How To 10X Your Scrapbook Productivity in 2012

with 14 Comments

On this first day of 2012, allow me to me ask you a very important question. What are your scrapbooking goals for 2012?

What? You don’t have any?! OK. It’s time to get down to business and do some serious planning.

Do you have some areas of digital scrapbooking that could be improved?
Are there some new skills you would like to tackle?
What projects would you like to finish in 2012? (Notice I said “finish,” not “start.”)

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the 1953 Harvard graduates who were asked what their goals were, whether they had written them down, and whether they had a plan to accomplish their goals. Eighty-four percent of them had no specific goals other than “to enjoy life.” Thirteen percent had specific goals, but only 3% had actually written the goals down and had a plan of action to achieve them.

Twenty years later, the same class was surveyed, and the results were astounding. Those who had specific goals were earning double the income of the ones who had no goals. But here’s the kicker: The graduates who had actually written down their goals were earning, on average, 10 times as much as the rest of the class combined!

What is it about goal setting and planning—and writing it down—that is so powerful?

I believe the hardest person to convince that you’re actually going to do something is yourself! If you take the time to figure out what you want and write out the steps to accomplish them, you are sending a strong message to your subconscious mind that this is something you really intend to do—not just pie in the sky by and by.

So let’s get back to our scrapbooking goals. If you haven’t done so yet, sit yourself down in an easy chair, pen and paper in hand, and write 2012 Scrapbooking Goals at the top of your paper. Then lay down your pen and lean back. It’s time to dream a little.

How many pages would you like to scrap this coming month?
Is there a project you’ve been wanting to start (or finish) “forever!”
If you could do something special for yourself in the area of scrapbooking, what would it be?
What would you like to accomplish with your scrapbooking by the end of 2012?

Once you get a clear image of what you want, write it down. Leave space after each goal to also write how you plan to accomplish it.

Do you need to scan some photos before you can even get started?
Are your digi supplies in desperate need of organization?
Would you be more consistent if you had an accountability partner?

One of the reasons I decided to teach the class “Your Story. Brilliant.” was so I would actually get my own story done. You see, I’ve been wanting to tell it for a long time, but I didn’t have a plan to accomplish it.

Now I do. I wrote down all the areas I want to cover in my album, and I laid out a schedule for which subject I’ll tackle each month of 2012. I’ll be making my own book far enough ahead that I can share how-to’s, ideas, and inspiration with “Your Story” class members each month.

Now that’s motivating!

I can’t wait to see class members reach their goals as well. Excitement is catching. When you see other people reaching their goals, it spurs you on to reach your own.

So decide right now to be one of the 3% who:

  • Have specific scrapbooking goals
  • Write them down
  • Have a plan of action to accomplish them

If you do that, 2012 will be your best scrapbooking year ever!

14 Responses

  1. les
    | Reply

    Thank you for the motivation, will set some goals for this year.

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      Go for it!

  2. Debra Young
    | Reply

    Loved your article on setting goals. I have needed to do this. I also signed up for the Your Story class. I’m hopping this gets me motivated to do other pages. Also looked at your project 12 again and think this will be good for me. Read some of the posts from last year and started the folders. braking it down like this seems to really help me. Now lets see if I can conquer elements 7.
    Thanks again
    Debi

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      You’re welcome, Debi—I hope this is your best scrapbooking year ever!

  3. Janet
    | Reply

    Hi Linda,

    I hope I can accomplish this. Whenever I get started on a new digital scrapbooking project, something happens to my computer or program and I give up. So, I am hoping I succeed because Lord, knows I would love to learn how to do digital scrapbooking. I have started and failed so many times that with your encouragement and support, I know I can do this. So first requirement on my top ten list is: Don’t give UP! and from here on out I am in your hands.

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      I’ll do everything I can to help, and not giving up is definitely the key! I know you can do it!

  4. Linda Ireland
    | Reply

    I put off deciding to take the “Your Story” class. Wasn’t sure I needed to do it or not. BUT your challenge to write down my goals motivated me to set some scrapping goals for the year. My kids have been requesting a book about me and my life – so I decided this class would be my motivating goal for the year! I signed up last night and I feel so energized! I wrote down two more scrapping goals that I want to accomplish also this year (finish my cruise albums and my friendship album with my best friend). Setting time aside each month will get me to all three goals. Plus I am supper charged to have the new template system!! Let’s get scrapping!

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      Yay! It’ll be great to have you in class—it’s been really fun so far! (And we’re just getting going!)

  5. blushbutter
    | Reply

    wow, just what I needed to hear, thank-you Linda for an uplifting story. Now to sit down and tackle my goals. Getting my brand new camera, actually got me so swamped with digital photos I have felt overwhelmed with too many photos to scrap and whether I really should scrap them or just print them up. I need to come up with a system where I can work on my individual kids(5) books as I can and one family book. I like your points, they are very helpful for me.

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      I can so relate to having too many digital photos! I’ve begun to get more ruthless when going through them to discard more than I keep!

  6. Bobbie Bluegill
    | Reply

    Sounds exactly like what I have needed for too, too long. Looking so forward to the class.

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      It’s going to be a great year—glad to have you in class, Bobbie!

  7. Tina Campbell
    | Reply

    Wow that is fantastic to know because I did (1st time in my personal life) actually sit down this morning and wrote out the scrapbooking goals that I want to accomplish this year and have the paper clipped to my craft lazy susan so I can see it each day. I have planned 5-6 separate albums that I want to work on and few of them to finish up. So to read this is great news that it may actually get done!

    • Linda Sattgast
      | Reply

      Congratulations, Tina! It sounds like you’re on your way to a great year of scrapbooking!

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