Hi Friends,

So as those who follow along on social media know, I spent a few days at the beach last week on a business retreat. Now I realize I’m just a small business owner but I intend to grow!!! So why not have a retreat! (next year maybe Hawaii  😆 ) And If I’m going to grow I need to push myself, learn new things and venture into scary new territory. In other words I need to be BRAVE.

Since becoming a business owner I have chosen a word to be my touchstone throughout the year. The word is meant to inspire, motivate or encourage me to stay on a particular path and/or mindset. This year the word is BRAVE. I chose BRAVE because I think its a powerful word that can be applied in absolutely every aspect of our lives.  Recently I ordered a new devotion book entitled 100 Days to Brave Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self by Annie F. Downs.  Right at the very beginning she states “Brave people don’t stop hearing the whispers of fear. They hear the whispers but take action anyway.”  In other words we don’t suddenly become BRAVE when we feel the absence of fear. We are BRAVE when fear is present but we take the next step anyway!

#BRAVE2018 – What does that look like for me?

As I begin my 5th year… I’m awed, shocked and thrilled and oh so thankful that SFP has not only lasted but grown to this point. 

I spent Tuesday evening through Friday morning reflecting on what worked last year and educating myself on things I need to do to help my workflow, productivity, customer service, and of course my goals for 2018 as a business owner.

It would be really easy for me to coast. To just continue doing what I’m doing and most importantly avoid those things I have avoided before.  I avoid certain things because they intimidate me, make me uncomfortable and simply scare me.  And most importantly what if I FAIL at them.  🙁  But with my word BRAVE I remind myself that all I have to do is take ONE step at a time…

So here are my top 3 business goals for 2018 – 

1. Growth – the obvious one but the most challenging one. Because HOW???? Exposure is huge here which means I have to put myself out there consistently which sometimes takes a lot of BRAVE! So stay tuned for weekly blogs.  😎 
2. Modernize – (For lack of a better word) I’m not the most tech savy chick. I tend to learn something then I just want it to stay that way forever so I can just master it and not move on. But that is not the world we live in! I have signed up for a workflow program so I will finally be updating documents, contracts and I will begin a newsletter etc. There is a lot of learning, stretching and being uncomfortable that falls into this category.
3. Give Back – I want to find a cause that I can use my business to help support. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Those are just y top 3. I have 2 other goals that I’m not BRAVE enough to share at this point. I have a long list of specific plans to help those goals along this year. 

Thank you for your encouragement and support it truly means the world to me.