All the “cool kids” are doing it, so now it’s my turn to post my New Year’s resolution. I get overwhelmed by long, multi-pronged resolutions, so next year I vow to…
Focus on the big picture.
Of course, what this really means is “don’t sweat the small stuff,” but I’d rather frame it in a more positive light, to concentrate on something actionable, rather than feeling guilty for being the detail-crazy person that I am.
The past year has been pretty good to me. I’ve gotten in the groove with this blog. I’ve found a day job that lets me apply my writing and blogging skills. I’ve churned out a ridiculous number of queries and broken into several big writing markets (in fact, almost exactly a year before I published my essay in the Boston Globe, I wrote about that as a personal goal – behold the power of blogging!).
Now it’s time to focus my efforts on a few key markets, rather than going after them all, and to evaluate how I’m spending my time (does a 500 word short really require 5 hours of research? probably not). Hopefully this will increase my hourly rate, so I can earn more money without sacrificing my personal time. I also want to work on being a marathoner instead of a sprinter and maybe even spend some time on that novel floating around in my head.
For more writer’s resolutions, check out these blogs:
Inkthinker: What Can You Do to Improve Your Business in 2008?
CatalystBlogger: My Business Resolutions for 2008
Freelance Switch: How to Apply What You Learned in 2007 for Continued Success in 2008
Writing the Cyber Highway: My Top 10 Goals for 2008
Happy holidays!
Good for you, Susan! You sound very focused.
I’m excited for all your success! You’ve worked hard and you’ve earned it. Here’s to an awesome 2008!
Smiles,
Michele
P.S.
Thanks for the link. I appreciate it!
Thank you. You have inspired me. I’m glad I “stumbled” into your blog.
Thank you both! Michele, no problem on the link. I hope you have a great holiday!
It’s great to see someone else focusing on one major goal. I get overwhelmed when I think of the great long lists of things I want to get done in the coming year. It’s so much easier to focus on one big goal. Especially since the others can be broken down inside of it.
Thanks for the inspiration and all the best for 2008 and the big picture!
Ah yes, the obligatory Resolutions post…yes, everyone’s doing ‘em, but still I think it’s a good way to re-evaluate and get down on paper what you’d really like to get done in the next year. Have a great holiday!
Thank you both!
Susan,
Excellent advice–for all those of us who are obsessed with details! For us, it takes a concentrated effort to focus on the big picture.
Thanks for the reminder of how much more personal time we’ll have–and how much more productive our professional time will be, as well—when we learn to control our perfectionistic tendencies and focus our energies instead of haphazardly scattering them far and wide!
Best wishes for success in 2008!
Jeanne Dininni
Hi Jeanne,
Glad to hear this post resonated with you. My bf describes us both as “ruthlessly efficient,” and while it’s great to be able to get things done, it’s also important to sit back and enjoy it!
Susan
Michelle,
I love this comment you made: “… in fact, almost exactly a year before I published my essay in the Boston Globe, I wrote about that as a personal goal – behold the power of blogging!).”
I’m a big believer in karma and what you put out in the universe comes to you (if you work towards it, of course).
Here’s to continued good karma in 2008.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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Hi Yuwanda,
Thanks for dropping by! I think a lot of it did have to do with writing down the goal, then taking steps towards achieving it. Best of luck in 2008!
Susan