Monday, May 19, 2014

Re-Evaluating Goals and a Hodgepodge of Updates

I’ve been enjoying my in-law’s visit, including a side trip with them to Myrtle Beach. We don’t get away often (just because I’m always busy) but it was really needed.

One thing that struck me this past week is the need to re-evaluate my goals and priorities. I’m self-employed (have been for 15 years - boo-yah!) and I have some business decisions to make, too.

That’s something we all need to do now and then - step back and reassess our lives and where we are going. Otherwise, we just get stuck in a rut and start losing sight of our goals and dreams. I’m big on goal-setting and after doing my Overcoming Obstacles seminar recently, I was reminded that I need to set some new goals for my life.

So for the next few weeks, I’m going to pull back and do just that. I’ll be here for the next The Insecure Writer’s Support Group post on June 4.

Before I go, some news and reminders -

The Facebook IWSG hit 1000 followers last week! We are excited how fast this group has grown.

We do want to remind everyone about the guidelines though:

1. Since the focus of IWSG is support, the Facebook page should reflect this ideal.

2. You are encouraged to support your fellow IWSG'ers who share their writerly-related experiences, which include accomplishments/disappointments/challenges, with the rest of the group. Keep in mind that writers are at different points of their respective writerly journeys. Some lurk for a long time, before finding the courage to share with the rest of the group. Since the IWSG is all about community, a word of encouragement or advice may be just what somebody needs. Or even just a smiley face/thumbs up...

3. News & Promotional Saturday is your opportunity to add a link. The IWSG administrators reserve the right to remove promotional links, especially if they are posted haphazardly.

Two cover reveals -

Champion in Flight , second book in The Champion Trilogy
By Tyrean Martinson

Shadow Warrior (The Mechanica Wars #2)
By Jay Noel














And I’ll end with a few Myrtle Beach images...





When’s the last time you re-evaluated your goals?

40 comments:

Rhonda Albom said...

Congrats to all of us for 1000 Facebook followers, makes that page all the more valuable. Glad you enjoyed your rest, although those roller coasters look pretty wild. Good luck with your re-assessment.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Good luck on stepping back and re-evaluating your goals. It's good to do sometimes. I feel like I'm in a re-evaluate life stage right now.

Mason Canyon said...

The photos are beautiful, especially love the butterfly. Good luck with re-evaluating your goals. It is something we all need to do from time to time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Love that butterfly pic!! Gorgeous :)

Evaluating goals is important - I think it's about time for me to do that too :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Cool photos!
Yeah, I need to set some new goals this summer.

Annalisa Crawford said...

I'm rubbish at setting the small goals. I have one big one, but I forget that I need to make smaller ones to get to that big one (even though I tell people precisely that at work, when they're losing weight/increasing strength). I might take a leaf out of your book and think things through!

Michelle Wallace said...

... and that's something I think I need to do... a re-evaluation...
Love the SkyWheel pic!

cleemckenzie said...

It seems my re-evaluation comes on the hour these days. I'm making a lot of decsions and I take forever to mull.

Loved your Myrtle Beach pictures. I've never seen that place.

shelly said...

I'm constantly re-evaluating.

Have a nice rest.

Hugs and chocolate!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Rhonda, that coaster was painful to say the least.

Mason, I took a lot of butterfly shots.

Annalisa, the small ones keep us going.

Karen, my in-laws are almost 80, so we treasure the time with them.

Robin said...

I think I need to re-evaluate how much time I spend here. All of my best writing time is getting sucked by social media. While I love the interplay that happens here, is it benefiting me most? Probably not. Sometimes that means cutting back on things that you love so that you have time for your priorities.

Morgan said...

1000 is SO IMPRESSIVE, Diane. Amazing!!!

And funny how motivational speaking is your profession, yet you too need to step back and re-evaluate sometimes---just shows how necessary it is even when one has the right perspective.

I have to agree that I feel like I'm constantly re-evaluating and trying to keep the right mental perspective. Definitely a difficult thing to do!

Arlee Bird said...

This past weekend was another wake-up call for me to start reevaluating. My wife is talking retirement--maybe an early retirement because teaching today's brats is starting to really stress her out. With both of us retired we might be facing some big challenges.

I haven't been to Myrtle Beach in at least 25 years--maybe almost 30. I'll bet it's really changed since I was there last. It's the big place to go for a lot of folks in East Tennessee.

Good luck with your life evaluating.

Lee
Read my challenge to Wordpress users at:
Tossing It Out

Jay Noel said...

That is incredible...1000 writers. I'm thankful to be part of such a great writing community.

And thanks for sharing my cover!

randi lee said...

Beautiful pictures, L. Thanks for sharing. The fact that IWSG has 1,000 followers is wonderful! Also glad you took some time off to enjoy yourself and family!!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I've been doing some deep thinking about mine the last few months. Decisions can be tough. Glad you got away. My daughter just returned from a week in Myrtle.

