Living life 10x (The 10xRule)
As I sit here enroute to Copenhagen, I cannot help but wonder how I got here. This past year has been so incredible in the sense of accomplishing things that were only a dream. Last summer I I posted on Facebook that I wanted to travel to Europe in the next year. Three months later, someone shared a fare sale from IcelandAir and next thing you know, we booked our travel for $500 round trip each.
This year, I admitted to a group of colleagues that I wanted to have my first gallery exhibition this year and a month later I am being accepted into my first group show ever. I did my senior thesis gallery exhibition in college and I had a friend ask me to hang some of my work in her father’s restaurant but I have never done an official show.
So why am I putting this out there like that? Because there is something about putting your hopes, dreams and wants out there publically that makes them come to fruition. Whether it be that you do the work to make them happen or opportunities are attracted to you. There are so many things on my list that I want to accomplish, so I am going to use this as an opportunity to share them with you and for you to share them with me so they can come into fruition for both of us.
I want to hear your craziest and biggest dreams in my comment section below.
Who knows, maybe someone will comment that will be just the person you needed to meet to make it happen. Also, I am really interested (and honored) to hear your goals and dreams.
For work, I am part of a book club and we just finished reading Grant Cardone’s “The 10x Rule”. This book really struck a cord inside me. I appreciated his direct language and the message behind the book. It’s a message that might be a bit hard to swallow for people but it’s a message that we need to hear. You CAN live the life you want to live, you just need to work hard and apply massive amounts of effort to achieve it. Perhaps you might be thinking, “That sounds like a lot of work” or “That sounds awesome!” Or “I am not sure what I am thinking” or “Meh” or however you feel – think about this: would you prefer to spend 10 years dreaming or 10 years doing? I want to spend 10 years doing because I have already spent 10 years dreaming and I can tell you that the success that I found in 10 years dreaming has been nowhere near the success I have found in the last 3 years of doing (with true emphasis on my last year of rekindling my love affair with art).
In this last month of reading the book, I am going to be in an art show and I have made friendships with people around the world on Instagram by beginning meaningful conversations with them.
It’s no secret that I am deeply inspired by Brooke Shaden at the moment. She has found success in creating art and creating selfishly. This is something that I would have never believed possible until I met her. What an amazing thing to be able to follow your heart so truly. I want to do this. I want to spend the next part of my life inspiring others to do what they love to do wholly and fully. To believe they are meant to be happy and successful. On my 10x list are some big goals and I want to share some of my art goals with you. I have set 10x goals for health and personal too – I will share some of these as well.
Next on my reading list is Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” and already, 12 pages in, I am fired up. I am grateful to the people around me who continue to inspire and believe in me. I am so grateful to be a part of a great company who truly believes in making people better. To my boss, Justen, you have no idea how grateful I am for all that you have done for me. For believing that I can inspire others when I didn’t see it for myself, for giving me the tools and fire to live the life I want to live. I am truly grateful for a work place that allows me to be myself every day. At one point before that opportunity came into my life, that was the career that I imagined but it turned out to be so much more than I could have ever envisioned.
I am so FREAKING excited to hear what you have to say so let’s go! Let’s talk 10x goals. Also, if you have an inspiring book that you would like to share with me, PLEASE drop it in the comment section below.
2018
Art
Make at least $1000 in sales in 2018
Be featured in 10 galleries
1000 followers on Instagram
Create 24 composite images
Teach 10 classes
Lecture
Finish my 1st draft of my book
Health & Fitness
Go down to 20% body fat and schedule a portrait shoot
Personal Growth
Read 24 books
OVERALL 10X GOALS
Make $2 Million in income per year by the time I am 40
Have been on CreativeLIVE at least 5 times in the next 5 years
Be on Craftsy at least 2 times in the next 5 years
Have over a million people know about my message of “Full Artist” (because I severely dislike the term “starving artist” and it bothers me to no end)
Become a university professor
Have my own photography studio
Take a trip every month for a whole year
Visit every continent
Volunteer my time to help Brooke Shaden at the Light Space
Meet Tiësto
3/1/18 – I know the photo above is a bit random, but I am in Copenhagen now and I walked beast this art space and saw this. I fell in love with the light and dream to have a studio that looks like this one day. Ahh the portraits I would create <3
Cindy - A book I read recently that was phenomenal was “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks I recently manifested something I have been wanting for years. A housekeeper! Now I can spend more time creating. My desire is to find my niche in my art. To identify what really resonates with me, but at the same time is attractive to buyers who want to invest in my work. My ultimate goal is to live in a place that has gorgeous views. And to be able to afford to travel more.
Anna - Hi Cindy! Awesome! I will add it to my list. There are so many amazing books out there to read! I have been keeping a list that others have shared with me. We have a housekeeper too now and I am so grateful for her! Definitely saves loads of time. As for your work – your flower photographs are incredible. They look like paintings and I know there is a market for them. Any other images/pieces you decide to create you definitely should 🙂 I am venturing into the journey of self-portraiture (something that I have actually done a lot of since I started photography in 2003). It’s something I connect to deeply. We shall see if there is a market for it but I certainly plan to tackle book covers with them. I can’t wait to see what place you find with those stunning views and travel – if you will it, the Universe will comply. It’s happened to me more than once, even when I was broker than broke. Thank you so much for having the courage to share your thoughts with me. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you and value our friendship. <3
Jennifer - Hi, Anna!
