Have you written your 2013 goals yet? Started them but haven’t finished them? They aren’t always so easy are they?!

I won’t lie. I just wrote my 2013 business goals today, on the 4th of January. I knew what I wanted for 2013. But goals aren’t just what you want to accomplish, shouldn’t they be more about how we get there? I found that when I started saying my goals to myself they felt similar to last year. Bigger, but the same ideas. I couldn’t help but think what do I do this year to make those goals happen. As I did this I started to realize that what I thought were my goals, really weren’t. Or they weren’t complete.

For example. I want to photograph 20 weddings in 2013. Cool. Good goal. Now what?

I can’t make or force people to book me. I could meet or talk with 20+ brides, doesn’t mean I’ll book them. Even if I give everything I have I can’t MAKE them book me in the end. That is their choice. I can’t control that. Nor do I want to. I want those 20 brides who want me as their photographer because THEY want that to be. Not just cause I want them to book.

This one thing had me thinking. What can I do differently or better to book more brides. Everything from how I present myself, how they’ll find me, what they’ll see, how they’ll correspond with me, how I respond, what I respond with, where we meet, how meetings are set up, what information to share or ask for, etc. Now that goal of 20 weddings has changed to all of these things. Specifically deciding on them. One that I ended with was building a welcome packet/package. I’ve always wanted to build a magazine that they each get, that gives them information about photography. But not just photography, wedding planning, vendors, the small ideas and beyond. Not only have this for my potential clients, but also make it available to vendors. Especially those I refer in the magazine. Let them have it to distribute as well. I’ve always wanted to do it, now is the time.

Another example. Last year I made a goal of being featured on a specific blog. Again I can’t control that. I can’t make them publish me, I can’t make my brides and grooms have detailed weddings that are in the style of this blog. That was a silly goal. Instead my goal is to submit every engagement session and wedding to be published. Every single one, in a timely manner. Now that, I can control that.

During Fight Club with Jeff Jochum this summer he said “The clearer the goal the lesser amount of management needed” When your goal is specific, you build strategies to achieve it and tactics to work your strategies. Doing this you will spend less time managing and working on that goal. You’ve made yourself a map to get there. Make it happen.

Don’t hold off too long on writing those goals. The longer you wait the more likely you won’t write them. Write out business AND personal goals. Make sure your business goals fall in line with your personal goals NOT your personal having to fall in line with your business goals. Wrote out vague goals? Go back, think about them. Be specific and make a road map. Easier to do it now that have to find a way or fail later.

Then tell someone. Or everyone. Telling others makes you hold yourself accountable. You’ll feel as though you’ve said them out loud now you have to do them.

2013 is YOUR year. But YOU have to make it happen.

Goodbye 2012, HELLO 2013!

Photo Credit: Vanessa Embling. State St, Santa Barbara, CA with Karen & Isaac, and Trevor Dayley

Contact Jackie  |  Join the Facebook Fanpage  |  Check out the Website