June 5, 2006

It's June and we're almost halfway through the year. How are you doing on your goals?

As part of a financial empowerment group, I've been doing a lot of thinking about and work on my goals lately. The Art Marketing Action Circles are doing the same, so the topic is heavy on my mind.

I confess that writing out goals isn't something that comes natural to me. Nor do I check them as often as I should. That's why I hired a coach--to help keep me on track and to hold me accountable for my dreams and ambitions.

There's a lot to read about setting and achieving your goals--so much so that you could drive yourself crazy reading about goal-setting and never act on anything. Don't fall prey to this trap. Figure out what you want and then go for it.

Among the soundest advice any business motivation expert will tell you is that you must be clear in your goals. There's no such thing as a wishy-washy goal. Jack Canfield, in his book "The Success Principles," calls unspecific goals "good ideas." Here are some examples:

Good idea: I'd like to have my work in a gallery in Denver.
Goal: I will have my work featured in William Havu Gallery in Denver, Colorado, by September 1, 2008.

Good idea: I'd like to have an article about my work printed.
Goal: I will have an article about my new line of jewelry featured in 5280 magazine by June 1, 2007.

Good idea: I want to make enough money from my art to quit my other job.
Goal: I will be selling $50,000 worth of art each year by January 1, 2009.

See the difference? Good ideas are "I want" or "I'd like to" and lack specifics. Goals should be written as affirmations and be as detailed as possible.

If you have a goal for specific sales, you need to break it down for further clarity. See how to do this on the Art Biz Blog: http://www.artbizblog.com