word of the year check inHow is it that January is already over? That seems a bit too fast, if you ask me. As I did last year, I’m going to be doing monthly check ins for my Word of the Year because I find it helpful to keep track of how I’m doing.

So, without much more preamble (hey, we’ve all got things to do and people to see), here is my first WOTY check in of 2018!

*Note: I use some Amazon affiliate links in the following post. This means that though the price you pay does not change, Amazon will pay me a tiny portion for directing you to their site if you do decide to buy.

1) Take family and self-care seriously and Adult.

So, this means:

  • Taking daily vitamins so I am caring for my health.
  • Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep so I’m not grumpy.
  • Eating on a regular schedule so I don’t get hangry.
  • Taking care of my skin because I’m vain and when I look good, I feel good.
  • Keeping my kitchen table 85% clear every day because when it’s cluttered, I get cranky.
  • Not buying more stuff (including toys) because clutter in my house makes me apoplectic. Also, I want to save more money.
  • Doing the household/life maintenance work because when it builds up, I get stressed out and procrastinate and that makes me feel bad.

I am pleased to say that I only missed the first day of the new year with my vitamins and I have diligently taken them the rest of this month. The pill box totally helped once I actually decided to use it. Plus, it helps me remember if I’ve taken my vitamins that day and is a handy visual!

I have not been getting enough sleep because I was foolish and took too much work on and didn’t adequately space out my deadlines. I will need to do much better about scheduling and pacing – but I am surprised at how little I exploded. I mean, I did a few times. But in general, I was not as douchey as I could have been.

My kitchen table isn’t at a terrible level yet, but it’s creeping up there. I will have to do a quick purge soon or I will likely burn it down out of frustration.

As for not buying stuff, that is not technically true because I bought photography stuff for the blog, but I did not succumb to buying things for the kids which is my REAL pain point.

did however adult and finally submitted all these health insurance claims for my therapy bills. Since Hapa Papa had three jobs last year, I had to look up three separate HR sites and health insurance claims forms. You see why I had been procrastinating up until last week? YOU SEE???

2) DO THE WORK.

Here are my work goals for 2018:

  • Make enough money to cover business expenses associated with my blog and related events (eg: conferences, CPA, etc.).
  • Stretch goal: to also make enough to cover all my monthly mortgage expenses for the year.
  • Pitch 3-5 times a week.
  • Submit to other publications at least once a month.
  • Write weekly LinkedIn posts.
  • Write a book.
  • Weekly FB Lives.
  • Revamp/rehaul site.
  • Daily interaction/activity on LI/IG/P/Tw.

You guys.

By January 8 of this year, just barely a week in, I hit my NEED goal for the year.

Not only that, but I’m 33.5% of the way to my stretch goal and January is not over yet.

Now, it’s not in my bank account yet, but it will be deposited in the following months and I am in disbelief.

Look. I am totally not a woo woo person. I am somewhat skeptical of the “name it and claim it” type of theology, but I do believe that we set our intentions out into the Universe and God or whomever pays attention. At the very least, it re-tunes my brain to see and prepare for opportunities.

What is it they say? Fortune favors the prepared mind. (According to Google, Louis Pasteur said that.)

I like this quote from Xzibit’s Foundation: In God we trust but just in case keep it loaded and locked.

I am absolutely convinced that none of these opportunities would be happening if I didn’t hire Brandi Riley as my blog coach. She was instrumental in changing my mindset and giving me actionable items to do right away. Then I signed up for her Courage 2 Earn MORE coaching group, and a few weekends ago, went to the inaugural Courage 2 Earn MORE Retreat.

Yes, I know I did the work. But without Brandi, it would have taken so much longer and with so much more doubt. I am SO grateful to her for her insightful comments, her kindness, and her incredible knowledge. I have more than made my money back that I’ve invested with her and now, I’m so happy to call her a friend as well.

Anyhow, I did not pitch 3-5x/week this month, but I did have a few continued negotiating emails. I also submitted to be part of a Lenten devotional written by Progressive Asian American Christians so that will be coming out next month. (I’m the first day’s devotional writer!)

I also pitched (and got accepted to appear on Ken Fong’s Asian American Podcast and have a few other things in the beginning stages. So, I am not aggressively pitching, but I am not doing nothing, either.

I have yet to start on writing for LinkedIn, my book, or revamping my site, but I did do a weekly Facebook Live, a Live Interview with Eghe Lenze of The Expecting Mamas Network.

I also did daily social stuff – even though I ignored Pinterest, as usual. But I will improve!

Ok. That’s it for this month! I think I started off better than I could have ever expected! This inspires me to keep going for February and not let things get stagnant.

How did you do your first month? Let me know in the comments.