Lara Casey's Blog, page 17

20 Things I Invested in This Year That Paid Off

It’s about that time of year — the time when we all start to make decisions about what “program” we’re going to invest in next year. What goal setting system, what nutrition plan, what Bible reading plan, what journal, what skincare regimen, what podcast? Where will we spend our time, our money, our energy? Where will we invest our attention and our trust?

In 12+ years of business (and 38+ years of life!) I’ve tried a LOT of things that made a LOT of promises. Few are worth sharing. But the ones that are – oh, friends! I could talk your ear off about each one of them! 

Last year, I shared 20 things that made a difference in my life and our business (and I still stand by all of them—go read the list if you haven’t yet!). I’m back with another 20, and I’m equally as excited about each of these investments. Here’s this year’s list, with some notes on how I invested my time. No matter where you are in life or business, I hope you find something that will help you cultivate what matters!

10 things I invested in personally that paid off:

1. The garden. The lessons we learn in the garden are endless and our time there is never wasted! This year, we were overjoyed to finally grow a pumpkin. Do you know how many years we tried to grow a giant pumpkin—or any pumpkin at all for that matter? Seven. Seven years, people! Year one: squirrels. Year two: yep, Nutty the Squirrel does it again. Year three: our baby pumpkin was run over by a car. Year four: too much rain. Year five: too much heat. Year six: I just don’t even know. Year seven: We switched seed varieties, and I got some advice from a wise farmer friend.

Over these seven years of waiting and patience and waiting some more, the Lord was teaching us a beautiful lesson: all things (and life change) come in His perfect timing. We didn’t grow a giant pumpkin overnight—it grew us over the last seven years. Rita came right on time. (I even took her to Making Things Happen!)

2. My homeschool planner + (Pam Barnhill’s Autopilot course) Moving into our second year of homeschooling, I have learned a few things, but I’m still—and likely always will be—a student, too. Taking the time to develop The Cultivated Homeschool Planner helped me get organized and focus on what matters most in our time together. It’s a simple system that helps me keep sight of our big picture goals while getting the day-to-day learning done, too. It’s a free download — I hope you find it helpful! 

3. Cultivating my calendar. A little forethought goes a long way. You’ve heard it here before and you’ll hear it again

Why SMART goals fail

You know the acronym: SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.

But, time and time again, despite their reputation of being foolproof, SMART goals fail.

And PowerSheets users know why. SMART goals are missing one key component (the secret sauce of our community’s success!): HEART.

HEART goals are connected to your big picture. When the goal you want to achieve matters to you in the big picture, you will follow through. No matter how many times you mess up along the way, you’ll get back up—because your heart is in it! How perfectly you get there doesn’t matter as much as why. The heart behind your goals is what keeps you from jumping ship at the first sign of imperfection. (And imperfection is bound to happen—all progress is imperfect!)

Listen, the SMART folks get a few things right: it IS important to make your action steps specific and achievable (little by little!). And it IS helpful to set a timeline for making progress (hello, Tending List!). But PowerSheets goals combine the best parts of SMART + HEART in a clear 3-step process—and the result? Goals that stick. Goals you can’t wait to get started on!

Let’s look at a few examples:

SMART goal: Run a 5k next month to get fit.

HEART goal: Run a 5k next month to kickstart a healthy lifestyle that will allow me to keep up with my kiddos!

SMART goal: Organize my pantry next Tuesday.

HEART goal: Organize my pantry so that the ingredients I need to make healthy meals are at my fingertips, because I want to start every day with more energy!

SMART goal: Read two books a month.

HEART goal: Read two books a month to jumpstart my curiosity and prime my creative juices so I’m prepared to make innovative business decisions!

Don’t those HEART goals make you want to get up and go?! Every time you remind yourself of a goal with heart, you’ll be spurred on to take action.

Get your PowerSheets today. I can’t wait to hear about the HEART goals you set!

P.S. Once your PowerSheets arrive at your door, you get to take advantage of the bonus materials (included with your order!): live goal coaching, live workshops to help you feel clear and ready for the new year, a 5-part goal coaching video series, and access to the private Facebook group (PowerSheets Group!) of 11,000+ like-minded women who want to make what matters happen like you. ORDER NOW before they’re gone for the year!

The post Why SMART goals fail appeared first on Lara Casey.