You are such an amazing inspiration! My children are growing, but I still have young ones. I end up doing my creative endeavors part-time quite often, because of household and child obligations. I want to sell more art. Whatever that is… I enjoy making many different kinds of art and feel stifled when I try to focus on only one medium. I think that makes it difficult to grow a fan base. I’ve also been throwing around the idea of making art history videos or something with an art lesson attached…hmm….
Anna - Jennifer you are so awesome! You are an inspiration as well 😀 I love your images and completely understand about not focusing on one medium. I think your art history videos would be amazing and I would love to see them. I really appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I am happy that you make time for art, even part-time.
Willy - I went to WPPI last week and there was a 10x conference going on at the same time. I wondered what that was all about. I will read that book. I am totally with you about speaking your goals aloud. My dream is to have a solo show of my encaustic work and sell work and turn it into a book! And I love your idea of travel once a month. I’m gong to add that to my list!
Anna - Hi Willy! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! That is really awesome that there was a 10x conference at the same time WPPI was going on. How interesting! It’s a great book, definitely very “kick in the pants” but I really liked that about it. Please send me an invite whenever your show happens 🙂 I love your encaustic work, it is so beautiful. Do you have any books you recommend?
Julie Livermore - Well, I am inspired!! Thanks for sharing your goals and what you are doing to achieve them! I will recommend the Lively Show Podcast to you and look forward to checking out your recommendations 🙂
Anna - Hi Julie!!! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing that podcast with me. I will add it to the ones I listen to. I really enjoy The Chase Jarvis Show and the Jordan Harbinger Show. They always bring on great speakers. Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
Kathryn - Wow, this is extremely inspirational! I must admit I have never really known how to dream that big. Traveling and seeing the world is definitely a big dream, and I have so many countries I still want to explore. I’m encouraged to dream bigger now, write it all down and get it out into the world and see what happens!
Anna - Hi Kathryn! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! It’s really hard to dream so big but once you do, I feel that you almost make yourself unstoppable. Yesterday I sat down with each large goal and did a: How, what, where, when, why on each. Looking at them everyday really helps for you to put action towards them. I have a dreamboard too that has really been helping <3 Where would you love to travel to?
Lindsay - Anna this post, your energy and gifts are SO inspiring!!! I LOVE how you’ve been focusing so much on achieving your goals and love what you shared about the process and the future. Your talent is overflowing and no doubt you will achieve even more than the goals you’ve set. Thank you for being so authentic…now I need to get thinking about setting some new goals 🙂
Anna - Hi Lindsay! You are so wonderful and I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts <3 I've been reading so many books and listening to so many podcasts that I just can't help but feel motivated. I appreciate your compliments and I cannot wait to see what goals and dreams you set for yourself. Please remember to share them with me :D
Elise - My husband is the best salesman. And a pretty good photographer if he practiced and I mentored him. My ultimate dream would be a husband wife photography company where he does the sales and I am the lead shooter.
Anna - Hi Elise! Thank you so much for your comment! That is an amazing dream. I always wanted my husband to be my sidekick photographer when I had my wedding business but it was so not his thing haha. I hope that this dream comes true for you 🙂
Sarah - This is such an inspiring post! I love the concept of 10x goals and planning out further than tomorrow, I definitely need to do this! One of my biggest goals is to make a living wage from my own business and save for a house!
Anna - Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your goals. I cannot wait for you to message me letting me know that you make a living wage from your business! I also work for a great company that could help you with your home ownership dreams. We’ve helped all sorts of people, even people who never thought it would be possible for them to own. I hope that you have an amazing day!
Bonnie McCaffey - I now this works because 35 years ago I wrote affirmations and one of them was “I travel and teach quilting worldwide.” This was a ridiculous idea. This was before I was even teaching much locally. I found that list years ago and was amazed at how many things on the list came true. Since I wrote that list I have traveled to England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, France, Denmar, Canada, Curacao, New Zealand, Australia and Dubai.
So I will keep my new affirmations simple.
“I travel and teach photography and Photoshop worldwide.”
“I am THE headshot photographer in the quilting world and other industries.”
“My composites are exhibited and loved.”
“We are financially secure.”
There. I’ve said it and so it will be.
Anna - Bonnie I love this! I am so glad that you wrote down your affirmations. How amazing and I am so happy that so many things came true. I look forward to being a part of your classes 🙂 And so it is!
Suzanne - Anna I love what you wrote! I adore Simon Sinek and mostly listen to him on audio as picking up a book is tough for me (I know my weaknesses lol). I am reading Gary Vaynerchuk “Crushing It” and listen to him literally every time I’m in my car. Your goals are fantastic and inspiring. I have mine written in my planner for the year that I carry with me everywhere. Here’s to 2018 and more greatness!!!
Anna - Hi Suzanne! I love this comment! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing! Audio books or audio still counts haha! I will add “Crushing it” to my list of books to read – thank you so much for suggesting it. I am so happy to hear that you carry your goals with you everywhere in your planner! So excited to see what 2018 has to offer for you 🙂
Shea - I loved reading about your goals! Way to put them out there in the universe – you’ll reach them all 🙂
Anna - Aww thank you Shea! I appreciate you stopping by to comment 🙂