I had this list when I started my photography business, it was written on a series of 4-5 yellow Post-It notes, written in the confines of the office where I worked at the time. I had a list of what I’d deemed “attainable” goals, and then another list of what I referred to as my “yeah right” goals. As in, “yeah right, that’ll NEVER happen.”

And you know what? I’ve checked off every. single. one of those “yeah right” goals.

We talked a couple weeks ago about how I’m an optimistic realist- I like hoping for the best, but I also deplore the crushing despair of dreams that never came true, so I try to keep my hopes grounded on something solid. I’ll never tell a someone to reach for something I absolutely know they’re not capable of (i.e. encouraging someone who’s tone deaf to pursue a degree in music), because I don’t want to pump them full of hot air, only to be let down HARD when that balloon deflates. Instead, I’d rather encourage them in an area I know they’re absolutely capable in, to see them FLY as they maximize on their strengths and gifts!

The longer I do this, the more I realize that my purpose isn’t photography-specific; my purpose is PEOPLE-specific, and photography is the vessel that I use to serve people. And I think keeping that perspective in mind, it makes the whole business of goal-seeking a lot easier, because I know that if I don’t speak at THAT conference, or shooting a wedding in THAT country, I am not a failure. Because I’m still serving people, still working toward the vision my business is founded on, and THAT is where the success comes from.

All that being said, I think goals are awesome! And I think taking the time to craft a list of “attainables” and “yeah rights” is really healthy, because when you look back in five years, it will blow your mind all the items you’ll be able to cross off. And it’ll also blow your mind all the things you’ll be able to laugh at, because they’ll no longer matter to you! One of the goals on my list from 2011 was “create the next ‘big’ pose.” Like the whole “holding a wedding detail in your cupped hands, and cropping the shot from shoulder to hip.” That was big in 2011-2012, and I wanted to be the author of whatever the next cupped-hands-shot was going to be. These days, I couldn’t care less about that! Why? Because it’s a fame-seeking goal, not a creativity- or people-seeking goal.

Here we go! First, my list of “attainables,” or things that’s aren’t totally ridiculous to hope for:

1. Secret project #1 (you’ll find out about these this fall and winter!)
2. Shoot in Europe again this year!
3. Continue teaching the A Practical Wedding Workshop series
4. Purchase a new back-up camera body
5. Have a full wedding published in print
6. Sell a select number of my fine art Europe prints in an online shop
7. Learn how to shoot in-studio, to expand my ballerina work
8. Start playing with film again at weddings
9. Have a new anniversary session done with my own hubs 🙂
10. Find a business coach

And then my “yeah right” goals!

1. Secret project #2
2. Have my work featured on the cover of a magazine (you can laugh, it’s ok!)
3. Teach a photography workshop in France
4. Book a wedding at Lake Como, Italy
5. Book an Anniversary Experience session in Salzburg, Austria
6. Speak yearly at conferences for creatives, but only with the right intentions. Continue working at keeping my pride out of the equation
7. Photograph Keenan Kampa (I grew up dancing at the same studio as Keenan! SHE’S AMAZING)
8. Photograph a wedding designed by Hey Gorgeous Events

So there you have it! My crazy, audacious goals. I’d love to hear yours, too!