This morning, I unwrapped my 12-month, poster-sized wall calendar and put it up over my desk—there they were—the twelve months of 2008 stretched out ahead of me like a blank slate. But then, I took my little black Sharpie and started to write in deadlines, scheduled business trips and other work details and I realized that I’ve already started on the coming year—even if the first day of 2008 hasn’t even arrived yet!
For me, until I actually “see” the dates and weeks start to stack up, the coming year is still just an idea—a clean slate with no mistakes and no deadlines. But, once the calendar goes up, I feel as though I am committing to another year of this whole home business thing. Of course, in my heart of hearts I know I am committed farther into the future than the next twelve months, but there is something about having it down on paper that makes it official. Putting that full-sized calendar up above my desk with all it’s little rectangular boxes to fill signals the start of a brand new work year.
So, the time has come to take all those notes, new plans, and budgets and put them together in a cohesive and workable way as I embark on yet another year of working to build a business. Of course, I hope there will be some surprises and vacations in there too but for now, it is all about getting geared up for the work. The calendar helps me to establish some visual structure and feels for all the world like I am absolutely serious at this home business operation (which of course I am—but it CAN feel like play on some days). Bring on 2008…I’ve got the calendar and the Sharpie ready for whatever is on the way!
Also: Planning on Changes…Or Status Quo
Losing Focus…And Getting it Back