Goals Review: What's Working and What Isn't

Goals Review: What’s Working and What Isn’t

Posted on February 28, 2008
Filed Under goals, plan |

It’s been 2 months since I posted my Goals for this year and I thought I should go back and do a short review. You can read my New Years Goals here.

Frankly, I am not too please with my progress for a couple of reasons. In my business, January and February are brutally slow. I have kept my head above water but only by pinching every penny and doing without quite a few things. March should start to see income from the business pick up and April should be better yet. I spent two years digging this hole that I am in and I guess it’s going to take awhile to climb out.

The other reason is that my use of the check card caused overdraft fees in my checking account and I am no longer using it. I actually called and had it cancelled. I can’t afford to plug up holes in my budget just to leave the drain open.

Goal # 1 is to have $1000 in an emergency fund by Christmas. I still hope to accomplish this but I have not made much progress in the last two months. On the other hand, I haven’t lost ground either. I have had about $300 a month in extra income from my notary business but that has been eaten up by the lack of income from the business.

Goal #2 is to have all my credit card accounts paid off by December 2008. I will actually accomplish this way in advance since I reached settlement on them this month and will pay them all off with my tax refund next week. That will leave me with one outstanding consumer loan for about 10,000 and I can snowflake that away. I will not be able to get it paid off before the end of the year but should be able to make a dent in it.

Goal # 3 is to double the revenue from the business. I really need to make this a priority. The response to my newsletter was good and I need to continue to do some kind of direct mail every month. I have not had the money to do ads in the newspaper but I am hoping to get them running again in March. For a bad month, February income was not too bad. It’s gaining but not quickly enough.

My major accomplishment is that I still have the house and the business and I am still getting through from day to day. And I can still afford one more batch of Triple Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes.

I Deserve It!

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Comments

4 Responses to “Goals Review: What’s Working and What Isn’t”

Aaron Wakling (1 comments.) on February 28th, 2008 8:15 pm

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Aaron Wakling
shuchong (1 comments.) on February 28th, 2008 9:27 pm

So I take it that this means you don’t have to go through bankruptcy? That’s wonderful:)

Also your chocolate cherry cupcakes look delicious. I’m gonna make me some of those soon!
CindyS on February 29th, 2008 12:04 pm

Aaron - Thanks!

Shuchong - No, I am not going to declare bankruptcy. I would stand to lose my house and my business as I have too much equity and Virginia only allows a $5000 homestead exemption.
J Plante on March 3rd, 2008 10:45 am

As you stated Jan. & Feb. Are typically slow in our industry, and this year it is A rough time to be in it for us all. And yet, if you can build while it is slow it will bring great rewards. A lot of notaries are getting out of the business and jumping into whatever they think the next get rich endeavor will be. Thats means if you persist, your business will grow.

Market yourself to the Title and Escrow companies in your area. Pay special attention to the receptionists, I get most of my referal work from them Rather than the Escrow officers. Also when it is slow, I go to the Jail and in the room where the lawyers have to check in, I put my cards there. Lawyers always need Notaries, and one willing to go to the jail is an added plus.

You may also want to take advantage of the Notary websites that offer free or low cost listings in your area. http://WWW.Mobile-Notary-USA.com offers a free listing in the county of your choice through the forum at http://www.Mobile-Notary-USA.net. Or for a fee under $10 you can list in all 4 areas
, County, City, Zip code and even Area code. Also there is http://WWW.123notary.com There prices are a little more expensive but it has been around for years.

J Plante