A week of preparation

Once again I’ve doing a lot of ‘getting ready.’ There are times when I wonder if I do too much of this and I’m sure there are. The two big things this week are to be ready for my meeting with the museum gift shop next week and to have a schedule together for getting everything done in two hours a day. I figured out after a few days that unless I had a clear assignment and knew what I needed to have prepped for each hour I was going to dither it away in finding inspiration.  I think I’ve got that realistically defined and my jewelry is laid out in velvet-lined display trays.

I’ve also edited down all my photos of Yellowstone into the top 10 – just have to write the essay now!

On the personal front I’ve got meals planned for the next month and will spend tomorrow shopping and cooking to get all that in the freezer. I’ve also spent some time analyzing the difference between wanting something to happen out of desperation, the ’shoulds’ or because you feel it’s the best solution. I’ve noticed that things happen much faster and with better results with the latter so I’ve put some thought into how to reapply that elsewhere.  When it’s coherent in my own mind I just may make a post out of it…

Next week is all about cementing the new routine and getting as much knowledge, if not sales, from my jewelry meeting. Not to mention, figuring out what to wear!

Technorati Tags: efficiency

Focus, goals, and surprises

I  think my new routine is starting to work for me, while it’s hard to get focused so early and stay focused after a full day of doing other things, knowing that there are limits on it helps.  I’ve put pen to paper or rather fingers to keyboard on the travel book – not much and I doubt any of those sentences will survive to the final draft but it’s a start. And I’ve sent follow-up emails to setup appointments for jewelry and kept up some basic blogging tasks.  There is always more to do!

While I haven’t been watching the Olympics, living so close to where they’re happening means I can’t avoid all the local stories and news features.  It seems like there is always at least one young athlete profile with a kid at the top of her game who also manages straight A’s and is or will be going to an ivy league school while continuing to compete internationally. You can be envious of what they have achieved or critical of what they’re missing but pretty much everyone agrees it requires great focus.  Focus seems to come up everywhere there is talk of great goals that are clearly defined. My two hours a day is giving me focus but it’s also creating space in the remainder of my free time for something equally valuable – observation and daydreaming and everything that is at the opposite extreme.

That’s what I realized as I contemplated the life of said young athlete – she probably isn’t missing out on the big stuff; graduation, birthdays, Disney World but I’m pretty sure anyone that focused all the time is missing out on being unfocused – noticing that a neighbor two blocks down has unusual crocuses blooming or just spending an afternoon on the porch with a romance novel.  Those things were important to me as a teenager and they’re important to me now. If they’re that much a part of my essential self I’d better figure out how to work them in to the schedule…

Technorati Tags: achieving goals, living your dreams, staying focused

Can you really achieve your goals on 2 hours a day?

There’s no big status report  this week – my big accomplishment has been losing my voice as a not-quite-bad-enough-to-stay-home cold has occupied my  time. What I’ve notice though is the amount of pressure I’m putting on myself to still accomplish great things on a very routine basis. It’s always interesting to note where you put punishing pressure on yourself to be superhuman.  And yet not doing those things is not an option to my essential self- it’s going along with this working 8 hours for someone else because my essential self is also fond of its house and warm bed.

Then last night as I was coming home on the train I was listening to a podcast – figuring that would be about all my cold-ravaged brain could really handle.  Synchronicity or not, the phrase ‘most real work happens in just two hours a day’ caught my attention.  The idea being that two separate hours a day, completely focused on the task at hand is what accomplishes great things. I have two hours a day, mostly uninterrupted with wireless access on the train.  The only thing I can’t do is make jewelry during that time  so I’m re-evaluating to how to do less while doing more in that time frame.  If I put in those ten hours a week then time at home can go to eating right and exercising and maybe an adventure here and there.

I am worried about getting to that point of self-sustainment, but it won’t happen if I keep getting sick and this just may force me to be a little more efficient in my writing.  I’ll let you be the judge:-)

Technorati Tags: achieving goals, synchronicity, time management

An update from the train

There’s something to be said for technology. Wifi and a loaned Netbook are making it possible to keep up with blogging while commuting. Something that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.  Until all my other endeavors start bearing fruit, it’s good to have options and this really makes it possible to get most of it done. I’m not sure where exercise fits in, but that’s a different challenge!

I’m a year older than I was last week, but I’m not sure if I’m wiser. I’m hoping this year brings positive new things  – so far so good. I do feel more confident in who I am and what I want – the last year has solidified that from the generic  to deeper understanding.

I’m getting new jewelry pieces ready to show the museum at the end of the month and have a mailing list of personal stylists ready to email. I guess I’ve learned a few things about marketing along the way but I’m still not confident in that regard. For the most part this week has been getting used to a new routine and the cat-less house. Next week will need to expand on this base and get more challenging tasks prepped for the train ride…

Setting mini goals

Have you noticed my weekly reports seem just a tad disorganized? I sure have!  Sometimes life seems to disrupt a plan more than it does just living (in other words the more things I commit to, the less that seems to get done.) The stress from last week translated into a twingy back muscle that didn’t go away until I realized that the bottle of Advil in the medicine cabinet was two years past its expire date and switched over to the almost as old bottle of generic Ibuprofen. It probably would have been a good idea to have checked that a year or so ago!

