2009 Writing Goals
I have one definite goal in mind for 2009. I want to be free of my day job. Having had this brief holiday vacation has convinced me that yes, life is too short not to be doing something you love and perhaps, more importantly, for you.
Following the best practices for GTD, I want to break that goal down into manageable pieces with definite measures of success. This blog post from Freelance Switch has given me a good foundation from which to begin.
1. What do I need to earn to drop the day job?
Important stuff here. In order to reach my goal, I must quantify it. From there, I can look to the ways I’m earning now and see my potential for growth.
2. Explore at least two more additional avenues of growth.
One key step I made with my art business was to determine what venues I was succeeding at. I weighed the return of a particular venue versus the time/effort input. Having a handle on what works for me, I can redirect my efforts.
Since social media is the way of future, my next approach would be to see where else I could optimize my presence. Again, after a suitable amount of time, I would again review my ROI.
3. Write, write, and write some more.
If I’ve learned anything from blogging, it is that I enjoy writing. It only makes sense then to write some more. My focus here will be article writing. I have a couple venues in mind. My mini-goal will be to pitch articles for publication on a weekly basis.
From a traffic point-of-view, it makes good sense to embrace article writing. Publishing on a good e-article site can bring your website/blog lots of traffic. It helps to establish authority. In turn, your online presence becomes more commanding.
I’m excited about taking control of my destiny, as it were. My latest battle with office politics wore me out. I’m ready to be my own boss. Photo by House of Sims
2008 Year In Review
As often is said, you don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been. That’s what these waning days of 2008 are meant for–reflection prior to planning.
2008 was a good year for me. I’ve embraced my blogs. I’m writing regularly. I have found my voice.
My book is complete and just about ready to market. I have my next revision to do. I’m going to use yReader to have it read the book to me. You can pinpoint so much more that way. My sister also has offered to read it.
I’ve worked with several GTD software packages and websites to help with that daunting task of trying to get organized. I learned something about myself in the process. I’m motivated by checking off those items on a list. It is a good strategy for me.
This year I plunged into Twitter. I have learned so much from some very generous people willing to share their knowledge. While it can be a good marketing tool, it’s also just plain fun. The links people have posted have been useful.
Twitter has also made me keenly aware of community and my part in it. I’ve learned the importance of sharing just for the sake of sharing. Helping people is cool.
The foundation has been laid. Now comes the fun part–planning my goals for next year.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
- Oren Arnold
Sources Of News Shrinking
A disturbing announcement came from Detroit last week. Detroit newspapers will be stopping daily home delivery.
Newspapers have suffered with the rise of the Internet. While for my part I still read my local paper, albeit online, I haven’t had a paper delivered to my home for years. It really has nothing to do with the newspapers themselves, but rather not wanting the hassle of recycling them.
In these tough economic times, the axe hasn’t spared too many industries. In part though, I think the industry might have set itself up for failure. When it was good, hard-hitting news, it was great. I relished curling up with the Sunday paper.
I remember a college journalism class I took. The mantra then was the five questions answered in the first paragraph: who, what, where, how, and when. A hard hitting story today begins like a short story. Maybe I’m just a purist, but come on, let’s cut to the chase. It strikes me as going in the face of our fast-paced, multi-tasking world.
Remember the movie, “His Girl Friday“? I love that movie. The journalists were hard-hitting, smelling a story from across town. That’s the kind of journalism I want to see. I’m not naive’ enough to believe that journalism wasn’t slanted back in the day, but it certainly it is blatantly so now.
It’s not just that though. I don’t want to be journalists talking down to me. I can take it. Just give me the news. And don’t ignore the bloggers.
I’m sad for this end of an era. Nothing will replace that delicious feeling of sleeping in and curling up with the Sunday newspaper. My fear is that our sources of news are shrinking. Photo by Matt Callow
Words of the Year 2008
Merriam-Webster published its most looked up words for 2008. The influence of the presidential election is clear.
The list also has a tone of meanness which is disconcerting. 2008 has been a year of studies showing how the anonymity of the Internet loosens people’s tongues. Flame wars in the forums, nasty comments on blogs and newstories, it’s all there.
The article challenged me though, to come up with my words for 2008. Every New Year’s Eve, my husband and I recall the highlights of the year. My words reflect my highlights, not in any particular order.
1. Geocaching
Geocaching has become a regular weekend activity for my husband and me. It’s been a great way to get out and exercise.
2. SEO, Search Engine Optimization
Okay, a phrase, but something very important to me this year. I updated my website this year. I put a lot of effort into increasing my online presence.
3. Compliment
I joined both ArtWanted and Twitter this year. It’s been so rewarding connecting with other artists. I’ve also enjoyed random acts of kindness by the cyber community that has restored my faith in mankind.
4. Boating
We are avid boaters. Boating gives us freedom and pleasure in a whole new way. It’s a way of life.
5. Workout
After slacking a bit, I got back in the saddle and started regular workouts. I feel great for it.
6. Blogging
I’ve extended my writing to keeping blogs. I enjoy the research, the writing, the technical aspects of maintaining a blog. It’s truly one of the most rewarding ventures I’ve ever undertaken.
7. Marketing
While writing is enjoyable, the other side of the coin is marketing. I’ve learned much from reading other blogs, connecting with other writers.
8. Health
A healthy lifestyle is a gift to you and to those you love. I made it a priority.
9. Walking
I walk to exercise, but walking is an exercise in meditation. To clear my head, to work out issues, walking in my best medicine.
10. Courage
I remember while growing up my dad saying that there was no such word as can’t. When things get tough and the world seems to be a desolate place, I remember the courage my dad had in combat during World War II, raising a houseful of kids and working two jobs to make ends meet. I continue because my dad would have wanted me to do so. Thanks, Dad.
There you have it–my words of the year 2008.
50 More Ways To Save Time
As I write, time slips by quickly. The to do list grows. Hence, I’m always on the look out for more ways to save time. Happily, I think I found it.
I stumbled upon this must-read list of 50 websites you’ll wonder how you lived without. It’s an eclectic collection of familiar and unfamiliar sites. Some like Evernote, I’ve tried. Others offer new options on how to do things.The list jumps right into Office like sites. Haters of Google will enjoy the alternatives to Google Docs. The list moves on to online storage. Frankly, since I have my own domain, this really isn’t an issue.
A very interesting site is PhotoShop Express. Though I’m not a big fan of sites requiring registration, the test drive convinces me of this slick alternative to running a program in the background. Open a tab, upload my image, and presto, my tricked-out image.The list ends with various tools for media and planning. Definitely worth a look when you’re in need of more ways to save time. Photo by Florian
An Era Has Ended. Farewell, Polaroid
An era has ended. Despite the efforts of enthusiasts, Polaroid has stopped making instant film.
No more the click of the camera, the spitting out of the familiar white-bordered film, the anxious time waiting for the square of film to develop. Digital cameras and camera phones have jumped to the front of the queue. Despite their takeover, Polaroid gave us something that they cannot–an instant tangible photograph.
For many, this marks a sad day. I grew up with Polaroid pictures. I have photo albums filled with impromptu shots that seemed just a bit more real than other photographs. Maybe because the person snapping the photos was a family member, capturing precious family moments.
Alas, Polaroid has gone the way of rotary dial phones, typewriters, the old Clue game. A generation will grow up only knowing of Polaroid as a Windows Live Writer plugin.
It makes me sad, like saying good-bye to an old friend, a peripheral but important part of my childhood. Farewell, Polaroid. Thanks for the memories. Photo by CreativeCampus
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