2014 Goals

I know it may seem a little late to be posting goals for the new year, but these have been swirling in my head since the end of January and I think they are finally ready to be listed and documented.  Not to mention by publishing them I can hold myself accountable and keep myself on track for the year.

  1. Finally get my Tax/ Incorporation in order.  Aka, am I a sole proprietor or LLC?  I meet with my uncle who does taxes for a living to figure this out next week.  :)
  2. Commit to at least one show/fair/market per month.  Obviously I missed the first three months this year but so far I'm on track to start in April with the Merchant's Landing Show April 12 & 13.
  3. Post to this blog once a week.  If more is happening that's worth posting about, I'll be sure to post it as well, though it may be less wordy.  Who is ok with just a picture post once in a while?
  4. Get my wares into a physical brick & mortar store.  More to come on this once things are settled.  I'm currently talking with two different shops and it just makes me super excited for new possibilities!
I've also started reading this great book that has some nice exercises (I'm not usually a fan of "exercises" in a book) that really spoke to me after I met my goal of doing 1-3 physical shows in 2013.  I felt so empowered and excited I couldn't wait to make more goals for this year & feel an even bigger empowerment at the end of this year.  Thus my mind has really started opening to the possibilities because of this book & it has really inspired some energy in me for this year's success.


So far my favorite passage is on goals & goal setting (thus inspiring this organized post instead of just a note to self on a scrap piece of paper):

Goals are really amazing things.  They give you focus and set your course.  [...]  Goals support Intentions.  By actively working on these goals, the end result will be accomplished.  You can use your intentions to make sure you keep your business on track. [...]  Your goals should be your friends; they should excite you, and you should look forward to working toward them.  Goals are not chores.
Exercise: Make a list of all the goals you've had since you decided to be a creative business owner.  Now circle all the goals that you've already accomplished.
Quote from Jolie Guillebeau: "Take small steps consistently.  Do something every single day to make a little progress toward your goal." 
Grow Your Handmade Business - Kari Chapin

Anyone read anything inspiring lately?

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The Do's & Don'ts

A little round up of some Do's & Don'ts lists I stumbled upon in my blog reading yesterday.  


This blog introduced me to The Don'ts for Women on Bicycles (circa 1895) and in turn, opened the door to the rest of these lists....

Like a Map of the Open Country of a Woman's Heart.


& The Do's & Don'ts of Photography, which have plenty of inspiration for me.  I want to challenge myself more in my photography as well as my subject matter (or at least how I see it).  These "rules" are my favorites for future attempting & inspiration:
The Do’s
  • Do something old in a new way
  • Do something new in an old way
  • Do something new in a new way, Whatever works… works
  • Do it sharp, if you can’t, call it art
  • Do fifty of them — you will definitely get a show
  • Do it big, if you cant do it big, do it red 
  • Look at everything — stare   
 The Don’ts
  • Don’t do it about yourself — or your friend — or your family
  • Don’t dare photograph yourself nude
  • Don’t look at old family albums
  • Don’t hand color it
  • Don’t write on it
 *but I have to argue that I would DEFINITELY try hand coloring it (I love this look in old photo albums), writing on it (simply because that might look interesting, plus the depth is fun), & I LOVE looking at old family albums (which seems like it would be good inspiration for the first two "Do's").

These articles got my head buzzing with deeper, critical thoughts than what I get to enjoy on most days.  How about you?  Have you discovered something today?  Did any of these articles get your creative mind spinning?  I'd love to hear about it!