Mid-Month Goal Check In

Jena from Modish Biz Tips has kindly posted a reminder that it is indeed half-way through August.  Here's what's up with my goals:

1.  Send out new Mailers at the end of the month. 

I have the cards, but I need to   

    •buy more stamps,

    •print out labels

   •spend an hour watching something fun and slapping it all together.

2.  Start sketches for a fall mailer. 

Um, nope. I have some ideas, but nothing on paper yet.

3.  Contact 3 more agents about possibly representing me.  

I have a couple in mind and have the materials to send.  Just gotta schedule it in.

4.  Go to the beach. Its August and I haven’t been yet.  Not even once.  And now I live in the “Ocean State.”

Sort of.  We went to one of the many beautiful state parks, and while this one was gorgeous, it definitely wasn't indicative of your typical RI beach experience, complete with waves and soft sand and clam cakes.  I've got such a trip planned for this weekend though. 

5.  Add a newsletter sign up page to my site and blog.  

6. Contact Thumbtack Press to see if they’re interested in carrying any of my work as prints.

7.  Send out a newsletter announcing opening of my online shop.

Sign up for my newsletter by clicking here!

8. Make a list of possible wholesale stores for Magnetic Kids. (what’s Magnetic Kids? My new{ish} project in the works!)

9. Finish Magnetic Kids wholesale line sheet.

So close!

10. Contact two blogs about my online shop. 

I really just need to bite the bullet on this.  I hate to admit it but I think I'm just a little scared.  

But I feel good at where I'm at so far.  How is everyone else doing?

Anyhow, I'm supposed to be concentrating on a pretty fun illustration project, but I've got friends coming for dinner tonight, and I keep getting distracted by the cooking possibilities.  Chocolate mousse...?  Watermelon Basil Salad...?  Agggh!  Gotta get my head back in the game!

Seedlings

Still working on my goals for the Monthly Goal Meetup at Modish Biz Tips.  Now that I'm actually getting them done, I'm realizing some of them need to be amended a bit.  Isn't that always the way?  For example:

Goal 2. Go over and update contact list.  

I should really differentiate my email from my mailing contact lists.  They're two different animals, at least right now.  I (should) have several email lists, clients and business contacts, friends and family, and then the businesses/art directors I'd like to contact individually.  My (new) mailing list will include a few of my existing clients, but mostly will be reaching out to new clients.  Hopefully in the future these will meld a bit, but since my work is a little different, I'm trying to reach new and different clients. 

So

Goal 2 A.  Go over and update email contact lists.

Goal 2 B. Go over and update mailing list. 

 And then there are the goals that take more than one step to accomplish.  Because I'm basically five years old, crossing out steps is really motivating for me, so I should add those in.  

Goal3. Finish designing postcard mailer, get it printed and mailed.  

Its on its way to the printers but let me add :

•Buy stamps and labels. 

•Print out labels and stick them on.

And Goal 6. List two new items on Etsy.  Let's add

• Pick two items that would be A fun to produce, B. cost effective, C. Relatively easy.  

•Come up with price points for them.  

• Make, or have them made. 

• Photos.

• Figure out shipping materials. 

See? It will be way more fun to cross off  seven things, than just two.  And it will help me stay on track.

Anyways... I'm crossing things off slowly but surely.  

On another note, the image above is one of my new ones.  I'm hoping my backyard will look like that in a few months!

Goals with Modish

The wonderful blog Modish Biz Tips is having a Monthly Goal Meetup  the first Friday of every month.  She's asking people to list 5 business-related goals to meet within a month.  

So here are mine:

1.  Contact 3 illustration agents in regards to repping me.

2. Go over and update contact list.

3. Finish designing postcard mailer, get it printed and mailed.

4. Email contact list announcing new site and new work, asking if they'd like to be on my mailing list.

5. Get "Hello" postcard printed. (That's it at the top.)

6. List two new items on Etsy. 

7. Outline a 6 month marketing plan for myself.

8. Update my site and Hire an Illustrator with new work.

These are all little(ish) naggling things that I kind of dread doing.  Mostly.  I hope they're the kind of things that are not so bad, or even fun, once I get going.  

I think putting your goals out there  is a great thing to be doing.  My friend Jane and I have been having regular meetings to talk and keep ourselves on track.  Last year in Brooklyn I was in a similar group who met every two or three weeks to discuss progress on our individual projects.  I'm excited to have one more outlet to keep myself moving in the right direction!