The 2019 Fresh Faith Challenge

You’re looking back at this year and feeling a little blah. You wish you’d been more consistent in your faith—maybe in Bible reading, or prayer, or perhaps, like me, in trusting God over your worries.

You want a fresh start with your faith in 2019.

I haven’t finalized my goals for the new year yet (slow cooking over here and having a blast!), but I know one of them will be reading the best life-motherhood-goal-setting-business-relationships book: the Bible.

Why You Shouldn’t Set Goals January 1st

Go ahead, picture it: it’s January 1, 2019.

Maybe you’ve just returned from traveling, celebrating the holidays with family. Maybe you’ve been on the go nonstop, entertaining and hosting visiting relatives or your own kiddos, who are home on school break. Maybe you’ve got the sniffles (my household always seems to come down with something this week!).

You’re likely feeling tired, and a little letdown from the build-up to and then excitement of Christmas. But still, there’s a definite flicker of hope inside you — after all, a whole year is ahead of you, and this is the very first day! The possibilities are endless!

And so you sit down and scratch out a few resolutions, because you’re fired up and know you need to make some changes and these ones sound really good right about now:

— Cut out the sugar (because you ate a few too many cookies in December).

— Be nicer to your Mom (because you may have been a little impatient after her third question about when you’re going to get married, have kids, or do something else on her agenda).

— Save more money (because you went a little overboard on the gifts this year).

And so it goes. Here’s the thing: these goals might be exactly where your focus needs to be. Maybe you DO need to eat more leafy greens, grow in patience, or follow a budget.

Or maybe not.

The thing is, it’s really hard to set goals that matter to you when you rush to throw them together in a day, ESPECIALLY when that day is January 1 and you’re feeling all the pressure the world can throw at you to make some – ANY – New Year’s resolutions. Over here, we call that microwaving your goals, and it just can’t compare to homemade, freshly-prepared goals made with love

November Progress + December PowerSheets Goals

So, it’s December.

How are you feeling?

Maybe the last 11 months have been good or maybe they’ve been hard. Maybe it’s been crazy, challenging, or all of these mixed together.

Maybe you’re feeling hesitant about setting goals for the year ahead.

What if 2019 is hard like this year?

What if you don’t follow-through on your goals again?

It feels overwhelming to think about 2019—you’re still trying to deal with 2018!

Whatever you’re feeling, you’re right where you need to be.

Have you heard of the Chinese bamboo tree? Give this a watch…

There’s somewhere you want to be. And maybe you’re not there yet.

The space between here and there feels, well, big. And the thought of having to wait or work to get there feels uncomfortable. You aren’t sure if it’s even possible. I mean, you can’t see or feel anything growing above the surface… is anything happening in that soil??

Our friend the Chinese bamboo is trying to tell us something! What if all the things you experienced this year—good and challenging—have been preparing you for good things ahead?

They are and I’m excited for you!

This month, you’re going to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be—thinking big picture and taking small steps.

PowerSheets Prep Week kicks off today to get you started! You’re going to feel prepared and ready for the new year—and you’re going to LOVE taking those small steps. I’m excited to help you plant the right seeds for the season you’re in, and watch you grow like crazy when the time is right!

Before we dig into December, here’s a look back at my November PowerSheets progress. Looking back helps our brains move forward well—learning from the past and gaining clarity for a new month ahead!

November Monthly Goals:

— God + goals – study it, live it, give it. / Yes, progress here. More to come in the podcast that launches soon!

— Retreat to pray. In order to do anything well this month, I know it will take time in prayer to listen. He turns worries into worship! / This came in small spurts. (I’m not alone hardly at all during the week between work and kids!) I had a couple solo car rides that I turned into prayer drives

We gave two men a box of PowerSheets + BFCM Sale!

Could you use a good belly laugh right about now? Research proves that laughter reduces muscle tension, opens our brains to solve problems, and helps us feel renewed hope in challenges. Need some of that right now?

Here you go!

We gave two men (my husband and Ashlea’s fiance!) a box of PowerSheets and here’s what happened…

These guys. I have no words!

October Progress + November PowerSheets Goals

Happy November, friends! What a wonderful month this is here in Chapel Hill!

The leaves have turned the colors of a blazing sunset. The air smells of fireplace coziness. Our pansies are planted for the winter. And my focus has turned to preparing well for meaningful experiences ahead and the new year. Keeping a gentle eye on the number of days remaining in 2018 (59 as of writing this to you) has motivated me to get the right things done. A lot can happen in fifty-nine days, and a little intentional forethought goes a long way!

