Resabi: Goals for 2011
Ranked #4,226 in Squidoo Community, #308,928 overall | Donates to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Food for Everyone Foundation, First Book, BuckHawk Center Animal Rescue
Uh Oh, Accountability
Having achieved my 2010 goal of becoming a Giant Squid (pause for twirling and bowing), I discover that my little crown comes with a quest: to make some new goals for the new year.
Well, as anyone who has read my Squidoo pages probably has figured out, my interests tend to jump around quite a bit. This approach extends to my goal-setting technique, which I think of as the Reverse Hansel and Gretel. In this model, I reach into my bag of breadcrumbs and scatter them ahead of me, then charge after them until they disappear. At that point, I either stop for awhile and explore my surroundings or I toss another handful and keep looking. Although this might seem like a haphazard way of doing things, I will point out that I still choose the direction in which to fling the crumbs and the size of the handful I'm flinging.
So is there a pattern? Yes, certainly there is a pattern, albeit one that may only appear in retrospect.
In any event, I have tossed my breadcrumbs (but not my cookies...) and have arrived at some goals for the year 2011. I share five of them here.
Well, as anyone who has read my Squidoo pages probably has figured out, my interests tend to jump around quite a bit. This approach extends to my goal-setting technique, which I think of as the Reverse Hansel and Gretel. In this model, I reach into my bag of breadcrumbs and scatter them ahead of me, then charge after them until they disappear. At that point, I either stop for awhile and explore my surroundings or I toss another handful and keep looking. Although this might seem like a haphazard way of doing things, I will point out that I still choose the direction in which to fling the crumbs and the size of the handful I'm flinging.
So is there a pattern? Yes, certainly there is a pattern, albeit one that may only appear in retrospect.
In any event, I have tossed my breadcrumbs (but not my cookies...) and have arrived at some goals for the year 2011. I share five of them here.
Become a Member of the Squid 100 Club
Well, this is the next logical step in the progression, and I am determined to reach it. My original idea was to barrel straight through and apply for the March 31, 2011 deadline. I've decided, instead, to make the goal June 30, 2011 -- which will coincide with my one-year Squidoo anniversary. I am not ruling out having 100 lenses by the end of March, but I am kind of slow about building lenses and I need 100 great ones. Since I also plan to be experimenting with monetizing techniques and fooling around with approaches, I have to figure I'll need more than 100 lenses completed.Goal #1: Squid 100 Club by June 30, 2011
Half-year Update: Well, a little behind schedule due a combination of family events and a revamping of the Giant Squid program that changes the direction . But I've reapplied (and been accepted) to the Squid Giant Club at the 50 lens level and will submit a new application for the 100 level within the month of July.
October 18, 2011 Published my 100th lens today. A few more and I'll apply for 100-lens Giant status...
Year-end Update: Goal achieved, I'm pleased to say. Slogging toward 250...
Finish at Least One Book Manuscript
I've started writing two works of fiction -- a romance novel and a juvenile. One of my 2010 goals was to conquer my fear of writing, finally. Squidoo and my poor, neglected blog (and guest-writing for the blog of a good friend) did a lot fo help me fight that fear. Beginning these two works of fiction brought me even closer. Now it's time for me to take at least one of them the rest of the way.Hold on a sec while I find a paper bag to breathe into. While my fear of writing has shrunk to a mild discomfort, I discover that the idea of writing a book still shakes me up. Gulp. Okay. Here goes:
Goal #2: Complete at least one of my book manuscripts.
Half-year Update: It's moving slowly, but at least it isn't stationary. (Of course, if more of it was actually ON stationery instead of in my head (ow), I'd be ...
Year-end Wrap-up: Well, maybe next year. Slow progress and some scribbles toward another. Hmmm... I seem to have the start part working fine. Need to work on closure.
Do More to Have a Positive Impact
In 2010, a good friend (Squidoo lensmaster corinnemwestphal), with her husband, created an inspirational web site/project called 52 Weeks of Impact. The idea was brilliantly simple: they would commit themselves to doing something each week to have a positive impact. The rules were that the projects must be accomplishable within the weekly time frame and within the confines of a normal, busy life. In other words, they wanted to see what imact they could make by integrating this into their lives. Each week, they selected one subject and chose an activity to do. They wrote it up and invited blog readers to join them and/or to follow along. The following week, after introducing a new weekly project, they would write about their experience with the previous one. The results have been honest, entertaining, and motivating.I learned a lot from observing and participating in the 52 Weeks challenges, and my perceptions and priorities have definitely been molded by the experience.
For 2011, then, I want to build on my personal progress in trying to have a positive impact. I want to continue to look for methods of helping that fit with my abilities and interests. One way I've been able to help is to allocate portions of my Squidoo income to go directly to various organizations. I've been so happy to have this as one outlet and I will continue to do this. Mostly, I am learning to translate the impulse to help (always present) into action. This is what my Aunt Ruth calls "mailing the card." She always says to us, "You get no points for buying the card, only for mailing it."
