✂️ What are your editing goals for 2023?

What will you accomplish this year?

Author

Jesse Koepke
January 03, 2023

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restoring holiday, and feel ready to tackle a new year.

This morning on Twitter I asked editors what their goals are for this year. People have shared some great ones; learning Avid is a popular one.

Whether you call them goals, resolutions, new habits, or lifestyle changes, I believe there is power in setting goals for yourself. Because if we aren’t growing, we stagnant. And stagnant water goes nowhere.

But how do you set goals? Which ones should you focus on? How do you actually make them happen?

Here are 3 things to think about.

Celebrate last year’s wins

It’s easy to think about all the things we didn’t get done last year. Maybe you didn’t get that gig you wanted, or didn’t reach an income level, or you’re still stuck at a job that isn’t editing.

It’s important to acknowledge these things. Ignoring them gives them power.

But also powerful is to acknowledge where you did succeed. How many videos did you edit? What income did you earn? What videos were you proud of?

This list should also extend beyond work. We are more than our work, and including personal and relational wins help us remember that.

Pick enjoyable goals that stretch you

Now that you have that list, imagine it’s next year. What do you want to write down when you look back on this year? What do you want to say you’ve done?

Keep in mind a few criteria when thinking about new goals:

  • It should stretch you. Growth comes through reaching beyond where we’re at currently, even if it makes us nervous.

  • It should be specific. Becoming a “better editor” doesn’t lend itself to action steps.

  • It should excite you. When you’re tired, nervous, and feel incapable, excitement for what you’re trying to do will keep you going.

Here’s my personal list for the year:

  • Learn Avid (yep, me too)

  • Take of national holidays

  • Edit a story-focused documentary

Take 10 minutes today and write down what comes to mind.

Make a plan for each goal.

John Maxwell writes in his book 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth that growth doesn’t just happen. We must be intentional.

The best way to be intentional is to be specific. How will you accomplish each goal?

For me, if I want to edit a story-focused documentary, then I need to update my doc reel and website, and connect with other doc editors and producers.

A good plan will consist of:

  • Specific action steps to reach it

  • A time to work on it

  • A place I’ll work on it

  • Links and resources I’ll need

The key here is to make it as easy as possible to get started.

Goals can be intimidating—and that's is a good thing! Just remember, growth doesn’t just happen. Be intentional, make a list, get specific about how you’ll do it, and see what you can accomplish this year.

Helpful Links

An editing career comes with lots of questions. That’s why I started the Ask An Editor podcast. Your questions answered in 10 minutes or less, every Monday as you start your week.

If you’ve ever wondered how much you should charge or how to change genres, check it out.

Thanks for reading!

What are your editing goals for 2023? I’d love to hear about it.

Keep cutting,

– Jesse

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