I can’t believe that it’s been a year since I started my blog.  It’s crazy to think about where I was when I started it and where I am now.  I was a skeptical at first about putting myself out there onto the internet for everyone to read, but I’m really glad I did.  I’ve met some really great friends through blogging and even started a blog division for my agency.

A big thank you to everyone who has read, commented and supported my blog   You make my day!

I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring.

I was thrown for a loop this week and took a Time Out to step back and recollect my thoughts in order to move forward.  The best advice I’ve ever been given to deal with conflict, of course comes from my Dad.  Keep a level head; think before you speak; and to treat others the way you would expect to be treated.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given to deal with conflict?

Two days into the first work week back and I have to admit that I forgot how busy I am.  My assistant Emilie was here for a few hours today and we got a lot done, but I could work all night and still not be finished.  I’m not complaining though.  It’s much better to be busy then waiting for something to do.  I spent most of my day picking new headshots, viewing demo reels and updating resumes and profiles, and I’m only 1/4 through everything.  My inbox is sitting at 10 unread, which is a big accomplishment, and they aren’t things that I need to deal with until tomorrow, so I’m leaving them there.

Tomorrow I am making an announcement at my agency.  It’s the first new challenge I am undertaking in 2010 and I am excited about it.  I was thinking a lot today about where I was this time last year and I realized that I had made my most important goal of 2009 come true.  To work for myself and not need another job to pay the bills.  Now I am certainly not living a life of luxury.  Being a commission-based business definitely has me pinching my pennies and cutting out a lot of the luxuries I enjoyed from a salaried position.  But I am no longer miserable for 8 hours a day.  I am the happiest that I have ever been in my adult life and I have a positive outlook (and plans) to help me grow my business and bring in more income.  I love what I do and where I am headed and I’m lucky to have the support of my family and friends.

I’m on a roll right now.  Just had a really good Skype hang with Casie and am feeling so excited and positive about this year.  I’m catching up on all my posts from the past few weeks and am working hard on redesigning my blog layout, again.  I decided that I really want to do it on my own and that means I’ll have to learn a lot of things myself.  I’m a fast learner and know the basics so I think I’ll be ok, and I’ve found out that if you ask for help and advice online, people respond pretty fast.

I’m not really a resolution type of person, more of a “set goals and try to achieve them” type, so here are the goals I’ve made for myself so far this year.

• Sew more clothing for myself
• Create more quality content for my blog.
• Design a blog identity – layout, logo and header.
• Get my office set up so it is a more productive space.
• Organize my business to run more efficiently and set goals.
• Use a hard copy day planner again – I have been trying to get my hands on a 2010 Moleskin Color A Month – anyone know where I can get one in Toronto?  I can’t get one from the US for 2-3 months now.
• Take more “Me” time – try to take at least an hour a day where I am unplugged and unavailable.
• Find a good, local Yoga class or instructor at practice at least once a week
• Live a greener lifestyle and try to influence those around me to adopt greener practices
• Get involved with a charity – I just have to pick one, or ones.  Suggestions are more than welcome,
• Cook more and eat a more balanced vegetarian diet.  I’m a sucker for pasta every night.
• Go on my first all-inclusive, exotic vacation (I’ve only been to England and all over North America).  I don’t really care where, just somewhere there is sun, sand and water that I can see the bottom of.
• UPDATE: Another goal was to get my blog a PageRank and I just went to check it out and I went from 0 to 2 in the last month!  Thank you
  

I feel like this is a good start.  I’ve enjoyed my staycation the past week and cannot wait to get back to work on Monday.

Have you set any goals for the year?