There’s a tradition of making resolutions at this time of year, I’m going to lose weight, I’m going to eat better, I’m going to get up and go to the gym every day, I’m going to be better about my finances and on and on. Statistically speaking, January 12th is the fateful day of New Year’s Resolutions, most end only 12 days into the year and only 8 percent of those setting those goals will achieve them. So why do we continue with this tradition? People wish to feel a sense of accomplishment but often set themselves up for failure so how about we set a plan to Achieve!

Get Your Calendar Ready

Personally, I love New Year’s. It’s a time for new beginnings, time to get organized and as a pet sitter it’s my time to hit re-set, goal set and refresh! Nothing thrills me more than going to the office supply and grabbing my new organizer, calendar pages and a new desk calendar and if I’m in the mood to really splurge, new pens. These things make me smile, I love good trip to the office supply and in this day and age of having our schedules be on a device this is something tangible that I can write in and update easily, yes it’s old school but try using the calendar as a goal setting device. At the beginning of each month I write in the steps I’m taking to achieve my overall goals. My Big Goal might be to Increase Sales by 25% but without planning and setting small goals I’ll never achieve my Big Goal so in January I’ll plan all the events we’re going to participate in the upcoming year, I’ll then get the applications filled out and prepared to be sent on the proper date. February’s goals might be to take Valentine’s cards to our Power Partners to tell them how much we love and appreciate them giving us referrals. The key is to make a plan for each month that will help achieve your Big Goal.

What’s Your Vision

Okay cue the eye rolls but I think I’m a new believer in the Vision Board. Last year I took a class which required us to create a vision board in the first few weeks. Begrudgingly I gathered old magazines and pictures and set forth to create my 2022 vision. What started out as a task I dreaded soon became easy and dare I say rather enjoyable and once complete was a  perfect representation of what I was planning in my mind for 2022. Next I hung it where I would see it daily and I used it to work my plan for the year and today as I take it off the wall I begin checking off all the pictures I’ve accomplished over the past year and I have to say I’m shocked at the amount of those visions that have come to pass, in the coming days I’ll evaluate the pictures that will remain part of next year’s vision and begin to add more pictures that fit into 2023’s.

Take a Minute for You

As pet sitters we are people pleasers, many of us don’t say no very much but this will wear on you over time. I urge you to take time for yourself. I love to take classes and learn something that will help me in my business and that will help me grow personally as well. This year I’ve signed up for three classes/conferences/seminars that will aid in achieving my goals and that will allow me to grow personally. First up is the NAPPS 2023 Conference. I see so much value in all the speakers and from having attended in the past I know the value of meeting in person with my colleagues, nothing can replace those in-person bonds we form with each other. This is also a little get away time from my business. Although I work with a team of sitters I’d never be where I am today without having made the commitment to attend the conference as a solo sitter. I get that it’s hard to get away from your business when you’re on your own but I’m saying that you’re doing yourself a disservice by not taking time away from your business to just re-set and renew your love for what you’re doing every day. You gain so much from meeting with your peers and by hearing how others do things, by laughing with them and yes at times crying with them. It’s the perfect time to find an accountability partner too. The time you spend at the conference will come back to you in so many ways. Plan to register today before the price goes up.

Use 2023 to Re-Set

Regardless of whether you make a resolution at least make a goal to hit re-set on your business. Evaluate your goals, are they attainable, and realistic? Have you put a workable plan in place to achieve them? Have you planned to refresh yourself? Sometimes we just have to open our minds to a new way of seeing our goals and how we can attain them that often comes from outside intervention, a peer or a class instructor. Good luck with your 2023 plans, I’d love to see some of your goals on the NAPPS Private FB page and I’ll see you in New Orleans!

Yvette Gonzales
As You Wish, LLC
Daphne, AL