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It’s that time again!
I’m not much for “resolutions” but I do love to set themes for the year.
2016 was great in some respects, but a really challenging year in other ways. For the past 5 years, most of my three words posts have been about a gradual improvements over the previous year. I’ve mainly focused on ways to get a little better.
THIS YEAR, I’M GOING BIG
I started working with a business coach in 2016 and during one of our sessions, he asked me about my goals for 2017. When I listed off my goals, it became painfully evident by the end of our session, that I was shooting too low. Many of my goals were to be just good enough, or beginning to enter the realm of success that I truly crave.
So, we started from scratch and began thinking about what I REALLY wanted in life.
In order to get there, these three words must guide me in 2017:
Moonshot
“First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.” -President John F. Kennedy, May 25, 1961
To accomplish great things, one must make bold statements, set seemingly impossible goals, and believe that in spite of all odds, that it can happen.
This year, I hope to achieve success on a scale that would dwarf all of my previous years in business.
I am setting revenue goals, brand awareness goals for both myself and my company, and personal goals that sound borderline ridiculous. And yet, it is the first time that I feel I’m reaching far enough, or pushing myself hard enough.
To reach these goals this year, I must embody the spirit of achieving the extraordinary.
2017 is my Moonshot.
Known
I’ve written plenty about originality and fame. I struggle with the balance between being present and mindful while simultaneously sharing my life online in order to open new doors. I’ve spent the better part of 5 years struggling with this idea of “being known.”
Some of the most notorious bullshitters are: well known. But many of them are not well respected, and are, in fact, well known for being bullshitters.
Many of the most well known are seemingly everywhere. But if you talk to those who have interacted with them in-person you would hear that, in reality, they are not present in those moments.
But if this year’s election has taught us anything is that attention matters. Take that for what it’s worth.
I’ve wrestled with this, trying to figure out to golden formula of promotion versus privacy. I’ve never wanted to have my time with people feel cheapened by the interruption of putting it on Snapchat. I could never stand to put my relationships on display for my own selfish reasons.
Much of my past hesitation to “putting myself out there” has been out of fear. Fear of judgement, from both myself and the outside world.
However, it’s time for me to accept and embrace what I tell so many others.
There is no sign from the universe. Those that went on to accomplish great things just went ahead and did it, without waiting for permission. And they all did it in spite of their fears and uncertainty.
I am fairly well known in Philadelphia. That doesn’t mean I’m a big deal or anything, just more that I know a lot of people in this city. I’ve been here for 18 years and it’s starting to show.
This year I’m taking a multitude of actions to expand my network more broadly. I’ve been playing “small ball,” connecting with one person, who introduces me to another, and so on, and so forth. And while I will still do that, there needs to be more. I have to accept that to get where I am going, I need to be BIGGER and more out there. This means that my name is being spoken by those who have never met me.
So, get ready to see me everywhere in 2017. And I’ll take all of the promotional help I can get, so feel free to help me spread the word.
Ready
In order to do these things and push so far outside of my comfort zone, I need, more than anything else, to be READY.
I have to always be ready to do what needs to be done, even when I would otherwise feel like waiting.
Wake up late and don’t have time to shower or put product in my hair? Too bad, still gotta publish that video blog.
Big sales opportunity happening outside of designated sales time? Too bad, take the call.
I also need to be ready for this whole fucking thing to fall apart, be able to pick myself up, dust off my sweatshirt and jeans, and get back in the game to kick some ass.
I need to be ready for everything to go as planned, and not stand there dumbfounded waiting for the “other shoe to drop.” Because maybe this will be my best year ever. You know what, no, this will be the best year ever.
And I’m totally ready.