We had a wonderful holiday adventure in Utah with SD's family - we skied five days out of seven! Now, we're on our way back across the country to our home, sweet home. After thinking on Lara's Goal-Setting Steps 1-9 and writing out my answers (read Part I and Part II), I began writing out my goals for 2013. In addition to writing the WHY with each goal (why I want to spend time on this in the coming year), I used the following guidelines from Dave Ramsey's Entreleadership (recommended here):
1. Be specific. 2. Have a timeline. 3. Own them. 4. Measure them. 5. Write them down.
I spent a few days mulling everything over, sketching out some initial thoughts, and then finding ways to make them measurable and meaningful. Boy is it tempting to turn this into another to-do list! A word of advice if you're working through the process yourself: Your goals should mean something to you. Good goals should inspire you to take action. Think about those things you wrote down in your vision. Is there a discrepancy between the life you're living now and the life you want to live? Start there.
Here are my goals for 2013:
PERSONAL
1. I want to stay healthy and get more physically fit this year. I want to run 2-3 times per week with SD and increase our route from 1 mile to 2 miles once per week.
2. I want to find ways to give to others each month because it's a way of serving those in need and making love into an action word.
3. I want to make more time for pleasure reading (this ties in with goal #6) because it's a way of being intentional with rest, it encourages me to focus on what matters, and it inspires me to make better business decisions. This year, I want to read six new books in twelve months.
4. I want to study the Word actively because it is wisdom, Truth, and inspiration for my life and it strengthens my faith.
5. I want to be more intentional with starting my workday on time and being productive during working hours. Starting this week, I want to get up at 7:30 a.m. six out of seven days a week.
6. I want to be intentional with rest because it will allow me to take a step back and refocus, it will inspire my work, and it will make me more productive during working hours.
7. I want to live a life of gratitude all year long - not just during the month of November. I want to start this year by making a list of things that we are grateful for to display in our home. I think this will be a powerful reminder to focus on the things that matter most and to count our blessings every day.
8. Going along with goal #7, I want to focus on inspiring influences and purge negativity from things like my Facebook newsfeed and my blog reader. I want to focus on the positive and things that will inspire my work, not detract from it. I want to learn from others rather than comparing myself to others. I want to feel more content.
9. In 2012, we started buying almond milk instead of regular milk, organic eggs instead of regular eggs, and we started eating more vegetables in place of meat. This year, I want to eat more whole foods because it will keep us healthy, it will give us more energy during the day, and it goes hand-in-hand with goal #1.
10. I want to find ways to add value to others - to make an impact. I want to give and invest and encourage this year.
BUSINESS
1. I want 2013 to be the year I get published (or at least get something in the queue). This not only will move me forward in my degree but it's a way to share my research with others in the field of Music Education.
2. Goals #2 and #3 are somewhat related - I want to become a better musician in 2013 than I was in 2012. I want to write a hymn arrangement this year and make good use of my keyboard skills class because I know it will inspire my creativity and make me a better listener.
3. I want to get back to my instrument and spend more time in the practice room. I want to become a better improviser. I want to sightread and sightsing on a more regular basis. I want to learn five songs in twelve different keys.
4. I want to create a blog schedule so I can be more consistent with my writing. I want to be authentic, share creativity, and build relationships this year.
5. I want to make a few mini updates to my website because I want it to grow and change with me throughout the year and reflect the things that I am currently doing.
This list inspires me to GO and DO (unlike a to-do list, which I admit is often met with dread). In these final days of holiday vacation, I'm working on the step-by-step process for making each of these goals happen this year - with a timeline. 2013, let's do this!
Love, Ashley
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Making Things Happen in 2013 - Part I Making Things Happen in 2013 - Part II
