Jeff Goins's Blog, page 50
August 27, 2015
070: Redefining Your Identity Through Action [Podcast]
If someone were to ask you, “Who are you?”, you’d probably answer with your name and occupation. But that’s not the whole story. Is it?
Much of our identity is tied up in how we allow other people to define us. Parents inform our initial sense of self, followed by friends and community, and finally our own accomplishments — or at least, the value others tend to place on them.
The trouble is, once we accept the identity given us by others, most people do little to change it. Whether due to fear of rejection or change, we get comfortable and settle for less than our true selves.
This week on The Portfolio Life, Andy and I talk about the topic of identity and the origin of confidence. Listen in as we discuss what happens in our lives when we choose a different identity.
Listen to the podcast
To listen to the show, click the player below (If you are reading this via email, please click here).
You can also listen via iTunes or on Stitcher.
Living into a new reality
At age 27, I hit a bit of a quarter-life crisis. I had a good job, a good marriage, and we were talking about starting a family. From the outside, it looked like I “had it all,” but inside I felt like a fraud.
Looking into the future, I pictured myself at 40 looking back on the last 13 years and wondering, “What have I done? What do I really want to do?” I was afraid of reaching the middle of my life and and being filled with regret.
At this time, a formative conversation with a friend took place that changed the course of my life. He asked me what my dream was and I replied, “I guess I want to be a writer.”
His candid response was a pivotal point in my story.
You don’t have to want to be a writer. You are a writer. You just need to write.
Sometimes all we need is a nudge of affirmation in the right direction to discover our true identity.
Show highlights
In this episode, we discuss:
The hidden insight found in an old proverb
Evidence to support a new belief system
Facing the question of “Where will you be in 10 years?”
Struggling with affirmation for things you don’t want to do
The downhill danger of settling for less than your very best
What to do if you like your job and you’re comfortable
Feeling like a fraud in less than 140 characters
The insecurity of professional writers and creatives
Living into the reality of a self-constructed narrative
Where we receive our identity and what we can do to change it
Living as a shadow of your true identity
Quotes and Takeaways
You don’t have to want to be a writer, you are a writer. You just need to write.
“You are a writer when you say you are.” —Steven Pressfield
Err on the side of telling people “you’re a writer” to affirm them into the act of writing.
“You will never write until you believe you are capable of writing a sentence.” —Andy Traub
Self-actualization comes from experience.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” —Proverbs 23:7
Resources
How to Become a Professional Writer
Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Podcast transcript (download)
How are you defining your identity? What actions are following as a result? Share in the comments
August 25, 2015
What to Do When You Feel Left Out, Unlucky, or Just Plain Ignored
Last week, I shared some surprising secrets about creative success and why it’s sometimes unfair. My intent was to show you how the “system” worked so you could use it to your benefit. What I didn’t realize is how discouraging that could be.
Photo Credit: _Pixelmaniac_ via Compfight cc
One reader wrote, telling me that my story frustrated him. He didn’t live in Nashville and lacked the access to people that I had. So what hope did he have? Some female friends pointed out that my being a white male may have acted as an invisible advantage — even if I didn’t realize it.
The more I thought about these objections, the more I thought — and the more aware I became. So I decided to write a public reply and share it with anyone who’s feeling discouraged about where they are in their creative work and what to do when playing by the rules doesn’t work.
But first, an apology…
The last thing I ever want to do with my work is to come across self-congratulatory or unhelpful. So if at any time I’ve done that with my blog, I’m sorry. I believe there are opportunities available to everyone, wherever you are, but sometimes those opportunities aren’t equal.
Yes, luck is often involved in the success of a creative individual. But what do you do when it just feels like the deck is stacked against you? What do you do when you don’t stand a chance against the lucky? That’s what I want to explore.
Keep practicing
Don’t give up. That’s my first piece of advice. In fact, it’s often my only advice for writers. Don’t quit. Keep going. It’s more important than you realize..
I spent seven years as a failed blogger before I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. But without that perseverance, I never would have learned.
Sometimes, when things aren’t working, the answer is to keeping going. Sometimes.
Maybe, though, you’re doing everything right and it’s just taking a little bit longer than you expected. That’s a possibility, too. We often want things to happen more quickly than they do, but that doesn’t mean they won’t at some point come to be.
So hang in there, keep practicing, and keep reaching out to people — not for the sake of getting them to notice you, but for the sake of helping them. As my dad always told me, “What goes around comes around.” And most of the time, I think he’s right.
Notice hidden opportunity
For many of us, opportunity is staring us in the face. We just fail to notice it.
How many stories are based on this truth — that the thing you love, the thing you’re most wired to do, is the thing you are ignoring? Every romantic comedy, every heroic tale, almost every great invention reinforces this:
You don't create opportunity. You recognize it.Click To Tweet
But if there aren’t opportunities available, what do you do then? Go where the opportunity is. You don’t have to move to a new city, necessarily. You can connect with someone while they’re traveling through the area or save money to attend a conference where they’ll be. You can even Skype or email them.
There are always options for those willing to look.
Find your own table
Don’t try to get a seat at someone else’s table. Create your own.
