This morning I’m in New York City. I plan to visit Kitchen Arts and Letters bookstore (actually cookbook and food book store!) and visit the 911 Memorial. This afternoon I’ll head over to Book Expo America and tomorrow I sign galley copies of my two new cookbooks.
Set Goals From Abundance
I’m sure you have all set goals.
One way I learned to set goals was to write goals that were SMART – specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-sensitive.
This method of goal setting focuses on lack. I’m here. My goal is there. We are separated until I reach my goal. For me this may lead to striving and putting my goal on a pedestal. That creates distance from the goal and it seems out of reach at least to me.
My business coach taught me to write goals in a new way.
Write them as if you already have them.
And, here’s the key – mix in goals you already have achieved.
For example:
I want a happy, loving marriage. I have a happy, loving marriage.
I want three healthy children. I have three healthy children.
I want to be a homeowner. I have a lovely, cozy home.
I want to save money for retirement. I have saved money for retirement.
I want clients I adore and that I can serve. I have clients I adore and that I can serve.
I want a healthy relationship with my mother and mother-in-law. I have a healthy relationship with my mother and mother-in-law.
I want to be an involved part of a large, extended family that I have fun with. I am an involved part of a large, extended family that I have fun with.
I want friends I love to spend time with. I have friends I love to spend time with.
I want to have freedom of time and good health. I have freedom of time and good health.
I want to write cookbooks. I have written four cookbooks.
I want to be a member of Les Dames Escoffier. I have an invitation to Les Dames!
I want a positive attitude based on my deliberate thoughts. I have a positive attitude based on my deliberate thoughts.
I want a business built around cookbooks. I have a business built around cookbooks.
I want to create value and a variety of offerings for my clients. I create value and offer services to my clients in a variety of ways.
I want to create a cookbook writers mastermind group. I have a cookbook writers mastermind group.
I want to have high-end private coaching clients. I have high-end coaching clients.
I want to leverage my expertise with book-writing software. I leverage my expertise with book-writing software.
I want the freedom to travel with my family. I have the freedom to travel with my family.
I want to believe that I can do anything if I show up to offer value and serve. I believe that I can do anything if I show up to offer value and serve.
I want to believe that everything is easy. I have the belief that everything is easy.
I want to leverage competition so we work collaboratively. I work collaboratively with the competition.
I want to host a podcast. I host a podcast.
I want to eat and drink in a way that gives me energy, good health, and good sleep. I eat and drink in a way that gives me energy, good health, and good sleep.
The fun part is that your brain doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not. It believes what you tell it! And, when I read a list like this I feel abundance because much of what’s on the list I already have.
It’s time to write our goals as if they are already done. What’s on your list?
Cookbook author, editor, and Culinary Dietitian Maggie Green, RDN, LD coaches first-time cookbook authors during the pre-publication phase of writing a cookbook.
Would you like to write a cookbook, but feel alone in the pre-publication phase of writing?
Are you stuck thinking about your cookbook idea or has you project fizzled?
Do you feel overwhelmed with publishing options and the recipes, photography, and publishing process?
I’ve been there. I know first-hand that there’s not a lot of support for first-time cookbook authors who don’t have an agent or a publisher yet. That’s why I started my work as a cookbook writing coach.
Here are a few resources for you as you venture into the world of cookbook writing:
Checklist
An 11-point checklist that helps you answer the question, “Am I Ready to Write a Cookbook?”