2019 is off to a wild start! I’ve sat down to write this post about five times already and here we are already getting it out a week late. That’s just how 2019 has been … and sometimes that’s just how life is. Amen?

The team and I walked into 2019 with a plan in place, goals on paper, and a launch strategy ready to roll. January is traditionally our biggest sales month of the year with my signature program, The Blueprint Model, opening its doors for new students.

Over these past few weeks we’ve been welcoming in our new students while simultaneously welcoming in an unexpected twist in plans (more on that to follow). January taught me that sometimes even the best plans get side-tracked, they get interrupted, they get changed.

I was 21 years old when I started the practice of annual planning. This was something I did each year on a little mini retreat during my time as a financial advisor and have continued over the years as I launched my own business. It’s a time to sit down, reflect and learn from the past, and then make intentional plans for the future. In 2018 I wrote down my entire annual planning process and released it in a short mini-course, My Blueprint Year, along with creating a business tracker & weekly planner to stay on track month by month!

I walked into 2019 as I have done every year with my nine goals on paper and a action plan to reach said goals. But there was something lingering this year … something I couldn’t quite name and therefore couldn’t quite plan for. I went into January praying for discernment. For answers. And while sometimes we get those open and closed doors as requested, sometimes we just don’t.

Midway through January I sat down, taped closed the entire Goals Section in My Blueprint Year planner, and started from scratch. I asked myself “Shanna, at the end of 2019 what do you really want to see happen. If nothing else goes as expected, what do you really want to see accomplished?”

And this is what came out :

My NEW 2019 Goals

1. I want to weigh _____. Ok, so I have a number but I’m not going to share that here because it’s not the number that is important, it’s the healthy Shanna behind that number. We’re going to get personal here. In 2018 my health went out the window. I allowed work to consume my days and with a busy schedule comes way too many comfort food nights. Reaching a healthy weight is not only good for my body but also good for my mental health. I’m one of those unfortunate types who gains weight when stressed. So I know by losing weight, my stress level also has to dramatically change.
2. I want to be six months (ideally 12) ahead on content. I am someone who shuts down when if I feel rushed … something I would imagine I have in common with most 4 year olds! Lol! When I’m rushed, I tend to slow down not speed up. I hate rushing through work just to get it done. I would rather put out less with excellence. That’s just me. So getting ahead is really important and creating an action plan to make this happen (less content, more delegation, more intention) is how this will actually happen.
3. I will not work Sundays. I know not all of us share the same faith but I do think we all agree how important REST is for our health (and businesses!). By the end of 2018 I was working about 70+ hours a week in order to launch two new products, six new classes and hire five team members. In January the Lord reminded me that Sabbath isn’t a suggestion … it’s a command. I want to live out sabbath rest in 2019.
4. Read 12 books. This has everything to do with slowing down in the evenings and practicing my evening routine. We have a no screen-time rule starting 1 hour before bed (ideally two) to spend that hour winding down. I typically pick up the house a bit from the day because order helps me sleep 😉 and spend 30 minutes reading. I don’t read any business books at night as they tend to turn my brain on so I’m selective about what I’m reading before bed. Business books are reserved for weekends or I listen to audiobooks while I workout.
5. Cultivate prayer life. I am loving Val Marie’s Yearly Prayer Journal to help me with this!

January Takeaways :

There are going to be seasons, months or maybe even years our goals may look less like “Hit $xxx Sales Goal” and more like “Be Joyful on the other side”. Maybe you walked into 2019 with cards you couldn’t control. Maybe you’re having a baby or want to have a baby this year and have no idea what that’s going to look like, maybe you’re in the midst of a move, or your spouse is changing jobs. Sometimes we are in seasons we cannot plan. In those seasons, where do you want to sit at the end of them? When things don’t go as planned or plans are up in the air, what can you control? Focus on what you really want to see happen by the end of the year (or this season) and start there.

January Progress :

Personal :

• Start running again | Yes! Hired a personal trainer and have been consistently working out 4+ days a week!
• Reset morning and evening routines | Made Progress! Feeling great about the changes in January. 21 days to break a bad habit but 90 days to create a new one. You’ll see this come back up in February goals.
• Finish & Order Kyle’s 2018 memory book | No! Darn! Didn’t get this one done and don’t foresee it happen in February – March?!

Professional :

• Get studio setup and functional | Yes!
• Streamline team roles | Made Progress. We adjusted some roles and clarified delegated tasks. I think over the next few months we will continue to streamline processes to maximize efficiency in each role. While having a team is absolutely great, it’s easy to get stuck “collaborating” and not “doing”! So we still have some work to do to make team time the most productive it can be!
• Write & Prep Q1 content | No! Totally missed this one (hence this post coming out a week late!) but have adjusted my schedule accordingly to spend more time creating and getting ahead in February.

Financial :

• Get 2018 bookkeeping up to date and sent to accountant | Yes!

Related : Need help getting tax day ready? Free for February get my step-by-step “get tax day ready” plan to make it easy-peasy. Learn More.

• Finalize payroll setup | Made Progress! Gosh, payroll. Woof. We have two more lingering account numbers we are waiting for but crossing our fingers everything on our end is complete!
• Pray daily over 2019 BPM enrollment | Yes!

January Book Completed : An Intentional Life by Karen Stott

Memories Made :

• Relax in an outdoor hot tub
• Reflect on the past year
• Celebrate Sadie birthday (she turned 7!)
• Took our annual cabin retreat we dubbed our “vision retreat” thanks Karen Stott

January Features :

• Flower Podcast
• Megan Martin Blog

February Goals :

Personal :

• Continue building morning & evening routine habit
• Consistently exercising four days a week
• Meal-Planning even during a busy season

Professional :

• Write, Record & schedule all Q1 & Q2 content
• Prep Blueprint at Home relaunch

Financial :

• Finish personal tax prep & send to CPA
• Blueprint Summit plans well underway in preparation for April ticket sells
• Sell out 2018 My Blueprint Year planners

Reading in February : One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Memories to Create in February :

• Bake Valentines Cookies
• Attend a Superbowl Party
• Order Galentines Gifts
• Dine at a fancy restaurant
• Wear something sparkly
• New Fuzzy Slippers

LEARN MY EXACT STEP-BY-STEP ANNUAL PLANNING PROCESS :

MEET MY BLUEPRINT YEAR

YOUR TURN!

How did January go for you? What are you February Goals? Share in the comments below and I’ll pick one of you to send a special surprise box of goodies from past live events! Snail mail is my favorite! And so is staying accountable to our goals!