Each quarter, I post these goofy blog posts that literally no one reads. But they force me to sit with the goals that I’ve set for myself on a quarterly basis, and with the plans that I’ve made for the year.
It helps me stay on track. And even if the only accountability is to myself – that I’ll have to blog about it – that’s enough.
What I envisioned for Q1 2026
First, I conceptualized the quarter in terms of what was going to be the big push, what I’d be prepping, and what would be “ongoing” sort of run-rate stuff.
- Push – Burnout book launch in March
- Prep – Podcast pre-recordings and preparation
- Ongoing – Marketing, Patreon, Oracle Deck, Book Proposals, teaching
This very high level overview was accurate. This was a good bit of what I did this quarter!
Then, I also had a specific list of goals, metrics and KPIs that I wanted to hit.
- Burnout Recovery launch 3/24/2026
- The Unicorn Evolves follow-ups, details, and edits all complete and on-time
- Podcast recordings and preparation ready for an April launch
- Grow Patreon by 100 more members
- Grow coaching by 2 clients
- Meet class minimums for Trickster, Virgin Goddesses
- Sell out the Equinox workshop
- Submit classes for Q2-Q3
- Attend a class at LABRC to understand how to pitch them
- Write first three chapters of storytelling book for proposal
- Complete videos and cards for Oracle Deck through May
- Start conceptualizing an on-demand class for Neurodivergent Burnout
- Complete career pivot resource
- Test another webinar
- Market burnout book, enoughness resource, coaching, patreon and classes
- Finish follow-up rounds of vaccines
- Start seeds for garden and hardening off seedlings
- Finish winter yard work
- At least one adventure with Josh (we have a lot of weekend getaways in the works)
As you can see, this is a helluva list. I know it might be pie-in-the-sky to simply ask myself for a SHORTER LIST for future quarters. Like underachieving? Never met her.
What I got done in Q1
The biggest one was the launch of the book Burnout Recovery on March 24th, and all the work that went into that. There will be more work to do with it, but that will be tied to book sales, rather than book launches.
Also, I DID get to see my book in the wild. (video here). And I discovered that I set that particular North Star in March of 2006 – only took 20 years to meet that goal.
- Burnout Recovery launch 3/24/2026 (check)
- The Unicorn Evolves follow-ups, details, and edits all complete and on-time (define on time? Mostly check)
- Podcast recordings and preparation ready for an April launch (recordings yes, preparation, eeehhhh)
- Grow Patreon by 100 more members (Grow yes, by 100 not quite)
- Meet class minimums for Trickster, Virgin Goddesses (check, barely)
- Sell out the Equinox workshop (met minimum but didn’t sell out)
- Submit classes for Q2-Q3 (have submitted Q2, and one of 2 for Q3)
- Attend a class at LABRC to understand how to pitch them (check)
- Write first three chapters of storytelling book for proposal (in progress, but not complete)
- Complete videos and cards for Oracle Deck through May (Done through end of April, but not end of May)
- Complete career pivot resource (check)
- Test another webinar (pivoted to something else)
- Market burnout book, enoughness resource, coaching, patreon and classes (check)
- Start seeds for garden and hardening off seedlings (not yet hardening off, but they are all sprouted!)
- At least one adventure with Josh (lots of plans, but nothing in Q1)
What surprised me in Q1
I always feel like it’s a good idea to note the big unexpected wins, as well as the things that just utterly derail us in a quarter. This is both a great way to celebrate, and a self-forgiveness tactic.
Things that derailed me: the news cycle. I had to build a moat around myself to stay sane. The insane amount of fear associated with being seen as the book was coming out.
Celebrating a few surprises:
- Invited to speak at CIIS in August and at Charis books in April
- Tricksters class received beautiful feedback from the attendees
- My own journey of vulnerability and enoughness was big and fruitful
- Adding solar panels to the house!
- I did my taxes early
What didn’t get done in Q1
- Grow coaching by 2 clients
- Meeting the numerical goals set out above. I worked on or toward those KPIs but many of them were missed.
A number of things that I set out to do have been tabled or bumped to Q2.
- Start conceptualizing an on-demand class for Neurodivergent Burnout (tabled, reconsidered)
- Finish follow-up rounds of vaccines (bumped to May)
- Finish winter yard work (deferred to spring)
Unfortunately, almost all of the goals that would have helped me bring in sustainable long term income fell flat. The numeric KPIs that were missed were set based on budget and growth needs.
My Goals for Q2 2026
The high level version for what I’m pushing to create, preparing for next quarter, and building long-term.
- Push – Launch podcast, Complete proposal for nonfiction book, sell out the “Creating Space” workshop
- Prep – Preparing to launch “Creating Space”, and to query the book proposal
- Ongoing – Burnout book marketing, Marketing, Patreon, Oracle deck, teaching
The details:
- Continue doing and pursuing more Burnout Recovery events
- Sell seats for my 6-month workshop
- Launch the Podcast and its supporting website, Instagram and Patreon accounts
- Get the nonfiction book proposal done and sent out to 1stchoice publisher (prior to agent queries)
- Meet minimum enrollment for Age-Old Story Tactics and Solstice Ritual Design classes on Morbid Anatomy
- Adventure with Sara in June, visit with Mom in May
- Prep Patreon and all other pre-scheduled posts through May 31
- Finish last vaccine due til fall
- Ensure classes for Q3-Q4 are submitted to Morbid Anatomy
- Pitch classes at other venues
- Add one coaching 4-pack per month
- Garden prep, hardening off seedlings, planting
- Fire season prep, yard work and go-kits
I still have the numerical KPI goals set, but I’m rearranging how I think about those. For instance, growing Patreon by X percent doesn’t really show a payoff in my bottom line. For this quarter, I’m just going to use the Serenity Prayer a little and set goals on the things I can control (more or less). (Also, lookit that, it’s a nominally shorter list!)