two of a kind

March Goals:

I did complete 22 work outs this month using Move Your Booty as motivation, and I was all smiles this morning when I finished my run.  I may have had to do multiple work outs a day to complete it, but hey, I still did it!  And I can't wait to do more than 22 work outs next month!

• manage social media of this blog: B

I commented on blogs that I read daily and tweeted most of the posts.  (Follow me! @smoult). I'm going to keep trying with this one.  

• don't waste left overs or food: B
• train for this 4 mile run: B
• stretch most nights: C

I stretched after every work out, but not every night.

I love reading goals that people set; I find it inspiring.

Tell us: What are goals that you set for yourself?

-SM

this is what accomplishment feels like

March Goals:

• manage social media of this blog
• don't waste left overs or food
• train for this 4 mile run
• stretch most nights

I have at least three other things I want to add to this list, but I know that it would be too daunting to accomplish.  I also still plan stick to the spending diet as well as running whenever it's weather appropriate, which should be more and more often.  

How I did with my February goals:

• start a novel/play/series of short stories: C
• stick to the spending diet: C
• run whenever it's weather appropriate: A-
• set up my etsy shop: F

Tell us: What are your goals for this month? 

-SM

photo source: google

One of our favorite blogs, Yes and Yes, uses social media as motivation to enforce goals.  This is obviously a genius tactic so Sar and I are jumping on board (you can check her post here).

My goal for February is to complete a DIY project for every weekend in February.  My intention is to complete one per weekend (although knowing myself, as I do, I might end up doing them all at the very end of the month).  I have several DIY projects in my head for our home that I’ve not completed because I haven’t made them a priority.  I’d really like to get our home to a finished state considering we’ve lived there for almost six [shameful] months already.

I’m hoping to (1) refinish a brass stool as a side table, (2) paint and hang floating shelves in our kitchen, (3) create and install a brass fixture above our dining room table and (4) finish painting the canvas above our bed.  Extra credit if I begin working on fabricating a coffee table (just need some tools) from 40 year old oak flooring , finish hanging hexagon mirrors in the living room, and assemble + finish + hang our wedding guestbook.

I’m adding this list to my goals for the year, which are focused on growing professionally, getting healthy + strong and my never ending pursuit to cease procrastinating, because I want (and to be honest, need) to live in a creative space.  Here’s to putting my head down and working hard to get it done!

Tell us: Do you have any DIYs planned for your home?  What is your favorite DIY to date?

-JCM

It’s How Good You Want To Be. 

 Have you ever owned a book that you could pick up and feel inspired?  Even if you only read a few pages?  Or just one page?  My bible, in the inspiration sense, is It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden.

It doesn’t look like much based on the cover or its size, but it is chock full of goodness.  I can say, with 99% certainty, that it will suck you in and you’ll read it cover to cover in one sitting.  And then you’ll come back to it — re-read it when you’re feeling a bit blue or when you need someone to light a fire under your ass. 

Beyond its goodness, it has great design and images that will keep you entertained.  I highly recommend it; whether you’re planning your dream business, your wedding or trying to improve as an employee.  It will speak to your uninspired soul when nothing else does.

Tell us: Do you have an inspiration bible?  Where do you turn when you're feeling blue? 

-JCM

Have you read the first part of this post yet?  If not, check it out here.

To finish up from Wednesday's post, I want to talk about one of my favorite blogs/businesses that I find very inspiring, both personally and professionally.  I follow Kathleen Shannon and her small business, Braid Consulting, religiously.  I am saving my pennies to work with her one day on branding for my small business. 

Kathleen leads by example and shows us how she chases her dreams (image via)

Here are some of Kathleen's posts that have helped/inspired me lately:

• Show Up and Be Seen
• Freelance Matters
• How to Pepper Business into your Personal Blog

One of my favorite things about Kathleen is that while she may seem polarizing, I find her fearless.  She does what she wants, shares her beliefs proudly, is invested in self-improvement, earns a living off her passion, and is really good at design (like really good).  I appreciate and respect her confidence and am always inspired to create and take action when I read her blog(s).

Tell us: Do you have someone that inspires you professionally and personally?  If so, can you share who it is?  I'm always looking for new inspiration and would love to look them up!

-JCM

The short answer-- travel and inspiring entrepreneurs.

As I’ve said, writing doesn’t come naturally for me (and, sometimes, creating doesn't come easy).  It can be a tortured process that I find the most success in when I am inspired.  I wish I could pinpoint what inspires me, bottle it up, and have it near whenever I need it.  I am miserable when I feel uninspired; even I wouldn’t want to be around me. 

I woke up on Tuesday feeling frustrated and uninspired.  I think it’s a combination of not exercising for 4 days (I’m trying to heal a jammed toe) and feeling friction from unbalanced priorities.  This month has introduced a lot of change (some has happened already and some is in the works) and finding a new routine.  I am excited and so grateful for new opportunities but I am struggling to find balance.  So, when I’m feeling unbalanced and frustrated, I turn to a few tried and true sources of inspiration to kick start my motivation.

One topic that I can almost always find inspiration in is travel (usually travel photos).  I have a permanent case of wanderlust (potentially evidenced by our bi-yearly re-location?).  Another topic that inspires me is “successful” female entrepreneurs (and by successful, I mean they define their own success, not financial success [although that is a nice perk]).  Two random topics, I know, but they are two of my biggest goals in life, so I guess it’s good that my inspiration and goals correlate.

To explain the flip side, some habits that uninspire and unmotivate me, here are some of my nemeses:

• sleeping in
• procrastinating (especially on a mundane task)
• complaining
• isolating myself

I've done a lot of soul searching and have found these 4 habits to be critical to my happiness and personal success (for both daily and longterm measures).  Many of my Seinfeld Method goals are aimed and minimizing these bad habits.  I've found going to a coffee shop (my current fave in Austin is Cenote) to be the single most helpful action-- getting out of the house and into a creative space helped me be extremely productive last week (like more productive than I'd been in the last two months).

Tell us: Who/what inspires you?  Do you have an arsenal of inspiration that you turn to?

-JCM

I'll be back on Monday to talk about huge source of inspiration for me-- female entrepreneurs.