If you have a blog, or maybe if you don’t you still have a vision for where you want to be in 5 years, right? Well if not, then take a minute and think about it. If you don’t have a vision of where you want to be, then how will you ever arrive there?
People think this is difficult, but it isn’t. One sentence about where you want your blog to be in 2 years. When I was a consultant and helped my clients plan I would ask them to look down the road 5 years, but this is the blog world, and as I recently told someone, the years here are more like dog years.
If you have been blogging for one year, it’s like having a normal job for 7 years, meaning 95% of the bloggers who started when you did have already quit by now. I wanted my blog to look professional, have a warm welcoming tone, to be a source of encouragement, and of inspiration. I didn’t say it out loud, but I wanted to be in a magazine too.
I think this is helpful, actually more helpful than you know what it is you want from your blog. If you think you might want to sell products one day, then that will help you know you want to become an authority in a particular area. Like if you paint a lot of things like Miss Mustard Seed, then you might have a goal of your own paint line one day. If you really like photography and writitng, then you might have a goal of heading in the direction that Fiona and Twig is headed working for magazines, as a writer and photographer.
So here’s what I’m thinking. If you want to work for a magazine one day, then focus on your writing and staging. If you want to sell something on your blog, become an expert on that item.
What’s my vision statement? This is what it was…
I want to open a successful online shop that sells beautiful home decor items and to be published in a major magazine.
But now it is evolving in a different direction. I will share more later. And that’s ok. A vision statement can evolve with you.
I would love it if you would leave a comment of your dream on this post. There is something powerful and about saying it out loud, or writing it. Miss Mustard Seed did that many months ago, asked readers to leave a comment stating their dreams, and I thought it was a fabulous idea. What’s yours?
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Wow, you’ve gave me a lot to think about the direction of my vision with blogging. I do have one, but never thought about the way you put it.
I’ve never really thought about a vision statement. But now your post had got me wondering… I started my blog after we started creating things for craft shows. Basically it was a to share those things and also an outlet for my writing, which i had given up, for many reasons, some time ago. I started out by writing more than sharing projects, simply because time was tight and it was hard to get projects finished. Or so i thought. Once i started sharing them, i realized that i could share just the simplest things and they would inspire others. But the biggest surprise is that all of that would inspire me so much. I’ve been creating much more since i started sharing our projects, and i love that! But, back to the vision of my blog. I guess i don’t know exactly what that is, but i think part of it is as simple as it being an inspiration for me to keep creating on the caliber that i have been. for my blog to keep inspiring me and others is a good enough vision for me, i think. It might not be a big goal, but it’s mine, at least for now. 🙂 Thanks for making me think about this, Anita. I’m sure to think about it even more now that you’ve put it in my mind!
Well, A Vision Statement is exactly what most of us need to do! I am in the process of building a blog and although I have a thousand idea’s streaming through my mind, one really needs to approach this with a clear, concise thought process! I am filled with idea’s and stories so my outline will start there!
I love your blog, it always makes me feel as if I’m siting with a friend over coffee! Thanks for the cup…
Lois
To encourage, change lives and make a difference, these are the reasons why I blog. It also was a quick fix for my desperate need to write. My dream is to be published but I blog as a shortcut for a busy homeschool Mom. It is time to have some direction and a plan. Thank you for the encouragement to do so. I am also looking forward to the big reveal of your beautiful home! (feel free to peruse my blog at debbiespence.wordpress.com)
Anita,
My intended purpose “vision” of On Crooked Creektt was to encourage and inspire others in decorating their own homes. I blog for the creative outlet in writing and decorating.
When I entered into The Land of Blog, I never dreamed of all the amazing women I would meet and “bond” with. Over the past three years (Aug. 26th),I have blessed with “kindred spirit” friendships beyond any I could have ever imagined.
This past year, I was featured in a local newspaper edition alongside many professional women in our local area!!! Talk about feeling honored!
I enjoy “catching~up” with my followers and the communication I recieve is 100 fold pure uplifting and delight!
I have no intention of making financial compensation, but encourage those of you who do!!! I’m here for the long haul. if the Lord is willing. . .
Fondly,
Pat
Interesting looking at it in this way. My present blog, I started as a sort of diary to remind me where I had been during the year! I have never wanted to develop it into anything else; if people stop by and leave comments that’s lovely, but if they don’t that’s fine too. However, I have an idea for another blog that will work in conjunction with a project I’m undertaking next year. What you have written today has given me something to think about. It came just at the right time, and I am grateful to you for posting this.
The general idea behind blogging was simplicity. A site that is simple. No advertising,no hype, and you never have any thing to join to come in. A site that is full of visual candy and good information. No current events, no debate just stuff. Somewhere to take your shoes off and get a beverage. Relax and enjoy I am glad that you came…I am still in progress I am still learning and still having fun finding that blogging schedule that works…Red Tin inn
This is such a great post Anita! Thanks so much for giving me something to really think about. I have always heard that we should write donw our goals. I really need to do this!
Good post Anita and you are giving me good food for thought. I have to say I am not quite sure, I have achieved (successfully woo hoo) my online shop which was always part of the dream but not sure what my goals are yet for the blog, its still growing and I have been so please just letting things happen that sometimes not having a game plan can be good too.
So I guess my mission statement is allowing my blog to become the best it can be and to soar to whatever heights I can handle! Great post…..and I have no doubt that you will achieve every one of your dreams!
Bonjour Anita…
Le Farm came about as a way to catalog my progress here on my farm and to be perfectly honest, give me an outlet for self expression… “cheap therapy”!
I saw your “vision in 5 years” comment and loved it for I am a planner from way back and have been scrutinizing every goal in place to reach my 5 year vision. (At that point I will be farming full time.) My blog has also been a way to connect to other organic farmers, because it can be a lonely road. Through it I have also found wonderfully inspiring blogs such as yours. And, anything French meets that half of my chromosomes that are longing for “home”. Whenever I start to lose site of my vision, which happens from time to time depending on how difficult it gets, I reach out to those of you that clearly have achieved a beautiful place in your vision and refuel. There is one danger to that…seeing your new beautiful home makes me want to renovate and I sure don’t need another big project…well, maybe just a small one!!
Suzanne @ Le Farm
Well, mine is in the process of being completed. I guess my current Vision is for my blog to be interesting for others yo read and want to follow. I am also looking for a niche in the online business market through my blog. I will see where it goes and enjoy the journey..Margaret Ann
from generationjunkers.com
I love this! I started my blog a little over a year ago as a way to share my passion for hunting for and decorating with ‘good junk’!! I too dreamed of being in a magazine and I wrote it down and envisioned it. Well, I just had an official magazine shoot of my home this past week!!
Dreams do come true! 🙂
Susan
I would love to run a workshop for people with disabilities to learn the craft of furniture painting. Sara works in my shop with me and I’ve seen the happiness she gets from doing purposeful work. I’d like to give others that opportunity.