Pisces Moon Studio

Last week I spent much of one day with my accountant doing my year-end tune-up and planning for 2010, and I impressed the heck out of him with how much I’ve done this year and what I have planned out for next year. This isn’t easy to do, so I feel really good about that. Month Zero is on its way to helping me create a great 2010!

So how to start Month Zero?

Well, first of all… do you have goals set for next year? They don’t have to be big goals like “restore world peace” or “stamp out hunger.” They do need to be measurable, though. You can’t say something vague like “I’ll make more quilts next year.”

Nope. Make it concrete. “I made XX quilts this year. Next year I will make YY.”

Or “I will enter one exhibition/quilt show this year.”

Or “I will take a class from (teacher I’ve always secretly admired).”

That’s the first step. Write down those specific goals — one, or several, or a whole bunch. If there are a whole bunch, try to prioritize them. “I really want to do this thing, but I am absolutely going to do that one if I have to hijack a Wells Fargo truck to pay for it.”

(Just kidding about the Wells Fargo truck. Law enforcement officials would frown upon it and they wouldn’t allow needles or other sharp objects in your cell. Difficult to make quilts that way.)

(Besides, I think Wells Fargo changed its name last year. It would have to be a Loomis truck.)

Write your goals. Make them measurable. Share them here if you like, and we’ll form a Monday Morning Kick in the Pants Society to help keep each other on track with the goals. Or pin them up on your wall and keep track of them yourself. But I promise you, having a group to gently and lovingly kick you in the pants — and cheer like crazy when you reach a goal — is a Good Thing in terms of getting things done.

It’s just like Weight Watchers, only without the weigh-in. Or you know, that whole keeping-track-of-food thing.

Next time: You’ve got your goals, but how do you get there from here?