On the surface, this may sound dismissive, like the scene in Forrest Gump where all the kids on the bus say, “Seat’s taken.” But that’s not what I’m saying at all.
I think that this is the only way new markets are discovered and brilliant ideas come about — not by getting invited to the same party everyone else is attending, but by sometimes throwing your own.
Personally I’m interested in exploring how we can create more opportunity for those feeling left out, dismissed, or overlooked. There are real inequities in our world, but working to overcome them is both honorable and possible.
You can’t escape the system
Here’s the truth, though. Every industry has its own set of rules and norms we have to play by for our work to be taken seriously. But what if that system rejects or just plain ignores you? Well, that doesn’t have to be the end of it.
There are a few options:
Get better. This isn’t always the answer, but it often can be an answer. Steve Martin once said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” I think there is some truth to that. It may not be fair, but you can work so hard your work has to stand out. It’s not right and definitely not fair, but it’s an option.
Find another table. If the people in the system don’t like what you’re doing, create a new system. A new network. This is what the French Impressionists did when the gatekeepers of art at the time rejected them. They made their own art gallery, and invited people to it. Guess what? A century later, people remember them. The world eventually caught up with that band of misfits. Rejection by the mainstream led to the creation of a whole new art form.
Change the system. This one is hard to do if you’re “outside” the system but not as impossible as it sounds. Jim Henson used advertising dollars to fund puppets who made fun of the very ads sponsoring the show. Oprah Winfrey climbed the ranks of an all-white media world to educate people on the importance of race (among other things). Use the system to subvert the system.
I think we all long for that beautiful moment in life when an unexpected voice says, “You can sit here if you want.” I would not be here if it weren’t for my life being filled with those voices. And my sense is most of us have had those people in our lives at some point. Maybe it didn’t come from a source you expected, but it came nonetheless.
My hope is that we can all be those voices for each other, that we can increase the size of the table and invite more people to the party. Call me naive, but I think there’s room for more.
Applying this
Last week, while speaking at a conference, someone asked me who inspires me. I think I said something like Walt Disney or Jim Henson. When I asked this person, an African American gentleman who started a homeless ministry, who inspires him, he said: “People who don’t have a voice.”
He then proceeded to tell me story after inspiring story of individuals without a platform whose lives are making a difference. Wow. That really challenged me to use my voice to help more people get their messages and stories heard.
This one reason why I’m looking forward to Tribe Conference this week. It’s my small way of trying to make the table a little bit bigger — by creating a new network, a place for people who have something to say but might not otherwise get heard.
I think the opportunities to do this kind of work, to create your own network and include those who may feel left out or discouraged by the system, are abundant. We just have to be willing to recognize and do something with them.
For more on using your disadvantages into advantages, check out Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath (which was where I first heard that story of the French Impressionists).
What do you think increasing the size of the table looks like? Practically, how can we (you and I) create more opportunity for others? Share your ideas in the comments.
August 21, 2015
3 Ways Coffee Boosts Creativity and Makes You a Better Writer
Coffee has incredible powers. It has the ability to jumpstart our day and spark amazing conversations with people. In fact, coffee and bacon are the only two items you need to change the world. But there is more superpower in a coffee mug than meets the eye.
Coffee also has the ability to make you more creative and thus make you a better writer. Don’t believe me? I will prove it!
First, a few quick notes about creativity. Have you ever stopped to think about where creativity comes from? Me neither. That is why I had to Google it.
Creativity is a state of mind hindered by three barriers:
Initiative
Commitment
Self-doubt
Breaking down these barriers unlocks endless creativity. That is, until you get fatigued. Sort of like finding a star on Super Mario Brothers. You’re invincible until the sparkle wears off.
Let’s talk about how coffee dismantles these barriers and makes you more creative.
1. Coffee gives you initiative
I am pretty sure all of us have experienced the energy boost coffee provides. It’s the reason why most of us need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning.
Not only does coffee help get you moving, it helps jumpstart your brain so you overcome the first hurdle to unlocking your creative juices.
Ideas are vital to creativity. I’ve found ideas breed more ideas which eventually lead to creative breakthroughs. It is hard to generate this flow of ideas without any initiative.
On the days when I just do not feel like writing (who has been there?) a cup of coffee is like magic. The caffeine triggers something in my brain, and I snap out of it and get to work.
2. Coffee creates commitment
Coffee is a stimulant. There is some science to it, but the important thing to note is the caffeine in your coffee blocks the part of your brain that says “I am tired.”
Fatigue is the number one killer of focus in the world. Followed closely by Facebook.
Coffee can’t help your social media addiction, but the caffeine steaming in your mug postpones fatigue so can commit to the task at hand. For creatives, this means pushing through the stage of coming up with bad ideas.
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to sit and come up with bad ideas. The cool thing is, enough bad ideas eventually lead to a good one.
3. Coffee inspires confidence
The biggest barrier to boundless creativity is self-doubt. When you think your ideas are silly or stupid you stop coming up with ideas or worse, do not even start at all.
Since coffee creates initiative and commitment, confidence naturally follows.
