Category — Hopes & Dreams

“Farmer Hoggett knew little ideas that tickled and nagged and refused to go away, should never be ignored; for in them lie the seeds of destiny.”
Babe.

I used to write a blog called “Idea Girl.” I moved a lot of the posts over here when I started this blog, and although the name “Idea Girl” is a little bit childish (for I am certainly no “girl” – at least, not any more), it is really apt. I am a person who is FULL of ideas. Ideas that don’t get acted on very often, for I am no fool, but many ideas nonetheless.

I used to think everyone experienced this, but now I know differently. I like to think of myself as creative, but others might just think I’m flaky. Or over-opinionated. It’s possibly a symptom of a pathology, or at least a character trait that puts me in one of the lesser-known Meyers Briggs personality categories.

Anyway, Farmer Hoggett and me – we have something in common.

I just re-found an interview that The Kool-Aid Mom did with me a couple of years ago over at her blog, In the Shadow of Mt. TBR.

I had completely forgotten it existed!

It’s so funny to re-read it, because the more things change…the more things stay the same. I still have no balance in my life!

I am not someone whose life is ruled by astrology. I don’t exactly think it’s complete b.s., but let’s just say I have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to predicting my life or my best mate or my personality based on the date or the position of the sun when I was born.

That said, many of the characteristics of my sign, Sagittarius, fit me to a T. I am enthusiastic, honest to the point of bluntness, and I hate to be second-guessed.
I am a free thinker, that’s for sure. I am enterprising, independent, and impatient. I generally have good judgement, although I can be very impulsive as well.

Problem is, all of those things could describe any number of people. Probably describes you, blog reader. Or at least someone you know.

Despite my astrological snark, I can’t help but love it when I read a horoscope that matches my current zeitgeist. Jan. 1st’s horoscope, written by Jeraldine Saunders, is a great example of this. Here’s what it said for me:

There is world enough, and time. Don’t limit yourself or be afraid to stretch your imagination as far as possible when you make an inspiring New Year’s resolution for the year ahead.

I like it! Ms. Saunders is saying that the stars themselves are giving me permission to take my ideas and run with them. Thanks, Universe!

I’m not one to create New Year’s resolutions. I think there are some things you should probably do around New Year’s Day: clean your office, put away the Christmas tree, think about the year that just passed. But resolving to do better in the year ahead? I prefer to set goals for the new year. Goals provide an end product. Resolutions don’t. Resolutions are too wishy-washy. I like to think that I’m not a very wishy-washy person.

That said, here are my goals for 2009:

#1: find a way to get out of full-time work outside of the home. This is such a major goal for me that my 9-year-old finishes my sentences when I start to talk about it. I don’t know if this will actually happen, as I am also the only person in my family bringing in a steady paycheck right now, but some plans are in the works to try to make this happen. The rest of the goals for my little business support this goal, as the success of DRT Press both depends on and is depended on for its attainment.

#2: Continue publicizing and selling and marketing the heck out of my current books. I was going to add a qualifier - as much as I can in the time I have - but that’s been my S.O.P. and in order to be successful I’m going to have to do MORE than this. I will have to push myself – hard. Included in this is:

• create teacher’s guides for 1st 2 books, then school/library mailing to promote books w/free teachers’ guides
• write articles about school and adoption, both to promote 1st 2 books but also to promote possible future project (TBA later…)
• find 8 new place for BFG to be sold
• get BFG reviewed in all NC state-wide publications as well as ALL local
• place articles in free article banks to promote BFG
• author appearances for BFG – at least 3 before summer
• press releases EVERY MONTH about BFG
• work the social networking for BFG as well as adoption books; write guest blogs on adoption sites; work the Facebook, join appropriate networks/blog rings, etc.
• complete fundraising mailing for BFG

#3. Continue production of next 2 adoption books so they both come out next spring

#4. Create imprint! Yee haw! This is a TBA project, but one which I’m really excited about.

#5. Start personal blog – also TBA. This is a big part of quitting my full-time job. But I’m not ready to share just yet.

Phew! This is actually a lot to do – and much depends on that #1 goal. To do all of this I’m going to have to accomplish 2 personal goals: 1) work less at the Day Job, and 2) really support my husband so his salary can carry us for a while.

Good luck to me!