sneak peek...

Hey Rootmixers,  here are some hints about what will be revealed tomorrow for the big Power Day give-a-way.  It's been a lot of fun to make...

Any guesses?

i can't even wait...

... until I watch the whole thing.  I gotta share it with you now!  I'm already tearing up at this presentation of one of my favorite view points:  we are all artists and can connect with the creativity within.

OK, back to finish watching the second half, then I'll have to watch it again.

Go create!!!

{power year} march madness!

It sure is March Madness!  This month's assignment and challenge from Megan Quicke's Power Year came through on March Eve and already there's been a maddening amount of goal-getting!  (Read the March Message here for yourself if you'd like to play along at home.)

Megan's challenge this month is to share our plans publicly.  As I thought of possible public declarations of my intentions for my Power Year, none of which really excited me, this invitation came bounding into my email inbox:   a Salon-Style Bicycle Art Show!!!  So, see Goal #3 and #4 below. Done and done!

Madness!

My March Madness Goals:

1.  Send an email offering an introduction and explanation of my services to have friends share with their friends. (Due:  3/5)  [Update:  done!!!]
2.  Create goodies for the Power Day give-a-way happening March 11th!  Stay tuned on how to enter!
3.  Test and complete artwork to show at the Salon-Style Bicycle Art Show!!!   (Due:  3/22) [Status:  In progress]
4.  Sign up for MailChimp email service, upload all of my contacts, and send an announcement about the art show.  (Due:  3/16)
5.  Do the math on an affiliate program I will offer and send around an email announcing the program.  (Due:  3/31)

And overall, aim to do 32 hours of work that either is directly billable or will lead to income generation.  Build up to that this month.

*Bonuses that will rollover to April:  do my taxes; complete or schedule these tutorials from The Curious Pug.


A Wrap-Up of February: 

It went amazingly.  I gave myself just enough structure and just enough space to really have fun fulfilling these goals that will serve me well on the way to my dreams coming true!  It really boils down to being OK with succeeding and having compassionate expectations of myself; that's what's new for me this go-around. 

Thanks for all the support and encouragement!

xox

what i like today...

• loving this block print by twoems...

• and her tiger!

• and thanks to Craftaholics Anonymous and guest poster Maybe Matilda for this awesome crochet headband tutorial, I jumped right in and made one.  #instantcrafting felt really good (and it's keeping my head warm!)

• I also really like playing the guitar, practicing finger picking
• and I think I got my cooking mojo back!!!  It's been over 12 years!

Happy Friday y'all!  Oh, and here's where I was tweeting today... right... here!

xoxZ

what i like today...

• google video chat (love!) yes, I just used it for the first time...

• that etsy blue stamped crepe paper

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• plotting march madness for my Power Year!  it feels so good to accomplish goals!!!

• a touching conversation with my bandmate, aaawww!

• thinking of a master plan... (1:08)

•  my first singing lesson vocal exercises, now just to practice them!

• this TED video, so inspiring!  "We didn't push the limit, we just showed it was further than anyone thought!" What bridge can you create?

what i like today...

• kicking off March Madness for my Power Year!!!
• the way this guy feels out notes... and if you listen closely, you can hear his voice along with the piano

• which brings me to officially recognizing the awesomeness of these external speakers I got for Christmas... so much better to listen to the iTunes on...

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• oh, and this photo of organizing remotes...

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Happy March 'eryone!
Z

P.S.  More on my Power Year later... for now, I'll just let you know that I've come up with the give-a-way idea for March 11th, my Power Day!  Stay tuned!  It's gonna be fun!

what i like today...

• this video, mostly for the fashion...

• the variety of hues all neatly stacked...

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• this choker...

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• hugging it out...
• coordinate-y instrument cables...

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•  um, being home, relaxing...

hugs peeps!
z

what i like today...

• The way this frame is fashioned with a stitched-down fabric border... 

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• sleeping babies!
• getting a full week of work hours, and more for Monday.
• a free evening to devote to my Power Year.
• remembering to do my 11 minutes of meditation this morning.
• sticking to my food budget of $9 per day! 
• cute 20-minute totes with easy-to-follow directions (and a simple way to use up my fabric stash... well, ok, make a small dent).