Goal #3: Mail the Card.
Year-end Wrap-up: Last year's approach was a little scatter-shot. This year, I've been more focused and have identified the causes that will receive the bulk of my attention. I'm also pleased that contributions from my Squidoo lenses continue to increase.
Be Better About Connecting with People
I'm an introvert. I need a lot of space and a lot of personal time. I also tend to get very single-focus about whatever project has my attention at the moment, sometimes to the neglect of friends and family. One of my goals for 2011 (and beyond) is to be better at staying in touch with the people I care about and to participate more actively in their lives. I also want to reconnect with old friends with whom I've lost touch.Luckily, tools are available to facilitate this. Facebook. Twitter, and their ilk have a definite place in the scheme, because they make it easier to share the kinds of daily information and events that are too fleeting to make it into more formal kinds of communication. The immediacy fosters a feeling of connection; but I think the key is to use these tools as springboards to other forms of communication. It's time to write that long email, send an physical card, pick up the phone and hear someone's voice and laughter, go out to lunch. Step back into the fray.
Goal #4: Be Better About Reaching Out
Half-year Update: I have made more of an effort in this area and have had more extended contact with important people in my life whom I'd been neglecting. In one case, I was really just in time. I have had a very sad lesson and I hope it will be one I continue to act on.
Year-end Wrap-up: Definite improvement in the area of physical contact. Long-distance and social media still need lots of work since I kind of tapered off toward the end of the year. An ongoing goal, for sure.
Learn to Let Go
Goal number five is more an ongoing goal than one specific to 2011, but I wanted to commit it to print. People hold onto all kinds of things, for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, it's a good thing; but sometimes a person needs to loosen the bonds. Here are some things I would like to learn to let go of -- or at least ease up on -- in 2011.God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Goal #5: Loosen the Grip
Half-year Update: I'm making progress in the anger and mother death-grip (my daughter has validated this one) areas. Still mired in clutter, but there's almost always something better to do than cleaning out...
Year-end Wrap-up: I feel pretty good about my efforts in this area. I really have let go of several things that have kept me on an emotional hamster wheel for a lot of years. And I've gotten much better at stepping back from the micromanaging mom role. Anxiety is a little harder to shut off, but I'm finding healthier outlets for it. All-in-all, I'm counting this goal a reasonable success.
Comments? Thoughts to share?
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gonzalezdenise
Feb 7, 2012 @ 9:16 am | delete
- Enjoyed the venture!!
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gonzalezdenise
Feb 7, 2012 @ 9:16 am | delete
- Enjoyed the venture!!
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corinnemwestphal
Jan 19, 2011 @ 6:29 am | delete
- First, congrats on making Giant Squid! Bravo! Woo hoo! As for Goals for 2011, great read, great goals! They all definitely speak to ME (except for the Squid 100 Club, as I'm limping behind you still hoping for Giant some time this year :-)). Go girl!
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ajgodinho Jan 14, 2011 @ 4:31 pm | delete
- Enjoyed reading through your set of 2011 goals and congrats on your 2010 accomplishments. I like the letting go part as it brings about such freedom. Wishing you the best as your strive towards your 2011 goals! :)
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genglo
Jan 13, 2011 @ 9:28 am | delete
- This was a fantastic goals lens! I love the idea of mailing the card. Best of luck with your goals! I'm also working towards Squidoo 100. I'll see you there. :)
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Janiece Jan 13, 2011 @ 7:00 am | delete
- Great list of goals!! Best of luck to you in 2011!
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_Joan_
Jan 9, 2011 @ 5:26 pm | delete
- Lovely goals. I'm lensrolling you to my 2011 goals lens.
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DecoratingforEvents
Jan 9, 2011 @ 10:51 am | delete
- I love your list of goals! Wishing you all the success!
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chemknitsblog
Jan 9, 2011 @ 7:43 am | delete
- Wow, good luck on the book manuscript!
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awakeningwellness
Jan 8, 2011 @ 11:54 pm | delete
- You have set yourself some wonderful goals for 2011, have fun achieving them all!
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Another Goal: More Thumbs Up
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Some Charities I Support Through Squidoo
I allocate a portion of my Squidoo earnings to several charities that are important to me. I'm hoping that several others that I send money to will be added to the Squidoo charities list this year.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the
First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy—access to books. Since 1992, First Book has distributed over 60 million free and low-cost books in thousands of communities.
The Food For Everyone Foundation's mission is to teach and assist families everywhere to grow successful and sustainable vegetable gardens, and really enjoy the experience.
JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
The BuckHawk Center is a nonprofit organization providing rescue, rehabilitation and adoption where possible for animals in need, located in Southern Missouri.
by resabi
Experimenter, dabbler, follower of paths frivolous and not. I'm an editor by vocation and avocation; I also design books. Among my interests are readi... more »
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