One of the big shifts I’ve made in my business this year has to do with planning and working ahead. In December, I met with my mastermind and we each planned our year out in a big picture way using big desk-sized calendars. At this planning meeting, we also each honed our focus to just a few areas where we are really getting results. My 2014 has been so much smoother because of it! I usually have at least the next few days if not weeks of promotions, blog posts and emails planned and I try to always keep a little ahead.
For me, there’s nothing that kills the joy of my business more than working under pressure. The same blog post, web page, or social media post which is a fun and creative activity when done without time pressure becomes a dreaded chore when I’m trying to beat the clock. It’s a great feeling to know I’m days or weeks ahead of schedule and if something should pop up in my personal life I can take care of it without having my business sit or even look idle. Before you can start working ahead though, you have to start planning ahead. You have to have some idea of what’s coming up in your business and what you are promoting. If you can plan your year at a big picture level that’s a great place to start. If that feels like too much, try planning the next month. If that’s too much, you can start with just planning your next few blog posts and emails. Are you still flying by the seat of your pants in your business? Schedule a few coaching sessions with me to get some plans laid down. You’ll feel more sure of what you are working on and have a better sense of how the pieces fit together. Click here to schedule some time with me.
I have a few big picture things I’m looking at right now this year. One of them is to get a shopping trolley on my Facebook Page for Crafty Pegs. This is so I can make money online as well as offline… it’s a great money-making thing and people have told me it’s worked well for them, so I’ll give it a try. I’ve heard you can hide the trolley if you find it doesn’t work out for you.
The other one is to save up for a good solid desk for my craft corner. Right now, I’m working on a folding card table and it’s not as stable as it should be. It’s a very temporary surface and I really want to be able to put all my work away when I’m not working on anything (you know, put away all my pegs, paints and cellophane so dirt and dust doesn’t get on anything). And when I walk past it on my days off, I can really truly say I’m on a day off.
Those are the two main things that are big-picture things right now. However another big picture thing became a reality yesterday for me! I am now the proud owner of a new little green machine! Yep, a new car Dad bought me (he’d promised to get me one this year after my last car was taken off me by my doctors years ago as my health wasn’t the best and it was in my best interest to keep off the roads – as much as I hated doing it, I had to and stopped driving). Now, my little Holden Astra is now in my driveway … such a cute little thing! Can’t wait to get it out on the road again tomorrow and over the weekend. 😀
Sounds great! Those are the types of projects that move a business ahead!