goals – Sherri Ross

17
Jan
2016

What’s Your Word for 2016?

categories: goals

My friend Jennifer recently wrote a post about her word for 2016. It’s ‘action.’ I love that! It prompted me to think about what word I would want to represent me in 2016. It’s RESULTS! That is what 2016 is going to be all about from finances to entrepreneurship to my day job to my health.

During Javacia’s #GoalDiggers workshop earlier this year, I really thought about what I wanted for this year and put pen to paper. My big, overall goals are to save some mega bucks and pay down my bills, get in much better shape health-wise, kick off my side gigs of technical consulting and social media training, and really expand the platform I was hired for at work. I put numbers with all those things and have created “Momentum Moves” to help me get there and have my accountability partners checking up on me!

So, my word this year will be results and I plan to have an epic blog post at the end of the year with all those results listed, along with the numbers I have projected for myself. What is your works for 2016? How are you going to get there?

01
Jan
2016

This is My Year

categories: goals

I’ve had an epic 2015, but 2016 is going to be even better. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my share of ups and downs, but haven’t we all? I will admit that I don’t have the greatest short or long term memory – my therapist attributes it to stuff in my childhood – so I don’t remember a lot that happened last year (ha! last year!). That is a big reason why I write my blog. Many people’s blogs are for a specific niche or brand and mine is all over the place – on purpose. I do try to write about the same topics when applicable, but a lot of the time it’s my own online diary to help me remember things later.

I remember verbally setting some goals with my husband at the beginning of the year. And I wrote some on the blog in July (as accountability). My biggest setback for a lot of these was fear, but let’s see how I did:

Walk around Vulcan – Due to my fear of heights, I had not been able to walk around Vulcan yet – our city’s most iconic landmark and one of the best views in town. I had gone up there, but was unable to get off the elevator for more than 1 second. Earlier this year, I walked around Vulcan and took pictures to prove it!
Flying – I used to LOVE flying back and forth from Wisconsin to Alabama between my parents. And then, in 2006, I had a rough flight and the fear set in. It’s manifested itself ever since and I’ve been deathly afraid of flying. I have done it when absolutely required (for work), but I mostly drive everywhere, including cross country. I told myself this was the year I was getting back on a plane, voluntarily. And I did! Las Vegas was awesome!
Tattoo – I’ve always wanted one and have gone a few times throughout my life to get one, only to chicken out every single time. I turned 40 this year and I was intent on doing it. And I did! I love it so much.
Fitness – While I didn’t shave a lot of the scale this year, I was a lot more active than I have been and I’m happy about that. I did a few 5ks, did a lot of dancing, some swimming and other workouts. I’m thankful for the amazing circle of friends who are of the same mindset that I can workout with any time I like.
Donate my hair – Chopped off eleven inches in May and so very happy I did!

I just realized that 2015 also marked the 10 year anniversary of my blog. WHAT THE WHAT? I had no idea! Time flies when you’re having fun. So kick off 2016, here are some goals:

Blog more – I blogged 50 times in 2015. I plan to double that in 2016. This is #1! 🙂
Step outside my comfort zone more with fashion – I have fabulously fashionable friends. Sadly, that doesn’t rub off by osmosis or anything, so I’m going to make a concentrated effort to wear more than just black and more than just loose fitting everything. I have a beautiful shape and I’m going to show off these curves!
Grow my side business – I’ve had a lot of fun doing social media presentations for a few groups locally. I plan to brand and promote that business to fuel my passion and make some extra money to pay down bills more, along with freelance technical work. So if you need social media or technical help, I’m your gal!
Pay down bills – I have hella bills. I finished Financial Peace University not too long ago and would like to pay down my bills by at least 20% this year.
Fitness – I plan to try even more new things in 2016 with my fitness including barre, kickboxing, and different types of yoga to find the best fit for me. I am also hoping to win a competition that will provide 7 months with a personal trainer for free. Fingers crossed!

What are your goals this year? How did 2015 treat you? I had an amazing year and this one is going to be even better! Cheers to the best year of our lives!

11
Dec
2015

Can You Help Me?

categories: fitness, goals, Uncategorized

I’ve been working hard this year to exercise more. While I started out with a bang – swimming, walking, and dancing in the dark – I’m ending the year with a whimper. Granted, I did finish a 5k last weekend, but I walked the whole thing. I don’t necessarily *want* to run, but I think I’d like the option.

I’m working on goals for 2016 and, again, fitness is in the top three..namely getting more healthy. I’m big and beautiful, I know this. But I am not as healthy as I could be and I know that, too. So, in an effort to do even better with my fitness in 2016, I’m entering a contest for 7 months of free personal training. The company offering the training is Crane L.I.F.E. Fitness and I’m excited to hopefully try them out and report back.

Please take a moment and vote for me here. The top 5 contestants in votes will then be interviewed by Matt Crane, the personal trainer, and he will decide after that. Fingers crossed!

