18 Tips to Fuel Your Success, Creativity & Connections in 2021
2020, now in the rearview, was a real humdinger and we are all now looking ahead.
Personally, my greatest goal for 2021 is to complete the restoration and renovation of the horse trailer, turning it into a fully functional mobile coffee bar that is physically open for business.
At times I feel frustrated the progress is not moving fast enough, but then I look back and realized, in fact, it has come quite far indeed. I had only purchased the trailer at the end of July and did not truly begin restoration until the beginning of August.
The business of The Traveling Pheasant has not only been the physical work on the trailer, but formulating a business plan and content strategy, getting ducks in a row for the correct insurance, food license, MD state inspection for tags and title, a website, logo, promotional materials, social channels and not to mention designing and generating construction plans for the interior.
I plan that by the end of February, I will have a projected open date to share and work towards (hopefully one for early spring!).
My second greatest goal is to be in the present – meaning I do not want the stressful feeling of constantly playing catch-up. A delay in 1-2 weeks on renovation progress is likely necessary for planning purposes, however, I want to keep followers up-to-date with progress in real time - not having months of updates in a back log.
With this goal in mind, over the next few weeks, you will see an increased frequency of blog posts bringing you all the progress we completed in 2020.
But enough about me! ...
What resolutions do you want to achieve this year?
What are your goals for success?
What are you planning to create?
With who and how are you looking to connect with others?
The Traveling Pheasant’s mission is to fuel success, creativity and connections so we are here to help!
I have compiled tips I found to be very insightful and effective in hopes they inspire and help you along your resolution paths this year.
Achieving Success
1. Say “I will,” not “I want”
Self-fulfilling affirmations work! You must believe you will achieve and concour and phrasing goals in this way builds confidence and make you feel more in control.
For example, “I will get a promotion” over “I want/wish I’d get a promotion.”
2. Never stop consuming information & learning about your topic of interest
Masterclass, TEDTalks, podcasts, Youtube videos, library books, documentaries and trade association research all provide valuable information and sources of inspiration. The more you know, the more you learn what you do not know, the better placed you are to become well versed in your area, giving your goals a boost for success.
3. Physically write down your goals with pen and paper
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by actions makes your dreams come true.” – Greg Reid
This is one that hits close to home for me. This quote was the foundation of my leap of faith into this venture. I hope that it serves as inspiration to you too because, it works!
4. Make your goals specific, measurable and with a time frame
In order to best track your success, your goals need to be specific & quantifiable. Adding a time limit to these goals also gives a clear end goal, helping to stay motivated and on track.
For example, which are you more likely to stick to and accomplish? : "I will increase my social media followers" OR "I will increase my Instagram followers by 30 people within 3 months"
5. Write down an action plan
This action plan contains the step-by-step milestones that need to be accomplished in order to reach your end goal. For those natural list makers out there, this might be second nature!
Breaking down a goal into smaller tasks, not only makes the goal feel more achievable, but it helps provide a template for your future actions. Knowing exactly what you need to do in order to proceed to the next milestone helps to keep you on track and prevents that "what do I do now?" feeling. You become a person on a mission, not someone who is lost in need a map.
6. Think of potential obstacles and formulate plans to overcome them
This tip will really put you in the driver seat! Setbacks and circumstances beyond your control are always bound to appear on any journey. What will set you apart is taking the time to plan ahead for possible obstacles and Plan B scenarios so that when they happen, you are not caught on the back foot.
7. Surround yourself & work space with things that motivate you
I personally have a mood board that I constantly reference to help make decisions, keep me on track and stay focused. It features printed photos, hand drawings, quotes and color swatches. It is invaluable to have a tangible, visual representation in a central location front and center.
Another option is to decorate your home or workspace with colors that bring you joy and motivation. This can be in the form of paint, plants, artwork, crystals or colored markers!
Also, do not rule out the power of smell! The world of candles and essential oils bring a wealth of information on how certain smells can boost concentration and motivation.
8. Develop a support network
This network are people who inspire you and that you look up to. They push and encourage you to be the best you can be and to keep going when you feel like throwing in the towel.
Fun fact: These can be people you know and even those who you don't.
For example, I do not personally know certain accounts on Instagram but their photos and business models inspire me and push me to improve.
(Note: there is a big difference in negative comparison that can leave one feeling blue vs. pushing us to grow in a good way. Remember to be kind to yourself, it's ok, we all struggle with this, myself included!)
9. Passion, hard work and of course coffee!
These three are self-explanatory but essential
Cultivating Creativity
10. Write 10 variations of the same question (*)
Being inquisitive opens up new areas for learning and inspiration. By learning to ask questions in different ways, it just might lead you down a path of a more creative solution or line of investigation.
For example, for the classic question "How can I build a better mousetrap," you might ask questions such as "How do I get the mice out of my house?" and "What does a mouse want?" or "How can I make my backyard more attractive to a mouse than my house?"
11. Evaluate and criticize an imperfect product or situation you experience every day (*)
Once you have a list, think of ways to eliminate the problems. Don't think of this as negative endeavor, after all, most inventions and new products were brought to life by looking to solve everyday problems. Not to mention, cultivating creative problem-solving skills can have benefits in all aspects of life!
12. Engage in physical exercise
Anyone think of Goldie Hawn in The First Wives Club, running on the treadmill to get her best ideas? Or is that just me?
Get the blood pumping the creative juices flowing for your next light bulb moment!
13. Disconnect with a cup of coffee & let your mind wander with free writing (**)
I know that this sounds intimidating but start with what pops in your head. What might start out as silly and a little awkward may begin to flow into trains of thought that might just carry your next big idea.
14. Allow yourself to be bored. (**)
Unplug from your devices, radio and tv and any other form of distraction. This state of mind requires your brain to search for ways to become unbored, practicing natural curiosity and creativity.
Connecting with Others
15. Meet for an outing
If you are looking for inspiration, consider hiking, going for walk around a community park or neighborhood, playing golf, rollerblading, bike riding or even a shopping trip.
16. Write & send postcards
Hand written notes sent through the mail connect us to loved ones and simpler times. It shows thought and caring, more so than a text message or email. Strike up a pen pal and look forward to getting their special notes in the mail as well.
17. Schedule facetime into your week
COVID continues to keep people apart and virtual connections are still sometimes the necessity. Plan ahead so a date and time work for everyone. Blocking off time allows for devoted, hopefully uninterpreted, quality time to catch up and connect.
18. Come visit for coffee & chat with fellow pheasants!
When the moblie coffee bar is open for business, we invite you all to come grab a drink, hang out and chat with your fellow pheasant followers.
Whatever your resolutions or your goal- remember to be kind to yourself. Any setback or failure is a lesson learned and an improved stepping stone for the future – every step is progress.
Cheers to an inspired and successful new year,
Heather xx
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