Tip #11: Set NEW Goals

Hello and Welcome to a Fresh New Start!

Bring it on 2015!  Can you believe it?  We have managed to blow WAY past the year 2000 and many of you might be thinking...what am I still doing here?  Do I have time to finish my bucket list?  Did I ever even start a bucket list?  Well, if you choose to have a list or not, I would encourage you to EMBRACE TODAY!  This is the only TODAY you will ever get!  I painted this tree to remind me of this and to think about the paths I want this year to take.  What dreams do you envision?  What would you like to do differently this year?

It is true that you will never have another day quite like today.  If there are things you want to do, why not start doing them?  Some people have enjoyed a full life of experiences and might look at themselves now and wonder how they can share all of their knowledge and lessons they've learned with others.  Well, there truly is no time like the present and maybe today will be the day you share something that really makes a difference in the life of someone else.

I have been working with local businesses, schools across the country, and interviewing to get the word about my books out.  Today, I had the opportunity to share some of my resources and learning with a friend who just published her first book.  Yes, I am busy, but making time to help someone else made a difference to her and gave me the opportunity to be refueled sharing my excitement about promotional activities and goal setting.  There are opportunities for mentorship and friendship everywhere you look.

Writing is a great way to get your thoughts out there and inspire others.  If you haven't done so yet, try writing a blog, getting that story you've had in your notebook finally published or send in a letter to the editor of your local paper.  Now more than ever, people are just a click away and if you have something worth sharing, you will get discovered by simply putting it out there and networking.

I want to encourage everyone as I wind down this list of tips, to make a fresh start this year to go after your goals and make them reality.  Whatever you decide to do in life, do it with PASSION and embrace the person you are and all the gifts and talents you have to offer this world.

I'm looking forward to hearing about what you come up with and am off to help my husband and professional photographer photograph the illustrations for my next book.

Go make those dreams reality!  I'm cheering for you!

:)
Trina Licavoli Gunzel

Check out my books for gift ideas!  A birthday, baby shower, holiday, or just to say I'm thinking of you is a great excuse to give the keepsake book:  Grandmas Are Gorgeous!  Enjoy and thank you!

Author/Illustrator Website

Tip #10 Get Out There!

Hello!

What a year this has been!  I am so excited to share that I actually did it!  I said I was going to finish my Master of Arts in Education/Teacher Leadership this year, and I completed my program at the end of October!  It feels amazing to finally be done and now that I am, I am putting more energy back into working on my next books, marketing events, book sales, and promotions.

I said this was the year for publishing and I am not sure exactly how big of an undertaking I knew I was taking on, but the biggest thing I learned as an author/illustrator is, I can be as busy as I want to be or not, depending on how much time I am willing to dedicate to my work.

For me, art is therapy for my soul.  It truly makes me happy to design, create, and share things I make or write that have meaning, relay concepts, teach, and/or spark emotions.  When I am in the artsy/crafty arena and teaching, I am getting to combine some of my true passions and the positive energy is something I just can't find any other way.

As promised, to try to encourage you in reaching your goals, I have to share these tips with you:

1.  Never give up on your passions and dreams!
2.  If there is something you truly want to do that is good for you and makes you feel like you are positively contributing, go for it!
3.  Don't be afraid to commit and put in the hard time and effort it takes to make your dreams reality.
4.  There are wonderful ways you can work from home and also be able to raise your children!  The precious time I have with my kids is going so fast and I'm not willing to lose that time with them.
5.  Work smarter, not harder - network with others, follow up on leads and contacts and enjoy each day. There is always something to be grateful for and there are so many wonderful opportunities and experiences we can share if we are willing to commit our time, energy, and talents.

Expanding my creative illustrating and love of design work, I wanted to share a few pictures of some designs I created with some sample cards.  Each one is one of a kind and I created them because ribbons and sparkle make me happy.  I worked for a card design shop in college and have always enjoyed the creating process.  Let me know if you would like to see other creations and gift ideas as I'm working on expanding a gift line to compliment my keepsake books for families and friends.

Thank you for your support, connections, and for spreading sunshine with books!  If you need 20 minutes while you are getting Thanksgiving food ready, set your kids up with this tutorial I created and they can make an ocean scene while you bake your pies.

Ocean Collage Tutorial

Here are a few of my fun card designs to get you in the mood for the holidays, too!

Thank you as always for your support!  I appreciate you liking and sharing my facebook author page:  Author/Illustrator Page for Trina Licavoli Gunzel
Signed copies of Grandmas Are Gorgeous! with a custom card make wonderful gifts for any mom, grandma, or for children as a read aloud and activities are included.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Trina Licavoli Gunzel
Contact me through my author site

Tip #9 WORK HARDER

Heloooooooooooooooo!  I had to take some time to rest and play this summer.  How are you?

In May I decided to double up the rest of my courses so I could finish my Masters program by the end of October so needless to say, the theme of this blog post is WORK HARDER!

Initially, writing is so exciting and you look forward to the day you finally have your book published! It IS exciting!  However, transitioning that enthusiasm into a paying career you can do full time is another "story."  Pun intended.