What I have gotten done is all the prep work to be able to blog remotely (still untested, but I think I’m ready) and clear up a bunch of other odds and ends.  I’m still working on marketing which is part of why this blog has suffered just a teensy bit – the others have been getting a little bit more of the attention which will now switch over.  It’s fascinating to see how fast things can change and what terms people use in search engines.  While it may seem minor I finally achieved my goal set back in May to reclaim the number one spot in Google for my own name. I know it’s not really important, but would you want to place second to an adult-film actress?

My approach right now is just to set mini goals for the week and for each day that allow me to contribute something to each of my profit centers, I do think several things have suffered from waiting for a huge block of time to be devoted which just isnt’ happening.

If I can keep that up then the bigger blocks of time can go towards the bigger projects like ebooks and new jewelry designs.

Technorati Tags: achieving goals, doing less

The end of an era

It’s a fine line between what is or isn’t too personal for a blog like this. I could talk as usual of having found a high-paying contract job that will provide venture capital for my other endeavors (as well as paying my bills) or lack of success in my first week on eBay (not a huge surprise!) but this week is really dominated by the events of yesterday when I finally lost my almost 19 year old cat, Isabeau.  I’ve mentioned her in the past when she was diagnosed with kidney disease and made it to her 18th birthday. She was an important part of my family, but she was also a key part of my support network for taking on all these challenges.

Like most cats she had that unerring nack for camping out on the most important projects within reach – how could I fail to feel encouraged with that kind of appropration?  After all, if she felt they were that important than maybe I needed to give them that level of care and attention. More than one blog post has been written with her tail draped over the top of the screen and she always managed to look thoughtful when used as a sounding board for big decisions.

Most of the authors and artists I really respect seem to have a dog or cat or several in the background working in full supportive mode.  I would definitely consider it part of my formula for success and happiness. I know there will be others in my future, but right now I feel the void and am simply missing a very good friend.

Technorati Tags: importance of pets, losing a friend

An insignificant week

I could swear there were only two days in the last week based on what I can remember and what actually got done.  But then stomach bugs have a way of making days disappear like magic (only a lot less fun.)  My big accomplishment is that my jewelry sample trays are ready to go in the car, which means I’m ready to start introducing myself to shop keepers. Ready on paper that is; I haven’t quite worked up the nerve yet.

I’ve also been discovering whole new networking opportunities online that lead me to more things to read and think about. It’s too bad that think tanks aren’t really sending invitations my way – it would be an ideal career path! Spring is in the air with snowdrops blooming and all sorts of things popping out of the ground which is serving as a distraction because I’m reminded of all the yard work I didn’t get done in the Fall.

Next week I have to get serious about sales calls and marketing websites – time to get the visitor numbers up and more content in…

Counting chickens

One of my biggest personal challenges is staying focused on what I can do right now instead of mentally disappearing into what-if’s of whatever big thing is going on.  I did a little better than usual this week but still gave way too much attention to a contract interview that left me having nightmares that they would offer me the job (they didn’t, thankfully!) The lesson there is that I did in fact waste time on something that left me no further ahead at the end of the week.

I did get a subscription list created and installed on the home page with the auto-email created that will send out a free gift (try it!).  While not a huge deal it’s critical to moving forward on e-books and other publishing goals. I also checked out a few possible retail venues which turned out not be good candidates, but that was balanced by getting positive responses from a couple of museum shops.

I do think this will be a busy year full of positive changes…

Technorati Tags: wasting time

Have I stayed busy or gotten something done?

Recently someone asked me how things have been going in the last month and I found myself struggling for an answer.  I certainly wasn’t lounging around watching TV but no major accomplishments came to mind either!  Then I look at my white board to-do list and I know I’ve taken some major steps – the difference will come in the near future when either I continue to push forward or not.  The second and third steps as it were.  That will be the deciding factor in whether I was doing interesting busy work or actively pursuing business.

And I’ve been monitoring my excuses – looking for where I’ve been stopping myself including trying to do too much all at once.

So what have I gotten done this week that is really progress? Well, I’ve been applying for some contract gigs that would help with cash flow, setup social media networks for three different blogs, created a goals tool that can be emailed out to new subscribers, and spent a day collecting new sea glass so I won’t be caught short handed. None of these matter if I don’t set up the subscription list, make the jewelry or post to the blogs so it’s up to me to carry those actions forward!

My next steps are to get those things done and start more aggressive marketing to boutiques for the jewelry – requesting appointments and showing the work.

Technorati Tags: busy work, getting things done

The very last week of the year

My single biggest accomplishment for this week was creating a “line sheet” for the sea glass jewelry and sending it off to the first prospective buyer.  I’d never done one before and all the advice I could find had to do with pieces that can  be ordered in bulk even when they’re handmade.  I’ve no idea of what I came up with works as it should but there’s only one way to find out.  I did take great care to make sure fonts matched and spacing was perfect.  Now I need to send it out to other prospects and keep refining.  The first step is always the hardest!

My marketing education continues and the website I’ve built for class made it up to #8 on Google for it’s main keyword and then slipped to 11th – which isn’t bad for something that didn’t exist at the beginning of December.  Sometimes it scares me that this stuff works.  The bigger challenge is applying some of it to my true business endeavors which have a great deal more competition and where “BUY NOW!!!!” isn’t really the appropriate tone!  However, I know a whole lot more than I did five weeks ago and I am starting to see the benefits of what I’ve applied so far.

Now it’s time to take down the lights and the Christmas tree and start working even more efficiently – new projects loom large like learning about ebooks and subscription lists!

Technorati Tags: achieving goals, learning new things

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