So...how did I do with my 2010 goals and resolutions? Well, I looked back at last year's list and realized that I managed to miss a lot more shots than I made. More specifically, I achieved 3 of the 10 goals I set for myself. Not great. So after my brief recap, I'll post my new and improved 2011 list. Then I'll try like crazy in the next 12 months to beat my pathetic 2010 attempts.
From last year...
1. Be a better Time Manager.
Um...not really. Although I did accomplish everything I absolutely had to do, I played way too much Bejeweled Blitz. When I think of everything I could have gotten done last year but didn't, I want to cry. I'm reposting this great article on Time Management by author, Deb Raney, as much for myself as everyone else: TIME MANAGEMENT 101 FOR WRITERS.
2. Lose 40 pounds. Seeing how I'm heavier now than at any other time in my life other than when I was pregnant, I actually tipped the scales in the opposite direction of my goal. Bleh.
3. Get involved in church ministry. Yes! Success! I am now a volunteer for my church's bookstore, The Word Shop. Could there be any greater ministry for a writer?
4. Get an agent. Another victory! I am now represented by Terry Burns, of Hartline Literary.
5. Be more "Others Minded." Well, yes and no. Let's just say I'm still working on this.
6. Finish Dead Weight. Nope. Dead Weight is currently on the backburner.
7. Attend the ACFW conference in Indianapolis. Thought for sure I'd reach this goal, especially since I was signed up and everything. But, at the last minute, I had to cancel. Wah....
8. Face my fear of public speaking. Accomplishment #3! Woot!
9. Submit more greeting cards. Depends on what I meant by "more." I submitted exactly one batch to DaySpring and had exactly one batch rejected. Sigh....
10. Keep a prayer journal. I'm not even going to comment on this one. I'll just blush and exit quietly.
2. Lose 40 pounds. Seeing how I'm heavier now than at any other time in my life other than when I was pregnant, I actually tipped the scales in the opposite direction of my goal. Bleh.
3. Get involved in church ministry. Yes! Success! I am now a volunteer for my church's bookstore, The Word Shop. Could there be any greater ministry for a writer?
4. Get an agent. Another victory! I am now represented by Terry Burns, of Hartline Literary.
5. Be more "Others Minded." Well, yes and no. Let's just say I'm still working on this.
6. Finish Dead Weight. Nope. Dead Weight is currently on the backburner.
7. Attend the ACFW conference in Indianapolis. Thought for sure I'd reach this goal, especially since I was signed up and everything. But, at the last minute, I had to cancel. Wah....
8. Face my fear of public speaking. Accomplishment #3! Woot!
9. Submit more greeting cards. Depends on what I meant by "more." I submitted exactly one batch to DaySpring and had exactly one batch rejected. Sigh....
10. Keep a prayer journal. I'm not even going to comment on this one. I'll just blush and exit quietly.
SO...now on to 2011. Praying I'll have better news next January when I recap this one.
1. Lose 40 pounds. Make that 45 pounds. Seriously, I have a plan this time. Accountability partners welcome.
2. Get a book contract. Now that I have an agent, this is a bigger possibility. I have two current proposals out, with another one to be submitted this month. That's three chances at a contract in 2011. Prayers appreciated.
3. Send out at least 10 submissions in January. So this is only a month-long goal, but because my income level has just been reduced by a few hundred dollars per month, I need the cash. So I'm making this an immediate priority. I have my 2011 Christian Writers' Market Guide, which I'll be going over with a fine-tooth comb in the next couple days. Then I'll be sending out articles, short stories, and possibly greeting card material for potential publication. Market suggestions welcome.
4. Actively seek out freelance work. Time to buckle down and see what online work I can scrounge up. Clients and recommendations welcome.
This leads me to...
5. Figure out what I'm doing. Whether or not I begin applying for an outside job totally depends on #3 and #4. By February 1st, I should know what I need to do.
6. FOCUS. If you haven't read last week's post on my word of the year, feel free to click on over now (PICK A WORD, ANY WORD). The door is wide open for interpretation of this goal, but I'm pretty honest and will definitely know whether I've become more focused within the next 12 months.
7. Be Still and Know He is God. First, I need to learn how to just Be Still. As in, every morning...as in, for more than 5 minutes at a time. Mostly, this is a mind thing, not a nervous twitch thing. I need to learn to weed out the distractions and mind clutter and FOCUS (see #6). Once I have that mastered, I intend on getting to know Him more deeply. Reflecting on who God is, how much He loves me, and what exactly I can do to extend that love to others.
So there it is. My list of goals for 2011. Definitely challenging,
but definitely doable.
I'd love to hear your goals, too. We can pray for and encourage each other in the months ahead.
8 comments:
Praying, Lynda, for your goals and moving forward! I can TOTALLY relate to the "be still" part. Posted on my goals for 2011 on Saturday at my blog (today's post is on my January goals). (I didn't go over my goals from last year, though. Probably should have)
Great list and some success on last year's so yeah! Praying this year is all YES'S! :O)
That last goal might be the one that leads you to success with the others. I have yet to look at my 2010 goals but I already know it's a mixed bag. Still, I'm encouraged going into 2011, and hope you are too.
Here's to an even better writing year, Lynda!
So true, Patricia. Putting my relationship with God first will only have a positive affect on the rest of my goals. :-)
Let's see you submitted some greeting cards. That's a plus.
You got involved in a church ministry. That's another plus.
You got an agent. Another plus.
All these are commendable.
I decided several years ago that progress comes in tiny little chunks and we want big hunks. Manageable chunks are better for us.
I lost 40 pounds last year, with Weight Watchers. There seemed to be 3 principles for that success I shared here;
http://livelearnwithsally.blogspot.com/2010/07/goal-3-tips-on-how-to-get-there.html
Good luck on all your goals for 2011!
Good job, Lynda! I don't make resolutions because I always break them right away, so what I do is have some goals for the year--and maybe beyond.
Have a wonderful 2011!!!
Thank you! Sally, I'll be checking out that link. Congratulations on your weight loss success! :-)
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