2007 has been a great year. I have been working on some very exciting projects and goals, and just busily moving forward and continuing to build my online business. I feel like I have a million things on my to-do list, but I just wake up and go with it - keep a steady pace. That works for me.
I sat down at my desk in the home office this evening with a cup of coffee, complete with a dash of holiday mint chocolate truffle creamer, and decided to order a couple of new books from Amazon.com (cool books - I'll tell you about them later) and then review my goals for the coming week.
And that's when it hit me - there are only 24 days left in the year 😯 . A sense of urgency struck me like a lightning bolt, and I immediately grabbed 2 legal pads to sit down and map out a strategy...
24 days. That's just over 3 weeks, and with two major holidays thrown in the mix.
I'm not so off the mark with my current goals that this causes any major panic, but it certainly puts things in perspective. I have 24 days left to make money in 2007. I have 24 days to come up with my Action Plan for 2008. I have 24 days left to make purchases I might want to claim as business expenses for the 2007 tax year. I have 24 days to be exactly where I want to be when this year ends and the new one begins...
I mentioned I grabbed two legal pads - one is for business goals, the other for personal. I am turning 35 in June 2008 and have long since had specific goals about where I want to be in my life at that point.
In usual "Last-Minute Lynn" style, I intend to prioritize my lists and work my way through them with high energy during this final stretch of what has already been a great year.
I'm curious to hear your plans for these last few weeks of 2007, and how you are approaching the New Year. Join the discussion by leaving a comment below!
Best,
P.S. I havent yet made it to the point on my task list of raising the rates to become an Elite Member. This gives you access to my Private Forum and exclusive download area. If that's something you've been putting off, but meaning to do, you might want to sign up while my procrastination will get you locked in at the lower rate 😉
About Lynn Terry
Yes Lynn I have been thinking about my 2008 Goals as well and Projects I would like to work with...Thank you for introducing me to HostGator for I can use it for anything I need to with my Projects & Business with unlimited access at a great rate. 🙂 and I love being part of your Elite Group. It has been very helpful with Marketing my Business online. 🙂
Lynn,
Thanks for this post....I happen to think about this subject while coming back from a business trip this week. My list is short;
1. Incorporate my Business
2. Write a business plan
3. Focus on plan
4. Match my day job salary or at least achieve half.
5. Focus, focus, focus, focus
6. Take action, Take action, Take action
oh yes...year 2007 is going off... well, 2008 could be a good year! Who knows?
Hi Lynn,
24 days - Oops - 23 now - WOW!
I'd like to say this has been a satisfying year with my online endeavours but I can't and be honest with myself. However I welcome the new year and look forward to revamping my efforts.
It's been hard for me but I am determined to succeed!
This year I've found I need more time or rather, I need to make the most of the time I have. I've been looking into ways of doing this. I recently "discovered" Tim Ferriss' 4-hour Workweek (seems like I've had my head in a hole as I'm about the last one to hear about it)
I'm also looking into the Freedom Business System by James D. Brausch. It's geared towards freeing up time by automating tasks. If you know anything about this, I'd love to hear about it.
To answer your question - for the balance of this year I'm going to reflect and re-evaluate everything I've done this year and prepare myself for a banner year in 2008.
Thanks for asking!
Chet
Great topic, Lynn! Something I've also been talking about the last couple of weeks. I think with such a short time left in the year, it is crucial that business planning and focus for the new year star happening now.
I use a fairly simple planning strategy, too, by printing off and using the Outlook calendars, to-do sheets and putting them in a simple 3 ring binder on my desk.
I have several categories that I use those tabbed indexes for and that's really about as uncomplicated as it gets.
I think so many of us think of business planning and cringe at the thought of having to create some daunting, drawn-out document, and that may be true for a brick & mortar business.
In what we do, however, while planning is crucial to long-term success, it does not have to be complicated, just organized and simple enough to follow.
You're most welcome, Jackie 😀 I look forward to working with you on those goals in 2008!
For anyone interested, here is my hostgator coupon code.
Hi Wes,
Focus & Action are your two greatest assets in an online business! I have not yet Inc'd, and am not sure that I will - and havent written a formal business plan since my first business - which was an offline retail service establishment.
I'm curious why these two are priorities for you in the first year. I'm sure you have your reasons, and I'm not questioning those - just thought it would make for an interesting discussion!
I intend to "make it so"! 😉
Great goal Chet!
This is an ongoing mission with me, and I am about to start my 12th year! lol I am not familiar with James' FBS, but I did read 4-Hour Workweek.
I'm not a huge fan, as you'll see if you read my review at that link... but I know it hits everyone differently. An interesting book nonetheless!
Time, and the spending of it, is such an individual thing. We all have different lifestyles and different goals, and different methods of achieving those goals that work best for us. That's the very reason we are "entrepreneurs" instead of punching a clock somewhere 😉
Check out this 80/20 Rule article by Terry Dean - I really got a lot out of it, and I think you'll enjoy it as well.
Best of luck with your goals - I look forward to hearing more from you!
I couldnt agree more, Patty. I found that paper didnt work for me personally (we're all different) so I recently switched to whiteboards. I have 2 large whiteboards hanging over my desk, a large dry erase monthly calendar, and a cork board. THAT is working for me (finally! haha).
It really does pay to keep it simple, and to also know what works best for YOU. I learned that the hard way, and finally had my breakthrough when I read a book by Julie Morgenstern:
http://www.clicknewz.com/381/i-am-organized/
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for the feedback and the review - it was a great help. I think I pass on Ferriss' book right now.
