5 Steps to Reach your Business Dreams in 2015
tis the season for resolution-making.
i know i'm getting into resolution-making, goal-setting, vision-board creating mode. are you?
and, that's all well-and-good except for that fact that despite our best intentions, when all is said and done just a measly 8% of us attain the resolutions we set for ourselves each year (statisticbrain.com).
that's kinda sad, isn't it?
here are a few other resolution facts for ya from statisticbrain.com...
75% of us can maintain our resolution through the first week. yippee!! off to a good start.
64% of us manage to stick with our goals for one month. we're hanging in there...
but, less than half are still on track after 6 months.
so, what does that mean?
it means that a lot of well intentioned, focused people are giving up on their dreams! and i hate to see that.
to help you reach your business dreams in 2015, i've developed a 5 step plan that'll help you identity, quantify and achieve your biz goals for the new year.
first, check out the vid below & then download this worksheet to help you on your way!
what's one of your business dreams for 2015?
share it in the comments below or tweet it out here.
click here to watch the video on youtube & subscribe to Cailen Ascher TV.
Find YOUR Word for 2015
if you had to pick one word for this upcoming year, what would it be?
what do you want your life+biz to embody in 2015?
would it be...
confidence.
abundance.
gratitude.
satisfaction.
joy.
creativity.
vision.
passion.
authenticity...
at the start of the year, i always like to take time to paint a vision for the next 12 months. something that i can feel, taste, embody and strive for.
then, as i move through my days, weeks and months, i have a touchstone to come back to. something to check in with and see if i'm truly on track with the dreams & visions i hold for myself.
this year, i invite you to challenge yourself to define YOUR word for 2015. (often the first one that pops to mind is a great one to go with!)
once you have your word, you have your focus for your life and business. you have your direction, your lighthouse. just steer in that direction!
check out today's vid & then define YOUR word.
so, what's your word?
share it in the comments below or click here to tweet it out with the #oneword2015.
i'd LOVE to hear that your word is!
click here to watch the video on youtube & subscribe to Cailen Ascher TV.
4 reasons why you'll never regret pursuing your dreams
building a business around your passions is scary. i know.
when i first started out six years ago, i was convinced i was going to be a nationally-known interior designer; designing spaces in the most beautiful homes. but, as it turns out, as much as i love designing spaces i have complete control over, working with clients that insist upon keeping their 1990s recliner wasn't my cup of tea.
during that time, i realized that what i really enjoyed was building the business -- researching best practices, honing my marketing & message, learning to blog effectively, designing my website, and reading business books.
pursuing my dream of being an interior designer opened the door to my true gift and passion -- offering business & life advice for designing a lifestyle of purpose, passion and meaning :-)
but, giving yourself permission to go after your dream isn't easy. i get that.
it's terrifying to put yourself out there, throw caution to the wind, and commit yourself to building something from the ground up.
but, the truth is, the risks are completely outweighed by the regrets you'll have if you don't give it a go. if you never give yourself a chance to experience the utter joy (and terror!) of unabashedly claiming your unique spot in the world, you'll likely one day look back and wish that you had.
i never want you to regret any decision -- business, personal or otherwise -- and that's precisely why i'm sharing 4 reasons why you'll never regret pursuing your dreams.
because, once you realize you that you'll never regret it, you'll free yourself from so much of the stress and worry that was previously holding you back. and then, you can redirect that energy in a positive way to propel you forward toward your dreams even faster than before!
#1 it may just work out!
if someone could look into a crystal ball and tell you that 12, 18 or 24 months from now you will be doing what you love and making a living at it, would you still feel as uncertain as you do now? of course not!
we all know that there's no such guarantee, but one thing is for sure, if you work at something consistently with passion, dedication and heart, it's likely to bring about something amazing. so, instead of spending your time in worry-land, hope aboard the positivity train and keep chugging along. and before you know it, that dream of yours will be a fully recognized reality.
#2 you'll learn so much
even if things don't pan out exactly as you planned, you'll learn so much in the process. take me for example, i graduated college thinking i wanted to design homes -- and now 6 years later i'm helping people design their dream careers and lifestyles. if i didn't give myself permission from the get-go to explore my passions, i wouldn't have found my true calling and be able to do the work i do today.
#3 life is short
sure, it's a bit cliche, but it's true. every passing year goes by even more quickly, and there's no time like the present (to use another overused cliche) to start moving in the direction of your dreams. one thing i know is that i don't want to look back and think "what if" or "if only" -- i'd rather try and fail then never try at all.
#4 dreams shift and change
your big, bold, bad-a$$ dream may seem totally unattainable right now, but keep in mind that as we grow and change, so do our dreams. you're dream to be a rockstar yogi and open studios nationwide might fade as you realize the immense satisfaction of running one local studio where you intimately know your clientele. give yourself permission to dream, but also give yourself permission to revise those dreams as you go!
share your BIG dream in the comments below!
just sharing it & making a public declaration of what you want will make it that much more real :-)