Today I want to talk to you about goal planning. I want to talk to you not as an expert in goal planning, but as a women who runs a business who needs to sit down and figure out what the hell she wants to do with it in 2015 in order to continue the life of a self-employed semi-professional crafting person. [Read: how do I plan to pay the bills this year?]
Let me rewind a bit to January 2014. When I decided to hire a branding firm to help me redesign my site, I was ready to jump in and start building a whole new online space. I’ll admit that I was a bit surprised when they said, “Oh, honey… we don’t start the design process for two months. We have some serious talking to do first.”
Part of the talking involved goal planning. And not just random toss outs like, “I’d like to be the first female scrapbooker to be on the Price is Right” or “I want a smaller ass”, but rather, a very focused, categorized exploration of several key areas of my life. It helped me to embrace the whole life aspect of goal planning. You know the saying, “All work and no goal planning in other areas of life make Jack a dull boy,” right? Right.
We focused on work, networking, physical well being, investment (time and energy), personal development, spiritual, financial, relationships—basically all areas of my life. What emerged for me was a plan for 2014 to get me motivated and focused. Granted, I didn’t hit all of my goals, but I also didn’t sit down and revisit them every quarter the way I am planning to do in 2015.
To that end, the CEO of Big Deal Branding, in conjunction with a design partner, has created START: Your Guide to Quarterly Domination. You can purchase a printed version or do what I did: get the PDF and print it yourself at home. I printed everything out two-sided (yes, it took me a while to do it at home, as I have a printer that only prints one side at a time) but I love the result.
The pages are 6 x 8.5 and I punched them by hand. (No, it doesn’t come with that little sticker, which is from this adorable set of puffy stickers by paislee press for Gossamer Blue.) I am using this Martha Stewart binder to hold my pages. There are two PDFs that come with the download. I used the single page file and printed them from Adobe Acrobat using the Trim Marks option on the each alternating page. I literally would print a page, flip it over and put it back into the printer tray, then print again without the print marks.
I would show you photos but a) I haven’t actually added my goals yet, and b) my Canon 5D died on Sunday so I couldn’t take photos even if I had something to show you. (Yes, a trip to the camera doctor is in short order.) Instead, I though I’d show you what the inside pages look like in PDF and video format. I know. FUN!
A look inside the START Goal Planner from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
So that’s the scoop. I plan on working on my goals today. I haven’t really had time to sit down and look at the next three months. Or rather, I haven’t made time. It’s time to get down to business.
For more information on the START planner, click here.
Linda Matthews says
It is always hard to get organized and stay focused.
I look forward to see what you do this year.
Maureen says
Thank you for doing these kinds of posts Cathy. I’m in the beginning stages of figuring out how to make go of doing my own thing and these kinds of posts are truly helpful. And – I appreciate the link to the stilettosontherocks website. I started reading things there this morning after linking over from here and I must say – good stuff indeed!
Best of luck to you with this years goals! Goal Setting and of course Goal Keeping is a tough mother for sure…
Shawna Zervos says
I am so glad you are in business for yourself and for the benefits I reap because of it! Thanks for ideas, reflections, and humor.
Pedroza says
Thank you for sharing this.
heidig says
Cool idea! I’m checking this out for my husband’s business. Thanks Cathy!
Elizabeth says
I love how many creative business types share what they know in these types of guides in the last couple years… A good trend. Also–Paislee Press! Liz’s company is the one who did that line for Gossamer Blue.
Cathy Zielske says
Yep. Liz is so great! I love her stuff!
Elizabeth says
I just meant you said Pink Paislee instead of Paislee Press ; )
Cathy Zielske says
OH! Gosh. Didn’t even catch that. It’s been changed.
linda says
going to give this a try…I just downloaded the files and there are 3 downloads in the package. 1) a single page 2) a two page spread and I can’t figure out the 3rd option. For those of us not as computer savvy, your insight on which version you are using that prints the 8×6?
Good luck with your goal-setting…it is hard to know what the year will look like, but also it’s worthwhile to design the year for yourself 🙂
Cathy Zielske says
Linda, it’s the single page option. 🙂 Did you look at my video? That’s the file I used!
Kristen says
Who is your camera doctor Cathy? I need one for my Canon – something want awry when I slipped in a mud puddle last summer during a softball tourney. It took a slight beating against the chain link fence on the way down, and hasn’t been the same since. I am afraid of the camera doctor, since I don’t have camera insurance!
Cathy Zielske says
West Photo in Minneapolis. Strange thing: the camera is now working this morning. But I’m not hopeful it will last.
Michelle says
Purchased the pdf… think I will print half yearly at a time. Would love to know how much the work you did in 2014 helps your goal setting in 2015. This year has a very focused and determined atmosphere for so many. Here’s to getting down to business!
AbbyP says
Damn – just read her blog article “Dreams Disguised as Real Life” — she’s got her shit figured out! Placing bookmark now! Thanks for the tip, CZ!!
Cathy Zielske says
Krysta doesn’t front. She is a no-nonsense business maven. I adore her.
Musings, Rants & Scribbles says
I’ve just started mapping out my days with a schedule of what to do when. At first it feels strange being my own time-manager, but I have to say I’m getting more productive. Scary.