I have been trying out teaching young author's day workshops, doing book signing events, and having booths for local benefits to try to figure out exactly which way I want to go with my books.  I have also learned that promotions take a lot of time to organize and implement and have had to step back a little until I can finish my classes, because I was feeling spread too thin.

As I am nearing the end of my coursework, I am trying to think about how I want to use my degree and getting ready to do some winter book promotions and planning for the spring.

We all know that when we put not only our hard work but our heart into things we want to achieve, we are happier with the results and this is the way to truly be able to enjoy your work and thrive in your passion.

As I am trying to wind down my classes and refocus my publishing and promotion efforts, I am working toward this WORK HARDER list:

1.  Create new illustrations or ideas for future book concepts weekly
2.  Connect with people that have reached out and offered to host book signing events
3.  Plan two fall book events
4.  Have next two book illustrations photographed so they are ready for publishing
5.  Plan next two school Young Author's Day visits
6.  Continue book contests and promotions using social media
7.  Follow up with newspaper author interview
8.  Follow up with blog interview request
9.  Follow up with local programs for art and story workshops

I know that by refocusing my efforts toward my present and future book promotions, I will feel inspired to network with others and share my love of books and art.  People are very interested in the thoughts and works of artists and that enthusiasm is contagious.

I am here to encourage you to go after your dreams and work toward making them reality, while always taking time to truly enjoy your life and the precious people in it.  Every day we have the opportunity to make a difference in some way.  For me, getting to use my books to help raise money and awareness for children with cancer and being part of awareness for the JDRF and the March of Dimes have been ways I have found to spread some sunshine with books and encourage others.

Whatever is on your heart to achieve and make a difference, I hope you make time to do it!

Best wishes,

Trina Licavoli Gunzel

www.trinagunzel.com

Available now from all major on-line booksellers.

Trina Licavoli Gunzel on Amazon Books

978-1-4969-0421-8 (Soft Cover ISBN)
978-1-4969-0425-6 (EBOOK ISBN)
Authorhouse Ebook 


Children's Books and Works By Trina Licavoli Gunzel

Tip #8 REST

You can't just work, plan, or play 24-7.  If you do, you will surely burn out.  So, this tip number 8 in the 12 Encouraging Posts To Help You Reach Your Goals is:  Rest!

When you take time to let your project sit and "simmer," you are able to see it with fresh eyes.

When writing, this gives you an opportunity to objectively read through your material and catch spelling and grammar errors.  You will find ways to improve every time you edit and revise until you finally come to a point where you are ready to publish.

So, practicing what I preach, tonight is just a short post and I am taking most of tomorrow off to celebrate my 17 year anniversary with my high school sweetheart.  Yeah!

Please recharge your batteries, your heart, rest your mind, your eyes, and let your project, whatever it is, have the gift of time.  You'll pick it up and continue, but use whatever amount of time you need to set for yourself.  Sometimes it's a day, sometimes a week, but rest and then get ready to continue and see your efforts through to completion.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Thank you,

Trina Gunzel

Contact me if you would like to purchase a signed copy or schedule an author's day visit or workshop!

Need a wonderful gift for any mother or expecting mother to have to read to children?
Buy Grandmas Are Gorgeous!

Author/Illustrator Website

Tip #7 BUDGET

If you are going to seriously follow through with your plan, you have to BUDGET!  There are so many excellent resources out there.

Check out your local community college for business information. They will usually have someone who will consult with you for free, direct you toward the correct paperwork you need to complete, and give you ideas and suggestions for your business plan.  There are so many great resources on the web so do some research and then talk to others in the field as well.

In order to be able to really launch your plan and be successful, you have to have some way to fund it. When I was a bit younger, I would work five jobs sometimes just so I could keep some of my small business ideas going until they really took off.  (Now I only work about three jobs).  But, I'm trying to find ways to work smarter, not harder, so I can spend more time with my family and that has been very rewarding.

So, that's it for tonight!  BUDGET!

You have your ideas and your plan, now think about:

How much will materials cost?

How much will marketing cost?

What kind of licenses will you need and how much will they cost?

How much do you want to save before you will invest in YOU?

How much are you willing to spend on your project?

For me, I am continuing to work teaching, training, and consulting while I am also writing, illustrating and marketing my children's books.  This income helps to cover my expenses and allows me to get my books off the ground.

In the publishing world, it is very expensive to publish and you want to make sure you select the right publisher for YOU so do your homework and take your time.

Work on your budget so you can finance your dreams and make them a reality.

I hope you are enjoying the creative energy you are experiencing and passing your positive on to others!

Trina Licavoli Gunzel

Thank you for liking and sharing my facebook page!  I will be giving away another autographed copy of Grandmas Are Gorgeous!  June 20, 2014 if you like and SHARE my page.  Leave a comment on my facebook page letting me know to be entered:  Facebook Author Page: Trina Licavoli Gunzel

www.trinagunzel.com for my official author website

Buy My Books: Grandmas Are Gorgeous - Softcover or Ebook formats

Tip #6 COMMIT

How are you doing toward those goals?  You have been thinking, focusing, planning, working hard, playing hard, and now you're ready to really start to make things happen.

