You don't need new years' resolutions for your business, you need to discover a strategy that supports your creative dreams
In the first of my business coaching blog posts for 2023 it would seem remiss of me not to address the ‘new years’ resolutions’ phenomenon. Whilst it’s been a staple of the arrival of the new year for at least 200+ years, I think it’s time to question the helpfulness of making such grand statements of intent.
It’s all too often built around the shame we feel about things we failed at or didn’t address in the last 12 months, and there are things we can do instead that actually might be healthier, happier and more achievable for us when we think about making positive changes in our businesses.
As we embrace the start of another year, if you have a dream of where you want your creative business, your life and your creativity to be in 2023, let’s find a kinder, easier way to make it a reality.
Personally I always see the Solstice as my ‘new year’ – I am very affected by the darkness and struggle hugely with the festive period for personal reasons too. Marking the gradual leaning towards the light feels a more positive thing to focus on, far away from the stresses of goal setting, tax returns and the pressure to suddenly be a whole shiny new person, somehow miraculously changed for the better simply by saying so on the 1st of January.
Change, true change at least, I believe comes in increments, small steps that together over time, lead you in the direction you want to go.
Word of the Year
Many people (myself included) like to choose a word to focus on for their own version of resolution, and I this is a helpful tool – an intention still, but one with far less shame attached to it. Positivity, rather than a statement ‘not to do’ something or behave in a certain way. Instead something that can act as a source of inspiration, be a motivator, and remind you of your vulnerabilities in a way that supports you, not as a reminder of your failures.
For myself this year it is ‘boundaries’. During 2022 I had allowed myself to carry on being a ‘people pleaser’ – eternally saying yes to things that weren’t healthy for me emotionally and mentally. The eternal ‘helper’ always putting others’ needs above my own. I recognise that this trait (wanting to help as my primary driver) in part makes me good at my job, but also that there needs to be a limit now for my own well-being. I have Ts & Cs in place that I rarely enforce because I want to be the person that makes someone else’s life that little bit easier in the moment (or because I am so hugely conflict adverse – but that’s a story and a thing I need to address another time!). So whilst I will always still try to help in any given situation as is my nature, I will also be try to be more aware of my own energy levels, value my own time, and rather than setting new boundaries, simply actually stick to the ones I have in place. [See my blog post on boundary setting here].
Strategies not Empty Statements
My additional approach is to have a clear strategy in place for the year, I know what my goals are, and last month I spent some careful time planning the exact strategy on how to get there.
It was partly formed already – some changes and improvements on what worked in 2022 (and what didn’t), how I will market my business going forward, what services and products I will be creating and how I will pursue a huge desire to do more photography this year. Looking back on 2022 I was lucky enough to shoot for some incredible brands as well as create some art that made my soul happy, so my strategy will be including how to create more time for these things whilst still maintaining my income goals.
