I’ve mentioned it before, but goal-setting kinda gives me hives.
I’ve been working up my goals since Christmas and my critique partner, Laura Drake, has thrown every iteration of them back to me with comments like: “They’re too nebulous” or “Not S.M.A.R.T enough.”
Since ROW80 is all about measurable goals, I’ve kept at it (even on the days when I wanted to shove my foot up Laura’s hiney).
I finally decided I’d hyperventilate less if I just set a few goals at a time, so here they are…
My Round 1 Goals (to be accomplished before March 28th):
- Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS course (I just signed up for February)
- Crossfit 3x/week – I know I can achieve this, since I’ve been doing it for 4 months, but my eventual goal is Crossfit and Yoga for a workout total of 5 days. The first step is keeping my current schedule, even though most days I just want to go back to bed.
- 250 non-blogging words per day. That’s 1,750 words a week and I need that as the bare minimum to get my current WIP out by Mother’s Day.
- Finish reading “Save The Cat.” We had Jessica Brody come speak to us at my writing chapter and she really got my brain moving in the right direction in terms of structure. Must have MORE!!
To encourage the rest of the ROW80 Team, click here.
How are YOUR goals going so far this year? Did you jump out of the gate like a rocket or are you chugging along a bit slower? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
I’m impressed with your fitness goal. Stick to it as most of attaining goals is mental. You can do this!
Phil
http://www.blog.theregularguynyc.com
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You’re awfully sweet to me, Phil…thanks! My fitness goal is the one that makes me craziest. I’m hoping someday soon to not hurt all over when I wake up and to actually LOVE working out. In the meantime, I look at my daughter and think about seeing all her life milestones. 🙂
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Good luck with your goals for this round! I’ve been doing very well at writing progress so far this ROW80, though I hope that doesn’t plummet once the semester starts and I won’t have as much undivided writing time.
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Thanks, Carrie-Anne! The great thing about ROW80 is if your goals become overwhelming when your semester starts, you can modify them to fit your in-school life better. Coolness, huh?
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Great workout goals 🙂 Like you I’ve just set my daily word count goal at 250, and so far I am finding it more manageable than my previous 500. Your reading goal makes me think I should add a reading goal to my own; I have several books in my TBR pile that I’m either half way through or haven’t started. Good luck for this week 🙂
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Thanks, Rebecca! And I’m so happy to hear that the 250 goal makes you feel better. I can always do more, right? 🙂 Get reading!!
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The ‘Hiney’ here – I’m so proud of you for hammering out S.M.A.R.T. goals, Jenny. I know how hard they are for you. Keep dancing, Girlfriend – it’s going to feel SO good when you complete that WIP!
I’ll be right at your back, partying!
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ROFL…I appreciate you and your Hiney to pieces, you know. Mom stories first, then preggers, then the nun. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
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Good job for jumping in, even if you weren’t quite ready yet. If we’re comfortable, we’re not growing. I think *someone* once told me that. 😉
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Thanks, Ryan! And that sounds like a damn smart *someone*!! 🙂
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Oohh, Mother’s Day! I can’t wait! I’ll add to Laura’s hiney-booting if you don’t keep up…I want to read it!
Great goals, Jenny. Keep up the good work!
Kathy
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Sweet Kathy! I’ll thank you for your hiney-booting. If I need it, y’all will give it to me. 🙂
I felt compelled to get all my mom stories down and in print for my daughter. That was my main Nano project and I managed about 15,000 words on it. I think it will end up being between 20-30K…just enough for a young girl to get to know the grandma who died before she was born.
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Those goals seem just right for you. You CAN do it!
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Thanks, Christine! Let me know how I can support you back. 🙂
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Great goals. YOU CAN DO IT. 🙂
Not so bad for me this round although not doing so good on the exercise front.
(Also, sorry if you got this comment twice. My computer decided to crash when I pressed submit.)
