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I am an entrepreneur by nature so, when I decided to take my passion for art seriously, I knew I had to stay inspired and set goals from the very beginning in order to stay focused. I also realized that I had to give up some things I enjoyed in order to spend more time learning and creating art.

In the beginning, the first thing I did was to sit down at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee and make two lists. The first list was for short term goals—things I would accomplish in one year—12 things, one for each month.

My second list was for long term goals—what my ultimate goals were and how I would systematically achieve them, month by month, and year by year. Of course this list is continually in play. My long-term goals are lofty—a timeline of sorts, spelling out each phase of my career, and indicating what order things need to happen before those goals can be reached.

You can use any time span you want, but planning for a year is a good place to start and doesn’t seem too overwhelming. If you run out of ideas, stretch your imagination and come up with some goals you may have not considered before. Goals can be as simple as “Attend a watercolor workshop,” or as complex as “Complete 6 of your unfinished paintings.” If some of the items seem too advanced to accomplish in the first year, put them on a separate list to be used for your long-term goals.

Now, if you really want to push yourself, you can present yourself with deadlines associated with each goal. If your goal was to complete 6 unfinished paintings, break those 6 paintings down to one finished painting every two months. This practice is what truly keeps me moving forward. (I talked about setting production deadlines in an earlier blog (http://cmagellen.faso.com/blog/106715/the-artists-clock.)

Being specific is very important. If any of my goals have not been met by their designated time, I re-visit the reasons why. Perhaps the goal was only partially met, or maybe the goal was not specific enough. To set a goal of “showing work in a gallery” may only get you an illustration on the announcement for someone else’s solo show! An example of a specific goal would be to strive to have, say, at least 6 paintings in a group show at a local gallery. Naming the gallery makes it even more specific.

Most importantly, dreaming BIG is paramount to goal setting. This is what makes miracles happen. Keep in mind that the higher you set the bar, the more you will accomplish. Keep raising the bar and you will keep improving, and you will excel at a faster pace.

I set my long term list of goals every 10 years, with my “Ultimate Goal” always placed as the carrot at the top of the list. Throughout the year, I check my progress and make adjustments as I go. The joy in re-visiting the list is the Check Off! Just the action of scratching off a completed goal is exhilarating.

Goal setting is a personal thing. There are plenty of pessimists out there who will try to steer you away from your dreams, so it is best to keep a lid on them and let those nay sayers marvel at how much you have accomplished down the road. But more importantly, YOU will see your growth as an artist and have experienced many wonderful memories born from the journey you took to get there!