In December, most people turn their attention to the holidays with all the shopping, gift giving, parties, baking, cleaning, concerts, and volunteering. Before they know it, the New Year is upon them. Now is the time to plan which pageant or pageants you will participate in.
Personally, I love the Advent season which begins after Thanksgiving and extends through December 24th. Not only does it give me time to externally prepare for the season; but more importantly, I take time to reflect on the events from the past year and plan for the new one.
In these daily moments of silence, I quiet my mind of all the racing thoughts and put aside the endless “to-do-list”. This can be really hard for me at times, but I’ve learned through experience that it’s imperative for my health that I do this on a consistent basis. I appreciate the gifts God has blessed me with and ask what I can do in the upcoming year to live life to the fullest and give to others.
Some days, listening to my favorite song by Chris Sligh “Empty Me” while I’m driving my kids from one activity to another helps me focus on the big picture. Other days, my reflection may happen in the last 5 minutes before I drift off to sleep. I actually look forward to this time. I know without a plan and action steps to go with it, next December will arrive and I’ll have nothing to show for it.
Perhaps this year you won the title you were seeking. What is your plan for making appearances and taking advantage of the opportunity you’ve been given? Or maybe, you’re planning on doing a pageant or two in the upcoming year. Either way, how can you make the most of the next year? Start planning now by asking yourself and answering these three questions:
What do I want to experience this year?
How will I achieve it?
When will I start taking action?
Organization and time management will be your best friends in making the most of the upcoming year. Whether you’re planning your appearance schedule or preparing for a pageant, there is certain information you must have at your fingertips and ready to access at a moment’s notice. This type of thorough preparation will not only keep important information from falling through the cracks; it will greatly reduce your stress level so you can fully enjoy the process and focus on what’s important.
CALENDAR
Find an organizational system that works best for you. I have both my electronic and paper planners synced because where I live, it is common for the power to go out and the wireless service is unreliable.
Take your year-at-a-glance calendar and block the entire year. Yes, look at the entire year. You want to get the big picture so you can start breaking goals down into bite size pieces. You don’t want to be cramming at the last minute.
Write down all your known obligations and seasonal events. Then decide how much time you are going to spend on preparing and making appearances.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Keep the names, titles, phone numbers, snail mail, email and website addresses to all your sponsors, directors, coaches, photographers, salons, and tailors you work with in one place.
EXPENSE TRACKING
Keeping track of your mileage and pageant expenses can benefit you in a couple different ways. You may be able to deduct some of your expenses from your United States income taxes. Always check with your tax advisor. The government is constantly changing the tax code.
By keeping track of your expenses you will have a better idea of how much time and money it takes to compete and become a titleholder. This will come in handy when prioritizing and planning your budget for your next pageant. It’ll also give you a realistic dollar amount of how much money to raise when looking for sponsors.
PAGEANT DETAIL CHECKLIST
Deadlines are very important to directors. Documenting when your fees, forms, ad pages and photos are due will keep you on schedule.
Write down all the areas of competition within the pageant, and the rules associated with each of those areas. Include all wardrobe needs – be as detailed as you can.
EVENT DETAILS
The time, contact information, phone numbers, location, and directions are necessary for each appearance that you make.
A requirements checklist will aid you in making sure you’re properly prepared in terms of wardrobe and materials to bring. Business cards, camera, crown, banner, note cards, magnetic signs for parades and a pen are just a few staples every queen needs to take with her.
After the event, you’ll want to document what you wore if it’s important for you to look different each time you make an appearance. Taking photos, collecting newspaper clippings and sending thank you notes will present a professional and gracious titleholder.
These are the categories I used when I was a titleholder, and I continue to use them today. A while back, I found the Holden Pageant Planner that has all the above information in one place. The amount of time and energy you will save by using this tool exceeds the $30 value of the product.
Beyond the Pageant
Spend some quiet time with yourself this holiday season. Reflect on where you are and get really clear about where you want to be. Sometimes this will involve letting go of certain things in your life in order to move forward. How dedicated are you to removing the physical and mental distractions that are keeping you from living the life you want? When you’re ready, I’m here to be your biggest clarifier, motivator, supporter and cheerleader.
By Rhonda Shappert
December 9, 2009 23:43
