I can not even believe that we are already 3 months into 2014 and I have yet to take the time to share with you guys a list of goals and dreams for the future of this year. However, there is the reason why I have yet to share my list…. I never actually wrote one. I kept saying, “I will get to it”….”I know what they are in my head”….”If I don’t write them down, then I won’t be mad if they don’t actually happen, because no one will know if I failed or not.” 
What a pessimistic and overall negative way to treat my dreams and goals. They are not something to keep a secret or something to brush under the rug. We are given a VERY limited amount of time on this earth to live out dreams…our stories…our goals…OUT LOUD! Many ONLY feel validated when they have others as witnesses to their success….and I am not ashamed to say, I am partly still one of them.
In the beginning, I NEEDED that approval from my peers. I needed to hear words of encouragement or praise to VALIDATE that these dreams of mine were REAL and not some silly fantasy. I would hide under the “proverbial rock” if I did not get the type of praise or attention I felt as though I needed. This isn’t embarrassing to share with you now, because its REAL. Its the truth. And I have NO reservations when it comes to the truth.
“I based my value and worth on what OTHERS SAID I was worth. If they saw no value, I felt I wasn’t WORTHY of the success I had dreamt about.”
So, this year I made a change. I am writing and sharing very personal and business oriented goals and dreams of mine. I am not only writing them in my private journal….I am transcribing them to paper…from my heart….with the internet for all to see; for all to not only see….but to hold me accountable to.
I had a ‘photographer’ tell me in the beginning I will never be a “wedding photographer”. I was told I would no one would ever remember me if I kept my business named after me, “Kaitlin Noel Photography.” I was told that “some people have it, and you most likely don’t”. ROUGH! I let these people depict my value and worth before I could even say what my goals and dreams were!
For 2014 and every year after, I will share my goals and dreams. Now, I may not accomplish everything, and there may even be things many see very little value or worth to; but my dreams…my goals…are PRICELESS to me….so whether they hold great of little value to someone else…they are MINE…and worth far more than any one can give a “set value” to.
So here they are….laid out on the table, for everyone to see and hold me accountable to….and for myself to do the same.
Goals and Dreams for 2014 (Personal and Business):
1. Shoot at LEAST one destination wedding. (I am currently shooting 4 this year…yay : P )
2. Create a new edition of my wedding magazine + welcome wedding packets.
3. Re-do my client lounge…already in the works : P (Love you Meg!!!)
4. Clear all debt….to ZERO!
5. Take off at LEAST ONE DAY a week for myself and my family…NO editing, emails, etc. Thats 4 days off a month….I need this!
6. Blog on Sundays/Mondays for the week so that there is a minimum of 3 blog posts a week. (Thank you Katelyn)
7. Have a huge yard sale and clean out my closet. I am turning into a hoarder guys…its bad!
8. Lose 15 pounds by July!!! It has to be July! No excuses!
9. Take 5 minutes a day to help someone else, SELFLESSLY!
10. Read 1 book to my children….EVERY SINGLE DAY!
11. Potty train my little one…because this mama is OVER diapers!
12. Cull weddings the NIGHT of when its possible and develop a faster blogging workflow that can be used for album design, features, and more.
13. Release new wedding collections and create a new “post wedding” gift concept. Got a great idea in the development stages!
14. Have another KNP Elf day where I hand deliver all my brides and grooms XMAS presents….what an incredible experience!
15. Have one date night a week with my husband…even if its in PJs watching a movie in bed with oreoes and popcorn!
16. Finish plans for our home addition we are working on and start getting numbers organized….migrane free! lol Building a house is all kinds of stressful and not as FAB as it sounds….but the end result…magical!
17. Patience…I need to learn patience…I am a bit of a spaz and instant gratification junkie…and in a world and industry where things take time…we don’t mesh well…so this needs to be worked on.
18. Get even better with OCF….lighting was a huge fear of mine two years ago…but this past year I learned a lot and I want to learn even more this year!!
19. BLOG ALL WEDDINGS FROM LAST YEAR BEFORE MAY 1, 2014! They are so overdue and NEED to be shown off! Love my brides!
20. Figure out Twitter, Google +, LinkendIN (SP?), etc
21. Shoot with a photog I admire this year.
22. Shoot something for me…a styled shoot I am dreaming of.
23. Call and text and see my best friends more…not just Facebook or skype them.
24. Get even closer with my mom and sister….life happens and we drift away too often.
25. Learn how to drive stick shift….this has been a goal since 16….but no one will teach me! lol
These are the TOP 25….no particular order…but the ones I didn’t really have to think to hard about. I am sure I could go on and on….but it was pretty evident to me that I am finally in a GREAT place in my business….but I need a bit more balance personally to have the perfect situation for me and my loved ones. This “job” of mine is a dream come true….a total blessing. But, my time with my family needs to be AS important as well and deserves the same amount…if not MORE attention. So, this year, as my KNP Family grows and is strengthened….I will be strengthening my personal family at the same time.
Thank you God for this blessed life and for gifting me with a talent to better serve others and my family at the same time. My “job” feeds my heart….my family and you Lord…feed my soul….together…my dreams and goals will always come true!
xoxo, Kaitlin Noel
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