I’ve never been big on making New Year’s resolutions, especially when they involve a drastic life change like getting back in the gym. I think resolutions are sometimes abused as a way to put off what you should start doing now.
Instead, I have a created a list of things I want to accomplish in 2010. The list actually started as a 101 in 1001 project, but as I neared #40 I realized that the ideas were flowing at a much slower pace, and I was on the verge of beginning to make things up. Plus, 1001 days is almost three years. My outlook on life today is drastically different than it was in 2007, so I can only hope than by 2013 I will have grown and changed that much more. In that sense I don’t think a 101 in 1001 is practical for me or my business, so I modified it to be my 38 in 365 project. It has a nice ring, don’t you think?
I began working on the list in early December, so some of the goals are already in progress. I have included things that are easy (#34), that are fun (#23) and that are long overdue (#20). Things that will push me (#9), that will stretch my creativity (#28) and that will stretch my budget (#4). Things that I truly hope to accomplish this year. Here they are in no particular order (drum roll please)…
1. Enter a photography contest.
2. Ride a camel.
3. Blog every day for one month. (completed 6/15/10)
4. Create an office space that I really love. (completed 3/31/10)
5. Work out three days a week for eight weeks.
6. Have professional family pictures taken. (completed 5/23/10)
7. Visit my mom at her new house.
8. Attend a photography convention/tradeshow. (completed 1/10/10)
9. Run a 5K.
10. Create a +Site template for my clients.
11. Make dinner from scratch. (completed 9/15/10)
12. Organize my closet. (completed 9/1/10)
13. Go fishing with my husband. (completed 5/2/10)
14. Take a lighting workshop.
15. Read (and finish) two business related book.
16. Read (and finish) one non-business related book. (completed 12/31/10)
17. Book five more weddings for 2010. (completed 12/11/10)
18. Shoot an out-of-state wedding. (completed 5/29/10)
19. Buy a new pair of sunglasses. (completed 9/11/10)
20. Upgrade my cell service/phone. (completed 1/8/10)
21. Make my own Shootsac cover.
22. Cut the grass (GULP!).
23. Organize a professional portrait shoot for my girlfriends. (completed 3/27/10)
24. Donate photography services to a good cause.
25. Shoot and frame artwork for our house. (ongoing)
26. Have my photography published.
27. Finish scanning all of my loose prints from HS and college.
28. Take one photo a day for one month.
29. Watch the Auburn Tigers play at Jordan-Hare. (completed 11/13/10)
30. Host Thanksgiving dinner at our house.
31. Create sample albums. (completed 7/1/10)
32. Order our wedding album. (completed 1/25/11 — post to follow)
33. Second shoot with someone I admire. (completed 12/11/10)
34. Recycle! (ongoing)
35. Help my mom grow her new business. (ongoing)
36. Contribute to my online photography community once a week.
37. Join Twitter. (completed 12/16/09)
38. Find the perfect laptop/ photo gear bag for travel. (completed 5/26/10)
39. Start a family. (announced 10/26/10)
40. Become a full-time photographer. (completed 5/1/2010)
With only 52 weeks in a year and 38* goals, this is a lot to get done. As a self-admitted procrastinator, I hope this public list will hold me accountable for accomplishing each goal. I plan to blog about each of these items as I mark them off, so you may start seeing things pop up pretty soon… If you haven’t already, subscribe to my blog to get an e-mail notification each time I post new content. Like any good train wreck, you’re going to want to stick around and watch it all unfold.
*amended to add #39 and #40 on 2/2/2011
by Amanda
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