Goals for 2010

I'm big on writing goals, weekly, monthly and yearly goals not to mention a 5 year plan. I think it's an important part of being a freelancer. If we don't set goals for ourselves than who will? That said, I went back and see how I did at attaining my 2009 goals and guess what? No goals. I've been so busy with my head down, I think 2009 went right by with no goals. Oops! So goal number one this year is to write out my goals and stick them on the wall right above my desk.

There are a few things about goal writing that I learned in a management seminar years ago (back in my cube rat days) that I still find useful. First, I only make goals that are in my control. Getting a book contract from a large publisher would be nice but not something I can control. What IS in my control is creating a picture book dummy and submitting it to publisher X. Secondly, I try to make goals that are concrete. I'm not as good with this one, but I try. Saying I'm going to be more organized is something I say every year, but that could mean lots of things. But this year my goal is to take time to clean off my desk once a week. I think that would be a good start at being more organized.

So here are my goals for 2010...

1. Write my goals and put them some place prominent in my studio.

2. Draw from life, at the very least once a week.

3. Remove personal papers, bills, etc. from my studio. Working out of the house, I've found it easy for home stuff to creep into my work space.

4. Finish listening to the Riven Phoenix drawing CD's (I started going through them last year but I have a lot left)

5. Finish a picture book dummy.

6. Clean off my desk once a week. (I don't have high hopes for this one.)

7. Promote the new Alfie book when it comes out in April. (I've got a few ideas.)

8. Update my website/on-line portfolios at least once per quarter.

9. Give the best presentation I can at the New England SCBWI conference. (My talk will be on Photoshop techniques for illustrators in case anyone is interested in attending.)

10. Back up all my data files at least once a week.