If you are like me, over the winter you pick out some project to complete before Spring. It’s less of a push to do better in the new year, and more of an attempt to tick off one bite sized piece of a 5 year plan. I’m about ready to ditch all thoughts of 5 year plans, because I have yet to trace out the steps for a goal that big.

the love hate relationship with 5 year plans

In 2010, I was living in Los Angeles nearing the end of my graduate work, and Jack was muddling through taking over ownership the family janitorial business in Monterey. We both had momentum on career tracks that did not make us happy, but we kept pushing ahead with what we knew. Having spent 5 years living 300 miles apart, we wanted to spend more time together. We had 2 years left on our 5 year plan to move to Portland, but had no idea how to get there. There was no real plan, just a desire. And spoiler, it took us another 12 years to make the move.

Planning is not what we do best

We never broke down the steps we had to take to get to our goal of living in Portland and having financial stability. In the last decade, we made some drastic changes to our work lives, had two unplanned pregnancies, and just dove into making the move. Lots of unplanned - but just felt right - events that did not get us over the line to complete our goals. However, we outlined what we want and some steps on how to get there and are felling more confident in our ability to get there.

Right place, right actions

I am spending my days making lists with those little check box squares to keep me moving forward. Simon Sinek talks about chunking goals into bite sized tasks. The goal is to increase sales of art prints and originals and buy a duplex. Two related but important steps in living our life the best way we know how, on our own terms.

Buy a print, dream a little

Maybe you dream of creating a space where you live out your best life. What are your goals? Jump over to our Desert shop and buy a print that speaks to you. Emerge from winter with warmth and a sense of accomplishment.