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I didn’t get this comment twice, Laura…no worries! Good luck on getting your exercise packed into the coming week. I basically trap myself into it, since it’s not my happy place. After 4 months, I thought it would get easier. I’m coming to realize, I might NEVER like it. But I’ll do it anyway… 🙂
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Four fab goals, Jenny. I agree with Laura, you got this. My efforts have been a mixed bag so far this round. The first week was smooth sailing, but this past one was bumpy. I’ll try again this week. Hope you have a great week and free of hives.
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Don’t you love ROW80, Sidney? Every week is another chance to nail those goals! I’m going to stay on the bandwagon, even when I’m sucking to make sure I get to the end. We’ll just have to use the Buddy System. 🙂
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Save the Cat is such a fantastic writing book! I think every writer can find something to glean from it. Good luck with your resolutions! 🙂
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The lecture I heard (based on Save The Cat) got me really excited, Christi. My wheels were turning in a whole new way. 🙂
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I’ve gotten better at writing goals with enough specifics without being so nailed down that I can’t breathe. Your goals look great! Enjoy Margie’s course. I’m planning on taking her body language one whenever it appears this spring.
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LOL…I completely understand that “I can’t breathe” part. 🙂 I’ll be taking the Empowering Character Emotions and Body Language course this year too. I can’t wait!
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Jenny! I adore Margie Lawson and Save The Cat! And writing 250 words non-blog is great! I bow down to your fitness goals–I’ve yet to add any this go-around. So glad you’re doing this.
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Thanks, Amy! Oh, and Kathy Owen, Karen McFarland and I are making noises about Fast Draft in March. What do you think??
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I still think about that first Fast Draft we did together–it was like some kind of magic! So, yeah–I’d be thrilled to join in again!
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Glad you joined in, and better late than never! You’ve convinced me to make Save the Cat my next read. Thank!
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Thanks, Kathrese! (What a beautiful name you have…)
I’m pretty excited about that read. I’ve been a bit slow on all my Craft reading these last few months.
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I’m doing the Deep EDITS lecture packet as part of Round 1…holy cow is it jam packed! I bow to your fitness goals. The rest of your goals sound very doable. Happy ROWing Jenny 🙂
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LOL…I’ve heard you need to clear the decks for one of Margie’s classes and just work-work-work. So I’m thinking I need to bow to YOU cuz you’re doing it on your own. Nice to be back on the ROW team with y’all. I missed you guys!!
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I’m definitely chugging along a bit slower. You have great sounding goals, though! Keep it up!
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Thanks, Nicole! I sure appreciate you stopping by and cheering me on. 🙂
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OK, I noticed three things…
1. Your goals rock, and so do you!
2. You have ample quantities of honey- kicking volunteers, and I have large feet…
3. You want to see my cowbell, which sounds naughty but isn’t….
So.
Every time you hit your goals, I will post a cowbell picture on Facebook and tag you. There might be kids or critters or dirty laundry involved, but there will also be More Cowbell!
Deal? 🙂
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Silly Kindle… I meant HINEY kicking volunteers!
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That is hilarious, Shan! (And I like the “honey.”) Deal. I can’t wait to see your cowbells *if you know what I mean*…
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Of course, photos may be a little delayed, depending on the findability of said cowbell in a cowbell using family…
And my cowbells? A LOT bigger than my feet! ;D
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Pingback: Trustful Blossoming: #ROW80 Update 1/23/13 « shanjeniah
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Hi Jenny, it looks like Kait has hit some trouble and we have no mid-week check-in. So no one is left out, please come over to our Facebook group and leave a link to your check-in post and we will be over to visit. The page address is https://www.facebook.com/groups/row80/ Alternatively, email me at katiecrcole@gmail.com and I’ll pass your post on. I know Facebook isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!
Should we have no Linky on Sunday, we’ll just keep working this way until things sort themselves out.
Cheers!
Cate (Round 1 Sponsor)
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