It’s hard not to let the state of the economy add stress to running a business, much less kill creativity in hopes of just making ends meet. With all the other facets of daily work/life we have to deal with, it makes planning for the upcoming year a little more shaky than years past. I’ve never been much for making my own new year’s resolutions (much less keeping them), but I do find that taking time to make some considerations that I don’t normally have time for in the busier months of the year make a huge difference in my perspective when things get a little mundane in production, or too crazy busy. This year more than ever, I find it even more important to back off, take a big breath, and set some goals. And sometimes, I find that goals come with boundaries. After all, we’ve got to guard our personal lives as well.

Being an entrepreneur, I find that I’m not great at following through with super-specific things and like to think that those details will eventually flesh themselves out throughout the year, or with help from others. J Planning TOO much only tends to overwhelm me and get me bogged down. So instead, I give myself a type of ‘scaffolding’ of goals I’d like to see happen this year in three categories: Press, sales, experiences. And then one thing I’d like to focus on across the board. This year, I’m hoping to keep “Quality” at the forefront of my planning and execution. Realistically, expecting to make the same or more amount of money in the sales department will depend on more than the economy, but also my approach to the market itself.

I plan to spend more time focusing on my current wholesale & consignment accounts, adding new ones as I can, and not exhausting myself with as many retail shows as I did last year (though the cash is great, I want my weekends back). I felt really spread thin in getting everything done during the week for wholesale accounts and then working pretty much all weekend…I think I have a grasp on the shows that should be worth the effort—and the ones that aren’t. As far as experiences go, I think that continues to follow educational and travel lines. I’m hoping to make it to the SOFA exhibit in NYC or Chicago this year…that kind of affair would be my ultimate career dream. I’m also taking more metal-smithing classes (and plique a jour!) and possibly some welding classes.

 I’m also going to become a first-time mom in August and though I’m still a bit shell-shocked by the news, I’m excited and very nervous. I’ve been reading back though some of our blogs and email conversations and am so glad to be a part of a community of designers like Beehive…many of whom are moms too. I’m eager to learn how to juggle the whirlwind I create for myself as an entrepreneur and the responsibilities of being a mother and would love some insight of your tricks of the trade…