Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Progress Report: Week 18

I feel like I actively tried to work on this stuff a little more than last week, but that might just be my imagination.  I started to not feel so great over the weekend.  I think work has been tiring me out at lot, plus PMS, plus the winter.  I hoping I feel better this week and can get back to work.

1.  Get a new job and move.  No progress.
Haven't done any more applications this week.  Haven't really found any more jobs that I'm interested.  I'm torn between want to work in a job related to the environment and in media production.  I think I'm subconsciously holding out for something that marries the two but I don't think that's the best approach if my goal is just to get out without taking a step backwards.
I also want to talk to my boss about getting some professional development so I can develop some more PR and marketing skills.


STEP 1 more job searching
STEP 2  crank out those applications
STEP 3 develop some more skills
STEP 4 Talk to my boss about professional development

2.  Make my own postcards. No progress.
STEP 1: do some MORE research on the cost of ordering some cards.
STEP 2: identify 5 photos I would like to use on the cards
STEP 3: look into how to design my card (using Photoshop, using a online template from a print service etc.)

3.  Write a script No progress.
I went to a brand new screenwriting group meeting last week.  It was nice to meet a few other people that I might be interested in working with.  It can also be inspiring just to be around other people who are producing.  I kind of want to write and shoot a short film (like 1-3 mins) for submission to a tiny short film competition in the end of February, but I think it is really unlikely that I will do this.

STEP 1: settle on an story idea I want to tackle
STEP 2: outline my thoughts so far
STEP 3:  Do a complete outline of the plot points.
STEP 4: identify my major problem areas
STEP 5: Get out my screenwriting books again with this story to help structure the story

STEP A:  Come up with a concept for a short film that I can shoot and complete in a couple weeks.
STEP B:  See if I can pull together the equipment/people I need to produce it.

4. Publish a poem No progress.
STEP 0: send poems to my friend for editing
STEP 1: do some research into common ways to get poetry published
STEP 2: identify some places where I would like to submit a poem and qualify
STEP 3: select some poems for submission and fine tune them

5. Track my spending/budget No progress
Now that it is January I want to start off on the right foot!  I want to get may budget in order and figure out a way to keep track of my expenses.

STEP 1: Reassess my current budget structure.
STEP 2: Take stock of my current finances.
STEP 3: Set-up my budget for 2015.
STEP 4: Identify key rules/habits that will keep me on-top-of things and organized.
STEP 5: Identify financial goals (like major purchases, savings goals, loan payoffs etc.)

6. Apply for a passport No progress.
STEP 1:  Figure out how one applies to get a passport.
STEP 2:  Figure out how long it will take.
STEP 3:  Figure out how much it will cost.
STEP 4:  Decide when to begin the application process.

7.  Get new glasses **COMPLETED WEEK 8**

8.  Visit Canada No progress.
STEP 1:  Decide where I would like to visit (Nova Scotia).
STEP 2:  Decide when I would like to visit and how long.
STEP 3:  Decide who I would like to come with me.
STEP 4:  See if it is possible to plan such a trip.

9.  Alter two items of clothing for myself No progress.
I want to ask my mother to teach me how to use the sewing machine.  I know once I get the hang of that I should be able to do some simple things.  I have a dress that I want to hem that I think might be a good start.

STEP 1:  Decide who can teach me.
STEP 2:  Get advice as to what would be good starter items to alter.

10.  Get something tailored. No progress.
STEP 1:  Identify some local tailors and their contact info and advice from others as to the quality of the work.
STEP 2:  Determine how much I am willing to spend.
STEP 3:  Select 2-3 things I would like to attempt to get altered (in case 1-2 alterations are not possible)

11.  Take a fitness class No progress.
There is a local ballet school that I think I might try to get a pass for to attend the adult classes.  I have to call them to find out more.

STEP 1:  Identify which classes I would like to try.
STEP 2:  Get the stuff I need to attend the classes.
STEP 3:  Go to a class!
STEP 4:  Return to each of the classes at least 4 times.
STEP 5:  Come up with fitness routine/solution for at-home during the winter.
STEP 6:  Look into getting a gym pass for the spring.
STEP 7:  Look into getting an adult pass for the ballet school.

12.  Read at least 4 of these feminist books: **PROGRESS**
Lean In, Reverence to Rape, A Room of One's Own, The Second Sex, The Beauty Myth, MaddAddam, The Feminine Mystique, Bad Feminist, NEW ADDITION: Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Finished Year of the Flood, and am 60 pages into MaddAddam.  Hurrah for fiction!

STEP 1:  Pick a book to start with: MaddAddam series
STEP 2:  Read Oryx and Crake
STEP 3:  Read Year of the Flood
STEP 4:  Read MaddAddam
STEP 5:  Read The Beauty Myth

13.  Organize something for Directed By Women--- a global viewing party happening in Sept 2015. No progress.

STEP 1:  Review the guidelines
STEP 2:  Brainstorm some ideas.

14.  Write those think piece articles No progress.
STEP 1:  Outline what I would like to say about one of my article ideas.
STEP 2:  Do the relevant research.
STEP 3:  Write a first draft.

