Taking Stock in the Progress You Made Last Year
January’s theme, instead of new resolutions, is looking at what went right in 2019.
I sigh with relief when I write that sentence. What a happy perspective shift from focusing on WHAT MUST CHANGE NOW. We can do that in February.
In the meantime, another part of 2019 that went right for me, and I was also able to help other people with, is getting clear about our people; the people who want and need what we do, and are willing to pay for it. Finding your creative purpose will help you connect with those people.
If you want in-person help with identifying your creative purpose, I’m starting a six-week workshop on January 21st.
Click here to read more about the workshop.
Here are some simple tools I used last year to figure out some of these things.
Feeling the pull from the people just waiting for your creative work
First, I believe that if I feel a huge pull (or even a small nudge) to create something, there are people on the other end of the rope, pulling me to create it. You don’t need to believe this yourself, but I find it comforting--I’m not orbiting in outer space alone. Plus, I’ve experienced this directly. So far, people do want the books I’ve written and the coaching I’ve done. Might as well assume this will continue.
Next, finding your creative purpose can set your feet on the path to find these people. Last week’s post illustrated a simple way to get to the purpose of your art/work. Once you have a working purpose, simply imagine what kind of people need that work. If “imagining” seems like a weird way to figure out who your people are, look at it this way. You have to start somewhere. You might as well start with a vision of the kinds of people who need your work, and would be rewarding and fun to work with.
The final step is to ask your imaginary clients these three questions:
- Who are you on the inside?
- Who are you on the outside (age, etc).
- What do you want from me?
Even ask the bonus question: Where are you looking for me?
Then act on that information.
What’s important here is not that you succeed in imagining your people in HD. I guarantee you won’t.
This work will simply give you a place to start.
The universe likes it when you put in the work
Once you start, you open yourself up to the universe, the market, reality, the people, experience, or whatever you want to call it. The answers are out there, and you’ll get closer and closer to those answers by imagining your clients, having a presence somewhere so they can find you, making relationships, helping them buy, then refining your process based on the feedback you get.
The hard part for me isn’t guessing correctly about who my clients are. I can guess and imagine all day long. The hard part is STARTING someplace. Just start, and let the feedback polish your efforts.
If you'd like to find your creative purpose, figure out who your people are and how to find and connect with them, join me for this workshop which starts January 21st: “Understand Your Purpose, Reach Your People, Forecast Your Business.” Click here to find out more, or book a chat with me to see if or how it will help you.