So I'll be honest and say I really had no idea how to write this post, what to say, and how to even begin to explain even a glimpse of what went on this year. I spent hours contemplating whether this post would be something I want to be truly honest with or a post I would just recap my public blog posts on. I read other creative entrepreneurs' year in reviews and every single one I read was the most inspirational and well-written review of 2015. Every single one was better than the next. I couldn't see how my year in review could compete with theirs. Then I realized, I may have not accomplished as much as some of these creative entrepreneurs who traveled all over the globe and made bank in hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I did have one heck of a year (whether that's good or bad)!
What Worked this Year
Work
I left my part time job in retail within the first three days of the new year. Best decision ever! I worked at that soul-sucking landfill for 9 months and just had enough. Sure, there were some good times and even some good people I worked with, but it was most definitely not a place for me.
Events in NYC
I spent a whole lot of time in NYC this year - attending conferences, going to the Video Games Live concert at the Beacon Theater, touring WeWork, and going to the HerCampus Fashion Show. I had fun and really felt like I was making connections through every conference and networking event I went to. I met lots of interesting people who do awesome work and overall, I felt in my own element. I was among people who were smarter and more successful than me. That is just mind blowing to me! It really is true when they say:
Family
I'm not going to lie - my family has made lots of changes this year. I met my parents' new spouses and as I continue to grow up I see myself taking on a more parental role for my two siblings. I said that this post will be honest and raw so here it is. My family isn't typical and no where near normal. But we're working on it.
This year we've had lots of fun memories going out for dinner, catching a movie, and even taking a couple trips to Dave & Busters. I hope to make more time next year for these family events.
Fluffy
In March of 2015, I met a little male holland-lop bunny we named Fluffy. He quickly became my little other half. He's the sweetest and most unique bunny ever. I never saw myself as a pet person, but this little cutie changed my life. Follow the little guy along on Instagram or check out some Fluffy the Bunny merch.
Business
Launching Little Eternities in August was super rewarding. In about 3 months, I launched the business, recreated the original website, started branching off into creating a course sector where I'll be teaching my students how to start their own businesses, perfect their business plans, and become digital innovators, and not to mention, I grew my e-mail list from 0-300. Next year, I can't wait to launch my courses and help people become successful too!
What Didn't Work in 2015
Personal
For years, I've kept my other half a secret online from my family, my friends, and anyone I meet online. I'm simply tired of it. So from now on, I'll be mentioning him and writing more about him publicly. I'm done with hiding such a huge part of my life. In 2016, I'm going to be completely honest and open. His name is Anthony. He was referred to as my best friend in a lot of my old blog posts.
Other Projects
I didn't even look at the fiction novel I started writing back in 2013 titled Within the Bindings. Although, I do not feel ready to take it on in 2016, I at least want to go back and plan how to publish it.
Fragrance Essence took a seat on the back burner while I took my web design business to the next level so in 2016, I hope to expand my inventory and increase sales.
It's Technologic will definitely be launched in early 2016 as a tech and business blog focusing on startups and technologies. I'm also currently looking for guest-post writers to introduce their own startups or share tech hacks. If you're interested e-mail zobia@theeternityjournal.com. I totally abandoned this project in 2015, but its coming back!
Periscope
I love periscope! I started using it in August and love the platform so much! My only regret is not using it regularly to speak towards what I do and share some design and business tips. So in 2016, particularly from Jan 1st to Jan 12th, I'll be doing a series called #12DaysofBizPlanning where I'll share tips on planning your business and how to setup for success in 2016. Follow along on Periscope, Instagram, and Facebook to get all the awesome tips and talk business with me!
Work
I'm working my way into taking on my businesses completely full-time. 2016 might just be the year.
Financial Goals
My goal is to make $70K in revenue and my follow-up goal is to make $100K. Let's see where 2016 takes me.
Community
My e-mail list this year could not be more important. Honestly this year, I was unable to really hone in on offering value and raw material to my e-mail subscribers. I created some free content and quite a few opt-ins, but I didn't receive the response I was looking for. I have yet to engage my audience and in 2016, all of my subscribers will get loads of free valuable information and actionable content pushing them forward in their own business endeavors. I can't wait for it! Want to be in on the action? Sign up for my free e-mail course and build a better business in 7 days.
