2021 – Yippee!
January 25, 2021
Wow. This year took off like a rocket. While I’m happy to have 2020 in the rearview mirror, I find it’s always helpful to look back. Here are the highlights of what we accomplished throughout a challenging year.
2020 Review
Jan – January took off with gusto last year as well, with clients and projects steaming ahead. Needless to say, we had no idea the rug was sliding out from beneath us.
Feb – While meeting with a friend to offer some marketing guidance for her wonderful company, Kitchdco, (@kitchd on Instagram), we briefly mentioned the strange virus that had popped up in China and the west coast.
Mar – The rug was pulled around March 15. My clients were all affected by the pandemic. I worked with clients to compose letters to clients and staff, send e-newsletters and look for ways to help as they pivoted their businesses. I was still pitching projects for publication and writing blog posts.
Apr – As projects were still being impacted, and people were basically staying home as much as possible, I continued to look for ways to assist my clients. Since I’ve been mostly WFH since the start of Savvy Words, that was not as much of an adjustment as not meeting with clients in person. Photo shoots were postponed. Events were postponed or canceled. My own WFH situation pivoted, too, as my two adult daughters moved home to ride out part of the pandemic.
May – It turned out to be a great opportunity to work on projects that my clients had been too busy to deal with before. We were able to build and launch a new website for Kevin Cradock Builders. Then the crunch began. Homeowners who were no longer spending their disposable income on travel were reassessing their housing needs. One trend: people moved out of the city or to vacation homes that needed attention. Many homeowners just wanted a better functioning kitchen, bath, or outdoor space as the weather warmed up.
June – With crews back on-site and projects cranking up, some of the postponed photoshoots were now back on the schedule. I was very happy to be able to work with Greg Premru and Jared Kuzia again – masked and socially distanced!
July – Although not as busy I might usually be, I took advantage of the slower pace of the year by reading several business books, taking a few webinars, and focusing on how I can improve my skills.
Aug – Jodi Swartz of KitchenVisions participated in the At Home Webinar sponsored by KitchenAid and hosted by The Boston Globe. It was fun prepping with her.
Sep – The 2020 EM NARI CotY Awards were held virtually. I’m pleased to say that two of my clients had winning entries: Kevin Cradock Builders and KitchenVisions. Also in September, a very cool urban bathroom by Diane Burcz Interior Design was featured in Boston Home magazine.
Oct – A much anticipated trip to Provincetown to shoot two projects for Diane Burcz Interior Design finally took place. I stayed at Eben House and felt a little bit like a celeb!
Nov – More happy news to share: Mellowes & Paladino Architects was named 2021 Best of Boston for Traditional Architecture. Dane Austin and Andy Staszack of Dane Austin Design were featured in Boston Home for their Earthy Elegance palette.
Dec – Worked on new website projects for Diane Burcz and Helios Design Group. Both websites to launch this month!
Looking Ahead
I’ve been researching the difference between setting goals and setting intentions. I will employ both tactics to move forward – personally and professionally.
Right now I am working on short term and long term goals. Plus, I am learning how to use the SMART goals methodology.
At the same time, I’m embracing intention setting. That is more about making sure my behavior aligns with my attitude and values. The best way I can explain this is through my Savvy Words Maxims project. I’ve been working on writing 20 Maxims that guide my business practices – and, well, life. So far I’ve published five SW Maxims on the Savvy Words Journal; #1 Be Nice; #2 Words Matter; #3 Cultivate Creativity; #4 Be Authentic; and #5 Gratitude.
What’s vital is that I follow my own advice about being nice, practicing gratitude, cultivating creativity, being authentic, and respecting words because they matter (and the last four years proves that). My intention is to live the Savvy Words Maxims. My goal is to write at least 10 more this year.
See the difference between goals and intentions?
Here’s another way I will put both into practice: interacting with my clients. My intention is to always be respectful, helpful, consistent, and kind. My goals are to provide each client with Savvy Words services such as writing engaging blog posts and e-newsletters; wining awards; pitching their projects for publication; and many more strategies for marketing their wonderful services.
The goals are the what and the how I will do this. The intention is the why and also another version of how (with kindness, respect, authenticity, honesty, etc.). By asking myself ‘what is my purpose?’ (the why), I hope to stay close to my values in every action and interaction.
As for the goals, I am using more tools to help me with project planning and execution, continuing to learn new skills and stretch myself. That’s how I will grow and Savvy Words will grow, too. Right now I’m working with Basecamp for three of my clients, plus Slack, Asana and Trello. My calendars are key so I am using Google Calendar and iCal. Finally, because we are still virtual, I am exploring alternatives to Google Meet and Zoom. One of my core values and SW Maxims #13 is Keep Learning & Growing. That one is easy for me to embody for 2021.
What are your goals and intentions?
