My word for 2023

Last year I started noticing people starting their new year off by choosing a word to set for their year ahead. Rather than only focusing on their new year’s resolution they use that word to focus goals around. I have used this word not only to help myself in my own daily life but also to make my business better, and to rediscover the inspiration behind what I do.

2022: Beginnings

This word I knew was going to lead me into many challenges, as well as so many new pathways. Going into this year I knew that we would be moving somewhere but I wasn’t sure where, restarting my business in a new location, getting married to my husband, and starting our lives together as one. But with that came so many things that scared me in the year, would be business survive in the move, am I am to restart in a market where I don’t know anyone?

2022 proved to me that I am stronger than I think, I stopped fearing what might happen and started focusing on what I could do. Beginnings became a whole new outlook for me, I started viewing it as a new beginning for my business to bloom, a new beginning to work on my health, and a new beginning and location to get creative.

I had so many goals and accomplishments in 2022 that I didn’t think happen, here are a few of my personal and professional from the past few years:

• Personal
  • Finished my first year teaching
  • Completed the first half Ironman
  • Had my bachelorette trip
  • Got married to my best friend
  • Started Crossfit
• Professional
  • Got published in a Magazine
  • Moved my business from North Carolina to Georgia
  • Launched a whole new wedding experience to the wedding industry
  • Grew my business by six times the size it was in 2021
  • Booked over my goal for weddings in 2023

2022 was a year all about learning and had its hard times but so many amazing and beautiful moments as well. I wouldn’t take any of it back either.

Now lets get to 2023

The word for 2023 is… CONNECTIONS!

This word came to me too easily for the year. Connection can mean so many different things, it can be a relationship with a person, thing, or idea. But you can also view it as a connection to yourself. Last year I spent a lot of time focusing on the back end of my business to be able to successfully move my business and reach the goals I had set for myself. But with that came a time when I was unable to connect in the ways I wanted to.

As I focus on the word connection I am so excited to serve my clients and audience in a way like no other, learning new skills and creating a whole new process!

I am also looking forward to connecting with myself and my mental health as well as my body and listening to what I need.

2023 Goals

Broad goals:

1. Clients- I want to be able to spend time connecting with my clients, especially my wedding clients so that they can feel completely comfortable and confident in their sessions. I want to create an experience like no other so that clients get a one-on-one experience, so that come to their session they feel like a friend is walking in.
2.  Self- Last year I put myself on the back burner a little bit, I put my business before myself and didn’t prioritize everything I needed. This year I want to spend more time connecting with myself through morning journaling, nutritious eating, and beginning to work through mental health struggles.
3.  Vendors- I want to use 2023 to bring out my creative side especially during the slower seasons, with that I want to build relationships with amazing vendors who are in the wedding industry so that I can provide the best to my clients. I want to be able to not only be able to create a strong rapport with these vendors but to develop an entrepreneur group to be able to help us all better ourselves.

Specific goals:

1. Spend Strategically- With a lot of big purchases I have this year, budgeting and spending are going to be one of my top priorities this year. I want to be able to have the best equipment, I want to travel to the UK to see one of my best friends in Scotland!
2.  Perfect the Electric Wanderers- With the launch of my new wedding package this past year, I want to take time to dive deep into the package and make it an even better experience for my Wanderers who have already booked it for their wedding.
3.  Become a stronger “cross-fitter”- Now that I have been doing Crossfit for 6 months I want to start to perfect my form the moments to be able to increase my strength and to be able to lift more and break personal records that I have set for myself in the new year.
4.  Complete my second half Ironman- In 2022 I completed my first half Ironman in Augusta GA, I went into the race with no goal other than to finish the race on my feet. I finished the race in 6 hours and 17 minutes. This year I want to do another half-ironman and I want to go in to complete the race in under 6 hours.
5.  Consistent Schedule- Working for yourself and from home can be a struggle to stay consistent with a schedule, and complete my daily task and goals. This year I want to start waking up at a specific time every day, journaling, working out, and completing my top three goals per day! As well as setting up specific days that are only for editing, back-end work, and blogging or working on my Pinterest and other forms of media.

Although these are only my top 5 goals for the new year, I have so many other small goals to become the best version of myself for me, my husband, my family, and my clients. This year I am so excited to be prioritizing the word connect and I cannot wait to see the benefits that come out of this word for me this year!

Happy 2023!