Year in Review

After completing my 2010 year-in-review exploding box, I also did an illustrated reflection on the past decade since so many significant things took place in the last 10 years. (Technically I drew 11 years, but it made sense for me to capture it this way and besides numbers are not my strong suit – haha!)

I moved up to San Francisco in 1998 and that really helped pave the way for some transformative decisions and events. When I look back on the first half of the decade a lot of it was about laying the foundation in my personal life – getting married (Brian and I had already been together seven years before we tied the knot), buying our house, and also embarking on my personal growth journey. I also focused intently on climbing the corporate ladder, even though I ultimately knew I wanted to do something else.

Getting coached, coaching other people, and participating in a leadership program  helped me to clarify my vision for the next half of the decade.

It was much easier to remember what happened from 2006 (that’s when I started this blog) since that’s when I took the leap from my corporate job to working for myself. In the second half of the decade, I gave myself permission to live my life in much more alignment with my values and passions. So many exciting and fulfilling things have unfolded since then. And I can’t wait for all of the amazing things to come in the new year and new decade.

Wishing you a fabulous 2011!!

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With the year coming to a close, I took some time today to reflect back on 2010. In 2008 and 2009 I made exploding boxes to commemorate the year and this year I decided to make another one. It is such a fun keepsake!

What I’m celebrating from 2010:

Career/Calling

• Turned in Right-Brain Business Plan manuscript in April,  (plus illustrations and photos in the summer)
• Led three sessions of the Right-Brain Business Plan e-Course
• Completed Expressive Arts Teacher Training program
• Led intuitive painting playshops
• Led an expressive arts e-Course during the wishfull retreat on the wishstudio
• Led a Right-Brain Business Plan session at ARTpreneur conference in Cornwall, Canada
• Completed two-year role as co-leader of the Co-Active Network Creative Artists community
• Did various interviews, guest posts, and podcasts
• The Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book got mentioned in Entrepreneur Magazine
• Worked on business infrastructure to support growth
• Volunteered at CEO Women
• Attended business training seminars

Personal Growth

• Participated regularly in bi-weekly Nurture Huddle calls
• Invested in high-end mentoring program
• Participated in Art Every Day month for the fourth year
• Did morning journaling and read lots and lots of books

Wealth & Abundance

• Hired a new, super awesome bookkeeper
• Worked with bookkeeper to develop a budget and forecast
• Kept up with monthly managing the moola
• Put myself back on payroll for most of the year

Health & Wellbeing

• Practiced yoga regularly
• Attended step, body conditioning, and Zumba classes
• Went swimming on hot, sunny days
• Tried acupuncture for the first time
• Treated myself to getting a massage every once in a while
• Honored my self-care Fridays

Relationships

• Spent quality time with Brian
• Parents took Brian, me, and my brother’s family on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas
• Hung out with family and friends
• Ninth year of book club fun

Physical Environment

• Moved from shared office to my own creative space
• Had housecleaner come regularly
• Organized dresser drawers

Fun & Recreation

• Seattle trip with the bellas
• Went to Squam with Leah and met lots of cool creative peeps
• Lunch dates with friends
• Treated myself to Fluevogs
• Played more with photography this year, became obsessed with Hipstamatic and now am addicted Instagram on my iPhone

My reflection questions:

What was the most exciting, heart-stirring thing that happened in your life and/or business this year?
I finished writing my book. It was a challenging, all-consuming, and super-exciting process. I can’t wait for it to come out in February.

What was your biggest learning?
I have extremely unreasonable expectations about what I can get done. I need to give myself a break. Really!

How did you stretch yourself?
Putting together the book definitely stretched me. I invested in a high-end mentoring program with Andrea J. Lee. This was a stretch financially and also mentally because it means I’m stepping into my business in a much bigger way which is a little scary and also super exciting.

What did you enjoy doing that you want to do more of?
More yoga, more time with friends, more nourishing self-care Fridays, more creative time.

What do you need to stop doing or let go of?
Feeling like I need to do everything (and getting down on myself when I’m not able to).

What new opportunities are available for 2011 and beyond?
Leveraging the book launch to expand my reach further and to grow my business more, developing new offerings for creative entrepreneurs, creating coaching programs, developing new products, speaking, having more free time, more fun collaborative projects with creative cohorts, a vacation with just me and Brian, and much more!

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I guess you could say I’m a bit of a self-help geek considering my idea of a good time for ringing in the new year consists of paper, glue, and reflection instead of bubbly, confetti, or noise makers. I enjoyed finishing my year-in-review exploding box to commemorate 2009 and reflecting on my end-of-year inquiries as a follow-up to listing what I’m celebrating from the year.

What are you most proud of?

• Setting the intention that I would land a book deal and sticking through the process even when it was challenging and disheartening.
• Showing up fully right from the get-go at my Expressive Arts Teacher Training (especially in light of it being at the same location where I had a difficult time a few years before).
• Trusting my creative flow.

What was your biggest learning?

• Having fabulous, inspiring, and supportive creative cohorts is essential. Collaborating with the right people makes all the difference.
• Valuable growth comes from failure. It’s part of the process.

How did you stretch yourself?

• I hit the road a lot this year – attending the book expo, leading workshops, giving talks, and visiting friends.
• Last year I got tons of great experience doing work through other groups and organizations, but this year I stretched myself by focusing on and growing my own body of work.

Who did you lean on for support?

