New Years: How to set goals with time and lists

We will be re-visiting the Master List for 2010.

Before vision boards are to be created you must first know how to plan for your master list (in order to accomplish your goals for 2010).

1. First, write down 12 big tasks you wish to accomplish within a year

A. Commit to Ballet with consistent disciplined practice

B. Edit Season 1 of The Lights and show 10 major networks before setting a Date for The Lights premiere

C. Write handwritten notes to decision makers within the networks.

D. Set a date for The Lights premiere and launch on @NewYorkCityPR is no network picks up show.

E

(ok, so I have 4 so far for this example)

2. Once you have your big vision goals— break down tasks into the month that you wish to accomplish tasks/projects by and then break down the month into weeks until you get it done.

3. it will bypass procrastination if 1. and 2. are followed and done correctly.

Here is what it can look like:

A. Ballet

Meet private instructor by Jan 7, 2010. Write a note and send via mail on your new personal stationary by Jan 1

B. Edit a Lights Trailer by Jan 15, 2010. Edit 3 more by Jan 20.

C.Write 10 letters on personal stationary to 10 decision makers in 10 different television networks.

D. Make sure you really pursued networks before launching on @NewYorkCityPR

Crazy how goals A-D already take up a month.

Perhaps using this strategy in monthly increments is best, but know the overall goals for the year: Get The Lights into People Magazine, Just Jared, Us Weekly, E!, JohnSimonDaily, OK!, Star etc... by the half way point in 2010. That gives me 6 months. I better be pretty far a long in ballet by then too.

Once you start to see yourself meeting your deadlines, this will make you happy. After the 1st goal is accomplished, go ahead and make a visual for that completed goal, this will keep you focused and on track-- (making you start to visualize the 2nd goal) and will bring you a lot of joy and happiness.

The key is to have your goals in sight... on the fridge, in the bathroom, at your desk etc...

Laziness

I really hope I have the case of some Holiday bug, because I cannot seem to get in the mood to work. One of my Video Publicity clients is having a bridal show on Jan 8 and therefore all editing has to be done by then. I definitely don't want to wait till the last minute.

I think the only way to break me out of this "lazycoma" is to take the 5 minutes to pack up my terabyte hard drive, laptop, mousepad and wireless mouse and spend the day at my favorite coffee shop. Putting headphones on to the House Pandora station should get me over the hump to get it done. It's not hard, I'm just not in the mood and that happens with creativity— it can't be constant and overused. Hopefully, I will get in the mood before the New Year. If not, January 1 or 2nd better be the start of a wonderful New Years Resolution of making lists I stick to finishing and having a solid routine.

Your Room— Organized

Rugs really make a room. I wrapped my scarfs around the pole and bringing my dresser down from the old house (that I was going to film at) tomorrow. I can't wait to film in my new room.

It was actually really cool: Last time I was in Cleveland, I jumped on CraigsList and bought items for a set design at my old house that is currently still vacant. I bought a dresser, a vintage bed frame and small end tables. I originally was going to use the set design as a pretend NY apt, but then decided to script in the show the actual truth of my entrepreneurial journey— being back and from Cleveland and NY. Turns out I can film in my parents' new house because I have my own room now that the construction is over. So, it all worked out with the filming schedule.


Being an entrepreneur for 3 years so far, I have learned that there is no way to get to the next level unless your work environment and room are in complete organization. And, I'm not talking about cleaning your room and putting your clothes away. I'm talking, if someone says, "hey, do you have a stapler or a orange scarf or a safety pin." You smile and say, "Why, of course", and within 10 seconds you retrieve the items. You know EXACTLY and PRECISELY where all your belongings are at all times. Imagine how much easier your life will be? Think about how less stressed you will be and how much time you would save. You will be so much happier if you just got into the HABBIT of always putting items back where they belong after use.

Focus on complete organization this weekend and choose something else for your New Years Resolution.

Road Less Traveled

Back in Ohio with my family. I recognized being back in Ohio right away when a baggage helper immediately approached me with a dolly. He was SO nice!

My camera man, Mike, still has one of my hard drives with The Lights footage on it in NY. I need him to capture a tape and film and capture Aimee, Sarah (Sara Claire and Esther) and Elle (Marigo's client of Otrera).