Jennifer Shirk said...

I haven't been to Myrtle beach in AGES! Great pics!

Re-evaluate my goals? NOt in many months. In fact, I should do it now.

Unknown said...

I feel like I'm always re-evaluating my goals. I think it's important. Love your photos of Myrtle Beach. I've never been there before but it looks lovely.

Jo said...

Good thing to re-evaluate. At my age I don't really have any goals any more.

J E Oneil said...

1000 followers! I think there must be a few insecure writers out there.

I want to go to Myrtle Beach. It looks fun.

Al Diaz said...

Last weekend, as a matter of fact. i have not come up with new defined goals but I am in the process. Good luck with yours!

klahanie said...

Hi Diane,

A side tip with your in-laws to Myrtle Beach seems like a nice distraction.

My goals are always broken down into realistic, workable amounts leading to the ultimate goal.

Totally understandable the "Farcebook" "IWSG" aka "I Was Seeking Gary", has reached the 1000 followers mark. I know my emotions get the better of me when I think about such kindness. Okay, ignore me!

Tyrean rocks!
Jay rocks!
Myrtle Beach photos, rock,

My goals are an ongoing evaluation of where I'm going in my life.

Gary

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I'm currently in the process of re-evaluating my goals. Good luck with your evaluations.

Myrtle Beach looks like a fun place.

Tina said...

Definitely needing to set measurable and achievable goals for the summer as my daily schedule changes dramatically.
I wish you all the best as you work on your.
Your continued visits are much appreciated :-)
Tina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!

Ella said...

Gorgeous photos! I agree and I need to do the same~ I thought a lot about things when I did take some time out recently, but now I need to act on what I decided~

Cool covers!!

Enjoy the visit-time flies!

Good luck with your goals! Yes it is a process and we really need to do this-a great reminder~ ;D

Ella said...

Gorgeous photos! I agree and I need to do the same~ I thought a lot about things when I did take some time out recently, but now I need to act on what I decided~

Cool covers!!

Enjoy the visit-time flies!

Good luck with your goals! Yes it is a process and we really need to do this-a great reminder~ ;D

Kimberly said...

Wahoo, 1000 - that's so awesome.

It's probably time to look at my goals too. :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Fantastic.... YAY IWSG!!!!

I am proud to be one of the first to join the group. It's been an amazing venture for sure.

Terrific pics, L. Diane! You do have a great eye!

Yup. Reassessment is needed every now and then. Take your time. We know you'll be back stronger and better than ever!

Unknown said...

There's something about this time of year that makes me reflect, too.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Your last MB photo looks like a painting!

You are so right about re-evaluating goals. I've been thinking about that a lot lately.

Mary Montague Sikes

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Robin, it is hard to get things done when we're online all the time.

Morgan, I think even my profession needs some adjusting and freshening.

Lee, it's Orlando for broke people.

Jay, you are welcome.

Susan, she was there during Bike Week then!

Ella, goals are just dreams if we don't act, right?

Thank you, Mary. That is the Swamp Fox, one of the roughest coasters I have ever ridden. Once was enough.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the rest of May. I'm re-evaluating a few things right now, too. I'll look out for your IWSG post.

Gina Gao said...

1000 followers is a lot! Good luck on evaluating your goals.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I've only ever been to MB in films. Sounds like fun. I'm always re-evaluating my work and my life. We're going to put our house back on the market next month, but until then, no sense making plans. It feels as if our lives have been on hold for 2 years now waiting for the sale. Maybe our time is coming, eh? My hubby seems to think so. Good luck, Diane. Hope you're able to keep us in the loop.

LD Masterson said...

It's never a bad idea to stop and re-evaluate. I need to do that myself sometime soon.

Love the Myrtle Beach pictures.

Best of luck.

Anonymous said...

Good-looking photos. I'm self-employed every summer -- one more week until freedom.

Sherry Ellis said...

So glad you got to see the garden I mentioned a few weeks ago! Yes, those statues are amazing!

Good luck with the reevaluation. I've been doing that, too, wondering if I should continue as a freelancer, or get a "real job."

Sherry Ellis said...

So glad you got to see the garden I mentioned a few weeks ago! Yes, those statues are amazing!

Good luck with the reevaluation. I've been doing that, too, wondering if I should continue as a freelancer, or get a "real job."

Misha Gerrick said...

I pretty much re-evaluate my goals every year, sometimes more when I realize what I wanted changed.

I'm a big believer in flexibility, since I once went through some really harsh times because I stuck things out longer than I should have.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane .. I really need to set out my goals - now I have some idea of what I want to do ..

Enjoy taking the time out - but Myrtle Beach sounds just what you needed .. and now time to take stock ..

Cheers Hilary