I’ve spent a lot of time this past weekend working on my ‘goals’ list. Each year I make a list of goals for the year. I have different ‘sections’ such as “In the Home”, “In the Family”, “Heart, Mind and Body”, “Our Schooling”, and the last one, “In Our Business”.
I thought I’d share with you here, a peek at my business goals list for 2010. Keep in mind it was made up mostly under the assumption that my husband will be moving out of province for work and will not be around to help with the business any longer.
And if you didn’t realize it before, you’ll notice that Homestead Emporium is very much a part of our family ‘life’. It’s not just ‘my’ business, it’s our business. Yes, a very large part of the business is mine, but as anything that involves itself into this homestead, it must fit into the daily family lifestyle, or it won’t fit at all.
So, with that in mind, here are the main goals, the ‘family’ goals, for Homestead Emporium this year.
“In The Home Business”
-Mostly to put it, and keep it, in it’s proper place in our lives. For it to support our family but not run our daily lives.
-To help each child to find their own ‘niche’ in the business.
~Alesia; more of the computer work, listings, media representative, etc.
-To purchase an electric cutting knife to make her cutting time of inners and backings more efficient.
~Joshua; to work him OUT of a job with the business by the time he goes fishing in April/May. Have him help find a solution for us girls to do snaps. Have him create a more ‘automated’ snap press/table solution. Otherwise, find a used semi-automatic snap press which can fit into our studio.
~Elsa; to have her realize her importance within the business more fully, to develop in her a bigger sense of responsibility and personal confidence in all she CAN do. This will include more of an active role in ‘managing’ how many cotton balls should/could be produced each week, and how many she can personally do herself. (Because of the aspergers, it’s very important that Elsa learn to be self sufficient, and more importantly, self confident. This business was started as much for my girls then it ever was for me.)
~Shaylah; to have her become more responsible and confident in all she can do within the business and possibly have her create a small ‘pet’ line, possibly with Elsa as her partner.
~Julia; to teach her to sew without any help, and learn more about the machines. (She’s been wanting to do this for a while now.)
-To help her acheive her goal of earning enough each week to cover all her horse costs.
–ALL FIVE KIDS– help each one learn about short term savings, long term savings, and helping others/charity.
-If Graydon (husband) starts the new job, my personal goal within the business will be to spend no more then 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week, working in the studio, and no more then 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week, working on the computer.
-To continue handing in my quarterly tax reports on time, but this year, to also prepare all the necessary information each quarter to have the business’s FULL taxes close to done by the time the end of the year rolls around.
-And lastly, to work smarter, more efficiently, and waste less time.
And there you have it.
It may not be one of the most ‘professional’ looking business goal lists, but it’s ours, and that’s what makes it, and our business, unique.