Interview: Goal Setting with Billie Jo Howard of SewBoji

This month in the Longarm League, Cheryl interviewed League member Billie Jo Howard of SewBoji. Billie Jo has incorporated goal-setting in her private and professional life for years. We loved learning about her strategy and process. She shared lots of great info on the call—walking us through her background and evolution with goal setting, the many positive ways it's impacted her life, her current process, mindset advice, resources, and more. It was an amazing call with tons of practical information for our members to use and incorporate into their own businesses.

While League members have full access to the call recording, we asked Billie Jo to share a little more about herself, her business, and a few thoughts on goal setting with our blog readers.

Without further ado, let's meet Billie Jo...

Billie Jo Howard, SewBoji

Located: Spirit Lake, Iowa
Machine and software: APQS Millie with Quilt Path
In the Longarm League: Coming up on 2 years

Where to find Billie Jo
Website: www.sewboji.com
Instagram: @sewboji_official
Faebook: /sewboji
TikTok: @sewboji
What's the best way for someone to contact you if they're interested in your quilting services or working with you? My website is the best start. There you can decide if you want to email, PM, call or text.

Q&A

Tell us a little about your business and the services you provide at SewBoji
Edge to Edge Quilting, Custom Longarming, Custom Quilt Making, Quilt and Bag Repair, Custom Bag Making, Classes, and a specially curated inventory of retail items.

You've had a long-time practice of working on and refining your goal-setting processes. What do you see as the biggest benefits of having goal-setting be a regular part of your business and your personal life?
The biggest benefit of having goal‑setting woven into both my business and personal life is that it removes the constant pressure of deciding, every single day, “What should I do next?” I’m prone to swirling and decision fatigue, and having a clear plan gives me a sense of calm and direction.

But it also does more than that. Regular goal‑setting helps me stay aligned with what actually matters, not just what feels urgent. It keeps my work intentional, my energy protected, and my progress steady.

When I know where I’m headed and why, I can focus on doing the work instead of negotiating with myself about it. That consistency builds confidence in my choices, in my capacity, and in the long‑term health of my business and life.

As part of your process, you make sure to include time for a retrospective. For those unfamiliar with that term, what is it, and why is it such a key part of the process?
Retrospectives are dedicated moments to look back at your goals and examine not just what you accomplished, but how you got there. They help you understand the patterns behind your progress. Asking what supported you, what got in the way, and what you want to repeat or adjust moving forward.

For me, this practice creates space to celebrate wins, learn from missteps, and make intentional pivots. Over time, it builds confidence because I’m not guessing; I’m learning from my own data and making choices that align with what matters most in my business.

What general advice would you give to those who've either struggled with setting and reaching goals or want to give goal-setting a try?
The most important place to start is with grace. Everyone has goals, even if they’ve never written them down. Every choice we make, even getting out of bed, is connected to something we want. Moving toward intentional goal‑setting is really about honoring that part of yourself that wants something and giving it space to be heard.

For people who’ve struggled, I always encourage shifting from pressure to curiosity. You don’t have to map out your whole life. Begin by exploring what you want and why it matters to you. Then take whatever big goal you have and break it into the smallest possible steps. Ask yourself: What is one thing I could do today or this week that moves me even a little closer? Small steps build momentum, and momentum builds confidence. Over time, that’s what turns goals into habits and habits into real change.

Out of all the goals you've set and reached, what's one of your favorites?
One of my favorite goals I’ve ever reached is, without question, SewBoji itself. It’s the living result of a vision I started shaping more than ten years ago. For years, I treated my hobby like a laboratory—I was experimenting, learning, and paying close attention to what genuinely brought me joy. But I was also looking at it through a practical lens: what parts of this work could become a realistic, profitable business that could sustain me long‑term?

At the same time, I was building a fulfilling corporate IT career with its own goals and possibilities. Holding both paths side by side gave me room to imagine different futures and test what felt true. SewBoji grew out of that long, patient exploration. It’s the clearest example in my life of how steady goal‑setting, curiosity, and honest evaluation of what’s sustainable can come together to create something meaningful, aligned, and evolving.

Just for Fun

What is your favorite notion for longarm quilting?
My Tula Pink small scissors. I love the iridescent color (so cute) and they are so nice and sharp! I use them all day, everyday with my longarm.

What's your favorite part of making a quilt?
Watching the quilt come alive, piece by piece on my design wall.

What other hobbies do you enjoy aside from quilting?
I love to read, grow dahlia's in my garden, explore the world with my husband, attend concerts, and enjoy summer lake life in Okoboji.

If you'd like to watch the interview with Billie Jo, or are interested in being a guest, we'd love to have you join us! Whether you're interested in starting your own longarm quilting business or want to improve your current business, check out our Rookie Season course! You can see all the details, read about how the course has helped previous students, and get started here.

Thanks so much for talking with us this month, Billie Jo!