.com/2011/04/aint-no-lazy-fool-here.html

[twitter.com/CandiedFabrics]

LOVE the iPhone decals...I would love one on my DroidX - is that an option???

You're right, testimonials are important! I'm gonna add that to my todo list, which is right here:
http://www.candiedfabrics.com/2011/04/01/meetup-april-goals/

Go April GO!

(aha, I see that after I sign in with twitter I've got to come back and redo the comment...probably what DIDN'T happen last month!)

[Lindsey]

Happy April everyone. Liz, glad to see you are really pushing forward and getting things done! Very inspiring :)

Here is my March, http://fallenpeach.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/meetup-april-goals/

Hoping April will be less full of sadness and sickness.

Will pop around to visit after work. :)

[Liz]

Candy, my sister in law asked me the same thing about a skin for the Droid... some company has to start thinking past the iPhone on these things! I am going to do some research!

[sarah s. - redlinedesign]

Happy April my meetup friends.....I have officially been a part of this group for a year this month...Liz, I am so excited for your Society Six shop....that is awesome...and love all your other goals as well...

Here's my post for the month:

http://sarahgstevenson.com/blog/?p=1020
going to check in on everyone else.....