New Start - Why Waiting for "The Right Time" is the Ultimate Creativity Killer.

Happy New Year!

We’re halfway through January, the champagne corks have long been swept away and the 'New Year, New Me' posts are already starting to fade from our feeds.

If you’re anything like me, you might feel a weird pressure this month. The world tells us that January 1st is the starting line. The day we must suddenly have our entire business strategy mapped out, our fitness goals solidified, and our inboxes at zero.

But here’s a little secret: January is just a month.

Whether you are launching a brand new photography business, starting a freelance design hustle, or simply stepping into a new chapter of your career, the start doesn’t have to be dictated by the calendar. Your new chapter starts the moment you decide to turn the page, whether that’s January 1st, a random Tuesday in April, or right in the middle of your busiest season.

The Myth of the "Fresh Start"

Waiting for a specific date to make a change is often just procrastination in a fancy outfit. How often have we said, "I’ll start that next month," or "I’ll look at my pricing when the new financial year hits"?

If you are waiting for the stars to align or the calendar to flip to a shiny new digit, you are losing valuable time.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now!

Setting Goals That Actually Stick (No matter the Month)

We all have things we want to achieve, work goals, money goals, life goals. The problem isn’t usually the desire, it’s the execution. When we set massive, vague resolutions, we set ourselves up to fail.

Here is how to set goals you can actually crush this year (or this week), whether you are a photographer, a creative, a stay at home parent, or an entrepreneur:

1. Be Specific and Boring

I want to make more money is a wish. I want to secure three new bookings per month is a goal.

• Example (Money): Instead of, Save money, try, Put 5% of every invoice into a separate virtual pot. And why not call it something fun like - Ski Trip fund. It doesn't matter if you sell photos or consulting hours, automate the habit.

2. The One Thing Rule

As creatives and business owners, our brains are often firing on all cylinders. We want to rebrand, launch a new service, and learn a new skill all at once. Stop. Pick one major business goal and one personal goal to focus on at a time.

• Example (Work): If your goal is to reclaim your time, your one action is to set up a workflow for delegation. That’s it. Once that is running smoothly, then move to the rebrand.

3. Schedule Your Hobbies (Yes, Really)

It sounds unromantic, but if you don’t schedule joy, work will eat it. Remember when you used to do things just for fun?

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• Example (Life/Hobbies): Block out one evening a week as Work Free. If you're a photographer, maybe you leave the camera at home and go for a hike. If you work in an office, maybe you take a pottery class. Do something totally outside your niche just for the mental break.

Bringing it Together: The Art of Letting Go

Let’s be real, when you run your own show or manage a busy career, work and life bleed into each other constantly. Your work goal of efficiency is directly tied to your life goal of actually seeing your family.

The biggest hurdle for most of us isn't capability, it's capacity.

• The Goal: Stop working until 2 AM.

• The Fix: Boundaries and assistance. Whether that means hiring a virtual assistant, finding an editor (wink, wink), or simply using better software to automate your emails.

• The Result: You sleep better (Life), you have more energy to create (Work), and you can take on the projects that actually pay well because you aren't bogged down by busy work (Money).

Your New Year Starts Now

So, if you didn’t have a grand master plan on January 1st, don’t sweat it.

Maybe your Year 1 starts today because you just registered your business name.

Maybe your new chapter starts next week because you finally decided to say no to a project that doesn't serve you.

Don't wait for permission or a date on the calendar. Look at what you want, whether it’s a thriving business or just the ability to close your eyes without stressing about your to do list and take the first messy step toward it today.

Here’s to a year (or a month, or a week) of doing what you love, and letting go of the rest.

Back soon with more edits, tips, and probably a dog story or two.

Shane-Louise