In 2011, I began the annual practice of blogging a personal review on January 1st. As I was in the midst of a protracted divorce, and my work was suffering because of it, I wanted to let everyone know why.

I now believe it’s a good exercise to reflect upon the previous year, review your goals, and determine what you can do to improve for the upcoming year. This dovetails into your sweepstakes hobby because it needs to fit your life and lifestyle.

NOTE: You will also notice I’m a day late because I had the pleasure of promoting a new client’s contest yesterday. You could win $10K if you live in the United States.

What did I want to accomplish in 2023?

BOOKS: My focus was publishing Prizes, Prizes, Everywhere! and creating the companion workbook to The Name It & Claim It Game. I discovered Helene had planned to create one but never did.

CONTENT CREATION: As I progressed through an Instagram course I purchased, I hoped what I learned would improve the quality of my posts, along with consistency, across all platforms. As my purpose is to teach others how to win–in all areas of life–having systems in place to do so, I believe, would help me help you. This hobby is ever-evolving and has changed faster since social media came on the scene. Staying abreast of all the changes can help you win regularly.

WEBSITE: Dovetailing with my content creation goal, I planned to revamp the entire Contest Queen website with a new design that would be easier to navigate, look more modern, and possibly have a new logo.

What happened?

I was not even close. My 2023 sure didn’t go as planned. I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do. Everything I did (and did a lot) wasn’t even on the list.

BOOKS: It started at the end of 2022 when Amazon requested I update the copyright page in The Name It & Claim It Game. To ensure I held all the copyrights, I contacted her two previous publishers to obtain letters stating so. DeVorss Inc. was easy to locate. Top of the Mountain Publishing, on the other hand, was out of business. After searching, I discovered Tag Powell owned it and had found some of his books at Helene’s. I wrote him letters at every address I could find. One of them made it. He rang me. It turns out Tag had had a stroke and had COPD. He couldn’t talk for long. I sent him Helene’s books. He loved them. I asked him who was maintaining his legacy. (It was clear he wasn’t long for this earth.) No one. I offered to buy the rights to his work. After back and forth with the lawyer, research, etc. George and I drove down to Florida. Not only did I buy the rights to 10 books, but also five audio tape programs.

My plans had gone out the window, and it was only the year’s first quarter. In the end, when I usually publish one book every year or two, I published four and got halfway through two more.

You can now read A Man Called Friday. You can listen to The Name It & Claim It Game and In Contact With Other Realms. I translated The Name It & Claim It Game into Spanish as El Concurso ¿Lo Quieres? Lo Tienes: Técnicas Mágicas para el éxito.

WEBSITE: Contest Queen didn’t get ramped because I broke down and created the author site I knew I had to make in 2020. Words For Winning was launched. It’s not 100% finished, but you can read never-before-published articles from Helene and other posts about all forms of metaphysical topics.

CONTENT CREATION: Idea Majesty has sat dormant as I increased my social platforms. I hope to revamp her as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’m regularly posting on all my Contest Queen and Words For Winning social channels. To top that off, I am now taking a YouTube course, and you should see an improvement in my video skills in 2024.

THE SILVA METHOD: Helene worked with Jose Silva, Tag was a Silva Instructor, and I am republishing a Silva Method-based book this year (spoiler alert for my 2024 goals!). Therefore, last year, I decided to become a Silva Instructor. Stay tuned to my Words For Winning social channels to follow my progress.

What about my hobby?!?!

2022 was the best year I have had for prizes since 2010. I was swamped in 2023, so I didn’t win as much as I would have liked. I do teach that to win consistently; you must enter consistently. 2022 and 2023 of my hobby are proof that the adage is true. My results are in direct correlation to my effort.

I did attend the sweepstakes convention in Phoenix, AZ, in July. Were you there?  If not, you can read about my adventures here. (This year’s event will be in Las Vegas, NV, August 1-4. Will I see you there?)

I was so busy that I didn’t fill out my Wins Tracking Spreadsheet either. (Scroll down to download your FREE copy.)

My 2024 Goals

BOOKS: It only seems appropriate that Prizes, Prizes, Everywhere! will be published this year. You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter was published in 2008. How To Win Cash Cars Trips & More! was published in 2016. Eight years later. Following that trend, eight years later, my third sweepstakes book will be published.

I also plan to publish as many books as possible. Can I publish 12 this year?? I am almost finished Money & You by Tag Powell. The Spanish Edition of In Contact With Other Realms only required editing, and the Audible version of A Man Called Friday has begun. If I focus on various editions, I may just be able to pull it off.

WEBSITE: I have already spoken to my webmaster about finishing the Words For Winning website and revamping Contest Queen. I am positive both of those goals will be reached.

CONTENT CREATION: I am in the midst of a YouTube course, and you should see an improvement in my video skills in 2024 across all my social channels. Also, keep an eye on my events calendars as I book more guests for With The Contest Queen and Words For Winning Chats.

THE SILVA METHOD: Helene worked with Jose Silva, Tag was a Silva Instructor, and I’m republishing a Silva Method-based book this year (spoiler alert for my 2024 goals!) I am currently in training to become a Silva Instructor. Stay tuned to my Words For Winning social channels to follow my progress.

What about you?

Now is your chance to reflect on your life and hobby. Look at what worked, what didn’t, and what you won in 2023. It’s only then you know if you can stay the course or if you should pivot for 2024. As you can see by my review and goals, I have had to do just that.

Previous adventures.

If you are new to me, you can read previous annual posts to see what goals I set, what I achieved, where I fell on my face, and, most importantly, how I picked myself up and kept going:

What steps are you taking to ensure you have a magical year?