I am usually not one to set New Year’s Resolutions but since I am working on my own businesses this year I want to start 2014 off right with some solid and attainable goals for the whole year.
This is my plan of action for 2014.
Single Moms Income
Over the last year I’ve tried to post on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and sometimes even Saturdays. You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting so much lately but there is a reason behind that.
I’ve decided forcing myself to post three times per week even when I don’t have anything great to write about is flat out dumb. I’ve never been the type of person that talks just to hear the sound of my own voice so why should my personal blog be like that?
This is my personal blog. This is not just some niche blog where I can write down a list of 50 blog post topics and get to work. By now this blog has more than 200 articles on it so I think I’m okay to post when I have something I want to say or when I have something to share that I think is truly useful for you.
So you really won’t see too big of a change. I’ll still be sharing what I’m up to with different business ideas, income reports, and if I discover something truly useful I’ll share that as well. I’m just not going to put pressure on myself to post three times per week if I don’t have something important to say.
Sheww…..I feel better already.
Other Projects
I think I’ve finally found a system that works for me as far as all my projects go. Yay! More on that in the coming weeks.
So, I’ve been attentively tying up loose ends on my other projects. I’ve almost got one down and then I have one more to go. After that I have a few more ideas to work on – one that’s kind of exciting to me.
My plans are very similar to what MMD posted on his blog yesterday. I think he as a very smart plan of action!
I don’t want to reveal too much now but there are several things I want to do in 2014. I’ve already started on one project but I’m trying to tie up all my loose ends else where before I spend too much time on it. Once I get the new project started and in good standings I’ll reveal it. I did a bit of research and I think I can pull this one off.
Freelance Writing
I think I’m probably good on writing jobs. I’d take a few more if they came my way but I’m not actively looking for them anymore. Right now, depending on the week, I write anywhere from 7-13 blog posts for other people. This is about a days’ worth of work. I did also recently get another one post per week writing gig.
The writing jobs provide me with some consistent income which I like but I also want to keep time for all of my other ideas.
I do still plan on giving magazine writing a shot though. I think it would be a good way to make a writing income with less of a commitment.
A Flip House
You guys don’t understand how much I want to flip a house. Home prices in my area are beyond ridiculously low and even if I couldn’t flip the house I could still rent for positive cash flow.
You can read all about my house flipping strategy on ELYM. I even link to houses for sale in my area…..
I really need to ramp up my income so that I can save enough money to put down on a house. I am so tempted right now to use my emergency fund but I know that’s a horrible idea. A flip house is definitely on my to-do list for 2014.
Yeah I’ve got some business idea ADD – I know. But that’s what I really want to do in 2014.
Do you have business plans for 2014?
My goal is to keep plugging away on my blog and eventually generating some online income this year. A house flip sounds really exciting. I hope you will share with us when you decide to do that!
I’ll absolutely be sharing about the flip house. I’ve already been looking at some houses 🙂 I just need to save some more money now!
Eveonrye would benefit from reading this post
Alexa, I hope you will be able to do everything, especially the part about flipping houses, I love that idea!
You definitely motivated me to get down to writing my own ‘business’ and ‘life’ objectives for 2014. Cheers!
Thanks, Heidi! I hope I can do the house flipping too! 🙂
This must be a “great minds” post…because I wrote out my lessons from 2013 today on SB. Next week I’ll be tackling my 2014 business plan. I love that you have one. It’s important to treat your business like a business. I try to wake up at the same time every day, stop working at the same time, take breaks at scheduled times, and follow a model week. Sure, it often goes out the window, but I think without those things, I’d be completely lost.
I am trying to get that schedule thing down 😉 I keep tweaking and I finally found something that makes sense and is the best use of my time. Now following? That’s a different story.
Excited to hear about your 2014 Business Plan!
I have several business plans, yes. The trick will be focusing for long enough to bring some of them to fruition! Some are even doable if I dedicate a few weekends to getting them off the ground… it will just be a matter of doing so.
I know what you mean about the focus. That’s my problem. I have too many ideas floating around and then they all end up half done. I’m trying to learn how to focus on one thing at a time until I get it how I want. It’s definitely going to take some self discipline though.
I love ugly houses I get an adrenaline rush!
