2023 Goals
If you know me, then you know that I’m a highly driven goal-oriented individual. I have goals in my day-to-day life, with my cattle, my chickens, my dogs, my knitting, my business, my hobbies, and most, definitely my horses. I’ve never gone out and celebrated the New Year’s. I’ve much rather stay inside, listen to music, watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s, solidify the game plan for my goals and write myself letters for the future.
The Letters
Every New Years excepting one, I write three letters. One to myself in five years and then the next two I pick. They can be one year or twenty. They can be for my future spouse or for a friend. I have found it fun and a wonderful way to create an environment for true and authentic self-reflection. There is no reason to hold anything back from yourself, because you already know everything. There is nothing to be ashamed of.
These letters to myself are, interestingly, sometimes the kindest self-talk I ever have. To hear your own words and voice being kind to yourself is such a blessing and it’s a great way for you to track and understand who you are each year and each decade.
Goals
Writing Them
I spend about three to four months planning my goals out for the next year. This could seem strange, but I actually have goals set for different decades of my life. They’re something to look forward to as I age - at least that’s what I tell myself.
I’ll showcase a little bit about how my Enneagram Type 3 heart and brain work together to create a strategic communications plan for how to have a successful year.
Aesthetic Goals
This is my newest style of New Year’s goal for me that I want to create which is for an “aesthetic” for the year. I’m not an artistic person. I don’t typically think in any sort of picturesque, aesthetic, vision board, or Pinterest board kind of way. I am a story teller, writer, reader, and numbers person, long before I get to any sort of sketching, color coding or drawing.
The thing is, I know that we as humans are most productive and efficient when we are in a place that curates our creativity, whatever that may be. In the modern world of marketing, I am constantly having to build content both for my clients and for myself. That means that I need to constantly be removing all of those barriers and voice in my head that stop me from showing up either in photos, videos, voiceovers, or podcasts. I need to be able to be comfortable, confident, and not ashamed of my surroundings.
For example, I have never unpacked in a location. In fact, I’ve been in my new rental for six weeks now and I have yet to unpack and decorate. This is my aesthetic goal for 2023!
I want to get everything unboxed, put where it needs to go and decorated. I’m 31 years old, it’s about time I made myself a more comfortable nest. Especially for someone who works from home! It’s insane! I know!
I’ve spent a lot of time on Instagram, Amazon, TikTok, Pinterest and blogs to try and determine what I want my home to look like. I have finally locked in on a style and that is an old style academia, meets old west and old Hollywood. Yes, it seems all over the place so we shall see how it manifests!
Here’s a few of the staples that I think are going to add to the place:
Ornate framed paintings and vintage rodeo posters.
A record player and started vinyl collection, old movie posters, and my guitar memorabilia hung. Keep in mind, I have been collecting vinyls, but I’ve yet to get a record player.
A library featuring all of the old books I’ve collected.
A brighter lit office area with black and gold accents, organizational components so that everything has a place, the ability to record both YouTube videos, UGC/Brand Deal components, and podcast recordings, and wall hangings with at-a-glance business organization.
Lighting and old mirrors are also going to be a big component.
Farm Goals
I have some big farm goals so we shall see how this goes but here’s my list as of right now!
Cattle
Extend/add on to the loafing barn so the cows have a place to calve this year.
Re-build the ergonomics of my cattle handling facility for easier use of giving vaccines, AI'ing the cows for breeding season, and treating calves.
Create a creep feeder pen for the calves.
Breed the open cow for a February 2024 calf. Re-breed the rest of the herd as quickly as possible to get them closer to that March 2024 calving time period.
Add at least one registered specialty breed cow or heifer to the herd. Create a breed registry account and begin getting involved in a state or otherwise local chapter.
Chickens
Process all of my laying hens that are three-years of age or older and any extra roosters.
Add in through hatching or purchasing, a dozen new laying chicks.
Grow out and raise 500 contracted meat birds to go with the 50 I would raise for my family.
Create moving tractors for the cow pasture that can withstand the cows potentially trying to rub on them.
Horses
To say that I have a lot of horse goals for this year is no small statement! I’m going to put it out there, though, so that I can hold myself accountable to it
Transfer one embryo from Train Wreck (the former Appaloosa Racehorse) to Fortune (former Quarter Horse racehorse, my old barrel horse and Ariel’s momma) in March for a February 2024 foal.
Enter Train Wreck in 50 races. I would like to see 10 of those barrel races be a rodeo.
Make it to the Oregon Barrel Racing Association finals.
Compete in the Pendleton Round Up Green Mile Jackpot race (barring the weather).
Get Ariel started on ground driving work and ponying consistently.
Lifestyle
Business
Publish 59 That Western Life podcast episodes focused on Rodeo.
Publish 2 online courses.
Release 24 Western Insights Media business podcasts.
Bring my Executive Assistant on for 30 hours a week by the end of the year.
Finances
This was a big focus for me in 2022 so I want to continue the momentum that I have so far!
Finish my 2022 52 Card Cash Envelope Stuffing.
Start a 2023 Cash Envelope Stuffing.
Continue to meet monthly with my financial coach.
Decrease my debt 80% from January 1 to December 31, 2023. After what I did in 2022, I know I can do this because it will be less than I did in 2022, while having contracts for more money.
Create and build investment portfolios.
Personal Branding
Create a personal YouTube Channel with 12 YouTube long-form posts uploaded.
Upload 36 YouTube Shorts.
Be consistent on TikTok and Instagram.
Do six photo shoots throughout the year for more content.
Create a UGC portfolio.
Have 6 Brand Deals by the end of the year.
Upload 12 podcast episodes on lifestyle with friends and family.
Health
Originally I had wanted to do a half-Ironman in 2023 but looking at the training required and the race timing in Oregon, I don’t know if that is going to work. I am considering, but haven’t come to a decision yet, to do a half ironman in 2024 instead and begin that training this year.
Wake up every day before 5:31 am.
Work out 5-7 times a week. Yoga 3 mornings a week, HIIT workouts or weights 3 times a week, and running 2-3 times a week. This is easier in the summer than it is in the winter for me in Oregon without a membership somewhere, but we will figure it out!
Make more meals at home and have less food waste.
Grow more of my own food or source it locally through friends, family and trips to the farmer’s market.
Drink more water.