My Goals for 2014. I’m Really Excited About #6!

I was sitting at the kitchen table downstairs literally 20 seconds ago.

Well, it was actually about 2 minutes and twenty seconds ago because I had to grind some more coffee and make a new cup before coming up here.

But I was sitting there, reading Rise, and I couldn't focus on the words on the page. I was too mentally distracted by all of the things I needed to do and the things I wanted to accomplish over the next few days.

I thought about the Toastmasters meeting I had in a couple of hours.

I thought about the kind of present I wanted to get for Ashley for her birthday on Thursday.

I thought about the blog posts I'd written as well as the ones on my list to write. Including this very one.

For a while now I've kept a list of blog post topics to write about whenever I got around to it. Things like team building, a 2014 reader survey, about being selfish, and how to effectively delegate.

But today, as I was sitting there drinking my coffee, I was focused on this one, my goals for 2014.

I've been thinking about my goals for this year since the end of December. I've had them in my head, and, since leaving my corporate job, my goals have been sitting in the back of my mind like our cat waiting to be fed.

I've been procrastinating sharing them with you because, well… I'm not really sure why.

Actually, that's not true. I know why.

I haven't shared them with you out of fear.

I fear that I won't hit my goals or achieve their outcomes, thus making me a failure.

I don't know if I'm that strong – to say this is what I'm going to do, only to not be able to do it.

See what I did there?

I did it again. I've spent the last four minutes procrastinating about sharing my goals with you instead of actually sharing my goals with you.

No more delays.

My Goals for 2014

Goal #1: Coaching

I know I can help a lot of people if I can just get moving. I've been in sales for fifteen years in companies ranging from retail clothing to financial services to selling million-dollar hardware over the phone. I'm really good at what I do.

Part of my success has come from a natural ability to analyze a situation and read people. Though I'm very introverted, I really enjoy speaking to people at a deeper level.

I've got one person I'm coaching who came to me because she wanted me to help keep her accountable, focused and moving in the right direction.

Now I need a few more people like her.

If you're interested in coaching, even just a little, let's talk!

My coaching goal: 5 people
My income goal: $1500 per month

Goal #2: Podcast

I have a really great podcast. I do!

No, I'm not bragging. I have a great show because my guests are incredible. They share some of the best business insights I've ever heard, and my guests range from new entrepreneurs to multi-millionaires who run major corporations.

In future episodes I talk to a girl who struggled with suicidal thoughts. She shares how she overcame her depression so she could live the life she deserves to live! It's awesome.

I don't want to sell you on listening to the show; I just want to share my goal of reaching 1000 downloads per episode and get more than 50 reviews in iTunes.

If you haven't checked out the show, here is a list of guests. Listen here!

If you HAVE listened to the show, please consider leaving me an iTunes review!

My audience goal: 1000 listeners per episode
My review goal: 50 reviews in iTunes

Goal #3: Speaking

While at New Media Expo in January I realized that I wanted to get back on stage.

In high school, I was in a theater troupe that won 2nd place in Texas for our one-act play my junior year and 3rd place my senior year. I also was in the top 12 in Texas for poetry.

Yes, poetry.(You can ask me about that in the comments if you want.)

I really enjoyed sharing a story with an audience and that thrill has never really left me.

When I worked at my corporate job, I trained almost every training class our department had over a four-year period. I was even asked to train some global field teams about business and how to work with a remote team. It was so cool!

Then, this past Sunday, out of almost nowhere, I got an email from a business contact asking me how much I charged for speaking and what my package rates were.

I've got some work to do!

Another major goal I have in this area is to speak at New Media Expo in 2015.

Something I realized while in Vegas last month is how important it is to get your spouse on board with what you're doing. I realized how much of an asset it was to have Ashley there with me, not only in Vegas, but at the conference as well.

There were people there who had brought their spouses, but those spouses had no desire to learn about what their partners were up to or even meet their friends and colleagues.

That sucks.

So, one of the topics I'd like to share at New Media Expo 2015 is how to get your spouse involved with what you're doing. And I'd love Ashley to co-present that with me!

Speaking goal: 4 presentations, at least 1 out of Texas
Speaking goal: get approved to speak at NMX 2015

Goal #4: My Niche site

Since you're reading this, I'm going to assume we're friends.

At the end of last year, I started feeling out a niche for a product I wanted to sell. I started asking fellow bloggers and podcasters about my idea and they were convinced I was on to something.

What first started out as a small coaching course evolved into a side business, What's Next Blogging.

As I often call it, WNB, is a website that sells 5-10 minute videos that shows you how to solve specific problems you're having when building a blog or website.

I'll save you hours of searching, give you an HD video that walks you step-by-step through the process of fixing your headache, and I only charge you a few dollars ($2-5 typically) for the convenience.

I've already helped several people so I know the concept is solid, now I need to help hundreds. Every month.

No big deal right?

If you want to hear more about why I started What's Next Blogging, listen to the audio here.

WNB goal: $500 per month

5: Web Design

Right now I'm working on creating a beautiful website for a young artist who wants to grow her business and bring it online. Over the past two years, through trial and error (and breaking my sites more than once), I've learned how to build websites and get them optimized fairly quickly.

If you're not comfortable tweaking your site yourself, I'll do it for you.

I can do two, maybe three, sites per month and help people along the way. If you're interested, here's a link to check out all the things I'll get going for you.

Web design goal: 2-3 sites per month
Web design income goal: $600-900 per month

Goal# 6: Affiliates

My affiliate goal is two-fold.

The first “fold” (do you call them folds?) is to be an affiliate. I have affiliations with Bluehost, Amazon, Newegg, and a few more.

After doing some dumb things, I now only offer affiliations for products I really enjoy, use myself, and feel good about recommending. That's why I don't share my iPage affiliation any more.

The second “fold” (I guess I'm going with that) is to offer affiliations.

These affiliations are why I'm most excited about goal #6. Affiliations will allow me to create passive income for a much larger group of people.

I think there is a great opportunity, for bloggers especially, to become an affiliate of WhatsNextBlogging.com. I'd like to share 40-80% of my revenue with my affiliates.

If you're interested, send an email to ellory(at)whatsnextblogging.com and we'll chat.

Affiliate income goal: $100 per month
Affiliate payout goal: $250 per month

Well, that wasn't too painful. Now my goals are out there for everyone to see and hold me accountable.

Let's do this!

Question: What are your goals for this year? What is your best advice for achieving goals? Share your goals and your advice with me in the comment below!