2017 goals for this young architect

Better late than never to get your 2017 goals down, right? This year has gotten off to a blazing start and I’ve not given myself time to sit down and write my yearly goals post yet. (You’ll find that “time” is a recurring theme in this year’s goals) We’re in the last week of January, so it’s time to get them down and get to it!

For reference, here is last year’s goals post. And here is the mid-year check-in post.

A photo posted by Lora Teagarden (@l2designllc) on Jan 11, 2017 at 3:47pm PST

I think I did pretty great on the first goal about ARE sketches last year, but it’s easy to work at something that you can immediately see creating a positive impact in the life of others. I’ve published two study guides in the past year and am already working the third…the dreaded Structures. To date, over the past 9 months there have been 352 total books sold, 428 sketches shared, and 433 newsletter subscribers. It’s definitely still on the 2017 goals list this year as I work towards the third volume. I don’t see this part of my life going away anytime soon.

The L² Design Lab will hopefully be getting a significant exterior makeover this year. It’s high on the 2017 goals list. I spent most of last year saving money and only doing small projects as necessary because this year we tackle the exterior! No more raccoons in the attic for this girl. [gulp] The plan is to spend the rest of the winter prepping drawings to go before the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Committee and get to work starting in the spring. Replacing a couple windows, tearing off the frightening attic balcony, replace/patch/caulk/paint all the things, and a new deck and fence. It will be a busy year!

 

Balance is the final, all-encompassing point on the 2017 goals list. Between a busy work schedule, AIA responsibilities nationally and locally, ARE sketches, #ThisOldHouse, the (lackluster) dating scene, and two pups….well, my friends and I have a saying:

 “It’s not so much burning the candle at both ends as it is throwing the whole thing on a bonfire and adding more fuel.” 

 

This year, I’d like to spend more time hiking with the pups, reading good books, and doing the things I love. While sometimes that means working long hours… when you’re doing the things you love it doesn’t always feel like work. My Camino experience left me craving a life of (relative) simplicity, and I continue to look for ways to cut out the unnecessary. If I’m going to throw the candle on the bonfire, I want to bring things that continue to fuel me, not just burn me down.

Good luck with your 2017 goals! Let me know in the comments section what you’re planning to do this year and how I can help.