Goal Setting for Creative Professionals

You know that old saying -- if you don't know where you're going, any path will get you there. That's what happens if you don't take the time to figure out what your goals are and WRITE them down. There's power in writing things down (and if you're a writer, you already know this).

Figuring out your goals is probably one of the most important and one of the most overlooked steps for writers and other creative professionals starting their business. Ideally you should put together a business plan. However, I have yet to meet a writer (including myself) who has one. (In fact, if you are a writer with a business plan, please contact me. I'd love to chat with you about it.) Second best is getting your goals down on paper. Here are some things to include:

• Your personal mission statement. What do you want to accomplish in your life? Not just as a writer or creative professional/artist but as a person. Knowing your mission will make organizing your time much easier.
• Your writing/creative goals -- both long-term and short-term. What do you want to accomplish in three months? Six months? This year? Five years from now?
• Your financial goals -- both long-term and short-term. Don't forget to write down how much money you want to make.
• Your plans for your business -- both long-term and short-term. Break it down the same as your writing goals -- three months, six months, this year and five years. Include a marketing plan as well. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just figure out who your target market is, where your target market is (i.e., local, regional, specific cities or national), and how you're going to reach your target market.
• Action steps for each goal, including the marketing plan. Break each goal into manageable steps, number each step and add a completion date. Make a separate copy of this and put it where you can incorporate these action steps into your daily activities.

Don't rush this process. In fact, you should make it a treat for yourself. Go on a retreat. Try and get away for at least a day if at all possible (a couple of days would be better yet). Go somewhere where you won't be interrupted (and that includes the cell phone). Allow yourself some quiet time to really think. If it helps, do some meditating or journaling during this time.

Don't worry about it being perfect either. This is a working document. Ideally you should review it every six months or a year and see where you are and what's changed.

Now, when I first started my business five years ago, I hadn't planned anything or written anything down.

This was a mistake.

Sure I had some vague notions in my head of where I wanted my business and my writing to go, but by not committing anything to paper, I didn't end up there. My first three years of my business I was busy and making money, but I wasn't getting anywhere near the vague notions dancing around in my head. Even more amazing, I couldn't figure out why.

So two years ago, I started a regular practice of writing down my goals and plan (much like the above). I do it twice a year, and you wouldn't believe the difference. Sure, my plans are far bigger than what I actually accomplish, and I've also found myself modifying and changing my action steps (the goals remain pretty constant, but how I attain those goals does change).

Best yet, I'm now seeing results. I'm accomplishing my goals.

Take the time to go through this process. The rewards are worth it.

Creativity Exercise -- Goal setting and creativity

If every year you find yourself setting goals and never making ANY strides toward reaching them, perhaps it's time to ask yourself why. Could it be they aren't YOUR goals but someone else's goals for you?

I don't care what the goal is -- stopping smoking, losing weight, starting an online business, writing that novel -- there's a reason it keeps climbing up, then falling off the goal list. And until you figure out WHY that goal is stuck in the never-never land of goal setting, you'll never actually pull it into reality.

Is it because you don't know where to start? Or is the project so big you're afraid to start? Or you're stuck somewhere in the middle and don't know what to do next?

Or is it because you really don't want to do it?

Okay, I'm probably dredging up all sorts of demons now, but truly, those demons need to be exorcised or they're constantly going to be standing between you and your goal.

What I suggest is to take some quiet time and do a little soul searching. Journaling and meditation are both excellent ways of opening up a dialogue between you and your muse. Your muse is an excellent resource for you. If you ask, it will tell you which goals really matter and really don't matter to you.

And, if it turns out that goal is something you don't want to do? Then stop putting it on your goal list. I mean it. Quit making yourself feel like a failure by constantly sticking it on that list.

What if the goal is something like quitting smoking? Something you know you have to do because it's hurting your health? Try this instead. Rather than making it your goal to quit smoking, make it your goal to figure out why you don't want to quit. And what you can do to help yourself become committed to quitting.

Whatever you do, don't make turn this exercise into a license to beat yourself up. Be nice to yourself. You're doing this to help, not hurt, yourself.

Michele Pariza Wacek owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting, a writing, marketing and creativity agency. She offers two free e-newsletters that help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. She can be reached at http://www.writingusa.com

---

One Life to Live

Nothing stops us. Well, almost nothing. Although we do live... Read More

Goals: What Would You Like to Accomplish in the Next 90 Days?

"What would you like to accomplish in the next 90... Read More

Obtaining Your Desires

For one to achieve their goals or obtain their desires,... Read More

Prerequisite Qualities For Optimum Goal Setting

The minute you set a goal, you are creating a... Read More

The Guide To Keeping New Years Resolutions

The New Year is quickly creeping up on us. Do... Read More

How To Keep Your Resolutions and Reach Your Goals

Another year has flown by and here you are at... Read More

How To Get Real

"What we need most, is not so much to realize... Read More

How Clear is Your Vision?

Wouldn't it be nice to know that there is a... Read More

Ask yourself, So what?

Neil Armstrong made his first moon walk on July 20,... Read More

The Psychology Of Success

Everybody has a dream. A fantasy, if you like. Usually... Read More

Finding Your Niche

Why are there so much stress and unhappiness in the... Read More

Make Your Goals Stick

The amazing thing about the future is that if you... Read More

Do Not Let Anyone Dissuade You From Reaching Your Goals!

Years back when I was formulating my plans for life,... Read More

Forming Effective Habits Leads To Success

You had your new years resolution all set. You knew... Read More

Reaching for the Goal

Can goals be easily reached? This question is in most... Read More

Increase Your Knowledge: Read-and-Reap

Did you know that you see with your mind as... Read More

Goal Setting - My Disappointing Discovery

Goal setting has become almost an industry in itself with... Read More

On Achievement

If a comatose person were to earn an interest of... Read More

7 Questions To Tap Into The Limitless Power Of Your Subconscious Mind

When you map out what you want, you let go... Read More

7 MUST-HAVE Conditions To Goal Setting

The three keys to living without limits have always been... Read More

Making the Most of Your Year

Do you find yourself amazed at how quickly the months... Read More

Do you Have the Burning Desire to Lose Weight or Reach any Goal?

NOTE: This article is one of the component parts of... Read More

GOALS The Power Line to Success and Achievement

WHY DO WE NEED GOALS?Goals give you direction in all... Read More

Habits What I Want For You

Think for a moment about your Self. Is there something... Read More

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

I cannot stress the importance of setting goals enough. Goals... Read More

Check Your Frequency

From time to time we need to stop during our... Read More

10 Ways To Hold Your Focus and Get Your Goals

Hocus, Pocus, it's all about focus. That's the real magic... Read More

Get It Done-Or 3 Ways to Advance Your Goals

1. WORK WITH THE END IN MIND- OR FOCUS ON... Read More

Combining the Mind and Effective Goal-Setting

Goals are of vital importance in our lives. Many of... Read More

Define Success

Have you ever asked yourself why you want to succeed... Read More

Want to Learn Something New Today?

How many times do you say, "Gee, I wish I... Read More

The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Goals

Human beings are goal-seeking creatures. We are impatient and try,... Read More

Getting What You Want

1. Recognize that you are the source of everything that... Read More