2010: Reflection & Forward Momentum

I spent the weekend making lists. Lists of goals. Lists of tasks. Lists of groceries. Lists of hopes. Lists of how to keep my lists in order. Essentially, I’m buried in ideas and don’t know where to start. So let me begin with some reflection.

Have you ever had someone in your life who provided motivation unlike anyone else? Someone who’s opinion and words of encouragement could give you just the kick in the pants you need to race towards your dreams? For me, that person is my optometrist. Crazy, I know, but our relationship goes back to my teen years when he was my optometrist, boss and cheerleader. Despite growing up and fostering new relationships, his motivational pep talks can still light a fire under me. At my last check up I told him about my stationery business and he lit up. He told me if I can visualize my goals, they will become my reality. He even wrote me a prescription to detail my wants before they happen and a mandatory reading list to accompany those dreams. Sounds corny, but when I walked out of the office that November afternoon, I was ready to take on the world. My thoughts took on a forward momentum that carried me through 2009, my most productive year to date.

Knowing we’d hit the worst economic recession of my lifetime, one that had hit my hometown particularly hard, my goal for 2009 was not record sales, but to build a infrastructure for my business. My hope was to create a solid foundation for my studio to operate on so when people found their financial footing again, I’d be ready. In the past year, I commissioned and designed a fully functional website, blog and newsletter. I dipped my toes into the world of advertising, created a solid holiday line that sold very well despite economic woes and sharpened my photography skills. I learned what works and what doesn’t, came to the harsh realization that what I like isn’t necessarily what sells and gained a great appreciation for the art of simplifying.

Now it’s time to put my foundation to work. I won’t share my 2010 list of goals with you, because I don’t want to you to laugh or fall asleep. Instead here are some highlights:

Trim the Fat: Narrow my focus to baby and children’s items. Eliminate business design. All other design will be done as custom orders and priced accordingly.

Take the emphasis off Holiday sales: Reclaim a family-centric Christmas season. I will continue offering a holiday line, but it won’t be my primary source of income.

Make blogging a priority

PR will be my number one priority in 2010: It’s time to get my name out there.

Wholesale accounts: Get ‘em. Will start with a local stationery boutique and go from there.

Organize Biz Finances: Consolidate Etsy, CC and Check payments through spreadsheets

Network: Consider going to NSS in May and hiring a rep

Sounds a bit overwhelming, but I have a year to do it in. I’ll take it one month at a time beginning now!

{Goals for January 2010}

• Send out first press release on January 18
• Eliminate riff – raff from Etsy shop (I’ve already de-listed 40+ items)
• Close 1000 Markets Shop
• Begin Blogging Class January 18
• Create nine stationery lines from existing artwork
• Meet with one boutique owner
• Begin documenting sales/expenses via spreadsheet

So here’s to simultaneously growing and trimming the fat. I’m ready to get this studio in shape!

FYI: The Monthly Goal Meet-Up now has a new home thanks to Liz at Athena Dreams.