 

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• the way the ribbons for these lace-up shoes falls to the right...

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• being hopeful!

How 'bout you?

xx

what i like today...

• The Soft White Sixites I got drummer Joey Bustos' discarded stick!
• Hanging with *This Guy*
• 3 hour naps.
• Rainy-rain.  That I get to run through without getting too drenched.
• Remembering I wrote a poem I liked in the Summer of 2005, down at a hostel on the beach in L.A.
• Chocolate raspberry cake for dinner.
• Sharing wor wonton soup with someone spesh.

{power year} an introduction.

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Hello peeps.  I just reviewed my twenty-11 intentions and all is so far, so good.  And that's good news. 

Why?  Cuz I've just embarked on a supportive process with Ms. Megan Quicke of The Power Year, and also Coffee Adventures.  I'm doing my own Power Year.  You can too if you'd like to follow along on her blog.  Very inspiring.  She lays out the steps to getting goals accomplished one by one.

At the end of January I was on the facebooks and asked Megan if she'd be doing any online workshops like the ones she's led in-person in Denver.  Don't you know, lo and behold, she acknowledged my comment in 2 minutes and in just the next 29 minutes got a call to action and sign up deadline for her Online Power Year Pledge Class posted on her facebook wall!  Inspiring.  I signed up.

Here are the first few tasks she charged us with, her Online Power Year Pledge Class, and my responses.  I'm tellin' ya, so i'll be accountable to ya.  Thanks in advance.


1. Write a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound) goal for your creative project.

My Power Year SMART Goal:  "Produce well received and highly sought-after, profit-generating art." 

Now here that is broken down into what the Specifics look like... (most of these will be Measured in time - at least 3 hours of activity in these areas per week, that's a stretch for me to make that time commitment Attainable, but I'm up for the challenge.  These examples are Relevant to succeeding at my goal and the Time-boundness equals 3 hours per week throughout the Power Year!)

Produce:  schedule creative time; have ready supplies, inspiration, skill, and s p a c e; create prototypes to maximize efficient generation

well received:  develop packaging/branding; provide awesome customer service; seek feedback

and highly sought after:  online marketing of my brand; IRL networking; utilize Facebook and Twitter; offer my own affiliate program; guerrilla/community awareness; ask other bloggers/artists for reviews; comment on other blogs, utilize Etsy...

profit-generating:  participate in affiliate programs; host blog ads; wholesale goods; set appropriate price points to cover time, labor, overhead, etc.

art:  develop my own style; practice sketching; review and practice what I've been taught; study; collect inspiration

2. Then, write down five or less rules (or if you like the word “guidelines” better, cool) you will live by, in order to help you achieve your goal.

My 5 Power Year Rules:

1.  80/20 rule - if 80% completion is reached - celebrate!!!
2.  Be productive for at least 15 minutes each day
3.  Create and follow a budget
4.  Put self-care first (11 minutes meditation, 3 meals a day, 30 minutes exercise 3 times/week, get 8-10 hours of sleep/day)
5.  Jump in where I am - no accumulation!

3. Finally, identify five or less items that will be your FEBRUARY FOCUS

My February Focus:

1.  15 minutes per day clean and organize!
2.  Dating clean up - use the time to get my sh*t together first!
3.  Take a current life status inventory - what's what and where I'm at
4.  Practice my routines for the year, add them in, get up to speed, test what works (i.e.  my Power Year rules)
5.  Design and launch my Power Year give-a-way or promo (it'll be on the 11th [my Power Day] of each month, starting in March)

and P.S. my Power Year Animal is the Walrus (slow, but moving) and my Power Year Word is *pleasure*!!!

That's it folks.  A lovely foray to success and accomplishing my goals!!!  Couldn't come at a more grateful time!  I'll be sharing updates to my progress with the Power Year, my monthly focus, and for you - a monthly give-a-way or treat of some kind... stay tuned!

xo, Z