Goal setting, next round...

Ever sit down for a long goal-setting exercise and discover, three days later, that you have to start over in another, completely different direction?

I talk a lot about my "made up career." Freelancing might take me into an art classroom with a lot of children or seniors, or I might fly to another city to sell my necklaces and teach people how to make beaded jewelry. Meanwhile, while in another city, I go into the office with my friend and start building a website for her boss. And after returning home, I help someone write a resignation letter they've been putting off for weeks. Then I get an announcement about an upcoming art fair and perhaps I'd like to have a booth.

Makes a woman tired.

I've written a lot recently about wanting to take my jewelry designs to the next level. About wanting to study more complex techniques. Well how can I study these techniques and still pay for gas and the rest of my bills? Can't. Turns out I don't actually have a patron waiting in the wings. (Although if you know of someone just dying to sponsor a fairly talented, highly enthusiastic artist, I'm willing to change my mind again.)

All that to say: in spite of my recent assertions that I want to start moving away from web design so I can spend more time with jewelry design, it's actually going to be happening in reverse. The more I focus on web design and online endeavors, perhaps the sooner I'll create the opportunity to take a nice break and study some new jewelry techniques. (No, I'm not going to stop designing jewelry. It's just going to move into a different space in my life for a while.)

This way I won't have to battle migraines or some mental institution or other.

It's really quite a relief! So much for that recent goal-setting exercise. Now I have to start all over. Fortunately, all the other stuff I wrote about can still "come true." I'll just put it on hold for a while. Not a bad thing at all, really, once you get your brain around it... and the web is very exciting.

Imagine: you have to make a choice between two things you love. Aren't I a lucky girl???

Update on Monday, 10 July, 2006 at 10:10 AM by Melody

It's worth mentioning that later on this morning it occurred to me that this might not be a detour at all, but rather a part of my Ideal Career Master Plan. I mean, instead of thinking of it as "putting off my jewelry design education goals and delaying the (fill in the blank with long list of goals related to becoming a Jewelry Designer Extraordinaire,) I could quite actually be making choices that will, in the end, bring me to those goals more rapidly than I ever believed possible!

I kinda' like the sound of that. 

'Course I still have to write a whole new set of goals for this maybe-it's-interim-and-maybe-it's-not phase of my career. 

Comments

[Dena]

Goal setting is a CHALLENGE. I constantly battle the "am I doing this b/c I love it or because I think I need to do it?" battle. But I love how you refer to "making up" a career. Sounds fun and free-spirited and no reason it can't earn a living too. You're gifted enough for 8 people and I havce no doubt you'll succeed at anything you do--whether or not you plan for it!! =)

[Stevii]

I am in the same boat as you Melody. I have a business, 2 jobs, a volunteer position that is very close to being another job but the thing that keeps me sane is that they all correspond. They all work with youth and I am passionate about all of them. I think that passion and connectivity are the things that keep me going.

[Margot]

I think it doesn't matter which road you ultimately take because the trip will be fabulous. You are fabulous!!!! So whichever turn your goals/career/life takes right now, there is another equally exciting and wonderful turn just up the way a little. You'll see it. It will have your name all over it. And yes, it will be utterly fantastic and more fulfilling than you could have dreamt possible!!!! I have said so :-)

[Carol]

You can do whatever you set your mind to do. We believe in you.
Love,
Mom

[Melody]

Wow. Thanks, ya'll. This was really sweet. And your timing was good, too - I needed it. If success were measured by others' confidence that I could "do it" then I'd already be there. I am blessed.

[Jewell]

Mel - My first visit to your website. -- How do you do all this? -- You are, without a doubt, the most creative person I know!!! -- And, I know quite a few. -- Re: Jewelry -- Have you checked out "Eclectic By Nature" at 408 State Street? Connection for lots of creative people there. -- Light, JC

[Melody]

Wow, Jewell, thank you. How incredibly kind! I have not checked them out! Keep dropping the ball on seeing all these neat places people tell me about. Maybe I can go there soon. Thanks for the recommendation. And welcome to my site!