Achieving Your Goals

Some of you may know that I enjoy setting myself small challenges. One such challenge began many years ago with a project I called "365." I had recently purchased a new DSLR camera, and while it was a powerful piece of equipment, I didn't know how to use all of its features. I'm a firm believer that the best way to learn is by doing, so I decided to take a photo every day for a year.

I decided to challenge myself to take a selfie every day for a year and share it on social media. I vowed to experiment with different camera functions, ideas, and editing techniques, publishing the results to my blog and social media platforms.

The daily challenge of using my camera and editing my photos helped me learn new techniques and come up with creative ideas. It was hard work, but I persevered and achieved my goal of taking a daily photo for a year.

My successful 365 project inspired me to take on other challenges, including many balloon-themed projects. The first was called "My Daily Balloon.

Over the Christmas holidays, I mentioned to a friend that I was looking for a new project. They suggested balloons, and I was immediately inspired. My goal was to create a different balloon sculpture every day for a year.

I have developed a specific way of planning and implementing my projects. This is my tried-and-true method for success. I will use one of my other balloon sculpture projects as an example to explain my process. 

First, I define my goal. For example, in my WWF project, I wanted to highlight endangered animals.

Next, I set constraints for time and duration. For example, I decided to make one sculpture per week for 26 weeks (one animal per letter of the alphabet).

Finally, I develop a detailed plan. I take notes, plan each sculpture ahead of time, and give the project a name. In this case, the project was called "An A to Z on Endangered Animals."

An A-Z of Endangered Animals

Now that I have a fully formed project, I have clear goals, a plan, and the knowledge to make it happen.

The most important step now is to tell the world about it.

Imagine that your goal is to speak Spanish by the end of the year. If you keep it a secret, only you will know if you fail. But if you tell your friends and family, you will feel accountable to them. You don't want to disappoint them, so you're more motivated to succeed.

That's why I tell the world about my projects. I announce them on social media, tell my friends and family, and share them with other balloon enthusiasts. I want everyone to know what I'm doing and to expect. This motivates me to keep going and achieve my goals.

The point is this: everyone should have goals. Whether you want to learn a new balloon design, get fit, learn how to bake a cake, or walk more, goals help us learn and grow. And I believe that telling others about your goals makes you more likely to achieve them. Not only will you want to succeed to impress your friends and family, but you'll also have their support.

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.” — Elbert Hubbard