February 17, 2025

402: Assess, Plan & Execute with Tara Wright: Plan Your Year

11 minutes

In this episode, we’re jumping back into the Assess, Plan & Execute series after a short break. Now that we’ve assessed where we’ve been and mapped out our ideas, it’s time to focus on yearly planning. I’ll walk you through my process for organizing priorities, scheduling non-negotiables, and creating a balanced plan that supports both work and life. Let’s dive back in and take control of your year!

Tara shared that she starts her planning process with a yearly overview to balance work and life.

The importance of bulk scheduling to maintain a structured and manageable workflow.

She uses yearly, quarterly, weekly, and daily planners to stay organized.

Recommendations for using large wall calendars for a clear visual of the year’s schedule.

She plans for launch periods in her various businesses, ensuring she blocks off time accordingly.

Adjusting plans as needed but try to stick to schedule as much as possible.

She assesses each quarter to see if her workload is balanced or needs adjustments.

She encourages others to try her planning methods and share their setups online.

Links Mentioned

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Large yearly calendar

Large frame

Sticky notes size 1.5” x 2”

Sticky notes size 0.6” x 3”

Expo dry erase markers

Expo wet erase markers

About Tara Wright

Tara Wright is an Education and Operations Director, Creative Strategist, and Music Educator who helps music educators transform their teaching studios and businesses through innovative strategies, clear processes, and actionable tools. Known for her no-fluff advice, Tara blends creative thinking with real-world solutions to make complex systems simple and effective.

With over 20 years of teaching experience and 10+ years in operations management, Tara brings expertise in branding, copywriting, and process improvement to the music industry. She has overseen the creation of impactful content, from managing digital media platforms to developing professional training materials. Tara’s work inspires music educators to build thriving studios while balancing creativity with practicality.

Tara’s certifications include Google Project Management, Google Workspace Administration, and Google E-commerce Marketing. She also holds degrees in photography, music education, genetic engineering, and marketing, which fuel her unique approach to problem-solving and innovation.

When not optimizing workflows or mentoring teams, Tara raises ostriches, Great Danes, and other two- and four-legged friends on her farm near St. Louis. You’ll often find her taking her Jeep off-road or exploring a new hobby because learning is her ultimate joy. Tara’s advice is grounded in experience and designed to inspire action. Whether it’s simplifying studio operations, enhancing marketing strategies, or sparking creativity, Tara’s solutions resonate with educators ready to grow.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

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