I didn't reach all my goals this year. But sometimes in even just aiming for certain goals, whether or not you reach them, can put you on the right path for even better things.
What I did do was edit the way I conduct business.
With the help of some super boss friends I met online, my work and mind expanded beyond anything I could think of.
One year ago I had hoped that this work would pay off. What I didn't know was the confidence that I would gain from editing a few (ok, a lot of) things.
I changed my process in a way that literally cleaned up my business - sort of like organizing your closet. What I did was I wrote it all down from beginning to end in a way that I wanted it to look. Sometimes when you need to clean out your closet, you have to lay everything, and I mean everything, on the ground so that you can see every piece of clothing.
Then I studied and tested and changed and studied and tested and changed throughout the year. From there, you can make edits to your wardrobe and plan to buy/add whatever else you might need to create outfits that make the most sense for you.
I cleaned up my website.
Not only to share my work (super terrified to do this) but also to explain what I do and how to hire me. The add of a consult call that can be set up from my homepage was key.
Giving potential clients access to my calendar to have a call with me was essential because I could have a real conversation with a real person about their real business. All while talking about my journey and my process along the way.
Now you may think that a creative person doesn't have a process. They just walk around with their head in the clouds and a pencil in hand with a sketchbook. Well guess what? This designer does BOTH of those things. Yes, sticking with a schedule, sending estimates and invoices, concepting the thing, designing the thing, presenting the thing, communicating the steps along the way and, last but not least, marketing all these things that happen behind the scenes.
Oh boy, marketing and sharing the thing is the hardest part for me. Once again I made a calendar and some guidelines for myself and then...
I hired a virtual assistant!
Seriously, I had been thinking about hiring help for a looooong time and finally was able to do it in Q3. Best. Decision. Ever.
With a little help on the side to share my work, I could spend not only more time on my client work but more time writing and thinking and sharing my knowledge.
After a little self reflection and some mapping out of my mind and my work, I now have a mission statement. If I can help an entrepreneur share their work in a more beautiful way, my cup runneth over. Really, it's what lights me up and keeps me going.
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You know what else happened? I doubled my revenue from last year. Yes, the numbers from last year were small but the work in what is listed above has shown me that changing the way I do business makes a difference.
I look back a year ago and see a business owner who was ready to change. Not change the job and quit this entrepreneurial journey, but change my mindset around goals and business and confidence in what I have to offer.
New goals, new perspective, new mission.
Bring it 2018!