2011 Goals & Resolutions

Each Year, I create my list of Goals & Resolutions for both personal and business goals, but the last 2 years I started publishing them on my blog also.  In 2009 I also did quarterly updates on my blog as to what type of progress I had made towards this goal.  In 2010, I only did 2nd quarter & 4th quarter updates.  If you wish to review 2009 Goals & Resolutions or 2010 Goals & Resolutions, click on the links, you can search for the quarterly updates too.  I had 5 goals in 2009 and 10 for both personal and business in 2010. This year, I am creating only 5 as I felt I had better results with less.

personal goals

#1 create and implement Balance in all areas of the wheel of life (spiritual, physical, intellectual, family, social, career, and financial - each of these have goals within them listed below):

spiritual
begin each day in prayer that God direct me in my path & integrity of my heart; read a chapter or some of favorite verses; remember Sunday is renew your spirit day, no business work stuff

physical
commit to a workout schedule 3-4 times weekly; log into sparkpeople.com daily; resume diet with no wheat, sugar or trans fats - eating lots of raw vegetables; take all vitamins & supplements daily; get 8hrs or more of sleep which means I have a set schedule when I go to bed & when I get up each day

intellectual
read 2 and/or listen to 2 audio books a month, at minimum; blog about each with a book review highlighting my nuggets and take-aways

family
spend an evening every two weeks at the home of someone I consider my family (since I don't have family in Texas)

social
email a few of my friends weekly; call a few of my friends once a month; write my friend in prison once a month; entertain company once a month on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon; schedule a lunch date weekly with a girlfriend

career
focus on building the business with 1-3 new clients in 2011 (more on this section below)

financial
pay off 2nd mortgage by the end of 2011; keep budget simple at basics; try to implement the $3 a day/$1 a meal food budget; will resume scheduled savings when more clients or other work is obtained (savings was cut to a minimum with the loss of my job in August 2010)


#2 motto for the casa: A Place for Everything & Everything in its Place (borrowing a quote from the Pottery Barn catalogue a few years ago)
which means organize, cull, condense, minimize, sell or use up things in & around the casa - attack a section of a room for 15-20minutes a day; weekly list items on eBay & Craigs List.


#3 lead a quiet life, one that creates peace; remove anything that doesn't contribute to this


#4 Think on Good Things...don't be negative


#5 Schedule one weekend a month off - just for me, creating me time or fun plans



business goals

#1 obtain 3 new Clients this year with the goal of one a quarter


#2 complete design of business marketing materials: postcard & brochure by February 1st, 2010


#3 Home Office remodel will be completed by mid-January 2011


#4 enroll in accounting courses to further education -spring 2011; take a course in Microsoft Office to learn more about graphs and pivots


#5 review EntreLeadership materials quarterly for refreshment & encouragement (rehearse, execute, review); check in with EntreLeadership friends to motivate, encourage, gather ideas, share and cheer each other on success;  review & define motivation, delegation, responsibility, accountability, and authority in my position so that I have a clear picture in view to stay focused on what I expect of me & my team

its a new year...

This is a great week to give thanks for things, people, and events in your life. Recognize the wealth you have in relationships, health, beautiful surroundings, and spiritual hope. And no matter what is happening in your job/life right now - approach the New Year as a new beginning. Maybe now is your time to simply give thanks for a new opportunity.

Quotes

It's not about winning or losing, but love and respect.
— Max Lucado

day trip to Houston

Today I went to Houston with Jackie & Isabel.  We left a little earlier than normal as Isabel was spending the night at Blair's and so we needed to pick her up on our way out of town.  I was pretty tired, so I stopped at Starbucks in Hillsboro to get a venti vanilla chai tea...one of my favorites there!  We made good time and they dropped me off at Panera Bread while they went on to see Modesto.  I took my laptop, a book and knitting with me, so I was all ready for some chill time and knew that I might even sneak a nap in the comfy leather chair.  Well, I did my 30minutes of computer work before the internet at Panera kicked me off (they only allow you 30 minutes between the hours of 11.30am - 01:30pm) and then decided I was so tired, I would curl up and sleep in my chair.  I did, for 1.5hrs!  Can you imagine what they thought of me all curled up there sleeping away like I knew nothing???  Well, it felt REALLY good wonderful...lovely...heavenly!  I then got me some soup & salad, which was yummy.  I decided I would knit, but that didn't last very long and I went back to sleep for another 30 minutes till Jackie called me and said they were on their way back.   I ordered them some food and then we hit the road after they got there.  We made decent time and really didn't have too much traffic inspite of it being a Holiday weekend.  I went straight to bed upon arriving home.  So far, I have managed to keep away the sickness going around...I don't want it!