~ Christie
I have some ideas of what I want to do but I have to get rid of my fears first. 2014 will be the year that I will step out of my box and get it done!
I am sure you will do the house flipping next year. You accomplished your goals this year and I’m positive next year you will accomplish more.
Sounds like some great plans! Flipping houses seems really lucrative but I’m scared to do it without a big cash reserve behind me. I don’t even have enough to renovate my current house right now so flipping is out of the question.
Anyway I will share my goals for 2014 on January 1st, but it includes bringing in 2k a month revenue from online projects, starting a second website (a true niche website, I think the pf bloggers will think it’s funny how different it is from what I usually write about haha), and continuing to grow Y.A.M. month-over-month.
My main business plan is to increase my side income and add some stable side income. Good luck with your goals. Keep us updated so we can keep you accountable on your goals.
Great ideas Alexa. I’m long term real estate, where I’m at if I mess up a flip it would cost like 500K. Good luck on that endeavor.
Good luck to your business plans Alexa! And I hope 2014 will be good to me.
You’re very ambitious…I think that’s great. As for not posting just for the sake of posting, I think that makes sense…I’m like that too…I don’t like to speak just to hear the sound of my voice. Just read your article about flipping houses in your area…$19,000 house! Wow! How much does a house like that rent for?
I’d say that house would rent for $500-$550/month. Houses around here start at $450/month rent – usually small studio apartments and nicer houses go up to about $850. I’d say that with a little work in that 19k house it might even rent in the $600’s. Pretty good deal considering a 30 year mortgage on 20k would be like $125/ month plus property tax and insurance.
Thanks for the mention! I think you’re making a smart move by posting on this blog when you want to rather than on such a strict schedule. For me it was like night and day. Once you free yourself up to do other things, you’ll find that you’re a lot happier, more productive, and more passionate about the things you actually DO want to share on this site.
Just a suggestion: For the freelance writing, since there are so many good writers on Elance and other services for cheap, why not hire or find a few to write on topics that you yourself are generally hired to write, such as personal finance. That way you’ll have a stock pile of “almost ready to go articles” on various topics where you could easily put the final touches on and integrate with your own personality / voice before you submit it to the customer. If that article only cost you $10 but you get paid $40-$50 to submit it AND it reduces your writing time down to almost nothing, think of how many more projects you’ll be able to take on.
Sounds like a solid plan! I could never flip houses though, so kudos to you for giving that a shot! I don’t have my plan in places yet as I’ve been insanely busy, but I did just sign a big writing contract which I’m really excited about, and have other big ideas that I just need to map out…and hopefully more BATB TV too. 🙂
Yay!! I can’t wait for some more BATB TV it so fun. You do an amazing job with that! And congrats to being super busy that sounds like a good plan to me 🙂
I don’t currently have a 2014 business plan but this post made me realize I need to make one! I guess I will work on that for the next couple of days and decide what I really want to accomplish next year. 🙂
I love that you have business ADD. Cheap houses are like dangling carrots. I wish we’d had better luck with our last flip, but I still think that ‘s a great way to make quick money if you do it right.
Great job on all of your writing jobs, Alexa! I would also LOVE to flip a house but I don’t have the time right now and probably won’t any time soon.
I’m intrigued by the property opportunities in your area, Alexa. I can see why you’d want to flip or rent something there. Please let us know how it goes, so we can learn a bit from you!
I’ve actually decreased my posting schedule recently in an effort to free up time for other projects as well. I think it’s important to recognize which efforts are really moving us forward and which ones are just efforts for effort’s sake. Sounds like you’re set up for an awesome 2014!
I’m still establishing my blog, so I am pretty committed to a 6xs a week post schedule. It’s pretty daunting but at least I am making myself take the day off to do other things. Good for you for being able to branch out!
I always thought I could never be good at doing more than a couple of things at the same time but then when I get to read posts like yours, I am in awe and then I feel the second wind of inspiration kicking in. You seem to have a handful and yet you manage and I find that so admirable about you. On top of that, you manage to have a carefully laid-out plan about future endeavors. From another single parent doing her best for that fighting chance, I wish you all the best of luck for 2014, Alexa. I’m sure it will continue to be good for you.