18 Before 2018 – Goals for Ending the Year Strong

I didn’t post about my 17 before 2017 list, but here’s what I came up with last year…

1. What am I annoyed is still lingering and should just be crossed off and forgotten about?
2. What am I annoyed is still lingering and determined to finish once and for all?
3. What needs to happen for 2017 to feel like I made major progress on some of my longer-term goals?

 

Business Goals

1. Take/Finish 1 Course Per Month 

I’ve gotten in the habit over the last 3 years of signing up (and paying hard earned money!) for training that I promptly forget about and never finish. It hasn’t mattered if the course was $25 or $1000 – I haven’t finished any of them. So I made a list of the ones I’ve enrolled in and the goal is to cross one of those suckers off each month and actually implement at least 1 thing I learned from each.

2. Finish the Rough Draft and 1st Revision of Assemble Your Team 

This is the book I’ve been writing all year to help Special Needs parents up their game and gather an awesome, supportive team to work with their families and their kids. I intend to publish the book in the spring, but having the kids home over the summer pumped the brakes on this project, big time. Time to jump back in and bring this sucker into the world to help those who need it.

3. Work Ahead on Editorial Calendar

I love writing and have a TON of ideas, hacks, and topics that I think would be beneficial and add value for you guys, my readers. But, I’ve either been overly ambitious on how much and how quickly I can write, edit and publish posts OR I’ve been procrastinating too much. Probably a bit of both, heavy on the procrastination, if I’m honest. I want to get ahead and STAY ahead for the rest of the year and into 2018.

4. Increase Readership Stats

This one is super important because I’m pretty sure I’ll be independently publishing my book next year. I need to grow my audience now with all that valuable content I’ll be cranking out from #3 above and the book will reach the people I want to help and support. Want to make sure you don’t miss my monthly article for Special Needs families? Sign up here!

5. Create Evernote Content for Assemble Your Team 

I’ve already written about Evernote before, but I love it so much and use it daily! I can’t imagine being organized without it! I’m a Certified Evernote Community Leader and I’m looking forward to putting that knowledge to work, building templates for my Special Needs Warrior Parents to use throughout the process.

6. Build & Give First Workshop 

I love teaching and being in front of a room of people sharing things I’m passionate about and know will help people get better results for their kids. I’ll be building out a 45-minute lecture/workshop and looking for venues soon!

7. Teach PiYo Class 

Ever since I left the Air Force in 2006 I’ve wanted to teach fitness classes. I registered to take Pilates instructor training, but the class was canceled and I ended up in the corporate world doing contract negotiations like I had been while in the service. Fast forward to early 2016, when I had quit my job as part of our move from Chicago to St Louis. Expecting to have lots of extra time on my hands, I decided to get certified to teach PiYo. I’ve done PiYo for years and love the format (curious? Shoot me a message for details!), but right after I got my certification all hell broke loose with my youngest and his special needs. Helping him and figuring out what was going on became more than a full-time job and everything else was shoved to the side or flat off of my plate. Now he’s is a good place and it’s time – FINALLY time – for me to teach at least one or two classes to see if it’s something I want to do routinely. I won’t know until I try!

8. Incorporate as a Small Business 

In order to make a living pursuing this passion of mine, I have to have the right tax structure in place!

9. Join the St Louis Writer’s Guild 

I’m teaching myself how to do every single thing involved in this book writing endeavor. It finally dawned on me to look in my own community for mentorship and support. Duh.

Personal

10. My Butterfly Year 

There have been several versions of “finally get healthy” on my lists ever since gaining way too much weight during my two high-risk pregnancies. I’m finally fed up with my own bullshit excuses and doing something about it. So I’m calling this year of personal transformation my #butterflyyear and it kicked off with my birthday in July.

11. Do a Whole30

I know the key to feeling better is in the food I eat. Coming back to this whole-foods-only reset periodically is key to getting my butt back into gear. I considered lumping this one in with my #butterflyyear goal, but after doing 4 Whole30s I know just how much effort is involved. It’s SO worth it, but it deserves its own goal. Sept 25th I’m kicking off my 5th round of the Whole30!

12. Get Designs & Quotes from Builders 

Ever since we moved here two years ago we’ve been dreaming about building a Master Bedroom suite, mudroom & office for me onto our 3-bedroom home. It’s time to interview builders, get a design fleshed out and figure out the plan to fund this massive project. Ideally, we’d break ground next year, but I’m guessing it will be closer to spring 2019. Regardless, we won’t know where we stand and it’ll never happen if I don’t start calling some contractors! Thank God for my 15 years of experience in construction contracts!

13. Basement Clean Out & Toy Purge 

My kiddos are ready to move beyond little kid toys. It will feel so good to clear out the old ones and unpack that last box in the corner from our move.

14. Personal Styling Session 

Going from heels and suits 2 years ago to working from home full time – well, my wardrobe has felt a little hodgepodge. I spent a good six months in yoga pants before I realized I feel better and am way more productive in a slightly more tailored style. Plus I want to look polished for those workshops I plan to give, so I’m going to schedule a session with a personal stylist to get me all straightened out. I’m really looking forward to this one!

15. Have Lunch Every Week with Alex 

We started doing this over the summer while the kids were in camp. Having just 45 minutes together once a week in the middle of the day with no kids was huge in helping me feel more connected to him. We talk about whatever needs to be talked about to run the household, brainstorm on a problem one of us is facing professionally, or whatever comes to mind and it’s fantastic. Even if it’s just Chipotle or the cafeteria in his building – this time together became precious to me and I really miss it when I can’t meet up with him. We’ve started back up since the kids went back to school and I look forward to this “us time” every week.

16. One Family Outing & One Game Night per Month 

Seriously, guys, the TV and iPad time is out of control around here. I’m making it a family goal to go and do something together (hike, bike ride, trip to the Science Center, etc.) once a month. I also want to have a monthly family game night. My boys love to play strategy games and even though I get my butt routinely kicked – do not challenge my youngest to checkers. You’ve been warned. – I love watching them think through the moves and the random conversations we have over the game board.

17. Review & Reallocate Investments & Budget 

This is so not a fun task, but with all the job & life changes we’ve had over the last few years we need to suck it up and get it done. It’s time.

18. Do 100 Miracle Mornings 

Mornings with two ADHD kiddos is hard, friends. Especially for this quiet-loving mama who doesn’t deal well with chaos. I wrote last year about the book The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod, and I’d like to get back into the habit of doing one each morning, hoping it will help me be centered and calmer before I step into the whirlwind generated by the kids. The goal is to do 100 of them, one each weekday morning before I wake up the kids.

And that’s it! It’s quite a list and I’m going to be busy even if these 18 things are the only things I have to do (which they totally aren’t, because LIFE).

I’m curious though – what’s on YOUR list? I know I’m not alone in having things on here for 2 years running am I? Am I??? Let me know what you’re going to cross off that to-do list once and for all in the comments section below!

For Bullet Journal and Other Inspiration, check out:

Marketing Creativity, by Lisa Jacobs

BohoBerry, by Kara Benz

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