Am at my destination. Participated in an excellent leadership workshop (which continues today) and didn’t get enough sleep, which is par for the course for New York Hope.

In four more days, I will have done a whole year of daily blogging!

Missing Out on My Big Audacious Goal

I have given up on my Big Audacious Goal for this year, which was having a booth at an author’s conference. I believe it the goal was too big and audacious for me, which is a hard thing to admit.

I have promoted my books at small appearances — a book fair in Maryville, MO, another in St. Joseph. I handle those fine because they’re small and local. A conference feels threatening to my somewhat introverted self. I see myself as an indie author, and I don’t enjoy comparing myself to people who get publishing contracts. This is my little hobby, as long as I’m still employed full-time in my day job.

Is the amount of sales and exposure worth a table fee and a conference visit? If Gateway Con in St. Louis was still operational, I’d say yes. That was a small and valuable conference that gave me a lot in return. I could sit a table there. A bigger conference, maybe not. I’ll be honest — I’m intimidated by ‘real authors’. I feel like an impostor in those settings.

I’m thinking of another Big Audacious Goal. In the middle of an indolent summer, none are coming to me. Little goals: Have my Loomly calendar (promotion) set up through January 1. (Done). Set up Kringle Through the Snow for October 1 publication. (Done). Prepare Reclaiming the Balance for January 1 publication (in process; still a bit chicken). Blog daily (so far, so good). Finish Carrying Light (almost done).

No Big Audacious Goals yet. Can anyone suggest one for a sleepy indie author?

The Report is Done

I got the 5-year curricular review done! I am weeping happy tears!

To be honest, I was leading a team to get this document done. And there were questions to answer, so I didn’t have to draft it from scratch. But our best laid plans went awry (or gang aft agley if you’re Robbie Burns) when my dad died and I missed a meeting, so we got behind. But we finished it by the deadline, and I’m grateful.

If I had to do it again (which I probably will do in 5 years), I would do the following differently:

Not assume “due in February” means February 28th
Leave more time for going over final project
Bring cookies

I’m not kidding about the last one. A colleague of mine used to bring mini chocolate bars into meetings, even meetings as big as Faculty Senate. I never think of these things in time because I’m all business in meetings. I could relax a bit on that, but with an hour and a half meeting, I can’t relax too much.

I can’t help but think life did not destine me to be a leader. I think I make a great follower, however.

But we have the document done.