New Year’s Goal 3 – FOCUS | Joyful Roots - Botanical Wellness + Creative Alchemy

Are you bursting at the seams with creative energy and always have another idea on your mind? If you are a creative person, like me, you know it’s sometimes hard to focus on one thing. That’s not necessarily bad, unless you have so much going on that it all gets diluted. That’s what started happening to me last year, which is why a big goal for me this year is FOCUS!

{The talent here is spectacular. Click on any image for a link to purchase that print}

Having many interests and being a curious, creative person can be very valuable to your business if you know how to harness that power! I’m finding that the key to this is to set very firm goals for myself about what I want to accomplish and stick with them. Some of these goals are short-term and quick, like finishing a pattern design. But others, the meaty, long-term ones are what really start to drive your business, I think.

So, what are some of my goals for FOCUS this year?

Post to this blog at least once a week.
Attend one networking event each month.
Release at least one newsletter each month.
Provide 5 to 10 high quality social media posts each week.
Have at least 10 new clients by the end of the year.
Delegate when necessary.
Commit to a work schedule and stick to it.

What are your goals for focus this year? Please do share in the comments below. We can all help each other grow.

Visiter Her Shop to Purchase This Cute Print

Another aspect of FOCUS is to define your product or service in a way that makes you a key component of a niche market. For instance, I have many skills related to design, but starting this year, I have chosen to pursue one specific area of design: small business branding and identity (because I love it). I may even start to develop my niche even further with a specific type of client as time goes on. For instance, maybe I will find that I really love working with other designers, nature lovers, and artists and that I want to cater to them specifically (Alright, I already know I do!).

One of my all-time favorite freelancer books is The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle. On page 145, the authors talk specifically about bringing focus to your business by:

Discovering What You Have to Offer by exploring your interests and passions, looking for commonalities with past clients, and detailing your education and work history.
Identifying the Market You Service by determining if the market is viable and if it’s too narrow, broadening the focus just a bit.
Positioning Yourself in That Market by developing your “unique selling proposition” which is basically just determining what sets you apart from all the others.

I recommend reading the book for an in-depth look at this topic, but basically, they are stating that a certain level of focus is a great thing. Why? According to the authors, when you lack focus you:

Waste time explaining to potential customers what you do.
It’s harder to identify who your clients are and be efficient with marketing to them.
You end up having to take on any work that comes your way instead of the work you really want.
The quality of the clients you attract is not consistent.
When everyone is a prospect, you waste a lot of time talking to people who are not a good fit for you.

Well, that sounds compelling!

Illustration by Susana Parada from Parada Creations

So what do you think? Are you going to focus more this year, or do you need to actually broaden your horizons? I would love to hear more about your goals and also have you introduce us all to your business. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Until Tomorrow…

New Year’s Goal 3 – FOCUS

What are your goals for focus this year? Please do share in the comments below. We can all help each other grow.

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