Reach for New Goals

Guest Contributor: Kayleen Reusser
Kayleen's Posts - Kayleen's Blog

A new year has begun and it's time to reach for new goals. After tallying my finances for 2007, I'm encouraged. As a full time freelance writer, I made as much money as I had earned during a year at my previous job.

Of course, I'm not content to stay in that position. My earnings goal is double for 2008 from 2007. With several projects in process, I think reaching that goal is a possibility.

My Master Mind friends encourage me at each meeting to dream big. A year ago, I would not have considered writing a book. They taught me to look at the project as several magazine articles on the same subject. As I've published 1,500 magazine articles, that made the idea sound more appealing.

Now I'm in the process of writing a biography of a contemporary country music artist with a deadline from the publisher of January 31, 2008. The challenges of such a big assignment no longer seem daunting because my Master Mind friends have taught me to see a big picture can be broken down into chunks. These I can achieve just as I do in my regular duties as a magazine article writer.

Another goal I've had is to become a public speaker. My fear of public speaking has persisted for 30 years. In 2006 I decided enough was enough! I was tired of being afraid. And figured at my age I should be overcoming my fears, not still giving in to them.

A friend encouraged me to join Toastmasters with her so I did. Today, I have completed my first book, giving 10 speeches to our group during the last year. My last speech, encouraging people to join Toastmasters, was so good our president wants to record me for a commercial! My goal is to use this new skill during opportunities to speak confidently about my writing or other subjects as they arise.

This opportunity occurred recently when a local TV station interviewed me about my story in a recent Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover's Soul book (I also had a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul - Christmas 2007). My poise and ability to speak without voice shaking was due to my skills learned at Toastmasters and also my determination to show my Master Mind group I was on my way up!

I encourage you to think BIG too! The only thing stopping you from achieving your BIG goals is you.