What does this picture say to you?


Someone posted this on Facebook and I thought it was very interesting and a good thought to reflect on.  Here are a few comments:

When one door closes, another one is already open on your way to achieving your goals... But, you must go through the first one to get started!

Doors of opportunity are endless!!!

God never closes a door and then never fails to open a new one for us.

 Endless opportunity is reached with hard work down what may be a long trek.

MY COMMENT:  We all have a journey ahead of us. God provides a clear path, but sometimes we take detours along the way. The journey requires that we keep looking forward to the goal!


So...you want to answer the question?

A story...Planting the Seed

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.  Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.' The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.'

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and, excitedly, told his wife the story.  She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.  Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown.

After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.  Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.  Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.  Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.  He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.  Jim just tried to hide in the back.  'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said The CEO.  'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!' All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front.

Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure!  Maybe he will have me fired!' 

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.  The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive!  His name is Jim!'

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO, the others said?  Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today.  But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.  When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!'


If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

If you plant hard work, you will reap success

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest


So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

I was cleaning out emails and found this that was sent to me several years ago...thought it was too good not to share. 

verse to reflect on...

VERSE:
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not be faint.  -Isaiah 40:31

THOUGHT:
It is easy for us to live victoriously for the Lord when we soar on the wings of eagles. It can be exciting when we run and don't grow weary in the work of the Lord, buoyed by his power and presence. But it often takes heroes to keep walking and not faint when trying times come. Keep on walking brother and sister. The Lord is there when you most fear he has forgotten you!
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20100623


I need to think about this verse, seriously stop and ponder it.  I must remember God is with me because I must admit, lately, I have felt so all alone.  So in a fight against life, but no strength to fight and press on.  I have been frustrated...loosing heart...grieved...and questioning everything and asking an unanswerable question, why?  My focus is not where it needs to be.  May God give me the courage to stop and listen to Him and remember that He is with me!

the truth exposed means...

Dilbert (Monday, September 13, 2010)

A friend sent this to me...

my soul is grieved...

I texted Terry today and he ended up calling me.  He was very, very, very down.  I asked questions and he either didn't answer or I had to d...........rrrrrrraaaaaaa...aaaaaaaagggggggggggggggggggggggggggg them out of him.  Seriously, it was an awful conversation.  I don't know why he bothered to call if he didn't want to talk.  I learned he got into drugs again on the 14th of this month and was gone and didn't return back home until the 16th.  Mom & Dad would not let him get his clutch on the car fixed, so he sold it for $250 and took some other funds to total $400 and bought drugs.  While he was gone, Mom & Dad took all his belongings into the house and have locked the house and won't let him in.  They state it is in case he doesn't pay rent this month, mind you, they have all his disability money and won't give him any.  I am not saying that he is being a responsible 29 year old, but I am saying their actions are wrong and fraud.  Since when can you steal someone's things?  Really???  He is depressed, very low.  The lowest I have ever had him be so far with me. 

My soul is grieved.

My heart is torn.

I have cried...and cried some more.

I want him to succeed, but no that the choice is not mine.  It is his life.  He has to live it, I can't and until he surrenders to God, life is going to only get harder.

I am realizing, I have another phase to "Letting Go".

Again...another request for Prayers. Prayers for Terry.  Prayers for me.

Quotes

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
-Victor Hugo

how to paint metal

Okay, my cousin is always giving these tutorials on how she does things, so I thought I would give you mine this time too! 


