Have you ever had one of those moments where you’ve wanted something for so long, and then one day woke up and said, “This is it, I’m going for it!”? Then like hopping in the car and putting the petal to the metal, you just roared off toward your destination?
For me, the big moment came at the end of last year when I decided to stop talking about being a writer and entrepreneur and actually start taking action toward those goals.
I jumped in my imaginary convertible sitting in the driveway, with its’ top down, never stopping to open the door, just leaping in and sliding behind the wheel, full of energy and enthusiasm, turned the key and gunned the engine. I backed out of the driveway and was racing toward my dreams before I knew it.
I have spent the last three months in a whirlwind of activity, dawn till dusk, before work (my day job), after work, lunch hours, and weekends. All spent, writing, researching, making connections, meeting with people, teaching, designing, and on and on.
The problem was, although I knew the general direction to go, I had no fixed destination in mind and no map or GPS handheld to guide me.
I realized this while planning my agenda and activities for my upcoming weeklong Tuscan Plan B: “Sandy’s At Home Book Festival and Writing Workshop”.
It suddenly dawned on me that I have been going a hundred miles per hour down the highway, headed in the right direction, but had no clue to where I was, how far I had gone or how far I had to go. It was time to pull over, take a break and check the map. And, ask directions.
First, what kind of writer am I and what kind of writer do I want to be? What form do I want my writing to take in the future and what do I want to accomplish?
Next, what does being an entrepreneur mean to me? How does writing fit in? What are my financial goals? How will my businesses meet the needs of the communities I want to serve? Where do I see myself working, what is the setting? Which business idea needs the most attention right now? And, which ones can I get up and running the quickest and which ones need a little more time to develop?
After I answer these questions and decide on my destination, it will be time to plan the road trip. How will I get there? What roads will I take and who will I visit along the way? And, most importantly, how will I know when I’ve arrived?
None of these questions are easy. They are not multiple choice or True-False questions I can bluff my way through. These are essay questions, and I will need to take my time in answering them.
How about you? Have you ever headed toward a goal, only to be sidetracked or lose your way? What did you do to get back on track? Who helped you along the way?
I would enjoy hearing your story. Comment or email me at sandy@thedreamingcafe.com
And, thanks for hanging out with me for this great adventure!!