If I may ask - did you find yourself questioning Tim's ethics at some point? I'm not asking for a judgement call, just your feelings. I tend to shy away from anything that does not hold to high ethical and moral standards.
Time is an ongoing issue for me too, but it became a bigger issue this fall as my wife and I decided I should start homeschooling our two boys.
It's been a massive adjustment to focus on that. I've all but shut down shop. I'm just now getting a better handle on the homeschooling but I need to make every second count.
And yes, Terry Dean's article hit the nail on the head. I need to take that to heart.
Thanks again - you're a peach.
Chet
I did question his ethics - absolutely. I found the whole thing questionable, right down to the marketing strategy of the book itself. (I dont mind sharing my opinion 😉 )
If I were going to recommend a book that would make a dramatic positive difference in your perspective and your handle on time management and life organization... it would be Julie Morgensterns, which I blogged about here: http://www.clicknewz.com/381/i-am-organized/
It may not strike you the same, being a female author, but it really made an impact on me. I restructured my entire home office, and am MUCH more "organized" and efficient thanks to the positive encouragement and smart tips Julie offers.
I homeschooled my 2 children for a few years myself (and miss it terribly!), so I can relate to what you're going through at this phase. Once you get into a routine, things will smooth out nicely. I look back on those years as some of the best!
Hi guys. My goals are simple, to help more of my members make money online. It is a goal that does not seem to have an end. If my members helped by actually participating, I would be very happy. How do you help people who don't want to help themselves? I would like to help them build their business so that they can spread their wings. Therefore till the end of 2007, my goal is to have my members increase their members.
One of the best ways to motivate members would be to use a fellow member as a case study and really set an example - something they can relate to, and feel they could also achieve. Just an idea to consider, one I've seen work!
"I’m curious why these two are priorities for you in the first year. I’m sure you have your reasons, and I’m not questioning those - just thought it would make for an interesting discussion!"
...Lynn
Wes- I was listening to your webinar this week and the subject of treating your online business the same as an offline business. If I were starting an offline business, one of the first things I would do is create a business plan and Incorporate for tax and liability coverage. Also in my mind doing these two things gives me a sense that this is real business with real potential.
I'm curious, what’s some of the things you guys would do when starting an online business to insure that you are giving it the serious consideration?
Ahh. By that comment I meant that you invest time and energy into your online business with realistic expectations (ie get away from the "get rich quick" concept).
Unless you intend to approach VC's or banks for funding, you wont need a formal business plan at all. As long as you have a clear vision for where you are going, and an action plan to get you there... you're good to go. And that can be as simple as an outline on a legal pad.
How you approach it is completely up to you, but just make sure you spend your time and money in the direction that will yield the highest return. Two things to keep in mind, too:
You can always incorporate later, if/when it becomes necessary, and your business plan will be a continuous revision in progress.
Where did 2007 go already?
Yes, Lynn. I totally agree. Everyone has to find the system that works best for them.
There is no "one size fits all" for staying organized.
For years, I would get so frustrated because I tried using the Franklin planners and it was just way too complicated and too much for me to keep up with.
Lynn,
Great topic as usual!
In 2008 I will:
1. Transition from an eBay store to other IM ventures including BANS.
2. Open multiple BANS stores.
3. Beef up my blogging and article writing and submission.
4. Get at least 10 content sites for Affiliate products.
5. Use the experience gained to give back to our community.
6. Make sure every task I take on helps me make more money or not do it.
7. Make more money than I have in any other year of my life!!!
I think that summarizes it pretty well!
Thanks for all of your help!
Jeff
Great plan, Jeff! 😉
Narrowing down my niche has been huge for me in 07. I thought I had done this, but I discovered I needed to drill down to the next level of narrowness. This has made a big difference for me. It has allowed me to write freely, post easily and be much clearer about what want I to achieve and how I want to do that.
Leaping into learning so much geeky stuff has been another milestone. I had no intention of doing this and am very surprised how much I have learned to do myself in a just few months. This has been a pleasant surprise, but taken a lot of determination (energy).
Starting Article Marketing and the Blog have also been rewarding. I like both marketing strategies so much, that I think I would do them even if it were not good for my business. I started both of these as a result of changing my business model and my determination to only market in a way that felt right for me. I look forward to this part so much that it is easy to ignore something I don't want to do.
I find myself struggling to decide on a product launch. I have so much material already and I know those of you that have been in the product world will say just use it. I think I want to create the best, most useful, worth what you pay for it product and not just something to sell, so I am going a little too slowly on this. This is my first priority for 08.
I dont blame you Elizabeth - I'm a stickler for high quality myself, so I can relate. One thing that I find particularly helpful is to make an outline of your product, and then you can work from there to flesh it out into a great offer.
Perhaps beginning in January you could plan to set aside half an hour each morning to work on your product development. Before you know it you'll be feeling confident and find yourself knee deep in a successful product launch!
Dont let perfectionism hold you back, but rather use it to your advantage 😉
I am curious, for those of you that are subscribed to comments on certain posts, do you get an email notification when there is a trackback posted, like the one above ^ ?
A trackback is a link from another page that links back to this one, so for example when I blogged about this weeks webinar and linked back to this post, it showed up here as a trackback (but looks like a comment).
Anyway, I was curious if you get email notification about those the same as you do about actual replies or comments.
Hi Lynn,
Looks like I just get notified of new comments - no trackbacks.
Chet
Thank you Chet - I was curious about that. I appreciate you letting me know 😉