2012 Planning

I am planning a busy year for Amanda Stock Creative in 2012. My heart and my brain are bursting with ideas that I can’t wait to get out to you. In fact, I have a whole notebook full of ideas, thoughts, plans….I think my favorite part of all of this is the part where I get to dream. The moment in my life when I found out that there is no limit and you truly can do anything you want my imagination went crazy and I don’t think my feet have touched back down on the ground since. Sure, I’ve been told this all of my life, but realizing what it actually means… It brings feelings of serious clarity & motivation.

But out of all of the ideas, hopes and excitement I’ve narrowed things down to a list of actionable items that I can realistically fit in.  Because that is the most important part – getting it done! This was something that was very hard for me to learn: You can dream all day but nothing will get done unless you get down to business. Dreaming is funny that way, it makes you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot but you’ve actually just been sitting on your ass. (I bet that is why I am so addicted to Pinterest. They are similar in that way.) So, now I know great ideas are a dime a dozen. What really counts is putting in the hard work. And sometimes it is hard – harder than I ever thought it could be. Getting through the hardest times is what counts. That is not to say that dreaming is worthless. On the contrary, it is key! But its all about balance. So here are a few of my plans and dreams for 2012.

Time management is a huge focus in the coming year- I should say getting better at managing my time. My goal is to get more done with less. Its been a difficult journey the last 3 1\2 years trying to figure out how to run a business, be a good wife, and raise my babes. Because Lord knows when there are deadlines and things get a little stressful kids know exactly – down to the minute – when its time to throw milk on the walls and run around naked with permanent markers. True story.

I am also going to sweep my customers off their feet with great customer service. There have been more than a few instances this year where I have been extremely disappointed with poor customer service – whether it was an online order, car wash, or a trip to the craft store. And a few times when I feel I have let customers down. It just makes me feel sour. I definitely do not want to make anyone feel unloved, unappreciated or worse, frustrated – especially my customers.

Third, I want to help other photographers. There are people out there with AH-mazing gifts. I mean they can do crazy things with photography, but their skills in other areas (to put it nicely) lack. I would like to put my background in marketing & web design to use.

Finally, I’ll be working hard to figure out how in the world I can keep the props in my shop in stock. Albeit, selling out is a good problem to have, it is a problem none the less.

What are you working on in your business this year? Leave a comment, I would love to hear about it.