2017 Q1 Review

Hi and welcome to Episode 8 of the View 112 Podcast.  Between those of you who listen to the podcast on line at View112.com or those of you who read the show notes, I appreciate the support!  Today is Saturday April 1st!  We are officially done with 1 quarter of 2017. The topic for today's podcast is 2017 Q1 Review.

This year, I took a different approach to my New Year's Resolutions and planning. I did set goals for the year, but I also mapped out a quarterly plan. I changed my approach because I noticed at the end of 2016, there were some goals I set for myself that I didn't accomplish or had not even thought about doing, mostly because I didn't have a plan. I spent the last quarter of the year trying to see if I could hit the target on some of the goals I set way back in the beginning of the year.  I didn't feel good trying to play catch up so I decided to make a change.  For the most part, setting quarterly goals has been a hit.  I set high level goals like: write more, keep in shape, complete school, improve finances, and take care of my health.  I mapped out Quarter 1 with a list of to-dos and ideas.                 

January: Register for school, complete whole 30, book all medical appointments (eye, dentist, physical, gyn, therapist), file divorce paperwork, complete 1 blog post per week for 112Books.com, and 112 Book Drive?

February: Prep for big move at work, stay strong in class work with discussion boards, yoga/beach body/run/bike (wellness challenge at work), complete 1 blog post per week, consider home buying options and lower car payment, build professional network, consider Paleo.

March: Keep focused with school work, prep for lenten season, game plan summer semester, 1-2 blog posts per week.  Running plan/bike plan/yoga, decide if moving (lease is up), sharpen writing skills (maybe a class), and Women's History Month (consider advocacy and literacy activities)

Some highlights to note:  1. I did not really picture View 112 (blog or podcast) being a thing so this has been quite the experience.  Through it all I have posted 2 times a week, for which I am very proud.  This and my school work has helped sharpen my writing skills a bit. Still, I do need to work on more professional development in this area.  2. I did improve my financial outlook by slightly lowering my car payment, getting out of a bad loan, and getting a new car in the process.  I also negotiated and renewed my lease for one more year, 3.  I have maintained my physical fitness with spinning yoga, and started a new running plan a couple of weeks ago, and 4. I am wrapping up 2 classes toward my degree: Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneur Venture Planning.  In the past, I have often registered for classes and then mid semester when things get crazy at work, I drop the classes.  Not this time.  Ya girl has been, not just hanging in there, but thriving.  Trending for As in both classes. 

Obviously there are some things that didn't get done.  I will incorporate them into my Q2 Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams for Spring: 1.  I didn't take care of all of my medical appointments. I did go to the eye doctor and the dentist in March.  I still need to get my annual physical and GYN exam.  Which leads me to 2. My eating habits are kind of a problem.  Sloppy.  Still working out fairly regularly, but my diet is a mess.  Whole 30 was an epic fail in January.  I didn't make it past my birthday. 3.  I would not say I've built my professional network though I am pleased with some of the advances I've made professionally.  I need to join a writing group, conference, MeetUp or something in this space as a freelancer. You know, just be around other people who do this.  Plus View 112 is totally different than 112 Books and I need to upgrade my plans and goals to match the expectations I have for this new platform.  At work, I'll be celebrating 5 years (2 in my current role) in May and haven't expanded my network to collaborate or work with anyone new in at least a year. 4.  About that divorce paperwork...yeah I need to get to it.  

Looking back like this helps me see my progress but also identify what I need to do in Q2.  At this pace I will accomplish a lot more in 2017 than I did in 2016.  

So how about you? Where are you with your 2017 resolutions, goals, plans?  Would you benefit from a quarterly strategy and review?  Here's what it looked like when I mapped it out in late December.  I'm working on that Q2/Q3 update now:

First Draft of 2017 Quarterly Plan...