15.  Buy a new laptop No progress.
STEP 1: Identify the main things I will need my laptop to do.
STEP 2: Work out what the specifications are for what I want.
STEP 3:  Investigate the price range available for what I want.
STEP 4:  Modify expectations or price range.
STEP 5:  Choose a vendor.

16.  Keep to a blogging schedule No Progress
Another fail this week!  I think I am struggling with what exactly this blog is and what sort of content I should put on it.  It is easy to post stuff when I am making stuff (photos, cards, poems) but when I'm not, what should I put?  Should it just be a dumping ground for my thoughts?  Who would want to read that?

I also think managing the blog for work is giving me a little bit of burn-out.  I haven't even kept up with my Instagramming which I usually love doing.

STEP 1:  Come up with a blogging schedule.
STEP 2:  Try to stick to it.
STEP 3:  Modify schedule as I figure out what works.  (Don't just abandon it!)

17.  Help a friend make her film a reality.  No progress.
NO MORE EXCUSES

STEP 1:  Read script. (So embarrassing I haven't read it all yet.)
STEP 1: Read new script.
STEP 2:  Follow up with my friend about how the project is progressing and my thoughts on the script.
STEP 3:  Educate myself on ways to get funding for the script.

18.  Start learning a little web design **PROGRESS**
I finished the 'Make a Website.'

STEP 2:  Finish my Make a Website lesson on Code Academy.
STEP 3: Complete the HTML/CSS lesson on Code Academy.

19.  Finish books I have already started: No progress.
Survival of the Prettiest, Ishmael/My Ishmael/Story of B, Ode Less Traveled, Anna Karenina, Contagious (by Jonah Berger), Jim Henson: The Biography

STEP 1:  Finish Contagious
STEP 2:  Finish Ishmael
STEP 3:  Finish Flappers 
STEP 4:  Finish Survival of the Prettiest
STEP 5:  Read Story of B

20.  Organize a Clothing Swap or Yard Sale **PROGRESS*
Invites are out, so far I have about 5 people coming I think.  My goal is 10 people.  I have to make a plan for food and tidying the house.  There is a bit of clutter that needs to get sorted and dealt with.

STEP 1:  Decide in what month it would be reasonable to expect to host a swap/sale (and decided if there is enough time to prepare).
STEP 2:  Ask others if they would like to help organize, attend etc.
STEP 3:  Pick a date and a location.
STEP 4: Invite people.
STEP 5:  Figure out how it will run.
STEP 6:  Make sure enough people are coming.
STEP 7:  Organize food.
STEP 8:  Deal with clutter
STEP 9:  Clean house

21.  Develop a financial plan for my loans No Progress
STEP 1:  Revisit all my loan paperwork so I have a firm grasp of all the aspects.
STEP 2:  Find some people I trust and who have expertise that can give me helpful advice.
STEP 3:  Explore options for paying off loans faster than my current monthly installments.

22.  Enroll in new medical insurance plan **COMPLETED WEEK 7**

23.  Watch these 10 classic movies that I have never seen **PROGRESS**
Malcolm X, Blade Runner, Capote, The Virgin Suicides, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Strangers on a Train, Groundhog Day,  Rosemary's Baby, Young Frankenstein, Badlands

I think I may have tracked down a copy of Young Frankenstein so that will be next I think.

STEP 1:  Figure out if any of these are available on Netflix Instant 
STEP 2:  Watch Rosemary's Baby
STEP 3:  Watch The Virgin Suicides.
STEP 4:  Figure out which of the remaining movies are available from my library. 
STEP 5:  Watch Groundhog Day
STEP 6:  Get Young Frankestein from the library and watch.

24.  Update a YouTube channel at work **TINY PROGRESS**
We have made some more headway on getting rid of bad content.  I still need to make a plan for when we will stop going through the bad content and move on to the next thing.

STEP 1:  Get advice from the marketing department, especially regarding partnership and SEO.
STEP 1a:  Discuss my plans with my boss.
STEP 2:  Develop plan for eliminating bad content.
STEP 3: Develop timeline for eliminating bad content.
STEP 4:  Send follow-up email with marketing department delineating responsibilities.
STEP 4:  Follow up with partners on new playlist ideas I have.

25.  ANNOUNCING: Complete some family projects:  I want to help my sister make a scrapbook for our family reunion, help my mother create a wedding album for a cousin, and create an anthology of  my grandmother's writing--- hopefully with some of her art and painting included.

STEP 1:  Look through the wedding photos.
STEP 2:  Do some research on what typically goes into a wedding album.
STEP 3:  Talk to my mom about what she wants for the wedding album.
STEP 4:  Talk to my sister about her ideas for the scrapbook.
STEP 5:  Call my aunt about the writing that she has gathered from my grandmother.

26.  Private health-related goal. No progress.

Score:  Progress on 5 of 23 goals.

1 comment:

  1. Yay goals! I can help with 25 if I can.

    How fascinating is Year of the Flood and Toby.

    ReplyDelete