Warriors

A few weeks ago I helped out at the Warrior Games. It was an incredible experience. I was there for wheelchair basketball, a game between the Marines and the Air Force. To see what these men and women can accomplish is humbling and inspiring. I support and value our military, and feel enough is not being done to highlight what they do, what they defend, and what they sacrifice.

Beyond the competition is the camaraderie- yes, they played as Branches, but there was a level of respect between them I have rarely seen elsewhere. I would encourage all of you to come next year. I am already getting my nephews to volunteer with me and I hope to be able to be there for the swimming, track and biking events.

A shot from the closing ceremonies, over 200 athletes competed

If you go here there is a video on 31 May about the competition (sorry couldn't figure out how to embed it).

Goals II

We started this week talking about professional goals, and now we are going to turn to personal.

 

It is essential to have goals for ourselves and where we want to end up. Too often years pass and time slips away because we are not intentionally pursuing what we want out of life.

 

Sometimes (often times) goals are longer term. I know someone who is planning for something that probably won't come about for 15 more years. But they are doing things now to make that become a reality then.

 

It can be small things - take a language or a class, volunteer, look into local programs, etc.

 

 

So, again, one - five - ten year goals.

 

 

One year from now I want to be working with an organization focused on services with/for victims of violence.

 

That is broad, there are multiple levels to that statement. Ideally, I would like to be doing outreach or training, but I would be an admin if it got my foot in the door and connected me into that arena again.

 

 

You don't go from step one to twenty in anything. Goals fill in the gaps and give you benchmarks.  

 

 

After setting a goal, break it down into smaller units.

 

 

One year from now, I want to be done with a novel and have it ready to publish.

 

Therefore, I will dedicate five hours a week (all I can right now) to editing and find someone to be an objective editor.

 

Block in intentional time.

 

Put it as an event on your calendar. It is the concept of blocking in the important things first - not trying to squeeze it in after your schedule is chaotic.

 

 

When I decided to pursue freelance, I made a bare bones budget and then broke that down into weekly goals. I need $--- a week to pay my most basic bills. In that budget, I put in savings and fun because I knew without it I would blow the budget and overspend. That was part of the move to working for myself, the ability to know how much of savings I needed and how much I need to bring in now to stay afloat.

 

Preparation is essential. That's another reason goals are important for your life, they help you move to something and plan for what you ultimately want.

 

Be realistic with yourself and what you want to accomplish. Whether it's buying a home, launching a business, changing jobs, taking that trip to Europe - intentionality is the key to making things happen.

Goals

I've been thinking a lot recently about goals - personal, professional and life goals. Things you want to have done in one, five, and ten years in each of these areas.

It ties into legacy. I think we have to be intentional about what we want to be known for. What do you want people to say about you takes time, intentionality, and purpose.

Today, let's focus on professional goals.

Like I said - one, five and ten years.

They must be a statement,
and they must have something tangible in them.

A one year goal for me - get Let Them Have Faces registered as a 501(c)3 and have 20 partner organizations with Her Shoes.

Define words in your goals.

Partner Organization - someone who has regular contact with Her Shoes, who is giving or receiving direct benefit to the program.

It is different than a donor, a volunteer, an advocate. It is an organization who is more than a contact, to someone having an active role in the work.

Five years - have Her Shoes programs running along the West Coast and be moving into the Mid-West

What defines a program? That will come as Her Shoes gets more firmed up. But, for now, an active contact who has active contacts at the organizations working in their area for victims of violence.

Ten years -  Her Shoes as an international organization, working with organizations all over the world who work alongside victims of violence.



In the end, goals are fluid. But you have to know where you are going. If you achieve a goal early, then reset the rest. I have a hard time not meeting a goal. So, if you can't meet a goal, be realistic as to why. Take time to figure out what is not happening and what you need to change. Sometimes our goals aren't realistic, but other times we just need to find a new way of motivating ourselves or bring in other people to help.


We will cover personal and life goals later. But for now...


Where do you want your business to be in one, five and ten years?