Well, I think we can all agree that this year didn't go as planned. lol. That said, every year I collect ideas of what I want to achieve in a year's time and create a vision board that I place in an area I can see daily, motivating me to work hard to obtain what I set out to do. Late 2019 - early 2020 me couldn't predict that coronavirus would come and change everyone's plans, including some of the goals I wanted to achieve. I had to learn to pivot and find new ways to do what I wanted to do. One of my biggest goals was to be able to leave my logistics job and start my own company. I'm happy to share that I'm writing this post from my home office that I run my company from where just months ago I had my former corporate job's monitors in.
This year was rough for a lot of us, but I think most of us can agree that it taught us the importance of appreciating what we have and how important our family and friends are in our lives. As I reflect over the goals that I created for myself this year, I challenge you to take a look back and be proud of yourself for surviving one of the hardest years that our generation will probably face. Maybe you learned how to cook something new or you read that book that you never finished. Being at home for most of the year made me appreciate the diversity of the world and how much more I want to explore.
To recap, in January I printed out pictures to represent what I wanted to do this year and glued them to my board. Before you think I wear a tin hat and think aliens are real (I mean, after this year I wouldn't be shocked), I don't believe that my board has magic powers, but I do believe that it provides daily motivation to do what you're inspired by. Without further ado, here's a look at my goals and some updates on each one.
Goals:
Travel to Los Angeles to visit Brooke more often - Not only did I go to LA five times, I got my brand, Cabo Couture, into my favorite hotel's boutique simply by messaging the hotel's general manager on LinkedIn and asking him to meet with me to discuss any possibility of working together. He loved the brand and placed it in the store alongside other amazing designer goods. If you're ever in West Hollywood be sure to stop by the Kimpton La Peer Hotel and pick up some Cabo Couture!
Start my own company - speaking of Cabo Couture... I was able to quit my full time job and start my own line of women's active and swimwear despite the *logistical* challenges and delays brought on by covid. I spent months designing and planning a launch before I finally decided to take the leap and go for it. Now, Cabo Couture is an internally company with products sold in the United States and Mexico! Every day brings on different challenges that I'm learning how to manage daily, but working for myself has brought me so much joy and freedom.
Travel to Cabo - Y'all already know that if I'm not in Dallas, LA, or Nashville, I'm most likely in Cabo. This year I was able to go to Cabo six times where I did business and also had some fun. I sold Cabo Couture products into one of my favorite resorts, the Cape Hotel, and am working on adding additional resorts to my list. Cabo has always been a special place to me and I'm so blessed to have gone there this year as many times as I did safely with my family and friends.
Create a custom bar in my house - This is one of the goals that changed due to the pivots I had to make. My house has a nook built into my living room that was designed to be used as a bar space. At the beginning of the year I had plans to make it really fun with shelves and a neon sign that said "I'll have another" or something cheesy like that. Now, that space has become my mini warehouse for merchandise. Probably a better use of the space for now anyways.
Grow my blog and Instagram - I set out to reach 20,000 followers by the end of the year. I worked really hard to post often and to share content that was fun and inspiring for people to view. Now over 40,000 people follow along to view my crazy life and I'm still in shock about it every day. **Patrick's voice from Spongebobs** "Who are you people!!!" lol
Continue to do daily devotions and trust God's will - Last but certainly not least, I wanted to continue to follow God's will for my life and trust His timing. Wow, was this year a good lesson for that or what?! Next year I want to continue to study the Bible and do daily devotions.
2020 was a year like no other. Be proud of yourself for what you were able to do during this time. Here's to hoping 2021 brings more happiness, joy, and love in the world. I know that's what I'll be wishing for come New Years Eve.
Cheers!
Maddie