What You Can Do In Just 90 Days

90 days, 2160 hours - you can accomplish a lot in what seems like a short amount of time. I've always been especially taken with what you can achieve or change in 90 days. It's not a resolution that lasts all year, but three months in which you can set reasonable goals and it's a whole lot of fun to see the opportunity for success.

When I said a big YES to Seattle Dances, that’s what I was thinking about. The mission: learn and perform a dance routine + raise a minimum of $40,000 for the nonprofit Plymouth Housing. It just so happens that I started my dance lessons and fundraising about the time of the winter equinox and ended about the time of the spring solstice – 90 days.

Dancing was something that I had always wanted to do but put it off for “more important” things. So, I set my mind to it. It helped that I had to perform for an audience, in-person and online. A little pressure can go a long way.  

Learning something new is full of highs and lows. Just ask my professional dance instructor and dance partner for Seattle Dances, Andy Howe. One day I was in tears because I was dancing as if I had two left feet. The next day I was delighted with my growth. Also, dancing, in this case, brings to bear a lot of vulnerability and you have to embrace all the insecurities that pop up when you are dancing with your partner, representing your company and, most importantly, yourself.

But I two-stepped into the challenge and I was delighted with the results. I learned the choreography of a three-minute song and reached out to all my friends, family and clients and asked them to donate (which isn’t always the easiest to do). But because I pushed myself, more than 200 people stepped up to support me. All in all, I raised more than $90K for Plymouth Housing. I’m truly grateful to everyone who said yes to the important issue of homelessness here in Seattle.

So my message is this: pick a passion that you have put on hold and GO FOR IT for just 90 days and see what happens. I would love for you to share your experience with me.

-Joanie