Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away.  Since we’ve had kids, my husband and I haven’t taken Valentine’s Day too seriously. We stay home and put the kids to bed and try to have a romantic dinner together–usually between requests for one last drink of water and one more story. Dessert is something I [...]

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We all start January with a fresh canvas on which to paint our possibilities for the new year.   As creative entrepreneurs, we’re lucky in that we can spend time in January hitting our internal “refresh buttons” & building on everything we created in the past year.Setting goals can be really challenging; it’s easy to under-estimate your ability or way overshoot the mark.  It can also be unsettling to put it all down on paper—it’s one thing to decide on a goal, but a completely different animal when you have to figure out how you’re going to make it happen.So, today, we’re going to set you up for success in 2012 by laying out a solid process for goal-setting that actually works...meaning, it’s easy to lay out, implement, and accomplish.We’re going to break your 2012 plan into two sets of goals:Long-Term GoalsShort-Term GoalsAn easy way to differentiate between these two types is to think of long-term goals as those that build your mission, and short-term goals as those that build your metrics.Your long-term goals should be the first thing you tackle—don’t get too crazy!  One or two is perfect; remember, these goals are all about slow, steady, sustainable growth.  We’re building your brand and crafting your entrepreneurial persona. Here are some great questions that can help you discover your long-term goals:Why do I do what I do?What do I want to be known for?What sets me apart from my competitors?When you get to a clear long-term goal, the next step is to break it down into manageable (and measurable) actions.  The ability to measure is really important because it allows you to connect conceptual ideas (like the ones you created for your long-term goals) with results you can actually see—and that’s a huge boost to your momentum.   See if you can set up sales goals for each quarter, and then break it down for each week.  If social media growth is part of your long-term plan, give yourself numeric goals to build up to—and more importantly, give yourself a little reward when you hit them.Let’s sketch out an example to get you started:Long-Term Goal: I want to be known as a socially-responsible, eco-friendly retailer of organic baby clothing.Short-Term Goals:1. Connect with 1 business owner each week that specializes in eco-friendly products.2. Get 3 posts up on my Facebook page each week communicating the importance of using eco-friendly products for your baby. 3.  I need to reach $xxx in sales, and I will implement a redesign in my product packaging that better communicates the benefits of my product, and is produced with 100% recyclable materials and soy ink.See how these goals circle right back to the long-term one?  As you meet your short-term goals this year, I encourage you to keep ramping up.  Use the momentum you worked so hard to build.  Imagine where your business will by 2013!I’d love to hear about your goals for 2012 in the comments section below—let us all know what you’re planning for the new year!Megan Gallagher is a small-business strategist working with creative indiepreneurs at Method & Madness.  She talks business development, creative vision, and indie lifestyle through one-on-one strategy sessions, e-guides, and the Method & Madness blog.Main image courtesy of cdsessums

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Falling out of love is about transition and allowing cycles to come to their natural conclusion. More...

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A few weeks ago I stopped by my local Goodwill and found this lovely chair for THREE bucks! It was a little beat up, but not too shabby! I knew with a little love, it would be perfect for my little office space…and for impromptu photo shoots of my little girl. ;) Have you ever [...]

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My calendar-loving seven-year-old is already counting down the days to Valentine’s Day. I guess she likes to plan ahead! Our first “official” Valentine crafts of the season are these colorful hearts made with puddles of watercolor. Not only is the finished product beautiful, the process is really fun, too! Materials: Sturdy paper (watercolor paper or [...]

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Vent. Use your favorite physical outlets for creative expression. Paint, stretch, jump, lift. Run, ride, weave. Sing, rhyme, scream. Alchemize the dark energy and turn it into nurturing gold. More...

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Adapted from Creativity Triggers are for Everyone: How To Use Your Inventiveness To Brighten Your Life by Edward Glassman, PhD. More...

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This guest post is brought to you by Outright.com, the easiest way to manage your business finances online.One of your New Year’s resolutions may be to organize your business finances – and keep them organized! Sometimes the latter is the difficult part, as organizing your finances is a one-time thing while keeping them that way is an ongoing struggle.Luckily there are several things you can do to keep your finances in order all year long. Here are some tips to get you on your way.Read Your BillsThis is great advice for not just your business life but personal as well – instead of blindly paying your bills every month, carefully read over them to see where all the money is really going. Don’t be afraid to change providers or cancel a card if you feel you can get a better deal. The only way you can figure out if you’re getting the best option is to read your bills!It may seem like a chore, but it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes each month to go over each bill. It’s especially true with any business cards or accounts you have. Did the interest rate go up? Are there suddenly mysterious fees attached to your account? If so, shave off some expense by finding new solutions.Take Pictures of Your OfficeWant to keep your office in order? Then start snapping away! Pictures of your office can help in numerous ways, one of which is to assist with your taxes. You see, there are several deductions you get if you have a qualified home office, such as bills, supplies, and even rent/mortgage percentages. These things require proof, though, and pictures of what you currently own can help your accountant find all the deductions for which you qualify.Setup Automatic PaymentsTired of checking off the list of bills to be paid every month? It definitely becomes a chore after a while, and can even be dangerous if you forget a bill one month. Instead of signing on to 50 different accounts or driving into town to write checks, set up automatic payments for your bills. More and more companies are offering these as an option, so take advantage! Mind you, if your business is operating on a month-to-month financial basis it may not be a good idea, as you may accidentally incur an overdraft.Use Outright!We can’t help but toot our own horn here – but what better way to get your finances in line by using Outright? We can help you not only figure out where you stand with your business finances right now, we can also get you on the path you’d like to walk. Instead of constantly worrying about updating your books and filing receipts, let us do the hard work while you reap all the benefits – and get back to doing what you do best, running your business!Worried about tracking your expenses? Outright automatically imports your financial information from your bank account, PayPal, Meylah, Etsy and more. Sign up today for free Outright.com account through tax season 2012!Main image courtesy of Dave Dugdale

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Looking back it's fairly easy to see how the thousands of baby steps, handful of leaps, and myriad of detours all fit together like stepping stones to form the creative life I lead today. However, as a child a young adult, I didn't seem to exhibit a single creative tendency. More...

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I have so many ideas that it's hard to know which to choose to pursue. I realize that some are just small ideas that I need to explore to get to the next big idea. More...

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