The end of September signals the beginning of fall and a steep downward slope toward the end of the year. There are just three months left to get those annual goals moving or completed.
Like my mid-year check-in, the three-quarters point offers a nice opportunity to see how my goals are going since there is still 25% of the year to go.
So, here’s a review of the goals that I set back in January. If you remember, each goal was aligned with one of five vision statements.
I’ve copied my goals below and added my progress next to each in italics.
Vision Statement # 1: I am a writer, therefore I write.
- Draft book # 4 (with co-authors): The draft was completed in July and sent out for review shortly after.
- Complete final production steps for book # 3 and two edited collections: Final production steps are completed for book # 3 and one of the edited collections. The second edited collection is now edited and in production!
- Secure contract for book # 5 (proposal submitted Dec 2017): I decided to pull out of this book project for now. You can learn more about this decision in this podcast episode.
- Draft book # 5 (with co-author): See above. I pulled out of this project so that I could put my energy elsewhere.
- Market book # 3 when released: This is happening right now! I’m marketing the book through a supplemental website, as well as through this year’s how to: academia webinar series on professional identity.
- Market two edited collections when released: This is happening right now for editing collection # 1. We launched a book website and a podcast mini-series to celebrate the book’s release. Book promotion for the second edited collection has been moved to 2019 since that’s when the book will be available.
- Market new book series when launched (I serve as series editor): Since the release for the first two books in the series was a little delayed, I’ll be moving this to early 2019.
- Gather ideas for book # 6 (now potentially book # 5) proposal: I’ve been continuing to dabble with this and even created a draft book outline that I’ve been toying with. I definitely consider this a fun passion project for now.
- Continue to write weekly essays for my email newsletter (also posted on The Academic Creative blog): I’ve written essays every week so far this year. In progress.
Vision Statement # 2: I am an academic creative who serves other academics who want to create things.
- Record additional seasons of the AcademiGig podcast and additional weekly episodes for You’ve Got This, Research in Action & The Anatomy of a Book podcasts: I have released weekly episodes for the remaining podcasts each week this year and in July I completed a podcast rebrand (check it out at https://katielinder.work/podcasts). When the third season of AcademiGig launched, it also included a rebrand. The show is now called Make Your Way and was added into my new Radical Self-Trust Podcast Channel! In progress.
- Transition ht:a webinar content from 2017 into mini-courses to release in 2018: This is done! The courses feature of ht:a launched with all the nine courses as well as a master course which include all content from the first year of the series.
- Complete ht:a webinar series year one: Done!
- Launch ht:a webinar series year two: Done! You can learn more at https://howtoacademia.com — I’m very excited for the year two topics that started this month!
- Build the companion website for book # 3: This is completed! I finished this just in time for the book’s release in late September. Check it out at https://mypiobook.com.
- Build the companion website for new book series: I’ve purchased a domain name and started building this website. Since the release date for the series was shifted to early 2019, I’ve back-burnered this project for the moment.
- Design and create content for a second online course (topic TBD): This is done and released! SoTL by Design was launched on June 1!
- Be a supportive presence for my co-authors and for the authors writing for the series I’m editing: I hope so! I’m working on it!
Vision Statement # 3: I am an entrepreneur who does business on my own terms.
- Quit Facebook: Done.
- Surpass the 2017 revenue for my side business: Won’t know until the end of the year, but I’m still on track to at least match last year’s revenue.
- Have in-person speaking engagements represent less than 50% of 2018 revenue: Currently, this is the case although my pipeline for the year has speaking bringing in close to 50% of revenue so far.
- Launch new virtual summer writing groups program: These launched and they were so fun that I continued the program into the fall. You can learn more here if you’re interested in future groups.
- Create a marketing strategy for webinar and speaking offerings: I may still do this, but since I’m already booked for speaking through 2018 and I’m starting to book into early 2019, this hasn’t been a priority for me.
- Launch revised marketing for website design offerings: I decided to stop offering this as a service since I’m so full with other offerings — it was a bit of a relief to take it off my website and stop taking on clients for this.
- Increase number of website design clients from 2017: See note above. I’m not longer offering this service.
- Continue to engage and form community on social media and online platforms of my choice (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Mighty Networks): I’ve seen some nice growth in Twitter followers so far this year and have also made some really fun connections on Instagram. In progress.
Vision Statement # 4: I am a coach who serves academics and higher education professionals looking to design their ideal lives.
- Complete first phase of coaching training: This phase is complete!
- Apply for and complete second phase of coaching training: Finished! I completed this training earlier this month and am officially done with my training requirements for certification.
- Log 100 hours of coaching: I’m super close to 100 hours and should wrap this up in the next month or so.
- Apply for coaching certification through ICF: I’m planning to apply later this fall once I complete my 100 hours!
- Launch revised marketing for my coaching offerings: I updated the PDF that I share with potential clients and I also made some updates to my website to better align with my radical self-trust framework. You can learn more about my coaching practice at https://katielinder.work/coaching.
- Increase number of coaching clients from 2017: Done. I’ve had a lot of inquiries this year, and I’ve loved working with every single new client.
Vision Statement # 5: I am committed to my physical, mental, and emotional health.
- Continue working with personal trainer on building back and core strength: Although I loved working with my trainer, I took a break from weekly sessions while I completed the second part of my coaching training since both of these meetings take place in the evenings and I didn’t want multiple busy evenings a week. I’ve been using Aaptiv to fulfill this need for now.
- Daily workouts (even if short): Working on this. I got disrupted a couple times this year with illness, but I’m working on getting back to my consistent morning runs and, as I note above, I’ve been using Aaptiv to get creative with my workouts.
- Schedule regular solitude (at least one day per month): I’ve been making this a priority and it has been an incredible addition to my year. My introverted self thanks me for each of these moments of solitude.
- Average 10k steps per day and 7.5+ hours of sleep per night each week: The sleep is happening, but the steps are always a work in progress. Morning runs definitely help when I can fit them in.
- Minimum 64 oz of water and eat a salad or drink a green smoothie daily: Water consumption is going well and I’m definitely attentive to eating more veggies, although it’s not always in the form of a salad or smoothie. I quit eating sugar in July, so that’s been an interesting shift in my diet.
- Read something for pleasure at least once per month: Yes! I’m totally back to reading novels and I’m loving it. So far this year I’ve read 44 novels and 19 non-fiction books (come find me on Goodreads to see what I’m currently reading).
As you can see, I’ve still got a few goals to accomplish for the remainder of 2018, but I’m also very proud of what I’ve already been able to cross off my list!
I’m looking forward to seeing what the last quarter of the year brings!
To think on:
- What is your annual goal progress for the first three-quarters of the year?
- What is on your plate for the remaining 25% of 2018?