I am not saying coffee will make you Iron Man or Wonder Woman (which would be awesome!), but you absolutely will get out of your own head enough to create some awesome ideas.
Be more creative, be a better writer
Writing has always been scary to me because it is my art. I have never been a great musician like Jeff. I cannot paint or draw like my wife. I certainly cannot create beautiful software. But I can write and I believe in what Seth Godin says:
If you create art, then you have to share it.
Although it is not the only factor, coffee has helped me be more creative and become a better writer. Ideas seem to flow easier, words chain together faster, and creative juices show up when I need them.
A lot of you probably already drink coffee when you write and that is great. Some of you do not and that is cool, this post is not prescriptive.
The goal is to make you self-aware of the creative benefits you experience when consuming coffee. There is tremendous power in the ability to recognize what is going on in our heads and then act on it.
Do you drink coffee? What helps boost your creativity? Share in the comments.
3 Ways Coffee Boosts Creativity and Makes You A Better Writer
Coffee has incredible powers. It has the ability to jumpstart our day and spark amazing conversations with people. In fact, coffee and bacon are the only two items you need to change the world. But there is more superpower in a coffee mug than meets the eye.
Coffee also has the ability to make you more creative and thus make you a better writer.
Don’t believe me? I will prove it!
First, a few quick notes about creativity.
Have you ever stopped to think about where creativity comes from? Me neither. That is why I had to Google it.
Creativity is a state of mind hindered by three barriers:
Initiative
Commitment
Self-doubt
Breaking down these barriers unlocks endless creativity. That is, until you get fatigued. Sort of like finding a star on Super Mario Brothers. You’re invincible until the sparkle wears off.
Let’s talk about how coffee dismantles these barriers and makes you more creative.
1. Coffee gives you initiative
I am pretty sure all of us have experienced the energy boost coffee provides. It’s the reason why most of us need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning.
Not only does coffee help get you moving, it helps jumpstart your brain so you overcome the first hurdle to unlocking your creative juices.
Ideas are vital to creativity. I’ve found ideas breed more ideas which eventually lead to creative breakthroughs. It is hard to generate this flow of ideas without any initiative.
On the days when I just do not feel like writing (who has been there?) a cup of coffee is like magic. The caffeine triggers something in my brain, and I snap out of it and get to work.
2. Coffee creates commitment
Coffee is a stimulant. There is some science to it, but the important thing to note is the caffeine in your coffee blocks the part of your brain that says “I am tired.”
Fatigue is the number one killer of focus in the world. Followed closely by Facebook.
Coffee can’t help your social media addiction, but the caffeine steaming in your mug postpones fatigue so can commit to the task at hand. For creatives, this means pushing through the stage of coming up with bad ideas.
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to sit and come up with bad ideas.
The cool thing is, enough bad ideas eventually lead to a good one.
3. Coffee inspires confidence
The biggest barrier to boundless creativity is self-doubt.
When you think your ideas are silly or stupid you stop coming up with ideas or worse, do not even start at all.
Since coffee creates initiative and commitment, confidence naturally follows.
I am not saying coffee will make you Iron Man or Wonder Woman (which would be awesome!), but you absolutely will get out of your own head enough to create some awesome ideas.
Be more creative, be a better writer
Writing has always been scary to me because it is my art. I have never been a great musician like Jeff. I cannot paint or draw like my wife. I certainly cannot create beautiful software. But I can write and I believe in what Seth Godin says:
If you create art, then you have to share it.
Although it is not the only factor, coffee has helped me be more creative and become a better writer. Ideas seem to flow easier, words chain together faster, and creative juices show up when I need them.
A lot of you probably already drink coffee when you write and that is great. Some of you do not and that is cool, this post is not prescriptive.
The goal is to make you self-aware of the creative benefits you experience when consuming coffee.
There is tremendous power in the ability to recognize what is going on in our heads and then act on it.
Do you drink coffee? What helps boost your creativity? Share in the comments.
August 19, 2015
069: Balancing the Soul and Schedule of a Creative Life: Interview with Emily Freeman [Podcast]
A strong sense of community is diluted when we hide our true faces behind a screen. What if there was a way to create space for deep connection online and offline?
People used to sit on their front porches and talk for hours with friends and neighbors. Now, we rely too heavily on social media to stay connected, but we’re not often experiencing community.
We get caught up in the hustle of a busy life when what we really need is a break before we breakdown.
This week on The Portfolio Life, Emily Freeman and I talk about how she learned to create physical places to rest and how it changed her marriage, her neighborhood, and her writing career.
Listen in as we discuss building a bench for your readers and connecting your art with an audience.
Listen to the podcast
To listen to the show, click the player below (If you are reading this via email, please click here).
You can also listen via iTunes or on Stitcher.
Speak the language of your loved ones
Creatives often struggle with winning over those closest too them. Spouses, family, and friends don’t always “get it”. Usually the problem is staring at the artist in the mirror. It was for me.
For about the first year I’d wake up early to write and stay up late to publish posts, and my wife didn’t completely “get it.” I wanted to blame her, but I wasn’t communicating well that the next season of our lives would look a little different as I worked on this dream.
