As we leave July and enter August, I’m working to get back into consistent routines with posting on Instagram and thought it was time for a quick check-in on the business goals I set for 2022 (at the end of this January blog post).
Let’s get into it.
My 2022 Business Goals
Goal 1: $10K (gross) in Freelance Income
Status: Almost halfway to my goal!
This goal was set with the help of my creative coach, Scotty. Last year I made $5,000 gross, and he suggested I try to double it this year.
As of July 29, 2022, I’ve made $4,435.12. Within the next month, I expect to have $7,935.12, due to projects wrapping up.
My income is broken down :
Etsy sales: $848.69
Income from 15 client projects: $3586.43
Expected upon completion of two current client projects in the next two months: $3500
Goal 2: Two (2) New Passive Income Products
Status: Not started
While I did create a physical map for Trail Glazers, I don’t really consider this passive income, as I offered it for free.
Some ideas I have for this:
2023 calendar
Series of food-related prints (i.e. hot sauces, beers from XYZ Brewery, southern brands or ingredients, etc.)
Doughnut wrapping paper
Custom maps (this is something I’ve been asked to do for weddings and organizations lately and could see myself building out as an offering on my website)
While I love the idea of a passive income product, I’m wondering if the rest of this year should be spent creating work (and mockups), instead of spending more money on products, and more of my time marketing them?
Goal 3: Bi-Weekly Blogs
Status: In progress…ish?
I’ve written 6 blog posts in 2022...and the last one was in April. Not for lack of content ideas but for a lack of time.
A recent conversation with my creative coach made me wonder if blogs were really where I need to focus my time and energy. I enjoy writing and I think I’m decent at it. I love the thought of having a library of posts about illustration, freelancing and creativity. But is the blog going to necessarily get me to my ultimate goal of getting illustration clients?
Probably not.
It’s something I want to figure out how to build into my process and workflow (same thing with email lists), but maybe the rest of this year should be spent on building a long-term strategy for blogging, and try to get one more blog post out per month for the rest of 2022.
That way I can spend more time creating and building my illustration portfolio.
Goal 4: Start an Email List
Status: Not started
Definitely something I think about constantly but I haven’t acted on it yet. I’m not really sure what I’d send out to email followers, which also aligns with another struggle I’ve been having/question I’ve been asking:
What value do I provide to my clients, and how do I communicate that through content? Does my work speak for itself or do I need to be doing additional content to explain the value of my offering?
One thing I heard recently on a podcast was that clients want to see the person behind the art, which means that sharing content about your artistic process and your daily life as an artist are super valid things to share about on social media (and subsequently, in an email).
Like Goal 3, maybe the rest of 2022 is spent building a strategy, with the email list launching in 2023.
Goal 5: Chiefs/KC BBQ Poster
Status: Not started
This is a tough one… I wrote this initially thinking I’d use this as a passive income product, while also showing potential clients what I can do in the sports realm.
I don’t know what’s shifted for me mentally, but for some reason I mostly feel intimidated by this project, rather than motivated to work on it.
Goal 6: Recipe Re-Design or Food-Related Series
Status: Not started
Similar to goal 5, though this one feels more attainable to me. I have several food-related series ideas, and I think this could still be accomplished in 2022 (and would somewhat fulfill goal 2 as well).
Goal 7: Illustrative Beer Can Design
Status: In progress
I’ve been busy with freelance illustration projects the past few months (really since May), but my goal in August is to finish this project.
I want to spend 10-15 minutes in the morning before my day job working on this and see what I can get done, especially as some of my bigger freelance commitments will be winding down.
Goal 8: Trail Glazers (v.1) Map Printed (& in Doughnut Shops)
Status: Complete!
I wrapped this up at the end of April and had my doughnut maps in 3 different shops in NC that were featured in the first round of Trail Glazers.
While I didn’t make any money from this project, I am proud of myself for seeing it through to the end. I learned a lot about cold emailing (and not being afraid to follow up), how to determine the best format for a product, and what it takes to promote and supply something like this.
So, what I’m hearing is…you haven’t started on most of your goals?
If you’ve read this far, you can see that I haven’t started on most of these goals! And I’m actually not really worried about it. Here’s why:
I’ve made the most progress on my most important goal: hitting $10K earned
This goal is directly tied to my ability to take my freelance business full-time one day. And if that means I don’t make a new product, I’m okay with that.
Shifting priorities = growth
I came up with these project ideas and goals before I had any idea what 2022 would hold for my business. I didn’t know I wouldn’t have time for a food-related print series because I would be booked with freelance illustration work
At least for me, not having started on several of these goals (particularly the project-based goals) is okay because of how I’ve been able to fill my time with client work
Most importantly, I’m listening to myself and deciding what feels good and right to work on now, instead of clinging to a list I made 9 months ago
I know where I want to go from here
It’s weird to say but seeing so many goals “not started” is giving me a lot of clarity on which of these goals really matter, and where I really want to focus in for the rest of this year and into 2023
How are your goals for 2022 progressing?