Perusing a workshop on setting goals just recently
had me wondering how others handle this kind of thing.

 

 

 

 

 

As for me, I keep a faint outline in my head of the
work I want to have done by a certain time. I never set it to an actual date…
anymore. Say like putting out a specific release date. I tried that once and it
didn’t turn out so well. The universe just seems to have a way to screw up those
efforts with some unforeseen calamity.

 

Once that lesson became firmly embedded in my rather
thick brain, I’ve become ultra careful never to stick myself in that position
again.

 

I do admit to having a week that I work toward.
Somehow, that doesn’t seem so frightening and final to me. I know, I’m just
hedging my bets but it sure takes off the pressure—until that last day appears
and then… oh-oh!

 

I also have a pretty good idea of what I need to
accomplish each day. If I’m in writing mode, then I go into my office with full
intentions of writing those first few hours in the morning and leaving everything
until later. Unfortunately, the best laid plans blah, blah don’t always work
out. But I am pretty strict about my word count and tend to force myself to get
busy. If I have to make up time in the evening and even into the late or early
hours it’ll happen. I’ve been known to look like a train-wreck victim more than
once after a marathon of writing.

 

I also set up certain commitments that need to be
dealt with each week. This is where I tend to be better. My days might not
always work out the way I expect, but somehow by the end of the week, most of
the work does get done. Of course, not everyone is in the same position. Many
of you have more time than others. But then your goals will be reasonable and based
on those criteria.

 

Promotion uses up a lot of my hours and energy.
Setting up books is much more work when you have eighteen to deal with.
Therefore, I tend to promote one at a time, and with the Partays, I find it
always gives a boost to the others in my back list. Don’t know about you, but
for some reason I find that time flies out the window when I concentrate on
this part of the business.

 

I also take on a lot of tasks that I probably should
leave alone, time wasters that I can’t seem to stop. I’ve been getting better
through necessity. Like staying off the loops and restricting my facebook and
twitter time. Not perfect by a long shot, but what’s a girl to do? Social media
has become a very enjoyable way of life now. It’s not just about getting known
but having friends that I care about.

  

What
about you? How do you handle your goals? Do you make them and stick to them? Go ahead – brag! I can take it 🙂