October was a month I’ll never forget. It was a month of learning to trust. We took a family trip to the farm a few days before the 2019 PowerSheets launch, which normally would have felt like terrible timing, but it was just right. I ended up getting an out-of-nowhere fever that had me in bed for most of our trip, but in retrospect I know it was a gift. The Lord knew I needed rest and to tangibly feel His power being made perfect in my weakness. Surrender is a sweet thing (Dear self, remember this always!). October, you were good for our souls!

My October Monthly Goals Progress:

— Throw off everything that hinders me and aim my arrows at doing life the way He wants me to. / This looked like trusting in His power over my own. There were significant walls placed in front of us in October with work and family, and He broke down every one in His perfect timing and unexpected ways. I am still a little speechless about it all!

— Enter into the most wonderful season of service and joy with our team and the good work He has blessed us with! / The 2019 PowerSheets are here and we have had a lot of fun as a team, feeling fired up about our work and mission! It has been a joy to serve you and so many women over the last two weeks.

— Share why I have the hope I have. / I loved this goal! Yes, I was thankful to share on several occasions.

— Bring the life of God to our children, which starts with us flourishing in faith. / Sally Clarkson shared something this week that stuck with me: “Little girls need to see big faith.” The little girls and boy in this house got to see that this month, and I hope those seeds take root. They saw and heard us pray through hard things, rejoice and praise in good things, and ask for forgiveness when we messed up. It was a good month of growing in faith for all of us.

— Get into a rhythm with homeschool. / Yes! Aside from a couple of missed days from sicknesses, we made good progress this month. I am SO grateful for this. The Cultivated Homeschool Planner has been a game changer for me.

Fun at Vollmer Farm with the kiddos!

October Weekly Goals:

— Take care of our temples of the Holy Spirit. Ari expressed wanting to grow in balance and wellness, and I want to teach our kiddos healthy habits too. We’ve already started cooking lessons with the kiddos, including knife skills for Grace so she can prepare fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. Here’s a great video we watched to learn the basics! / Yes! Progress here on all fronts. Little by little steps add up!

— Pray for a *few* friends. / I was not as diligent about this as I had envisioned I would be. I prayed for friends, but I think I would have done this more if I would have had my PowerSheets by my bed on the weekends to simply remember. Good lesson learned so I can adjust for future progress—and no goal guilt needed. : ) When you don’t make progress on a goal as you’d like, simply examine why and redirect for next time!

— All of them. / Yes! (Read my October goals post for more about this goal.) This was lived out on several occasions, namely our trip to the Farm! Even though I was sick for most of it, we really had a wonderful time making memories together. I hope to do this every year in October if the Lord allows us to. It was magical and simple retreat for us all. (Look up Vollmer Farm on AirBnB!)

— Believing a miracle happened in our lives and acting like it! Ari and I are not the same people we were several years ago. The heart and life change we’ve experienced is significant, but this fact is easy to forget in day-to-day life. I do not want to forget this. A miracle happened in our lives and remembering this spurs me forward to share the hope we have. His grace is a real thing and it changes everything! / Yes! Even something as simple as looking at old photographs together leaves us in awe of how much we have changed in the last 12+ years. Because of this, we have greater faith that more transformation can happen—in our lives and yours too!

They all LOVED the corn pit!

October Daily Goals:

— Bathe in the Word. I’m continuing my number one goal with this daily Bible reading using the Blue Letter Bible Chronological reading plan on YouVersion. / Yes! We’re so close to finishing the Bible! Yahoo!!!

— Seek Him in all things instead of doing them my way or without asking Him first. / This will always be a practice to keep, but I was especially grateful for the reminder to focus on this in October.

— Praise + joy! Working out with praise on my lips and joy in my soul! / Yes! There was a LOT of praise in October! I’ve already ramped up the working out part this month though—I slowed down a bit being sick.

— Speak restorative words. / Yes, and I found that the most restorative words are, as always, His. Several times I shared a scripture with someone and simply let it be—without adding any of my words too. The Word is powerful on its own!

Now to November! 

November Monthly Goals:

— God + goals – study it, live it, give it! This is my top priority for November. Oh, this goal has me so fired up, friends! More to come on this one!

— Retreat to pray. In order to do anything well this month, I know it will take time in prayer to listen. He turns worries into worship!