If you feel like no one supports you, owning it and clearly communicating makes a difference and provides room in your life. Not everyone will “get it”, but some will.
There will be somebody who can share this with you and encourage you. You’ll start hearing people say, “Oh! That makes sense.”
The first step is admitting it.
Show highlights
In this episode, Emily and I discuss:
Blending the lines between creating and marketing
How to react if you’re held hostage by hustle
Disciplining yourself to create margin
Focusing on your craft and caring for your audience
Remembering you are more than your work
Deciding which emails to respond to
Why Tuesday is the most accurate picture of your life
Doing more in less time and finding focus in less than ideal situations
The value of face-to-face community
What to do if your loved ones don’t “get” your creative self
A daily practice to make good writing easier
Quotes and Takeaways
”When you show up like a hostess and someone who wants to serve, there’s a lot more freedom.” —Emily Freeman
Fight for margin. Leave room for your soul to breathe.
“Writing seeps into you. You can’t separate the work from the person.” —Emily Freeman
“Competition is the enemy of connection.” —Emily Freeman
Resources
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World by Emily Freeman
Chatting at the Sky (Emily’s blog)
The Miracle of Morning Pages by Julia Cameron
Do you have a place to rest? Where’s your bench? Share in the comments
August 17, 2015
The Unfair Truth About How Creative People Really Succeed
Last week, I was invited to a dinner hosted by a friend. Those in attendance included some of my favorite writers, bloggers, and communicators – people I have admired for years before knowing them personally. Halfway through the dinner, I silently asked myself, “How did I get here?”
Photo credit: Jeremy Cowart
For years, I watched people, mostly online, talk about their influential friendships and subsequent success, and seethed with jealousy. It just seemed unfair. Of course those people were successful. They knew the right people. They were in the right place at the right time. They got lucky.
Years later, I would discover how success is born of luck (I don’t think any honest person disputes that), but that luck, in many ways, can be created – or at very least, improved.
The truth is it’s not fair. For creative work to spread, you need more than talent. You also have to know the right people and get exposure to the right networks. And as unfair as that may seem, it’s the way the world has always worked.
The Systems Approach to Creativity
What makes a person creative? Of course, as human beings we are all endowed with the ability to create. But what is the difference between that kind of “little c” creativity and the world-changing “big C” creativity?
In his decades-long study of how creativity works, Mihaly Cziksentmihalyi describes what he calls a “systems approach” to creativity. Since creative work tends to be subjective, he posits a model that includes three “systems”
Domain
Field
Individual
In order for a work to be considered Creative (in the sense that it offers some kind of enduring work that the world remembers), it must satisfy all three of these areas. An individual must master her craft in a given domain (such as art, science, mathematics, etc.) and then offer the creative work to the field of “gatekeepers” who decide if the work is worth pursuing.
As much as I initially winced at the word “gatekeepers” when considering what makes creative work succeed, once I started to read biographies of artists, musicians, and authors whose work endures, it began to make a lot of sense. Talent is only part of the equation.
Hemingway and Paris
When he was just a young man in his early twenties, Ernest Hemingway moved from Chicago, Illinois to a poor artist district in Paris, France. He had just returned from a short stint of serving with the Red Cross in World War I and wanted to pursue his creative writing.
In Chicago, Hemingway met the writer Sherwood Anderson who encouraged him to move to Paris to meet Gertrude Stein. There, Stein was leading a community of novelists, poets, and artists that were all sharing their ideas and growing in their respective crafts. Plus, it was cheaper there, and as newlyweds, the Hemingways could live modestly and still have free time to travel and wrote.
In Paris, Hemingway did meet Stein, as well as Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and many others who would help shape his work. This included a connection via F. Scott Fitzgerald to Scribner’s, the publisher that would go on to publish all of Hemingway’s future writing and contribute to making him the most famous writer of his time.
Once you understand the story of how this environment uniquely shaped one of the great writers of the 20th century, it’s inconceivable that such a development could have happened anywhere else. In other words, without Paris in the 1920s, there is no Hemingway.
Finding your own Paris
So what does this mean? Are we doomed to failure if we don’t live in the right place at the right time? Of course not. But it does mean that networks matter.
This is why Van Gogh’s work matured much more quickly once he met the French Impressionists. He now had a field of gatekeepers who would vouch for his work. Similarly, when I started reaching out to influential people in my own backyard, I started to see unprecedented momentum in my work.
But how do you apply this if you don’t live some place like Paris, or even Nashville for that matter? Well, you could do one of two things:
You could move. According to Csikszentmihalyi, it’s easier to move somewhere new than it is to will yourself to be more creative. So try that, because it’s now easier than ever to transplant yourself someplace new and start a new life (I did it eight years ago).
You could let go of your excuses and realize there’s a network available to you right now, wherever you are. This may come in the form of an online mastermind you create or an event you attend. But the truth is there are networks at your disposal and you just aren’t tapping into them.
How I got a seat at the table
Five years ago, I made a decision to let go of my cynicism about writing. I reached out to dozens of influencers, even though I considered myself a shy person. Once I met the people who responded, I followed up and did everything I could to help them.
