Looking Back At 2018 Before Setting Goals For 2019
As we wind down the year, this is a time when it’s really important, for me at least, to look back and take stock of what I’ve learned and accomplished as well as how I’ve grown this past year. 2018 has been an incredible year of learning and trying new things but I’m curious, what type of year has it been for you? Take some time to reflect and share with me what type of year it’s been for you and your business.
My email box is getting inundated with people selling 2019 planners or 2019 goal setting courses like Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever. I enjoy exploring what these people have to offer but generally stick with my own approach. That starts with a look back at what I’ve accomplished and an evaluation of what worked and what didn’t. After completing this assessment, I determine what changes I need to make to improve and grow my business in 2019. Only then do I start down the path of actual goal setting.
One of the tools I use in my business is a really big monthly calendar that I purchase at Paper Source, a small stationary and paper products company. I like these calendars because there is room on each day to capture 1-2 key “to do” items and because there is room along the side to write big goals for the month.
When I begin my review process, I can quickly look at each month and determine:
1. What new things did I try
2. What worked and what didn’t
3. What do I want to carry forward into 2019
Let me tell you a quick story. I’m going to take you back in time 18 months… In the summer of 2017, I decided that I wanted to create my first online course to put on Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning platform where teachers like me upload their courses and students like you watch them, create projects and learn new skills in areas of interest to you.
My original goals for 2017 did not include teaching! However, I took so many courses myself on Skillshare that their community manager emailed me and suggested that I might want to become a teacher because I was so invested in the community. I realized that I could learn a ton from this opportunity and that many aspects of the experience would apply to my overall business.
However, busy with other things, months went by, and I hadn’t gotten around to picking a topic, planning the content, or filming any lessons. Skillshare sent out one last call to teachers encouraging them to complete their first course by December 31st. Being a very goal oriented person, I refocused my efforts and successfully uploaded my course around midnight, crossing the finish line just in time!
Since then, I’ve created a total of nine courses on Skillshare. They are focused on three main topic areas:
· Surface Pattern Design, and
Here is my teacher link that gives you 2 months free with no obligation. Check out my courses and thousands of others FREE!
I share this story because accomplishing this was a major milestone for me in 2018. I learned so much that it’s hard to even put the specifics into words. As I reflect back on this experience, I realize that I made a ton of mistakes too. For example, most really successful teachers on Skillshare pick one topic area and continue to upload new courses on that ONE TOPIC. I’m kinda all over the place with video courses, surface pattern design courses and watercolor courses.
However, one of my greatest strengths is having the courage to jump into new things before I have everything figured out. I know that I’ll learn more by DOING than by over thinking or over planning and trying to get everything just right. That’s certainly been the case with Skillshare and I’m grateful for the experience, for the 450+ students who have taken my classes and for new students who find me on the platform every day.
I’ll be completing my review of 2018 in the next week or so and hope you take advantage of this time of year to do the same. It’s a rich and rewarding process and sets you up well to enter the goal setting phase. More about that next week!
It’s Never Too Late to Create
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation living in, and traveling to, beautiful environments in the United States and abroad.
