Goals, Gratitude & Growth: building a life and business you love
There is incredible significance of setting and achieving goals, not just in our businesses but also in our personal lives. I firmly believe that goal setting is the foundation upon which we build our path to progress and strive towards what truly matters to us.
I've always found that well-defined goals serve as our guiding stars, helping us to remain focused, motivated, and in alignment with our desired outcomes. In this episode I explore several key facets of effective goal setting.
‘Your perfect average day’
Firstly, I encourage you to take a mental journey with me and envision your "perfect average day." This exercise, taken from Mykel Dixon’s fantastic book Everyday Creative involves diving deep into the intricate details of your ideal ‘average’ day, from the sights and sounds to the feelings and actions. By crafting this vivid mental image, you'll gain the clarity and motivation needed to work towards the life you aspire to create.
Gratitude
I'm also a firm believer in the transformative power of gratitude. Shifting our focus from what's lacking to recognising the abundance already present in our lives is a profound mindset shift. Practicing gratitude can serve as a powerful tool to nurture positivity and establish a robust foundation for pursuing and achieving our goals.
Consumption over creation
In our creative field we need to guard not only our time but where we are feeding our creativity. Instead I have been trying to focus on creating content rather than absorbing what others are putting out into the world. This way too helps us to stay in tune with our own creativity and unique point of view.
90-day goals
Breaking down larger aspirations into manageable chunks allows for steady and tangible progress while maintaining a sense of accomplishment along the way. I have my 90-day goals written down in my notebook somewhere I can review everyday and see where I am up to.
Working on versus in your business
Consider how much you are working "on" versus "in" your business, a crucial consideration for optimising your efforts and driving success.
Niche Down
I am a strong believer in niching down. This strategy enables you to tailor your approach, strategies, and messaging to a specific target audience, ultimately enhancing your impact and relevance as well as focusing on what you love to do. For example when I started my business I was shooting everything from shoes, make-up, models and alcohol while trying to make it as a wedding photographer but the variety, although it made me look busy, I was a master of none. So I niched, into only weddings and only style-focused modern couples who appreciated the details and style and photography as much as I did. Niching down meant that my business could grow more rapidly as I became a specialist.
Creating personal and professional boundaries
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for overall well-being and long-term success.
Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Lei Lei Clavey Education Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leileiclaveyeducation/
Lei Lei Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leileiclavey/
Lei Lei Photography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leileiclaveyphotography
Lei Lei LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lei-lei-clavey/
Lei Lei’s website: https://www.leileiclavey.com/