I tried to be the kind of person they would want to invest in. I followed every piece of advice, did everything they told me to do, and didn’t question any of it. And maybe some of that was instrumental in my invitation to that dinner – I don’t really know.
What I do know is this: you will get lucky. It’s naive to say success doesn’t involve luck. But at the same time luck can be planned for, anticipated. And though I can’t tell when or where I’m going to get lucky, I do know the more I put myself in the company of great minds, the more likely some of that greatness just might rub off on me.
Of course, every person’s journey is their own. But what I am now more certain of than ever before is that success in any creative field is contingent on the networks you are a part of. The question is, will you embrace the power of networks and put yourself in the right place with the right people…
Or will you keep thinking those people are just lucky?
Join my network (for free)
But maybe you just don’t know where to start. That’s understandable. It can all feel so overwhelming and intimidating.
This was why I started Tribe Writers three years ago. It was a way to create a network of people who could help each other. And now, three thousand people later, we have published authors, award-winning bloggers, and world-class communicators who have come out of the community. It’s amazing.
When I tell people this, they are blown away. It seems that most people don’t appreciate how amazing a community like this is until they become a part of one themselves. So if you’re still wondering where to begin, I have something exciting, if not slightly crazy, to share with you today.
For the next 24 hours, we’re giving away a 7-day free trial to Tribe Writers.
With this membership, you’ll get seven days of free content, and on the eighth day you’ll have an opportunity to buy the full course. There’s no credit card required up front, no social security number, retina scan, or anything fancy like that.
This is a completely free trial with no strings attached. All you have to do is register for a free username and password to get started. You just have to act now.
My hope in doing this is you’ll see Tribe Writers for what it really is: a 3,000-member community of writers unlike any on the Internet, encouraging each other to pursue their dreams of writing. And maybe it’ll give you an idea of how powerful a network can be.
I believe every story of success is a story of community. And the way you’re going to find your path is by walking alongside others on theirs. So what’re you waiting for?
Get your free trial to Tribe Writers here.
Other resources
To read more about Hemingway’s formative writing years in Paris, I recommend the book Hemingway: The Paris Years .
To read more about the systems approach to creativity, read the book Creativity by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
You can listen to any of these books on Audible for free when you sign up for a free trial.
To get access to my Tribe Writers community, claim your seven-day free trial (offer expires August 18 at 3:00p CT).
How has a network helped you succeed? Share in the comments.
August 14, 2015
068: 3 Steps to Become the Superhero You Were Meant to Be [Podcast]
The true identity of most superheroes doesn’t include a cape. Superman, however, was born “super” and conceals his authentic self behind the black-framed glasses of Clark Kent. Turns out, he’s not the only hero hiding behind a mask.
As adults, we compartmentalize our identity so much at work or home we forget who we’re called to be. We get caught up in mundane routines and lose sight of our gift. We hide behind the excuse of “I’m just a ____.” while we slowly die inside.
This week on The Portfolio Life, Andy and I talk about identity, superpowers, and what we’re all truly capable of. Listen in as we discuss the blurred line between reality and fantasy, and what it means for grown-ups.
Listen to the podcast
To listen to the show, click the player below (If you are reading this via email, please click here).
You can also listen via iTunes or on Stitcher.
Superheroes are born
You’d be surprised to know my son, Aiden, is a superhero. On any given day he is Superman, Captain America, or The Hulk, depending on his outfit.
What I love about Aiden is that he isn’t pretending. He believes he is a superhero. When I ask him, “What’s your name?”, he doesn’t respond with what’s listed on his birth certificate. Rather, his chest puffs up a bit and he declares, “I’m Superman.”
You walk in the midst of unknown superheroes every day. You look a superhero in the eye each morning you face the mirror. You were born to do something super. The trick is to figure out what it is and learn how to share it with the world.
Show highlights
In this episode, we discuss:
When children realize they can become a superhero
The difference between wearing a costume and being a superhero
How adults tend to compartmentalize our identity
A tragic word that diminishes our gifts
The snowflake rebuttal to “Not everyone is special”.
What Disney teaches about identity with a ghostly lion
How the classic hero’s journey applies to your story
A few things that are true of Aiden now that I hope are true at 13, 30 and beyond
The requirements to become a superhero
Updates on the new Tribe Conference
Quotes and Takeaways
Life is an epic adventure.
There’s a battle out there that you must fight.
Stop saying, “I’m just ____.”
When Superman puts on his cape, he becomes who he really is.
Everybody has a gift to share with the world.
We’re born to do something special.
Some people fail to see their gift and refuse to share it because they don’t know what it is.
You are “just” incredibly unique with special gifts and abilities unlike the world has ever seen.
There is something unique about you and there is something unique about what you have to do. So why aren’t you doing it?
Understand your identity and live into it.