Courses & Investments
This year I invested a whole lot of money in my businesses. I invested in software, courses from other creative entrepreneurs, and equipment to start launching courses and provide more premium services for my web design clients. I invested roughly $8K this year. What didn't work for me here is that after investing in these courses, I didn't get through much of the content and I hope to really focus on it next year.
Blog
Honestly, my blog is so outdated that I could not believe my last post was in October. I stopped blogging and I am going to change that in 2016 with more useful posts sharing my experiences as an entrepreneur and helping you build a better business!
Now Let's Talk New Year's Resolutions
Every year, you set goals to accomplish - hoping that by some miracle you'd actually get them done without lifting a finger. I'm sure you know what goals I'm talking about. Losing weight. Saving money. Working less. Enjoying life more.
Those are goals, yes. But they aren't specific enough to achieve.
Everyone falls into this trap. (Guilty) You give yourself this one big goal that's super broad and you never get around to even taking the first step to achieving it.
Days roll by. Weeks. Months. And then December 31st comes around and your left wondering where you went wrong.
Let's do something different this year and not make these broad goals. Let's make goals we can actually achieve. Let's set really specific goals that we can actually achieve by next year.
I'll give you an example.
I'm no longer telling myself that I'm going to succeed with my businesses. That's a super vague goal and quite frankly the outcome of it being accomplished isn't exactly all in my hands.
This year my goals are:
Make $70K in revenue from my businesses then take it to level 2 and make $100K
AND
Have 2 Successful Course Launches in January and April
I don't want to set a traditional New Year's Resolution. Instead, I'm creating a theme for 2016. My theme for the year is Take Action. I'm not going to sit around trying to expand my businesses. I'm going to ACTUALLY do it.
I encourage you to do the same. Don't throw yourself into the New Year's Resolution Trap. Ditch the traditional resolutions, make a specific goal this year and create a theme for the year!
That's a wrap!
Before I ask you what your 2016 theme is, I want to also thank you. Thank you for your support, thank you for continuing to follow along, and thank you for sharing your experiences with me! I enjoyed connected with y'all and can't wait until your businesses flourish in 2016!
As a thank you, enter below for your chance to win an awesome photography package with everything you need in 2016 to take better photos for your blog and business! Enter below!
Take a second and share your 2016 theme with me. What do you want 2016 to be full of? Let's encourage each other to get started and keep going!
What Worked this Year
Work
I left my part time job in retail within the first three days of the new year. Best decision ever! I worked at that soul-sucking landfill for 9 months and just had enough. Sure, there were some good times and even some good people I worked with, but it was most definitely not a place for me.
Events in NYC
I spent a whole lot of time in NYC this year - attending conferences, going to the Video Games Live concert at the Beacon Theater, touring WeWork, and going to the HerCampus Fashion Show. I had fun and really felt like I was making connections through every conference and networking event I went to. I met lots of interesting people who do awesome work and overall, I felt in my own element. I was among people who were smarter and more successful than me. That is just mind blowing to me! It really is true when they say:
"If You Are The Smartest Person In The Room, Then You Are In The Wrong Room."
Family
I'm not going to lie - my family has made lots of changes this year. I met my parents' new spouses and as I continue to grow up I see myself taking on a more parental role for my two siblings. I said that this post will be honest and raw so here it is. My family isn't typical and no where near normal. But we're working on it.
This year we've had lots of fun memories going out for dinner, catching a movie, and even taking a couple trips to Dave & Busters. I hope to make more time next year for these family events.
Fluffy
In March of 2015, I met a little male holland-lop bunny we named Fluffy. He quickly became my little other half. He's the sweetest and most unique bunny ever. I never saw myself as a pet person, but this little cutie changed my life. Follow the little guy along on Instagram or check out some Fluffy the Bunny merch.
Business
Launching Little Eternities in August was super rewarding. In about 3 months, I launched the business, recreated the original website, started branching off into creating a course sector where I'll be teaching my students how to start their own businesses, perfect their business plans, and become digital innovators, and not to mention, I grew my e-mail list from 0-300. Next year, I can't wait to launch my courses and help people become successful too!
