I started the year writing about the challenges of goal-setting and the need for accountability. I made the commitment to report my progress for goal setting.

Here were the goals and a July progress update. Life was steadier in July, with fewer days off. I put in 75 hours of trackable work in last month.

Goal 1: Prepare for 2022 by increasing my knowledge base and improving my writing skills.

Strategies:

• Look into new skills that will make me more diverse and marketable
• Find free resources
• Create a “learning” budget I can use on courses
• Dedicate a set time for reading and learning.
  1. 15 minutes at the start of every work day
• Create themes for the month to focus the learning
  1. Repurpose my learning into a monthly blog

How did I do?

-I still have not set a budget. Seven months into the year…probably something I should do!

-Free resources: I did read a few articles and took my 15 minutes of self-education a couple times. I picked up a new client at the end of the month. I skipped reading time in favor of focusing on providing quality work for them.

-Repurposing my learning into a monthly blog: I have not done this since January. I am not sure this is a worthwhile investment of my time anymore.

Progress: I give it a B-, because of not setting the budget, but spent more time towards meeting the reading goal.

Goal 2: Reduce my dependence on Upwork clientele while finding opportunities for byline publication.

I did have two opportunities for off-Upwork work come up at the end of this month. One I’m still in the interview phase and the other I’ve accepted and have begin working.

I haven’t done any work towards finding byline publication.

Progress: A because I’ve landed work off Upwork.

Goal 3: Maintain income stream of <confidential> through 2021. That’s an average of <confidential> per month.

This was my new best month of the year-to-date, partially due to the new work outside Upwork. About 70% of my income was still through Upwork. My total income was 32.8% above my monthly goal. I am averaging 10.8% above my monthly goal for the YTD.

The verdict.

Progress: A- High marks for exceeding projected income and landing an off-Upwork client. Still need to work on education goals and budgetary goals.