Every year I set a few professional goals for myself. I’ve reached almost all of them. I think the key is to spend a little time thinking about what you really want to do before creating any resolutions. That way you are clear on what it is that you want.
I spent a lot of time thinking about how I want this blog to evolve in the coming year. Up until this point I have just let it grow slowly, without spending a lot of time on the “plan” for where it is going next. But, with 4dancers turning 2, I thought it might be time to define a few long-term goals for 2012. One of them was to develop an editorial calendar, which I am still in the process of finishing, and the other was to begin the process of focusing the content so that it is a solid resource for dancers and dance professionals. That goal will evolve over time.
Setting a couple dance goals for yourself can be very helpful. Just the act of writing out what it is that you want to do helps solidify it in your mind. You don’t have to do anything fancy…just jot them down.
Of course, after you set the goal you’ll want to create a plan for achieving it. Try to be as specific as you can in terms of the steps you need to take to get there. Map out ways to measure your progress along the way so you don’t get discouraged. And be ready to adjust the plan on the fly if need by. After all, life has a way of shifting things…
Do you have any dance goals for 2012? I’d love to hear them!
I’ve posted my 2012 resolutions on my blog page but by far the most important one is to attempt new ventures with both caution and enthusiasm. I’m planning to spend the next 6-8 months creating my “ideal teaching schedule” and then figuring out how to get it. In the past, it’s been helpful to me to put my goals out to the universe, as they say. It helps me to be clear about what I really want – and it also lets other people know. You never know when/where assistance can come and if you don’t tell people what you need, you can’t expect to get any help from them.
Great point about letting people know–help often comes from the most unexpected places! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this Leigh! I hope you reach all of your goals for 2012!