And My Word for 2011 Is...

And My Word for 2011 Is... #267 from thingsweforget (drumroll please). INVESTMENT! After writing Mondays post, it became clear that if 2011 is anything like 2010, its gonna be filled with scary-exciting things (which I love!). And, well, to put it bluntly, those things are gonna cost me money. Up until a few months ago, my monthly recurring business expenses were under $150 (consisting of blog ads, my awesome newsletter platform, my amazeballs CRM platform, and.that was really it) pretty much chump change, comparatively. Then I hired a Virtual Assistant, and my monthly recurring expenses jumped to about $500. A bit scarier, no? (Yes!) Now, with bringing on Brass Knuckles Media to help me build my platform (I meant it when I said Ive become a bit obsessed with the idea), well, lets just say its more than doubling, shall we? And it scares the bejeezus out of me. As my husband says, Its not about wanting to make a certain amount of money anymore its about hitting those numbers to make sure youre taken care of. I hear him. And Im confident about it. I am. I made a 3 month commitment to Brass Knuckles and Im also making it to myself. I know this wont break the bank or else I wouldnt have done it. My income has been steady for the past 4-5 months, and I still have a really strong financial cushion.Not only do I logically know I can handle it, I actually consider it a fairly safe risk to make at this point. Its time to grow, and Ive outgrown the $150/mo business I used to be. Oh sure, I can stay there for longer if I wanted to, but wasnt I the one who said that Safe is a Four-Letter Word? And who just told all my newsletter subscribers that I want to spend 2011 expanding When I Grow Up into a service and products-based biz, with e-books and group coaching sessions that will offer more of me to more of you, and will hopefully fit every budget. I’m really, really excited to make the work that I’ve honed with almost 100 clients be accessible to every creative person who needs cl arity, support and encouragement to discover live their most passionate lives.? Yup. That was me. To be honest with you, I was thisclose to choosing UNHYPOCRITICAL as my (made-up) word for 2011. Because it comes back to practicing what I preach/coach, whether its putting more money into my business or making room for Me Time or going with my gut. UNHYPOCRITICAL, though, was just too negative for this life coach, even though it gives me the quick picture as to the intention Im aiming for. So, I started thinking of my 2011 goals, and putting my money where my mouth is (literally and figuratively), and I came up with EXPANSION too much pressure there. GROWTH? Nah, not motivating enough for me. In taking a step back, I realized what an INVESTMENT it was to spend about 10 times more on my business each month than I did a year ago, and how I want that to reflect all areas of my life. Its also a good barometer word. If I dont see something as an INVESTMENT in one way or another, then out it goes. Already, Ive invested in my newsletter promise by setting aside one business day a week as a Writing Day from now til Dec 2011, with the exception of the first week of each month, where the Writing Day becomes Business Building Day. Now I know Ill have time to work on my book proposal, and/or my workbooks, and/or my blog/guest posts/newsletters without worry. Yes, its scary blocking myself off from quick coaching money on those days, butits an INVESTMENT. Ive also put weekly Me Time blocks on my calendar for the same time frame, as an say it with me INVESTMENT in my care, my health, my creativity and sanity and purpose. An investment to myself. Im not sure where else this words gonna take me, but it makes me excited to think of all the possibilities in this way. INVESTMENT helps me make the unknown welcome and exciting. I like that. This week, Im gonna draw a visual for my word and hang it up in my workspace so it stays in the front of my mind as I chart the new territory known as 2011. Im invested in it.