• I’m so very grateful for all the wonderful support I have from my husband. He provides me with lots of encouragement and he helps me in so many ways.
• I don’t know where I’d be without my amazing book coach, Jan King. She helps me through every step of this publishing journey.
• My mentor and intuitive painting teacher, the wise and generous Chris Zydel.
• The Nurture Huddle.
• My friends, family, and my fellow creative entrepreneurs.

How will you celebrate who you’ve become?

• Doing my reflection exercises has been a meaningful way for me to celebrate. I’m also looking forward to doing more work in Leonie’s gorgeous 2010 Goddess Planner.
• Tomorrow I’m going to go to a New Years Day yoga class. I know it will be a great way to kick off the new year.
• Keep honoring my self-care Fridays and scheduling a massage for January.
• Oh, and I just might buy myself a new pair of designer jeans!

I hope you take some time to reflect on your year. I loved seeing my fellow wishstudio columnist Shona Cole share her year-end celebration. Way to go!

Happy New Year! Wishing you a wonderful 2010!

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At the end of the year, I like to spend some time reflecting on what I learned and accomplished. First, I start making a list of all the things big and small that I’m celebrating. Then, I journal about what my big learnings were. I also enjoy doing something artsy and visual to commemorate the year, like the exploding box I made for 2008. For other creative ideas, check out my latest Musepreneur column on the wishstudio.

What I’m celebrating from 2009:

Career/Calling

• Enjoyed working with more new clients and continuing to support my long-term clients. I’ve been blown away by the courageous and inspiring work they’ve all been up to this year.
• Went to Book Expo America in May with a book proposal and sell sheets in hand.
• Wrote and sent out book proposal for Right-Brain Business Plan in June.
• Signed book contract for Right-Brain Business Plan with New World Library in December. Woohoooo!!
• Set up affiliate program for Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book.
• Gave design facelifts to this blog, my Unfolding Your Life Vision kit site, and my Right-Brain Business Plan site.
• Led the Inner Muse group coaching teleclass.
• Held Right-Brain Business Plan workshops.
• Collaborated with Leah on our Creative Play workshop in Boston.
• Led a Dream Box workshop in DC.
• Gave talks at the Creativity in Business conference in DC, at Sacramento Ladies Who Launch, and Oakland eWomen Network
• Half-way through a year-long Expressive Arts Teacher Training program with Chris Zydel.
• Co-led monthly calls with Kathy Loh on the Creative Artists community on the Co-Active Network.
• Began brainstorming with Britt Bravo, Lisa Sonora Beam, and Kimberly Wilson for a Creative Women Entrepreneur event next year.
• Did various interviews, guest posts, and podcasts.

Personal Growth

• Participated regularly in bi-weekly Nurture Huddle calls (thanks so much for all your invaluable support and wonderful friendship this year, ladies!).
• Attended a writer’s retreat.
• Took SARK’s Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper workshop.
• Went regularly to Intuitive Painting classes and painted BIG!
• Participated in Art Every Day month for the third year.
• Did a birth chart astrology reading with Chris Zydel.
• Did morning journaling and read lots and lots of books.

Wealth & Abundance

• Created a new illustrated worksheet, Your Life in Bloom.
• Continued to make more passive income selling products.
• Worked with a bookkeeper to help with monthly reconciliations and Quickbooks stuff.
• Bought an original art piece from Leah at Blue Tree Art Gallery.

Health & Wellbeing

• Went to Kimberly Wilson’s Hip Tranquil Chick yoga retreat in NY.
• Attended yoga classes regularly and took a circus yoga class.
• Attended step, body conditioning, and Zumba classes regularly.
• Tried out Shimmy Pop for the first time!
• Did food craving sessions with Kara Sorenson and gave myself permission to spend a little more on healthy food.
• Finally learned how to use a neti pot without gagging or crying.
• Treated myself to getting a massage every once in a while.
• Honored my self-care Fridays.

Relationships

• Spent quality time with Brian.
• Hung out with family and friends.
• Discovered a piece of family history thanks to a stranger.
• Eighth year of book club fun.
• Took a trip to Mexico with Brian.
• Befriended by the sweet, generous, and wonderful Amy.

Physical Environment

• Had housecleaner come regularly.
• Organized my Unfolding Your Life Vision kit inventory in the garage and Brian cleared out a lot of the clutter in the garage, too. Yay!
• Organized my craft area.
• Got cracks in our stucco fixed so we won’t have any more leaks in the living room when it rains.
• Finally put a new latch on our kitchen closet to keep Emmett out of the trash (well, actually Brian did this when I was at my wits end cleaning trash from the floor, thanks honey!). Also created a new system for our recycling because when Emmett couldn’t get into the trash can, he went for the recycling bin!

Fun & Recreation

• Visited with friends in NY, Boston, and D.C. and had friends visit with me.
• Met some new cool people online and in person.
• Took a roadtrip with Leah, Melba, and Mindy to check out the Squam Art Fair.
• Completed my year-long creative project, Kiss the Paper, with Kate and Molly.
• Participated in Wreck This Journal and did my first vlogs.
• Discovered new favorite art supplies.
• Cuddled with my dog.

What are you celebrating from 2009? What acknowledgment will you give yourself?

Here’s to a rockin’ 2010! I’ve still got some year-in-review reflection to wrap up and then when I’m done, I’m excited to dive into Goddess Leonie’s delicious and dreamy 2010 Goddess Planner. These gorgeous and colorful pages are making me super excited about setting my intentions for the new year.

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