Setting A Goal

We’ve all heard about goal setting a million times, and I’m sure we all think we know every aspect of good goal setting. Well I recently met with an upcoming podcast guest, Amanda McKinney, who is a fellow podcaster and accountability coach. Boy, did I have some new things to learn.

Before I ever record an episode with a guest, I sit down with them for about half an hour on Zoom to get to know them a bit and discover possible topics of conversation for the episode. I felt an immediate connection to Amanda, and there was something she said in our conversation that really stood out to me. I laughed as I told her I was trying to make improvements in the business, with the podcast, and progress on my book last year. She replied, “Yes, you have to choose which one.”

I’ve been thinking about that more over the past couple days. I did, effectively, choose just one, and it came at the expense of my writing. I focused on building up the podcast with guest episodes. It took about 6 months to refine the process and develop a system. During that 6 month period, my “free time” between my part time job and when Ember has to be picked up from school was designated for writing or podcast guest meetings & recordings, but the time always seemed to go to the latter. I was really hard on myself about my lack of progress with the book. At times I would grow really frustrated, trying to carve out time just for writing, and bash myself for the incremental changes I was making.

As I reflected on Amanda’s comment about choosing only one goal, I realized I had picked the right goal. The podcast growth and diversification helps build the business, plus the guests and the conversations I had with them inspire me and make me a better writer. I used that time wisely by developing systems to streamline the guest screening process. Now I have a formula and process that is easy to replicate and doesn’t take all of my time. This is hugely evident in the fact that by the end of January, I will have recruited, screened, and recorded for every guest episode this spring season. I’ve essentially created a system where I can stack the podcast guest work and free up my writing time again. With this streamlined process, I won’t need to start meeting with potential guests again until June to prep for the fall season.

So all of that brings me to my goal for this year…making serious progress on the book. On Amanda’s podcast, Accountable, she talks about breaking down goals into milestones, or smaller tasks you can reasonably accomplish in a 90-day period. My next milestone is finishing my rewrites. After updating my memoir outline back in April, I identified a number of new stories I needed to add to the book, and I’ve been slowly chipping away at them. Now that I’ve freed up my writing time for this one objective again (instead of spreading myself thin with multiple endeavors), I have the time I need to dedicate to these rewrites.

If you’re looking for more information about goal setting and accountability, check out Amanda’s website and podcast and look out for our guest episode with her this spring on the Inspired Writer Collective podcast.

If you have a goal you’ve set for yourself around your writing and are hoping for some peer accountability through coworking session or need some help with outlining, use the “connect with me” button at the top of the page to schedule a time to chat! I have resources I can use to help support you and your goal.

SPECIAL OFFER

If you need some help identifying your goal, Amanda has created a mini course, PATH, available RIGHT NOW that will walk you through the steps of defining your life-centered goal (one that fits the FEELING you want to have as you work toward that big achievement), and breaking the bigger goal down into tangible 90-day milestones with a weekly action plan that will actually move the needle in your progress. And the best part, you can complete the entire mini course in 3-4 hours so you aren't borrowing from your precious writing time.

Sound too good to be true? Well, I just wrapped up the course myself. I know I want to finish my rewrites and edits on my manuscript this year. With Amanda's course, integrated worksheets, and capacity calculator, I've figured out my specific path for how to achieve that goal based on my actual resources and time. I've built a plan that takes advantage of my kid-free time while allowing me to show up as the parent I want to be the other weeks. I've even accounted for the major shifts in my schedule that come every summer. This time my goal won't get derailed!

And because of your connection to me, Amanda is offering a special discount of 20% off with code INSPIRED!

Are you motivated and ready to tackle that writing project? 

Have you made attempts at a big writing goal before and failed (like me)?

Do you wish you had a plan that fit your actual capacity (time & resources)?

Then use this link and discount code INSPIRED and build your personalized plan now! Let me know if you have any questions about how I used this process, and enjoy creating your PATH to success!

"PATH helped me create a 12-week plan so I'm set for the next 3 months! 100% worth it!" - Amber

"This process helped me integrate my passion project and business, saving me time and energy. I now have a clear path to achieving my goals!" - Madeline