You say it's your birthday! It's my birthday, too, yeah!
Yep, it's B-day for me. Time to gorge myself on cake and good food and celebrate that I was born and ... most importantly ... that I'm not dead, yet.
I'm looking at my goal list which I had written a year ago with such vigor, such high hope, such excitement for what would be a jammed pack year full of organization, accomplishment, elevation from distracted procrastinator to a woman with a road map of success—in her career (writing and otherwise) and her personal life.
But, alas, I've fallen short.
Rooms have been left unpainted. Molding has not been put up. (Pretty much only one item out of the, oh, 15 items has been accomplished for the house.) The 5 lbs I had kept off has crept back on. I have begun my next novel, but have not finished it. No trips with my mom.
Now to accomplish at least another item on the list: Focus on the positive and believe in myself.
There are some who are opposed to making goal lists. Mostly, because they can lead to feelings of worthlessness because all your goals were not accomplished. But sometimes goals change midway through the year. And I did help to accomplish some important ones. We sold out of my husband's books in a year (actually less than) and made people more aware of BDG's products and services. Our web traffic has increased nearly 10 fold. We've made back our initial investment and then some. Right now, I've put my stuff aside to finish editing his book. He's been working so much with both companies that all my spare time has been devoted to daily house stuff, BDG, making extra money freelancing, taking care of investments, and arranging any leftover time to see friends and family since that's the only time my husband will stop for a moment to take a breath. If I actually force him. For the beginning of last year, Mike supported me while I took time to write. This past year has been about me supporting him as he started this new company, and it's been a lot harder and a lot more time consuming than I previously anticipated when I made my goals list. I've still been writing and I've been meeting my goal (at least the majority of the time) of writing at least an hour a day. I still have my manuscript out there with several editors. I've seen my writing improve tremendously. I've made lots of new writing friends, who are absolutely amazing writers and supporters and have expanded my writing network.
So it's been a good year. Maybe not exactly what I'd planned but that's life, sometimes.
I'm looking at my goal list which I had written a year ago with such vigor, such high hope, such excitement for what would be a jammed pack year full of organization, accomplishment, elevation from distracted procrastinator to a woman with a road map of success—in her career (writing and otherwise) and her personal life.
But, alas, I've fallen short.
Rooms have been left unpainted. Molding has not been put up. (Pretty much only one item out of the, oh, 15 items has been accomplished for the house.) The 5 lbs I had kept off has crept back on. I have begun my next novel, but have not finished it. No trips with my mom.
Now to accomplish at least another item on the list: Focus on the positive and believe in myself.
There are some who are opposed to making goal lists. Mostly, because they can lead to feelings of worthlessness because all your goals were not accomplished. But sometimes goals change midway through the year. And I did help to accomplish some important ones. We sold out of my husband's books in a year (actually less than) and made people more aware of BDG's products and services. Our web traffic has increased nearly 10 fold. We've made back our initial investment and then some. Right now, I've put my stuff aside to finish editing his book. He's been working so much with both companies that all my spare time has been devoted to daily house stuff, BDG, making extra money freelancing, taking care of investments, and arranging any leftover time to see friends and family since that's the only time my husband will stop for a moment to take a breath. If I actually force him. For the beginning of last year, Mike supported me while I took time to write. This past year has been about me supporting him as he started this new company, and it's been a lot harder and a lot more time consuming than I previously anticipated when I made my goals list. I've still been writing and I've been meeting my goal (at least the majority of the time) of writing at least an hour a day. I still have my manuscript out there with several editors. I've seen my writing improve tremendously. I've made lots of new writing friends, who are absolutely amazing writers and supporters and have expanded my writing network.
So it's been a good year. Maybe not exactly what I'd planned but that's life, sometimes.
posted by J.T. Bock at 9:22 AM
9 Comments:
Awwwwww! That's so sweet...assuming I'm on the "new friends" list, girlfriend. :) That just makes me want to come up there to visit you and Karm even more. I'm still undecided.
I'm not much of a goal maker, although I will say I'm focused on one thing and that's landing a publishing contract by the end of the year. Whether or not it'll happen, I don't know, but my fingers are crossed.
And before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy candles, young lady! Hope to see ya at halloween...spooooooky!
Marcia—
Of course you're on that list! You're such a great person—you're talented, so insanely personable, and most importantly POSITIVE. You've got one of the best personalities and always so upbeat in the writing world which can be such a downer sometimes. I know you'll hit your goal and I do think it can be better just to have one major goal to set your sights on. It keeps you from being too factured and losing direction.
And you're welcome whenever you want. We'd love to see you.
Thanks for the birthday wishes.
Nick, you're on my best-person-in-the-world list just for calling me "young lady."
:P
Happy birthday to...US! It's my birthday tomorrow, Oct. 10. The big 3-6. I am now officially closer to 40 than I am to 30. God almighty.
Happy bday, girlfriend! I missed your blog! Glad you're back in town (even though you seem to have left your heart in New England. Hey, there should be a song for that!)
I think it's more like my mind was left back there, because I've definitely lost it somewhere. :P
Happy birthday to you, too! October is the best month. :)
Happy Birthday!! OK, belated birthday.
But for every belated HB, you get to count backwards one year. Which would make you like what, twenty five?
Okay, me likey those rules ... hmmm ... 25 again??? Only if I can have the money I have now and have learned all the lessons I've learned so far. :P
Good to hear from you! (Actually I was just thinking about how you were doing, since I haven't talked to you in awhile ... how weird is that?) Thanks for the birthday wishes. Can't make it to this WRW meeting but will definitely be at the next.
I had a cupcake in your honor tonight...ok, not really, but I did have one and ACK....blah. LOL. Next time we just raise a drink in toast ;)
*hugs* Hope you had a wonderful birthday m'dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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