I remember sitting at my old dining table one year ago today walking through my goals for The Style Safari in 2018, with a brand new, empty house, a pregnant belly, and a lot of nervousness for 2018. Well, it came and went rather quickly, and even though that empty house is now full to the brim with items for my 9 months old, I am no clearer about where I would like to take my life, or my business, in 2019.
Sure, I have learned some hard lessons this past year about prioritizing, and focusing on what really matters, but I have also learned that business just not just arrive at your doorstep, if you are busy working on your family. You still have to work for it if you want it. With the blogging space getting more and more crowded every year, it’s important that I put in the effort to provide even better content to you, my readers, and build stronger client relationships.
That said, as you know I do not believe in yearly ‘resolutions’. So I will continue to focus on building my brand through quarterly goals as I did last year, but hopefully this year with a more concerted effort on business (not to the detriment of family). Before I announce my Q1 goals, let’s do a short recap of Q4.
Focus on sewing: learn new techniques and share my process
I actually did focus more on building my skill set in Q4, working with materials I have never worked with before (faux leather and faux fur), and completing 3 sewing projects in Q4 alone. In contrast to the 8 I made all year, is quite a bit. I actually did attempt a 4th and shared that process and failure on instagram, which was a tulle dress that was beautiful but completely unwearable. For 2019, I would like to build upon that track record and make 12 projects this year as 1 per month seems financially and realistically do-able, challenging myself to try a new technique with each project.
Re-institute Date Nights and Date Mornings
We struggled a bit creating a schedule with date nights and date mornings this quarter, but definitely managed to get one in at least once every 2 weeks. My hope was to have some time once a week, but… alas, life. However, this seems like a 2018 silly small win, but Mr. R and I actually started and finished a Netflix series, Ozark, which is impressive considering it might have been our first series that we finished together all year. Even though we are just watching TV, at least it feels like something we are doing together, calmly, with a glass of wine in hand!
Make New Holiday Traditions
Success! Although I didn’t end up hosting a large party for my friends as I had hoped, we made 2 new traditions for Hannukah, and 2 new ones for Christmas, including a ladies afternoon tea in the city, and hosting my extended family over for dinner before Christmas. Even though this year figuring out what would become a tradition was a little tricky, I am confident that we have the bones to make these 4 activities stick year after year, and make our multi-denominational holiday celebrations fun for both sides of the family!
2019 Outlook: Q1
Decide Which Business to Pursue
I have two businesses ideas/ventures going outside of this blog, and I simply do not have time for all three. I will always keep my blog as it has become a part of who I am, but I need to decide which of the other two to pursue. One gives me more flexibility to raise a family but provides less income and is less risky. The other is far riskier and would hopefully provide more financial upside, but would cost me precious time away from Marina and a growing family. Which to choose? Hopefully in 3 months time I will know.
Actually break ground on ONE of my bathroom renovations
I have been back and forth on the 3 bathrooms that I want to re-design, flip flopping between design styles, financial excuses and being too busy to oversee them. Well time’s up on me! I need to just hire someone and get started, because I can’t take Mr. R complaining about it any longer!
Return to my Pre-Pregnancy Weight
I hate sharing a weight goal but I know that putting it out there is the only way for me to be held accountable. I don’t have a ton of weight to lose, but like all women, I’ve had a hard time shedding those extra few pounds after the baby, and I don’t want those extra pounds to compound for every additional baby I have (fingers crossed). So that means returning to my pre-pregnancy weight soon, and keeping it off for the rest of the year. I don’t have a ton of time to work out, but I think adding in one more cardio workout a week will help me get there, as well as cutting out the extra afternoon sugar/cookies/snack that I seem to have added in to my diet over the past year. Seems little, but those little bits add up!