— Prayer-led podcast recording. I lost my voice for a good part of October, but I’m feeling better now and ready to record. The podcast will launch in December!

I asked Grace if she would like to write the encouraging words in my PowerSheets this month and this is what she wrote: “1 thing is good and that is God.” No better reminder!

Behind-the-Scenes of the 2019 PowerSheets Launch

You are the most wonderful women! We have seen tangible proof of that over the last 48 hours since our 2019 PowerSheets Collection Launch—which I will tell you all about shortly (what a crazy couple of days it has been!).

But first, let’s rewind.

The last few months in our work have not been the easiest at times. We all have challenging seasons and times of transition, but we often don’t talk about them because they can be hard to weather ourselves, much less share with others. But, this story is His, and it’s good! We prayerfully let go of Southern Weddings earlier this year—a decision He wanted us to make—but it was an adjustment for us financially. (This is where a flood of memories from the last months rushes to my mind.) But! Oh, there’s a wonderful plot twist here. Here’s what I know for sure: God went before us. He wanted me listening to Him more than ever, waiting on Him, and taking Him at His Word. He wanted our small team to rely on His strength, not our own. He wanted us to choose peace over striving, and what lasts over what doesn’t.

More than anything, He wanted me to trust. Not for earthly certainty or security – just Him. Refining seasons are the most fruitful—not in the ways the world can see but in the everlasting fabric of souls.

He has gone before us and He has gone before you too.

I had to give you a peek into the deeper reason for my joy this week: I know more than ever that He is certain. And I have tangibly felt His love through many of you. Thank you for your prayers and love and support. You have linked arms with us and cheered us on every step of the way—even as Instagram shut us down from all the activity on Wednesday! (The uptick in activity made them think we were robots! Crazy, right?) But, thanks to YOU we are back up… at least for now. We have no explanation, no correspondence from them, and we can’t get anyone on the phone at Instagram, so we are praying it doesn’t happen again!) We can’t really help it—this goal getting party is just getting started!

The 2019 PowerSheets Goal Planner is HERE!

If you were here right now with me, we’d likely be out in my garden. I’d ask how you are doing—how you are really doing—and I might not be able to help my curiosity as we picked zinnias together: I’d want to know what makes you come alive.

What makes you tick? What do you most want to cultivate in your life? What are the things you’ve always wanted to do?

I’d listen intently. I love hearing what’s really there. Seeing women come undone in order to come alive—throwing off everything that hinders them to live out their unique purpose—makes me want to dance!

If you felt any fear about sharing your path here and the bumps in the road, I’d tell you what I know to be true: I’m not perfect. And my path here hasn’t been perfect either. But! I am not the same person I used to be—it is crazy to think of!—and I’m so grateful God isn’t done with me yet. I know for sure that we humans have an infinite capacity for change—anything is possible. In every season of life, we can cultivate what truly matters.

Over the last seven years, I have used PowerSheets in every conceivable season: ones of joy, when life was unfolding smoothly and everything seemed on track. Ones of sadness, fear, loss, and challenge, when I’ve put just the simplest goals on my Tending Lists and celebrated even the smallest progress as a blessing.

I’ve had the honor of watching women do the same alongside me, and here is what I can say: wherever you find yourself today, and wherever you picture yourself in 2019, this new collection is for YOU, right where you are.

You’ll uncover purpose-filled goals and make an action plan you can’t wait to get started on! PowerSheets are perfect for anyone—moms, students, creatives, entrepreneurs—who needs a grace-filled system that works. This is the most impactful workbook yet. There are three intentional sections inside:

—PowerSheets Prep Work: The first 34 pages help you uncover your unique goals for your season of life and what matters most to you

—Intentional Action Plans: Step-by-step action plan pages help you look for threads and themes in your Prep Work. You’ll turn your goal ideas into “good goals,” with specific starting steps

—Monthly Tending Pages: Tending pages help you live out your goals and action plans each month!

You’ll LOVE what’s inside:

—12 months of goal-setting worksheets to help you make your goals a reality.

—Trusted goal coaching on every page so you stay motivated and on track.

—Seasonal worksheets to refresh and refocus your goals each season.

—Exclusive access to a free library of downloadable Wildcard pages to help you customize your goals, including a meal planner, finance tracker, reading list, monthly calendar, budget, and more.

—“Threads” section to help you simplify your focus and goals for the year.

—Inspiring design, including a page of our signature goal-setting stickers!

