Jenius Creations

Category: Goal Setting

  • Goals for 2015

    It is January – a new start to a new year. And of course, it is resolution time. We all know that resolutions are simply goals wrapped in festive paper. I always entreat you to set goals so I thought I’d share some of mine for 2015.

    Because I want to succeed I have selected a small number of goals that are SMART. By that I mean the goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timed. I have structured my goals to meet these criteria – otherwise how would I know when I got there?

    I have established three goals for my harp life. That might seem like a small number but these are just for my harp life and I have other goals for other parts of my life.  In addition, I’d rather have three completed goals than a larger number of goals that are languishing, uncompleted and weighing me down.  And I’d rather reach for the stars and touch them than be caught up trying to figure which star to reach for first! Picture1

    Goal 1 – Learn at least one tune per month. This is attainable and realistic given the competing pressures on my schedule, I will definitely know at the end of the year if I have learned 12 tunes (by learn I mean prepared through performance, not just knocked one back at a workshop).

    Goal 2 – Practice reading at least 5 minutes per day. I find reading music increasingly challenging while I’m playing and my sight reading skill has dropped. I know the only way to improve my sight reading is to practice. This will improve my capability as a teacher, an ensemble member, and just to broaden my horizons as a musician.

    Goal 3 – Book at least one new type of gig. This is me looking to expand how I look at performing. So, just booking more weddings is not the point here, but rather to seek out new types of performing or types of event at which to perform. Because the rest of my life can sometimes get in the way of my harp life, I have set this goal low but will be delighted if I can break through to more.

    What goals have you set for yourself for 2015?

  • Check Your Resolutions

    Surveys earlier this month indicated that many people make resolutions each year.  Those same surveys indicated that most people didn’t make it very far on those resolutions.   
    We typically make resolutions to focus on something we think we should be doing but haven’t done or on things we do that we know are bad for us. Assuming you’ve made some harp resolutions, this is a good time to determine if you’re on track to achieving those resolutions or if you’ve already fallen off the wagon and need to climb back on!   
    Here are four ways to keep yourself moving forward to successfully achieve your resolutions for 2014:
    1.  Make sure you really want it– sometimes we set a resolution that we think we should set, rather than one we actually want.   For example, we think we should practice for two hours every day, but we don’t really want to. Be clear on what you want and work toward that.  If you really only want to practice for half an hour a day, a better resolution would be to structure your practice and really get benefit from those thirty minutes.
    2. Identify what has gotten in your way and how you’re going to get around it – if your resolution is to practice every day but you’re not making it, examine why – what is getting in your way?  Once you know what is blocking you (you don’t really want to, you have to move your harp to play it, you haven’t scheduled the time) you can devise a strategy to stay on track.
    3. Catch yourself doing good – set up a reward schedule for making progress on your resolution.  Make sure it is a good reward!
    4. Verify that it was a good resolution to begin with – sometimes we set resolutions that really aren’t good (something we just can’t achieve or a resolution that you don’t really want)…change it!  Resolutions are not set in stone and you can set a new one that is a better fit at any time.
    Remember that you set a resolution to make you better, not to punish yourself!  Do what you can to help you make your resolutions successful and you’ll have a real feeling of accomplishment.