Resources
The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Tribe Writers
Tribe Conference
We Are All Secretly Superheroes
Transcript (coming soon)
What’s your superpower? What is a step you will take to embrace it and live into your identity? Share in the comments
August 13, 2015
Last Day to Join Tribe Writers + Answers to Your Biggest Questions
Today is the day — your last chance to join Tribe Writers until late 2015. After this, registration closes and we won’t let anyone else in. Don’t forget I’m doing exclusive live teachings and Q&A sessions during this course.
If you’re still trying to figure out if this is for you, I want to share with you a few questions I hear every time we launch this course.
Having taught this to over 3000 students, I know the objections and obstacles people face before encountering a major breakthrough in their writing careers. But instead of hearing me talk, I thought it’d be better for you to hear from some of my students.
Recently, I received a message from a woman named Becky who said:
I’ve clicked over to the Tribe Writers site a dozen times or more. It looks great, sounds great, probably is great. I’m not sure if my hesitation is fear or uncertainty. It’s a commitment (financial and time). I am just trying to get a writing career off the ground in the last few months, but I’m not sure of my direction. I’ll probably click over a few more times still!
Does this sound like you? If so, I want to address some important concerns that you might be having right now so that you can decide if this is right for you.
Question #1: ”Is it worth it?”
Tribe Writers is definitely a commitment. It’s no small amount of money. So why isn’t it cheaper?
Well, in addition to the scads of content you get (three courses with at 30-5 videos per course), what you’re really paying for is access — to me and to an exclusive community of people who will help you grow into the writer you’ve always dreamed of being.
If Tribe Writers were open to everyone or available at any time, it wouldn’t be special. When you join the course, you get a membership to one of the most talented, generous groups of people I have ever met. And they are truly changing the world with their words.
Students tell me all the time after taking this course that it’s something they would have paid thousands of dollars for, as you would expect of a university class. One alum, Eric, said, “I may have a Master’s in writing, but now I feel I have the tools necessary to reach my readers.”
Does it cost money? You bet. Is what you get worth what you pay? No. It’s worth a whole lot more. (See what I mean here.)
Question #2: ”Is this right for me?”
If you feel like you were born to be a writer, if you dream of one day publishing your work and getting your message the attention it deserves, then you need to do something about that. That’s why I created Tribe Writers.
Maybe this isn’t the right program for you. That’s fine. But please, find something. You have a responsibility to share your story, your words, your ideas, with the world. I like what one student, Pamela, said:
I don’t know if I would have signed up for Tribe Writers if I hadn’t had skin cancer last year, malignant melanoma. I kept putting off my dreams, thinking I would pursue my writing next year, or after the kids left home. Taking care of everyone else, and not taking care of myself. Skin cancer was a wake up call to live today and write my stories.
You don’t have to take a writing course to take care of yourself… Maybe taking care of yourself is to take swimming lessons, or walk around the block, or take time to read a book. But if you want to pursue writing, I do recommend Tribe Writers. It is more than just a writing class, it is a life-long community of like minded people.
Since joining Tribe Writers, Pamela has been interviewed by the Huffington Post, started a blog for her cat (you heard me), interviewed famous authors like Steven Pressfield, and began writing a book and has started selling her art online.
And she is just one of many.
Question #3: ”Should I do it?”
If you’re like Becky, the woman I mentioned at the beginning of this post, and you’ve visited the Tribe Writers site more than a few times, each time considering signing up but never pulling the trigger, there’s a reason for that. I don’t know if it’s fear or resistance or something else holding you back. But for a moment, I want you to forget about that and consider what might not happen if you don’t take this step:
You might not write a book.
You might not reach someone with your message, someone who really needs your words.
You might keep dreaming of becoming a writer someday instead of being one today.
That’s why I offer a money-back guarantee. Because I want this to be right for you, and it’s the best thing I can do in lieu of letting you take a “test drive.” If you sign up for the course and it isn’t everything I’ve promised, I’ll give you your money back. No questions asked.
In fact, you can go through the whole course for the next 30 days and still get a refund. I’ll even let you keep the downloadable bonuses. Not a bad deal, right? What do you have to lose?
Check Out Tribe Writers
Question #4: “What do I get?”
I hope you’ll consider doing this. Not for me. Not even for you. But for those people who haven’t heard what you have to say, who haven’t been changed by your message but need it.
This course will give you what it takes for you to find that tribe of readers who are ready for action. That audience who will buy every book you sell and give your words the attention they merit.
Just to refresh your memory, here’s what comes with the course:
8 weeks of original content (over 30 video lessons), which people have called “life-changing”
Access to an online forum and Facebook group
Step-by-step tutorials on setting up a blog, learning how to guest post, even publishing an eBook
Expert interviews with fiction and nonfiction authors who have built successful platforms and published their work
Access to me and my team to help you work through any obstacles you encounter
$500 in signup bonuses that you can download immediately
Two bonuses courses in blogging and social media
Question #5: “Will it work?”
It will if you do. Here’s what you’ll have by the end of the course:
Confidence in your writing voice and clear in your unique message and style
A blog and email newsletter that people are actually reading and engaging with
An eBook manifesto that will help you dramatically grow your audience
The step-by-step guide I use to connect with influential people and get my work published on popular websites and magazines
A detailed plan to publish your book and start making a living as a writer
How do I know? Because I’ve done everything I teach in this course and helped thousands of others do the same. As I like to say, “If you do the work, you’ll see the results.”
