Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!
Goal Setting! For some, this is an easy practice that is practically second nature. For others, this is a tedious task that may as well be a punishment!
If you fall into the second category, don’t despair. You are definitely NOT alone! In fact, I would venture to say that you are in the majority.
One thing that helps me with goal setting is to look at the big picture and then start working backwards. I figure out what I want to accomplish and then I break it down into small pieces. If I were only looking at the big picture, it would be easy to get overwhelmed. And being overwhelmed is no fun!
On the other hand, when you do things how I am doing it, I have the big goal that serves as the ‘master plan,’ and then I have lots of little bit sized goals to lead me along the way.
Here’s an example of how this might play out in real life:
Big Goal: You are participating in a craft fair on August 8 and want to make 50 pairs of your most popular earrings.
Breaking it down: Today is June 11. You have about 7 and 1/2 weeks until the show. You would like to be done with production about two weeks before the show. If you divide 50 pieces by 5 weeks, you will know that in order to meet your goal, you will need to produce and package 10 new pairs of earrings each week for the next 5 weeks.
Working backwards and putting a big goal into bite size is what works for me. I hope it helps you, too!
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Kris is a fun and crafty mom of four. She expresses her creativity as the owner of Jesse Kate Designs, a sewing pattern and machine embroidery brand. Kris also stays busy as the site manager of 
Crissy is the founder of 
Lisa is a generally content (who said generally - don't get her started!) 30 something living in London, who amongst other things sells everything you might need to make unique and lovely handmade handbags at home from her online store 
I did this exact calculation in my head a few weeks ago when trying to figure out if I’d be able to pull together enough stuff for an upcoming Farmer’s Market!
Allegras last blog post..Awesome Item of the Day
It’s so easy to forget to put these things into perspective like this when you’re excited about a goal. Thanks for the reminder!
Elises last blog post..Accountability Check #7
Well, Allegra.. I must say that great minds do think alike…. hahahaha