I have never been one for News Year’s resolutions but I absolutely love setting goals for the year. One of the best ways I have found for reaching my goals is writing it down and then sharing it. By making my goals public it adds additional accountability to my goal setting and also by putting my goals out there, like on this blog, it also gives me a permanent place to look back during the year.
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| A page from my art journal… |
Successes in 2014
Looking back on this past year, I have a lot to crow about. I pretty much hit all my major goals including getting published in an art magazine ( will tell you more about that later) and also attending fabulous art retreats.
Goals without heart
On the other hand, there were a few goals that never came to fruition. For some, these goals simply took me away from my core art business and I just wasn’t emotionally invested. For example, I had put on my goal list to pursue art licensing and I did attempt to tackle this by reaching out to agents and manufacturers as well as attending a Surtex convention. However, I learned that art licensing is not meant to be a side business and if you want to license your art you need to pursue that business wholeheartedly. In the end, I decided to focus on making art for sale and teaching in my online art classes.
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| A page from my art journal… |
Resetting Unmet Goals
Last year, I had wanted to join an in person networking group, and I do feel badly that this never fully happened as I really could benefit from meeting more like minded peers. Therefore, I have put this goal high up on my list. The reason this goal didn’t work so well last year is that I kept thinking I had to form my own group within Westchester and I simply don’t have time to organize my own group. However, living in New York’s backyard there must already be many in-person artist groups I can join. in order to reach this goal I plan on asking 12 New York area professional artists that I know if they belong to an in person networking group. Then, if that doesn’t work I will start looking for “Meetups.”
Getting better at goal setting
I think another problem with my 2014 goals was that they didn’t get specific enough… for example, I wrote ” become more authentic” — what did I mean by that? And some of my goals didn’t have targets so I have no idea whether or not I met my goals… was I scared of not reaching them? For example, I wrote “build a following on Instagram and on Pinterest.” Since I didn’t specify numbers, I can’t feel bad for not reaching targets but at the same time I can’t celebrate any successes either.
2015 art goals
- Live a life full of PURPOSE. I chose “purpose” for my word for the year and plan on filtering all that I do for my art business, and my art making by asking myself “what purpose does this serve?” I want to really get strategic about my art and my marketing efforts instead of repeating random acts of marketing.
- Join a Mastermind group. (or some other form of in person networking group for artists)
- Read books on marketing strategies. I actually am half way through Jeff Walker’s book and I have Rework by Jason Fried and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People on my Amazon wish list
- Build my email list to 5,000 contacts. Does that sound impossible? Currently, I have 1600 folks on my lists (art collectors and art students) So, I am talking about tripling my list and my next goal will tell you how I plan on doing that…
- Create Free Video Series I plan on creating free video series to teach folks how to draw and paint. I now know that my life purpose is to teach others my passion for painting. So, in order to make that accessible to as many folks as possible, I will be putting together short, free art videos. Specifically, I want to put out six free training series next year.
- Design an advertising plan and budget. Instead of randomly deciding when to “boost” or pay for promotions, I want to plan on some advertising campaigns to get the word out on my free trainings
- Profit from my passion. My art business has been profitable but last year my income did not really reflect all the work involved. Moreover, I was disappointed with my financial contribution to my family. In 2015, I have a very real and specific income goal in mind. In December of 2015, I hope to be able to tell you that I met or surpassed it.
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great post, I need to reflect a bit more before i do a final write up of my goals for 2015.
This is an awesome post. My biggest take away is being specific about goals. I have been pondering a word and goals but after reading this I realize I want to get specific about those goals. Thank you for this post and wishing you all the best in 2015. You go girl!!!!
These are some really great goal setting ideas! With New Year's just around the corner, I definitely need to set some goals of my own. Thanks for sharing.
I love setting goals! it seems they just keep me a bit more focused. That is one of the reasons I love New Year's too — because you can have a fresh start on new goals. Good luck with your 2015 ones!!
You have some great goals for the new year. I wish you the best of luck at meeting them.
I enjoy your blog and I have been reading through your Art Journal Inspiration class which is very motivating. One of my goals is to start an art blog of my own!
Good luck with your 2015 goals and hope you accomplish as much as you can next year, I too love setting goals than doing new year's resolutions because have noticed in my self that by march I am done and do not care but monthly goals I do each month and i seem to be doing ok
With 2015 upon us, I definitely have a few goals for myself. I love your list! It is so inspirational to me 🙂 Happy New Years!
This is a great list of goals indeed. It is important to be somewhat precise when setting goals. You have to know exactly what you want, when, and how. Thanks for sharing.
Purpose is such a great word, we all want to have some sort of purpose in what we do; I know you'll surely hit your goals!
It looks like you have some great goals laid out ahead of you. I have yet to write any down yet. I'm still contemplating what they will be, then I'll probably blog about it.
I love your word for the year… purpose. I need to also embrace that for 2015. Good luck with your goals this year.
That is great that you are pursuing your passion. Work isn't work when you love it!
Great goals! My uncle is an artist and he used to do these lists often. I don't have an artsy bone in my body but i love creating goals and lists for myself.
I too would like to make a list of 2015 goals. It's definitley helpful to write them down which somehow makes them more tangible.
My sister has two degrees in art and works for a mutual fund company. I keep telling her that she is wasting her talents…..she is.
Thanks for sharing. This is just what I needed to read today. I thought about taking a small pocket calendar and creating a cover for it… Today I will breathe slowly, make art, practice yoga… Now I know I will.
I definitely agree that setting goals and writing them down makes you hold yourself more accountable. For 2015, my goal is to spend more quality time with friends and family, focusing on them and not other things!