Now through midnight TONIGHT you’ll get free domestic shipping when you spend over $100 in the Cultivate Shop. NO CODE NEEDED. You can purchase your One-Year PowerSheets Goal Planner and accessories separately, or get your One-Year PowerSheets Goal Planner and accessories all together in the Best Year Yet Bundle. (You’ll love the new Goal Setting Sticker Book and Zipper Pouch—both are in the bundle!)

The 2019 PowerSheets help you cultivate your unique goals, but what gets me most excited is that they help you cultivate your relationships with those who matter most to you. Setting good goals–cultivated goals–can have a ripple effect on your family, your children, your friends, your coworkers. This is why I do this work—to change a culture! 

Thank you—more than ever—for encouraging us and praying for us throughout the last year as we’ve grown these new intentional tools for you. The little-by-little has added up, and we’re so grateful to celebrate this new beginning with you! We do what we do FOR you and BECAUSE of you. There may be only nine women in our office, but together–with you and ladies all over the world–we make one strong team!

Order your 2019 PowerSheets One-Year Goal Planner here.

Have questions? See my live broadcast here!

If you’re new here, welcome to the Cultivate family! I am so grateful to be on this journey with you!

Before using PowerSheets I was scattered in my goals, and now I am focused and motivated to get the job done! —Madison

PowerSheets have helped me to organize and prepare, think deeply about my goals and ask myself questions of reflection. —Kimmie

I am nearing the second year of using PowerSheets and I’m so hooked. I am a dreamer and type B unconventionally organized (I stopped calling myself disorganized!) person. I’ve really struggled with moving steadily towards my goals, and found that anything super detailed and rigid didn’t fit me for longer than about a day. ok, an hour. haha. I have often fallen into discouragement and distraction and give up on my big goals and daily habits. PowerSheets have allowed me to embrace step by step progress, while still allowing me the flexibility to make it exactly what fits me! Equally helpful for me has been the PowerSheets community and the Cultivate Team- it’s all the encouragement and celebration you need. I never feel alone. I’m so grateful for all the Cultivate Team does to help women win at the most important things! —Sandy

Powersheets have changed the entire course and trajectory of my life. I have always struggled to be disciplined and focused, especially on the little goals and daily habits that build confidence and make my days more positive, and my journey with PowerSheets has helped me overcome that. I’ve been able to commit to the little by little progress and small action steps it takes to make big things happen. Powersheets gets me excited about my goals and dreams and feeds my inner organization nerd! I recommend them to everyone I meet. I honestly don’t know how a woman can go through life NOT using Powersheets! I am eternally grateful to Lara Casey and Cultivate What Matters. —Nicole

L-O-V-I-N-G my #PowerSheets Goal Planner! Starting this year on the right foot! —Kay

These PowerSheets are by far, the best thing I’ve invested in! I finally feel like I’m on the right path to sorting out my goals. No longer am I just trying to figure it out. This planner made dig deep — from the very beginning. So deep, that I actually cried. I looked forward to every exercise. I did exactly as I was encouraged — I took my time and remembered that I’m not being judged. I have raved about this book to everyone I know. It’s just a must have. Thank you guys for creating something so powerful! I love this book so much!!!!!! —Jenn

I absolutely love the One Year Powersheets; I found them to be so helpful with how big I dream & the goals I set for myself, going back each month and breaking things down and helping to keep me on track. I also really love the different seasonal sections, which allows for a thoughtful reassessment. If you put in the work, take the time each month to reflect & full out the workbook, you’ll see results

September Progress + October PowerSheets Goals

Friends, this is a big month! The 2019 PowerSheets collection launches in 20 days (yahoo!!), we have two new websites coming, my podcast launches, etc., etc. Those things reflect months of prayer and hard work, but they are not the reason this is a big month.

This month is big because I’m seeing small things that have added up to the big things.

A lot of life feels like it happens to us, doesn’t it? There is little we can do about many of our circumstances in various seasons of life. But. But! Sometimes the small decisions that we can make are the ones that count the most. Are you ready for this? Did you know we make an average of 35,000 decisions a day? Those decisions, big and small, all have arrows attached to them, pointing us in one direction or another.

Photo by the amazing and wonderful Gina Z!

This month, I’m choosing to throw off everything that hinders me, and I’m aiming my decision arrows at doing life the way He wants me to. What does that mean exactly? I’m still walking this out, but there are some larger decisions we’ve made that I can share. For one, we’re moving!