Are you committed to your success or just interested?

I came across this question this weekend while reading Girl with a Plan, a book by Maria Kritikos, the founder of the Ladies Who Lunch Network. When I read this I had to put the book down for a moment. That question hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I needed to share it in the See Jane Write Network Facebook group.

I know I’m interested in being a successful writer, blogger, and businesswoman, but am I truly committed to doing the work necessary to accomplish my goals? I’m interested in losing weight and being healthy but am I committed to changing my eating habits and exercising regularly, even when I’m busy or upset?

To be honest, I can’t say that I have been truly committed to my success in 2018. Each month I set goals and each month I fail to achieve most of them. It’s time to make a change. It’s time to truly be committed.

Keep Your Goals in Sight – Literally

I’ve realized that one reason I haven’t been accomplishing my monthly goals is that I’m forgetting about them! I’m getting so caught up with all the day-to-day things I have to do for my teaching job, my blog, my business, and my home that I’m not making time or even mental space for the bigger picture.

I’ve realized that I need to keep my goals in sight — literally. Maria shares in her book that she writes down her monthly goals on a sheet of paper and tapes it to her fridge. She writes her goals on cue cards that she carries around with her. She looks at the cards throughout the day or at least once in the morning and once before bed.  She also writes her daily goals in a notebook.

So I’ve written down my goals and plans for August and posted them in my home office. I wrote them on a sticky note that I’ve taped to my laptop. I’ve written them on index cards that I’ve placed in my bag, on my nightstand, and in the pocket of my Day Designer. And each night when I’m planning my agenda for the next day I will make sure that I’m doing at least one small task that will get me closer to accomplishing each goal.

Go All In for August

Each August I challenge myself and the women of the See Jane Write Collective to go “all in” with at least one thing. I challenge them to commit to doing one thing every single day. For example, perhaps you want to challenge yourself to write every day or read every day or exercise every day.

My August Goals and Plans

FINALLY revamp my website.

Complete another draft of my book.

Submit an essay to one of my favorite websites.

Recruit new members for the See Jane Write Collective.

Lose 5 pounds.

 

My plans for the month include the following:

Attend WordCamp Birmingham

FINALLY start using Google Classroom (this is related to my #teacherlife)

Attend a live broadcast of NPR’s podcast Code Switch

Attend Art on the Rocks

Go to the Eddie B Teachers Only Comedy show

Host one members-only virtual event

Host one members-only social

Speak at Southern Social Summit

And my “All-In August” challenge is to add to my Instagram Story every day.

The Challenge

This month I’m challenging you to also keep your goals in sight and to pick one thing that you will do every single day in August.  If you’re with me, let me know in the comments and share your goals for the month.