So this is your final call. Today is the LAST day to register for the course. After today, registration closes, and you won’t be able to sign up until registration opens again later this year.
This really is the best time to join. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you take no risk, get a ton of bonuses, have access to an incredible community, not to mention a whole lot more. So here’s the real question…
Do you really want this?
How to get started
If you’re ready to take the next step in finding the audience your writing deserves, here’s all you have to do to get started:
Visit this page before 11:59 p.m. Pacific (U.S.) Time today.
Choose the Student or Premium membership.
Follow the instructions to register your username and password on the membership site.
Login and get started immediately! (If you encounter any hangups, just email me.)
Don’t forget: once you’re in, you’re in for good. There are no additional charges or hidden fees. It’s a one-time deal (unless you opt for one of our affordable payment plans). I hope to see you inside!
Still have questions? Check out this video I just did where I answer a lot of people’s specific questions about Tribe Writers. Oh, and one more thing: I want to share just a few words from James, a student who has been a part of Tribe Writers since the very beginning:
Becoming a Tribe Writer has transformed me from an amateur to a professional. But not just with my writing. With my entire life. Because if any of us are going to grow, we can’t stand still. We have to step out. We have to take risks. We have to leave our comfort zone behind. If we don’t, our lives might be safer. But we won’t become the people we were made to be. Do you really want that?
That’s a powerful question. I’ll leave it up to you to answer.
Join Tribe Writers Now
August 11, 2015
How One Unassuming Parenting Blog Reached a Million People
Every writer creates content in hopes of reaching the masses. But that rarely happens. Recently, though, I had the opportunity to speak with a blogger whose words had done just that. And this was the last thing he ever expected.
Photo Credit: avlxyz via Compfight cc
One of my favorite things about what I do is getting emails from people I’ve coached over the years and hearing about their success — success that sometimes even surprises me. Not too long ago, I heard from one of these people, a guy named Mike Berry, who told me of his breakthrough year.
Back in 2011, Mike and his wife Kristin had a vision. They dreamed of speaking hope into the lives of overwhelmed parents. But they didn’t want to do it the same way they’d seen it done a hundred times before.
With a house full of eight children, the Barrys knew what overwhelm felt like. And they knew other parents didn’t need another “how to” blog, telling them what they were doing wrong. They needed someone to say, “You’re not alone.”
And that’s how Confessions of a Parent was born.
Mike and Kristin had no idea how they were going to reach people with their message, and they weren’t even sure anyone would read what they had to say. But they had to try. So they decided to do something different, something nobody else seemed to be doing. They asked for help.
Mike joined Tribe Writers, an online community of writers I started a few years ago. And here’s what happened next:
It revolutionized my writing and my blog, but more than that, it changed my life. I learned how to find my writing voice and write with brevity. I discovered the power of a platform and how simple it was to build one. I discovered that I was a writer. No longer would I hide what I was called to be!
That kind of realization, followed by action, can be powerful.
Three years later, Confessions of a Parent is now read in 14 countries around the globe, by more than 100,000 people a month. “More than the numbers,” Mike told me, “we have been able to reach out and have honest conversations with parents from Australia to England to Canada to the United States.”
I love hearing stories like this, because it confirms a suspicion I’ve had about blogging for a long time. What it takes to get heard isn’t doing things the same way everyone else is doing them. It’s finding your unique voice and sharing it with the audience who needs it.
The Barrys chose what I call the “Star” platform, and communicated a powerful message: “I know how you feel.” When you do that well, the connection between you and the audience is palpable.
Of course, we’re all unique. But we’re also alike in many ways. When we share our struggles with others, we just might be surprised at how many people respond. And the principles that helped Mike and Kristin build a blog with a million readers are some of the same that can help you.
So let’s break it down. What did they do that we can learn from? Here are three steps worth repeating:
Focus your message. The Barrys were busy parents who often felt frustrated and wanted to honestly share their journey with others. They didn’t want to talk down to their audience; they wanted to relate to them. And empathy almost always wins over authority.
Ask for help. Instead of trying to figure out everything on his own, Mike fast-tracked and joined a community of thousands of writers so he could learn what he didn’t know and start applying the concepts. When in doubt, choose community.
Do the work. This is easier said than done. For seven years, I sat on the sidelines, wondering what it would be like to share my words with the world — reading blogs and books full of great advice without ever doing anything. I was cynical, thinking that worked for “those people” but could never work for me. But Mike was different. He humbled himself and asked for help. And when I finally did the same, the results were staggering. When you get over your cynicism and get to work, amazing things can happen.
Mike and Kristin are just one of many writers I’ve heard from over the years who have profited from the teaching and community in Tribe Writers. To me, it’s great news at a time when many people are saying, “It’s hard to be a writer.” I’ve not seen that. I keep reading from heroes like the Barrys who are making it happen. You can listen to more stories here.
Whatever you do, though, I hope you heed Mike and Kristin’s strategy: Empathize with your reader, ask for help when you need it, and trust the work. You’ll see the results… eventually.
