Prioritize Like a Mompreneur
By: Kymberly A. Robinson, Esq.
BULLSEYE!
We’ve all heard the generic advice: “you just need to prioritize.” Although my response, and probably some of yours, would be “hey, I prioritize!” I thought to myself, what have I done to make it easier to prioritize and reach my goals? Well, to put it simply, I draw target diagrams and use the inner circles as guides to get to what I call my “ultimate goal”- bullseye! The targets encourage commitment to things I value, my priorities. If you are a visual person like me, then this will be right up your alley…
HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK: Attainable goals lead to action.
We are not only moms, but are professionals, wives, daughters, friends, and individuals. When you think of what is important to you or what roles you play, I bet that most of you will start with the “Mom” category.However, there are other things that are important to us, such as Self-Care, Physical Health, Mental & Emotional Wellness, Relationships. So, I urge each of you to draw a target with a bullseye in the center, as I did in the graphic below. Title your target something like the suggestions above; I used Mental & Emotional Wellness.
My ultimate goal in this arena is to be more mindful. You might read this and think, “that’s great….and vague.” Naturally, I have to come up with some way to reach this ultimate goal. The target helps me to prioritize this goal, by making small, attainable steps.
For example:
- Today’s goal: browse mindfulness apps
- This week’s goal: take a meditation or yoga class online (or in person)
- This month’s goal: commit to a daily meditation or mindfulness app
Attainability is key to goal setting. Thus, you want to make the first mini-goal an immediate goal—something you can do in the next day or two. The mini-goal is a short-term goal—something you can achieve in about a week, and so on, until you reach the bullseye. You can take a pen and mark an “X” where you are, so you can see how close you are to your core value or ultimate goal.
HOW I USE THIS IN MY LEGAL PRACTICE
Working with dozens of women entrepreneurs, I’ve found that prioritizing ranks high in importance, but there really is little follow through. So, one thing I ask new clients when they come in with 3 to 4 legal issues is to: “rank your priorities for me.” What I really want to know is what legal issue in particular is keeping my client awake at night. Potential responses are:
- potential liability;
- a contract need;
- employment-related issues; or
- a non-disclosure agreement, for instance.
Whatever it is, it’s important to me that I have a clear understanding of the client’s priorities, so that I can help them visualize where we are going in order to achieve their goals. This also helps me, as a lawyer, see what actions I have to take today, this week, the next week, and so on.
MAKING THIS A FAMILY ACTIVITY: Kids can use this diagram, too.
Whether you’re a mompreneur, working mom, stay-at-home-mom, or work-for-home-mom, you can teach this skill to your children and family. For instance, children can make targets for school, sports, activities, and even chores. For tweens and teens, they may have a target for friendship and self-care. Families can even use this together to track activities they want to try together this week, this month, or this year.
(Feel free to rely on the calendar on Macaroni Kid for fun ideas-wink wink.)
ONE LAST THING: Celebrate
Once you reach the center of your bullseye, you should celebrate the success. Pop that bottle of champagne, mama! This seems like a silly point, but it is actually quite important. Here’s why: when you celebrate your successes, you provide positive reinforcement and train your brain to associate prioritizing, and goal attainment, with feeling accomplished and in control…and who doesn’t like feeling in control? I’d love to hear how the mini target method works for you and how you are prioritizing your goals! Please feel free to drop me a line at krobinsonesq@gmail.com or tag me on Instagram @kymberlyarobinsonlaw.
Kym is an attorney and mompreneur in Westchester County, New York, where she inspires, advises, and serves the legal needs of women who want to start or have started their own businesses. She is also a wife and mom of three.
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. This does not constitute legal advice and should not be construed as such. No attorney-client relationship exists between Kymberly A. Robinson, Esq. and the reader.