Your next tip is to COMMIT!  If you really want your goals to succeed you have to commit to actually making them happen.

You can have all of the great ideas in the world, but if you don't actually DO anything, they just stay as great ideas in your head.

Now, don't get me wrong, not all of your "great ideas" are going to be business worthy or make you a dime.
Some of them are just that.  Sweet and fluffy ideas that will take a lot of your time, energy, and talent and leave you broke at then end.

However, as you are going through this process, if you decide you really believe in something, it builds on your strengths, and you would enjoy doing it, help others through the process, AND you can make a living at it or improve your health, by all means, go after it!

There are so many things that come to mind as we struggle to commit:

Relationships

Diet

Exercise

Education

Jobs

Products

Careers

Friendships

There are also little decisions like when to take out the trash, when to mow the lawn, when to fold the laundry, when to feed our families...

Some of these decisions are easier to make then others and some of them glare us in the face and INSIST that we make them, but they all need to be weighed and balanced.

For me, prioritizing and actually deciding I wanted to do something made all the difference.

Have you ever worked really hard on something and been excited but just never found the time to actually follow through?

That's what I'm talking about!

The coolest part is, once I COMMITTED to getting my books published this year, I actually MADE time to get it done.

Even better!  I have MORE energy now because I am doing something I LOVE to do! Writing and creating art give me a natural high and my positive happy meter goes off the charts!  Whatever does that for YOU, go after it IF it is also good for you, your family, and is a way to help others.

For me, those criteria have served me well and being kind and helping others is coming back to me in more ways than I can count.

I have volunteered to do book readings, am treating my fans to cake and cookies at a book signing and book sale in Payson, Arizona at The Sweet Shoppe on Friday June 20 from 3:30 - 5:30pm.  I also just sponsored a booth to benefit March of Dimes in Branson, Missouri at the Welk Theatre on August 23 to sell books and share loving memories and traditions with families.  Is it coincidence that my books are selling and receiving excellent reviews?  I don't think so.  It is so exciting and I want you to feel that same positive fusion in your life!

So, whatever it is, once you decide, commit and don't give up until you make your thoughtful plan and positive strengths serve you well in reality.  I hope you find a way to help others in the process too!

Best wishes to you in whatever you are committing to!  Can't wait to see what you decide to do!

Trina Licavoli Gunzel
(Wife, mother, daughter, friend, teacher, student, author, illustrator, sunshine spreader)  :)

Check out my success story and share some love through books!

Thank you so much for liking and sharing my Author Page on Facebook:  Trina Licavoli Gunzel
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trina-Licavoli-Gunzel/759209587453094

Tip #5 PLAY HARD!

You didn't think I was going to encourage you to not have any fun did you?

In order to keep balance in your life and meaningful relationships with your loved ones, you can't be all work and no play.

You have to continue to do things that make you happy and spend time with your family and friends.

Go outside!

Get some fresh air!

Play soccer with your kid!

Go swimming!

Literally, take a hike!  ;)

Have a popcorn and movie night!

Actually DO some of those thousands of wonderful PINS you have on PINTEREST!  ;)  *Nail it!  LOL!

Play a board game!

Play a card game!

Play a video game!

Take a nap!

Paint with a friend!

Play with play dough!

Fly a kite!

Go fishing!

Play in the dirt!

Write a letter in CURSIVE and mail it to someone you've thought about!

Stop to smell the roses or plant some so you can someday!

Laugh until your stomach hurts!

Get in a great workout!

Shoot some hoops!

Play a ball game!

Watch a ball game!

If you haven't done any of these things in a while, this might be why your creativity is stifled.  If you have done too many of these things, that's probably why you haven't finished some projects on your to do list!  ;)

Balance.  Keep chipping away at your projects and goals while taking time to enjoy your life and create memories with people you love.

By the way!  I have been working and playing and finding that balance and it landed me the top posting on Author House tonight!  I reposted this on my facebook page to share: Trina Licavoli Gunzel.  Like and Share and add a review, and your name will be entered in a drawing to win a book at the end of July.

Yeah! Top post on Author House tonight! I hope this cool media publicity helps my hometown! Starting with my roots in Arizona, then planning future book signings in Branson, Missouri.  Love, pass it on... 

"Trina Licavoli Gunzel, author and illustrator of "Grandmas Are Gorgeous," will be having a book signing on Friday, June 20, at the Sweet Shoppe in Payson, AZ (3:30-5:30 pm.) A custom cake and cookies will be included If you're going to be in the area, stop by and meet one of our AuthorHouse authors!"

Thank you for spreading some sunshine with books!  Continue to work toward making your dreams reality! You'll never know how close you were to succeeding if you give up now!

I think you can,

Trina Licavoli Gunzel
Thank you for buying and sharing my books!  I would love to hear from you about some of the conversations and memories Grandmas Are Gorgeous! inspires.  You can read more and find my books at:
www.trinagunzel.com