Thank you in advance for helping me with one of my 2016 goals. 😃

06
Dec
2015

Smashing Goals and Then Some

categories: goals, Uncategorized

The past few months have been interesting. Since I was turning 40 this year, I set some goals for myself to go with the big milestone birthday. I wanted to exercise more, fly in an airplane again, conquer Vulcan, get a tattoo and more. I’m happy to report that I did all of them! Even though I didn’t write about them until July, I had been working on them since my birthday in February and am glad I finally met all my goals this year (first time!).

I finished a 5k yesterday. For most people, that’s no big deal..for me, however, it was epic. I did one in August, but it was hellacious and I never wanted to do it again. But I attempted this same 5k last year and had to bow out due to pain in my foot. I wanted so badly to do it this year and get my medal. I still have the planter fasciitis, but with proper preparation, I was able to finish the 5k yesterday in much better time (and shape) then the August one. Having a wonderful crew and group waiting for me at the finish was the icing on the cake.

This month also finds me giving my second presentation on social media to a business group. I’ve never considered myself a social media expert, but I do believe in harnessing the power of social media to engage the community. I guess that has magically grown wings of its own and am humbled that people have asked me to speak on it. Getting to help others while talking about something you love is so much fun!

And the cherry on top of the sundae this month was being picked as the December Blogger of the Month for Alabama Women Bloggers. What an honor to be in the same company as some of the bloggers I admire most. I’ll be doing four guest posts for them throughout the month and will be sure to post links to them here when they are published. The theme is magic, so it’s perfect for December!

Please know that this post is not written to brag. I wrote it as a thank you and reminder. A thank you to the amazing support system and sisters who help me everyday. You know who you are. You are my tribe. My girls. My #girlbosses and I can’t do this without you.

And a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to – I firmly believe that. Keep an open mind and an open heart doing what you love, you never know who is watching and learning from you. Be sure to help others as you have been helped, we all need it sometime. And most of all, believe in yourself. You should be your biggest fan. I’m happy to be a close second.

Bring on 2016!

15
Oct
2015

#VivaRossVegas (Overcoming Fear)

categories: goal

I recently flew (on a plane) for the first time in many, many years. To say I don’t like to fly is an understatement. I DON’T fly. Period. I drive everywhere, including up and down the country to WI and back to see my family.

With my new job came new responsibility and one of my goals for this year (the big 4-0) was to fly again. I knew I *may* have to fly this year with the new job, but it wasn’t a given. Until they told me they were sending me to a conference (which I am VERY grateful for). Being terrified of flying and also going somewhere new, I stocked up on the Xanax (thanks, Doc!), got some breathing exercises from my therapist, and hubs dropped me off at the airport armed with a dragon and a kiss.

Let me tell ya, Xanax is WONDERFUL! I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I would have been and I was actually excited to get on the plane, headed for new land. The flight was non-stop (oh, I wasn’t taking any chances on my first foray back in the friendly skies) and it wasn’t bad at all. I hate takeoff the most – after that, I’m pretty good and landing is fun b/c I CAN SEE LAND. lol.

My first time in Las Vegas was everything I had hoped, sans the walking. I’m pretty sure I walked more during my week in Vegas than I have in any other time in my life. It was painful (plantar fasciitis), but worth it. The conference was amazing, the mountains were gorgeous, the Strip was alive, and I had some of the best food and saw the best show (twice). You can follow my adventures on Instagram under the hashtag #VivaRossVegas.

Now, the plane ride home was not as glorious. I came home with way more than I went with so I had to buy some extra luggage to lug all my chachkies in. In my panicked packing frenzy of trying to stuff everything into bags, I accidentally packed my Xanax into my checked bag. I didn’t realize it until I got to the airport, checked in, and went to have a bite to eat and take a pill. No pill. Don’t panic, Sherri. Just have a cocktail (or four) and call it a day. The cocktails worked a little magic until our flight was delayed over an hour because “a passenger has a medical issue and we’re going back to the gate.” Aggghh! By the time we actually took off, I was my old, neurotic, nervous self rocking back and forth in my seat with my hands holding my earbuds as far into my ears as they would go and my eyes closed tight. I really looked special. Thankfully, the sweet veterinarian sitting in my row offered up a plastic stress dog that, when you squeeze him, his eyeballs pop out. What fun for a crazy person! I squeezed that dog so hard his head nearly popped off. Takeoff was rocky (for me), the trip was ok, and I was happy once we started to descend.

All in all, a very good trip and yes, I will fly again. With Xanax. And probably other things. But hey, I reached my goal, marked that off my bucket list and my ‘To Do at 40’ list (along with walking around Vulcan), and BOOM, I lived to tell about it. All that to say, you can do anything you set your mind to. I *could* have driven to Vegas (and seriously mapped out the road trip when I was first told I was going), but I put my extra large big girl panties on, took a few deep breaths, and flew off into the sunset singing, “Viva Las Vegas.” Join me next time!

Sherri Ross

Tag: goals

Can You Help Me?

#VivaRossVegas (Overcoming Fear)

yougotrossed