Goals for 2012

Today's post will be a hastily-written one and I'm apologizing in advance if it's a little disjointed.  I've got two different banana bread recipes to try out and I just discovered that my entire bag of brown sugar, which I've only used once, is a rock solid brick.  Hate that!  (I'm open to hearing any tips on how to prevent this) So it's off to the grocery store for a future brown sugar brick, grrr.

I don't usually do resolutions or goals specifically for the new year but now that I'm a business owner (!) setting goals with defined benchmarks seems like the smart thing to do.  Design Sponge, MML and this planner have all been so helpful in taking me from "I'd like to accomplish this in 2012" to "Here's my step-by-step plan for how to accomplish this in 2012".  Big, big difference. 

My goals for 2012 are broken down into three categories; Blog Goals, Business Goals and Personal Goals. 

BLOG GOALS:

1. Post with a greater emphasis on quality over quantity. In the past year, I definitely have put the pressure on myself to post as often as possible which unfortunately doesn't always produce the best writing. I'm going to try out posting just three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Fridays) but with more thought and purpose behind each post.  Using more original photos will also be a big focus for me in the coming year.  In the past I've relied a little too much on Pinterest, Elle Decor and other online sources for images.  Which is ok - I just really want to inject more of my own work into the blog.

2. Share a little more of my personal life with you. It's hard for me to imagine that any reader of this blog who doesn't know me personally would be all that interested in my life, my goofy dogs and the day-to-day goings on in our household. But when I read blogs written by other women, those stories and little glimpses into who they are and what's going on in their lives are a big part of why I keep coming back for more.  So I'll be sharing, just hopefully not to an annoying degree.  I absolutely plan on walking the very fine line between being relate-able and sharing waaaaay too much.

3. Produce and photograph more projects in my own home.  I really need to step it up in this area. I'm not one of those designers whose home is completely finished.  Hell, I don't have a single room in my house that is completely finished! I'm going to tell myself the same thing I tell clients; "Pick a room, set aside a certain amount of money and complete this one stinking room. Repeat, going room by room, until your home is finished".  First up for me: Guest Room!

BUSINESS GOALS

1. Increase e-design clientele.   While I don't want my blog to turn into a platform that is blatantly 100% dedicated to promoting my business, I do plan on doing more marketing of my services here. Definitely plan on walking a line here between building my business and making this a fun, interesting place to be whether you have any desire to hire me or not.

2. Make connections with other designers and bloggers.  I've been in my own little world here and that's how I thought I'd like it to stay but the truth is I'm a pretty social person who needs interaction with other creative types to stay inspired.  There are a lot of funny and really inspiring design/decor bloggers out there and I'm going to make more of an effort to get to know them and become a bigger part of this online community. 

PERSONAL GOALS

1. Have a tidier and more organized home.

2. Let go of the need to be perfect.  It's unrealistic, it stops me from taking action towards goals that I really want to accomplish and I wouldn't expect it from anyone else. Plus, self-proclaimed perfectionist are annoying! I suspect for most of us, it's not a drive to be perfect as much as a fear of failure.  "I'm a perfectionist" just sounds better.  Or at least less bad.


3. Give more of my time and money to charities and causes that are meaningful to me.

4. Celebrate 10 years with that incredible man of mine in a BIG way!  I don't know what that will be just yet but 10 years with the same person who you are still crazy about even after all the tough times is something worth celebrating in my book.

I am really excited for the year ahead and feel so freaking READY to work hard towards accomplishing some really big things in my life and business.