I had these metal bins that I wanted to paint, (see post here on the completed project) and so this is how I did it. No I didn't research the "right way to do it", I just did it my way.


1.  Empty out bins of objects and dust off inside & out.
2.  Create space in garage to be able to spray paint the project. Lay plastic and put items on plastic.

3.  Spray with a matte grey metal primer. 

4.  Let dry.

5.  Spray your desired finish color.

6.  Let dry.

7.  Touch up or spay 2nd layer of finished color depending on what look you are trying to achieve.

8.  Let air dry overnight.

9.  Bring back in and setup in place and put your junk stuff back in the bins!

10. Enjoy your completed project that took you 6 years to do!

Quotes

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

- Frank Outlaw

verse to reflect on...

My soul, wait silently on God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  Psalm 62:5

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

check out the giveaway by Lois!

hurry...it ends 12.20.2011

Quotes

Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.
— Max Lucado

the only picture...

this is the only picture that I have of Terry & I during the time he was here in Texas, December 4, 2009 to November 26, 2010, taken by Margaret.  I regret this, very much...but can do nothing to fix it now.  We talked about getting our picture taken together a few times as the only other picture that I have of us is when he came to visit me in 2003 or 2004 for a week.  It was taken on the fireplace hearth at Uncle Gib & Auntie Con's.  He made the comment a few times that he wanted to get a new one as that one had bad memories.  The reason it did was because the shirt he was wearing in that picture was the same shirt he was wearing when he attempted suicide in May 2010 and they ripped it off of him when giving him medical treatment.  I can't blame him for wanting new memories and only fault myself for not making more of an effort to get one taken.  I have a camera, but it sits in its case in the drawer more than it gets "used".  I do have memories in my head and can envision those, but to have one as proof would have been a nice thing.  Take a lesson from my regret...make picture memories!

verse to reflect on...

"where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"...and your feet will follow.

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

There is a cute "etched on my heart" giveaway going on here at the Twig.  Go check it out!!!

Uncle Gordy

...has passed away.  And as always, it is one of those times that you think about the person and their life here on earth. 

For those of you who have known Uncle Gordy, you have been blessed!  He touched so many lives!  Some have no doubt had a closer relationship, more time spent together, more ways of interacting then I did with him...but nonetheless, he is one who will be known forever as an encourager and with a sincere desire to be of help. 

He married my parents and we lived in his assembly for many years in San Luis Obispo.  I do not have recollection of times together as a child.  But the one thing I will never forget is a marriage he performed here in Texas and he said two the most important letters in the alphabet are "U" and "I".  He linked it to God and a husband & wife team you can't have the one without the other, it takes "you & I".  I don't do his thoughts justice today...but at the time he presented this thought, it spoke volumes to me...and it still does.  I bought the letters in a silver metal from Pottey Barn on eBay years ago and hope someday to have just the right spot for them in my house, whether I am ever married or not.  My life is lived with God, it will always be "you and I"!

stackable metal filing bins

When I started my business in 2004, I needed filing cabinets for my stuff, but had limited resources, so I went thrift shopping.  I found these at McCart Thrift and bought all 6 of them, 3 orange ones and 3 olive green ones. 

Though orange and olive are not my color themes, I saw they had great potential. I came home and spray painted one silver just to see how it would take and how it would wear.  SIX YEARS later, I have finished spray painting them all!!!  :)  This was my project yesterday.  I applied a basic matte grey primer spray paint then two coats of silver metallic spray paint.   Overall, very pleased with the end result and so glad to have completed a task off my todolist!

Now don't look at the stuff around my completed project...I am still working on that!  But, it will happen...I am determined to get an organized working office in place!

Why did it take me so long to complete this?  I knew from the get go that I wanted them to be silver just like the locker I have, so it wasn't lack of decision over the color.  What could it be other than plain PROCRASTINATION??? LOL!  Oh well...I got them done and you can see the finished product. 

Oh, and can you see something else that is changed in the room???  I will give you a hint, its not the picture above the fax/scanner/copier...but its close.  :)

Tell me what you think!

Quotes

That best portion of a good man's life? His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.
- William Wordsworth