It's perfect timing because I will not be working until I empty out and organize my 3 suitcases. I have to be Feng Suied out before I can even begin to edit the trailer and the pilot.

I really am just going to respect the timing and get the work done without any stress. Im going to make a vision board with what I envision for the premiere and just stay positive and hopeful. I'm going to balance working on my body ( ballet, eating lots of fruits and vegetables), oxygen water with editing The Lights.

Once I'm settled here I'm going to meet with some potential investor sponsors here as soon as the trailer is done. In fact, one of my friends from Ohio State who owns a well known energy drink gave me the go ahead to send him over the sponsorship proposal-- so that prospectus with trailor is on my top to do list. It's all going to work!! I just believe.

What an amazing New Year it's going to be!

Thanks for reading--whoever you are. xo

Producing and Starring

I don't think I will truly step into who I am (my element) until I have an associate producer on board and I can actually just focus on being an entrepreneur and attend to my products- solely. The thought of not having to produce/manage/ coordinate the show and just show up for a scene seems like a dream. A dream I'm willing to work towards.

I met with @emilybrickelceo (Emily) today and it really well. We filmed at Uva on 2nd Ave and 78th.

Imagine doing what you're doing AND producing/filming/set designing an entire show!... Hectic mayhem I tell you. Even tonight, Emily said, yet again, that I should FOCUS on my company only-- all I could only think of was, "if she only knew!"--- here I am trying to make HER a star and juggle everything at the same time--Its all good tho.

It was wonderful seeing her--even if it was just catching up on camera. How is she doing with her dress line...? Find out on The Lights. Premiering early 2010.

I wore a Sara Claire and Esther burgundy skirt and never felt more confident.

Testing a top CEO's word

The Trump Card (book) has incredible memos from very influential people. Ivanka Trump calls these pages "Bulletins From My BlackBerry". Well, here's what I call "iPhone Gutsy Girl"

The above photo is a paragraph from Roger Ailes- President, Fox News Channel and what caught my eye was what he wrote on the bottom of page 47...

"The barriers to entry in any field are the ones you put up for yourself. There's always plenty of room at the top. The middle can get pretty crowded. The bottom can get pretty crowded. But at the top there's always room. I have about 1500 employees at Fox News, and every day I'm searching for a new producer. For someone great. Any one of my producers can step up at any time, and occasionally one of them does. And when that happens, I find a place for them in a heartbeat."

After getting the chills and turning the page, I couldn't concentrate on Ivanka- all I could think about was what Roger Ailes had said.

"yes, I googled" -confessions of a shopoholic.

I googled "Roger Ailes Fox Contact" and there is was: his blog and email address.

So I emailed:

Ok Mister,

I found what you wrote on page 47 quite inspiring.

I have been filming for 10 months. From carrying tripods and lights to casting, editing, color correcting and a back ache to prove it- All with the "just do it" attitude. I am ready to take it to the next level.

I especially love testing men of their word. I hope to hear back from you- as I really am one of those great producers you wrote of. Do you really look for us everyday?

I have come out of the wood work, so now what?

Have a fortuitous day!!

@christinaesther
Femmetrepreneur.blogspot.com
646.812.7383
--

A note on the "Ok Mister" decision. Remember all those times you hear or read about standing out, being a "gutsy girl" (cosmo girl) and especially being fearless?! Well, that is just what I decided to do to rattle his inbox- keeping in short, true to what I was thinking and enticing with no brown noseing or ass kissing in sight. Excuse the French. That's what a femmetrepreneur has to do: follow your instincts and just get it out without too much sweat and press send.

It didn't matter to me that he probably meant any one of his current 1500 employees could step up to be a great producer. Since it was so rare that one did, I though it couldn't hurt to just reach out. You never know how timing works.

It's not really the hope that he will sweep The Lights show off my hard drive- maybe Fox isn't the home for the show- It's the wonder if he'll get back to me. It's the notion that this man can pick up the phone and tell his respected colleague over at Oh, say, MTV or the CW and say "hey! you have to take a look at this". Or, maybe Just Maybe The Lights is JUST what Roger Ailes is looking for.