January 2012 .:. Biz Goals

Oh Lucky Cat*, welcoming in this new year... your left paw raised in the universal sign for good luck and good fortune, and your right paw raised to protect all that luck and fortune, I will be keeping you in my mind's eye, every day.

So we are already a week into January, a week into this new year, and I am lagging a bit with the goals. I've been trying to re-imagine how this Meetup might work, and make it more action-able, more accesible, more helpful for everyone who shows up here every month - and in the midst of that and all the other things that have been going on this First Week, I lagged.

So without further hesitation, I want to pose this question to any and all re: their monthly goals:

DO you find that there are broader goals that are getting left undone each month, maybe for months on end, because you are so busy working on the smaller, more immediate goals (like getting orders out, and making your product, and taking work that pays so that you can keep making your own things)?

I do. And I'd like to change that. Like, now. This first quarter of 2012. I was hit with the realisation that some of these larger goals are going to be important to me and my business a little further down the road, and I am not reaching my destination a little further down the road because I have not tended to the larger goals.

It's all a full-circle conundrum, isn't it?

Okay so long term goals, for the first quarter: I went back through 2011 and looked at all the long term items that were not finished, and they are:

1. Identify and contact 2-3 potential licensors over the next 3 months
2. Get packages off to the 2 companies that are interested in my design work
3. Re-work and FINISH artist statement for website and for portfolio
4. Pattern design - create 2-3 series
5. Start flower painting series for licensing. 12 images. Seasonal. Pen & Ink and Paint.
6. Put a list together of 10-12 people I know and ask them about what methods they have used to market their work.
7. Write announcements and press releases about my current work. Target 10-15 blogs and SEND them out!
8. Work more on branding and ask for testimonials/words from peers.
9. Re-evaluate ALL of these things as the days and week pass, and listen to my own voice and re-evaluate their importance/priority
10. Add to this list with any new ideas/possibilities
11. Create for FUN and JOY.

I hope all your January's are starting in a splendid way, and hope to hear about your goals - long and short term. OK, stepping into 2012, and here we go!

________________________

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.

*The Maneki Neko (招き猫^?, literally "Beckoning Cat"; also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Cat Swipe, Money cat, or Fortune Cat) is a common Japanese sculpture, often made of ceramic, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. The sculpture depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—many times at the entrance—in shops, restaurants, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. In the design of the sculptures, a raised left paw supposedly attracts money, while a raised right paw protects it. (from Wikipedia)

Comments

[Candy from Candied Fabrics]

I love that cat! :-) And I so hear you on the loosing the forest (long term goals) for the trees (short term goals). One of the best reasons for doing these goals posts is they are our long term memory! I'm going to chew on this though and maybe re-work my goal posts a bit to better keep track of the forest and the trees!

Although you sound a bit miffed at letting some things slide, what I can remember from your posts last Fall is that you identified a lack of joy in your work and addressed this, with a positive outcome - certainly the loftiest of achievements...yay you!

As for me, I've spoken a big, in my head don't say it out loud goal here:
http://www.candiedfabrics.com/2012/01/03/looking-forward-2012/
and am almost overwhelmed with the positive responses to it and am now working hard to make that class a reality! Woot! Another example of how committing something to writing really makes things HAPPEN!

[Kristen from Creative Stash]

Yes! I have really let the little things and business get in the way of my long term goals. I can't knock 2011 totally because I have done so many different, wonderful things but, my end goal doesn't seem any closer today then it did 6 months ago, ect. So that is something I need to work on for sure. Candy made a great point, you def did some soul searching this year and found what brings you more joy and that priceless! I am so excited you are keeping this going (even though I have not yet posted for Jan). I will link back here and on FB once I do though. Happy 2012 Liz :)

[Debbie]

I really like the way your are thinking, Liz. Get your stuff out there a bit more. Learn to have some fun with it all. I would love to here your ideas on the licensing front. Your work would look great in so many places.

As far marketing, I think we could all use some real answers. There seems to be so many e-books and guru's out there that tell us they have all the easy answers, and why can't we all be as successful as they are.

I'm glad you are sticking with the meetup. Maybe we can all use each other more with the big art/business questions. I think it could be a good thing. And I will certainly enjoy watching all the new successes that happen in you in 2012!

Have an amazing January!

[Genevieve]

Liz,

I just found your blog via your recent post on Scoutie Girl and as a fellow San Franciscan I had to see what else you were up to. Loving your writing so far and this idea of the meetup really caught my attention. I make 3x5 notecards with my monthly goals and post them on the wall above my desk, however it is still only me that sees them. Come February I will join in posting.