“Do you think I can do it?“, I asked my husband Matt on Wednesday evening before going to bed.  We had just finished projecting out my budget and goals through 2013 and I was feeling slightly overwhelmed.  Matt looked at me with sleepy eyes but spoke with confidence when he said, “I know you can Amy, because you don’t know how to fail.”  Hopeful tears found their way to the corner of my eyes for just a moment, before I blinked them away.  Completely overcome with happiness at my husband’s vote of confidence, I drifted off to sleep feeling totally supported and loved.

A good friend once told me that if you are content with where you are, you are not growing.  I couldn’t agree more.  The unique beauty and challenge to owning your own business is experiencing the joy of great successes while always feeling like you could be doing more.  To ensure growth is always taking place, I think it is SO important to set goals for yourself.   Big goals, little goals, and secret dreams…write them all down!  By painting a clear picture of what you want your future to hold, you allow yourself the opportunity to map out ways to get there.

This week, I spent a lot of quiet time thinking about my personal goals and dreams.  After a lot of thought, I have decided to share them!  As vulnerable as it might make me feel, I believe there is a great accountably that comes with letting others know what you are working towards, and allowing them to support you throughout your journey.

My Goals

Amy Rizzuto Photography

Book 20+ Weddings

Get Published on Style Me Pretty

Get Published on The Knot

Earn 1000+ Facebook Fans (click here to be one of them) 🙂

Photograph a Wedding in Europe

Spend from 6:30pm on with my handsome husband

Work out at least three times a week

See a Broadway/Off-Broadway play once a month

Learn how to successfully use off-camera lighting

Create video tutorial +sites for my wonderful clients (Engagements, PASS, Collections)

Update my website at least once a month with new photos and raves

Send photos to every vendor

Post Sneak Peeks on Facebook the same night of the wedding

Work with clients who could be my friends

Shoot a wedding in Tokyo

Order personalized gifts for my couples

Try a new pose every session

Read through the entire Bible by 2013

Create personalized mailers for clients

Start my day at 7:oo a.m.

Have set email times

Vlog once a month

Pre-plan blog posts for the week on Sunday

Go on vacation once a year

Photograph a wedding in Manhattan

Become Showiteer of the Day

Run my own photography workshop

Go to WPPI 2013

Take one day off a week

Cook a meal at least twice a week for my husband

Become known as a warm, passionate and genuine photographer

As the year goes on, I will continue to update my goals and mark off accomplishments on my list.  No matter where you are in your life, I challenge you to set goals for yourself, share them with others, and work towards making each dream a reality.