What Didn't Work in 2015
Personal
For years, I've kept my other half a secret online from my family, my friends, and anyone I meet online. I'm simply tired of it. So from now on, I'll be mentioning him and writing more about him publicly. I'm done with hiding such a huge part of my life. In 2016, I'm going to be completely honest and open. His name is Anthony. He was referred to as my best friend in a lot of my old blog posts.
Other Projects
I didn't even look at the fiction novel I started writing back in 2013 titled Within the Bindings. Although, I do not feel ready to take it on in 2016, I at least want to go back and plan how to publish it.
Fragrance Essence took a seat on the back burner while I took my web design business to the next level so in 2016, I hope to expand my inventory and increase sales.
It's Technologic will definitely be launched in early 2016 as a tech and business blog focusing on startups and technologies. I'm also currently looking for guest-post writers to introduce their own startups or share tech hacks. If you're interested e-mail zobia@theeternityjournal.com. I totally abandoned this project in 2015, but its coming back!
Periscope
I love periscope! I started using it in August and love the platform so much! My only regret is not using it regularly to speak towards what I do and share some design and business tips. So in 2016, particularly from Jan 1st to Jan 12th, I'll be doing a series called #12DaysofBizPlanning where I'll share tips on planning your business and how to setup for success in 2016. Follow along on Periscope, Instagram, and Facebook to get all the awesome tips and talk business with me!
Work
I'm working my way into taking on my businesses completely full-time. 2016 might just be the year.
Financial Goals
My goal is to make $70K in revenue and my follow-up goal is to make $100K. Let's see where 2016 takes me.
Community
My e-mail list this year could not be more important. Honestly this year, I was unable to really hone in on offering value and raw material to my e-mail subscribers. I created some free content and quite a few opt-ins, but I didn't receive the response I was looking for. I have yet to engage my audience and in 2016, all of my subscribers will get loads of free valuable information and actionable content pushing them forward in their own business endeavors. I can't wait for it! Want to be in on the action? Sign up for my free e-mail course and build a better business in 7 days.
Courses & Investments
This year I invested a whole lot of money in my businesses. I invested in software, courses from other creative entrepreneurs, and equipment to start launching courses and provide more premium services for my web design clients. I invested roughly $8K this year. What didn't work for me here is that after investing in these courses, I didn't get through much of the content and I hope to really focus on it next year.
Blog
Honestly, my blog is so outdated that I could not believe my last post was in October. I stopped blogging and I am going to change that in 2016 with more useful posts sharing my experiences as an entrepreneur and helping you build a better business!
Now Let's Talk New Year's Resolutions
Every year, you set goals to accomplish - hoping that by some miracle you'd actually get them done without lifting a finger. I'm sure you know what goals I'm talking about. Losing weight. Saving money. Working less. Enjoying life more.
Those are goals, yes. But they aren't specific enough to achieve.
Everyone falls into this trap. (Guilty) You give yourself this one big goal that's super broad and you never get around to even taking the first step to achieving it.
Days roll by. Weeks. Months. And then December 31st comes around and your left wondering where you went wrong.
Let's do something different this year and not make these broad goals. Let's make goals we can actually achieve. Let's set really specific goals that we can actually achieve by next year.
I'll give you an example.
I'm no longer telling myself that I'm going to succeed with my businesses. That's a super vague goal and quite frankly the outcome of it being accomplished isn't exactly all in my hands.
This year my goals are:
Make $70K in revenue from my businesses then take it to level 2 and make $100K
AND
Have 2 Successful Course Launches in January and April
I don't want to set a traditional New Year's Resolution. Instead, I'm creating a theme for 2016. My theme for the year is Take Action. I'm not going to sit around trying to expand my businesses. I'm going to ACTUALLY do it.
I encourage you to do the same. Don't throw yourself into the New Year's Resolution Trap. Ditch the traditional resolutions, make a specific goal this year and create a theme for the year!
That's a wrap!
Before I ask you what your 2016 theme is, I want to also thank you. Thank you for your support, thank you for continuing to follow along, and thank you for sharing your experiences with me! I enjoyed connected with y'all and can't wait until your businesses flourish in 2016!
As a thank you, enter below for your chance to win an awesome photography package with everything you need in 2016 to take better photos for your blog and business! Enter below!
Take a second and share your 2016 theme with me. What do you want 2016 to be full of? Let's encourage each other to get started and keep going!