And if I can help in any way, let me know. You can find out more about Tribe Writers by clicking here (registration for the next class is open for just one more day), and drop a question in the comments section below.
If you’re around today (Aug. 12), I’m doing a live Q&A on Periscope today at 4:00 p.m. CT. We’ll be talking about writing, blogging, and what it takes to get heard. Tune in (follow me @JeffGoins)! You can also drop your question in the comments of this post, and I’ll answer as many as possible.
What questions about writing or blogging do you have? Share in the comments.
August 9, 2015
The 5 Platform Personalities: What Type of Blog Is Right for You?
In today’s noisy world, there’s no other way to be heard without a platform. You have to fight for attention — that’s just the way it is. But if you think that means there’s only one way to communicate your message… you’re wrong.
Image courtesy of unsplash.com.
A professional speaker doesn’t connect with an audience the same way an author does, nor should someone who writes fiction follow the same game plan as a nonfiction writer — at least, not exactly.
So how do you decide which path is right for you?
I’ve found that there are five main types of what I call “platform personalities.” Before you start building your audience and sharing your work with the world, it would be wise to figure out what personality best fits you.
The Journalist
The Journalist builds his platform on asking questions. The only requirement for this type of platform is curiosity.
When I set out to start this blog, I was nervous. I was no expert on writing, so what right did I have to tell other people how to do it? I didn’t even have a published book (yet). Then I found out about Darren Rowse. Darren, as you may know, started one of the largest blogging communities in the world.
How did Darren build his platform? Did he wait until he was an expert? No. He began his journey by asking questions and sharing the answers publicly. And his curiosity attracted an audience of hundreds of thousands of people who daily join him in his journey. Now, he is considered a leading expert on blogging, and it all began with asking questions.
If you are a naturally inquisitive person, this may be an excellent approach for you to consider.
The Prophet
The Prophet builds her platform on telling the truth. The requirement for this type of platform is a passion for authenticity. I can think of few people who have done this better than my friend Jamie Wright.
Jamie authors a popular blog called The Very Worst Missionary, on which she riffs and rants about faith, life, and other stuff that bugs her. She complains and cusses and confesses. In short, she says all the things missionaries wish they could say, and people love her for it.
Ask any of her readers why and they’d probably tell you, “Because she’s real.” She tells the truth — the dirty, ugly, nasty, wonderful truth. That’s what a prophet does.
Of course, prophets are not always so popular. They are unpredictable and often offending someone. But that’s not their goal. The goal is to simply tell the truth, whether people want to hear it or not. Another example is Seth Godin, who is an iconoclast in the business world.
Seth calls out the brokenness of the status quo — whether it be in marketing, education, or charity work — and challenges us to something better. And sometimes he catches a lot of flack for it. That is also part of the job description of a prophet, so be prepared for some criticism if you take this approach.
And remember to not be cynical for the sake of being cynical. Good prophets do not only condemn the dark; they also call us into the light.
The Artist
The Artist builds his platform by creating art — whether it be music, painting, or entrepreneurship. The requirement is an eye for beauty.
One of my favorite artists is , the lead singer of the rock band Switchfoot. Jon communicates the truth of his message through the words he sings and the notes he plays. He challenges his listeners through powerful art that causes you to ask questions long after the song is over.
Artists speak to our hearts, not our minds. They show us through their art that another world is possible. Having sold millions of records, toured the world many times, and appeared on The Tonight Show, it’s hard to say this hasn’t worked for Jon and his band.
Another artist who has recently risen in popularity is a blogger and author by the name of Ann Voskamp whose blog encourages readers to notice the everyday moments in life we might otherwise miss. The gift of an artist is they give us eyes to see.
The Professor
The Professor builds her platform on facts and information. She does extensive research until she has achieved mastery. Of course, there is always more to learn, but this type of person knows more than most. The only requirement is a longing to learn.
A great example of someone who has built a platform this way is Jim Collins. Jim is respected speaker and author. He has written Good to Great, Built to Last, and How the Mighty Fall — all bestselling business books based on extensive research and case studies he and his team have done.
These books are not light reading. They are full of charts and information and case studies. The Professor loves data. And if you are going to build your expertise this way, you too better love reading, studying, and analyzing (or find a team that does).
The Star
Perhaps, the oddest type of platform to build (and the most visible) is that of The Star. I used to call this The Celebrity, but people got the wrong idea. These people aren’t just famous for being famous. They are known for being charismatic, for being naturally likable.
A product of a media-saturated culture, stars are a new breed of influencers. They woo and endear us, even sometimes scandalize their audiences, and for the most part, we love them for it. They are doing what we ask of them — sharing their lives.
But of course, not everyone can be a star. This kind of personality earns his audience through charisma. Often, the person is attractive or talented, but not always. These people earn their attention because people want to be around them, and this is often because they want to be around people. They’re a party looking for a place to happen.
An example of this type is Ashton Kutcher. A talented entrepreneur and well-known actor, Ashton has something that makes him especially interesting to fans and customers. He is charismatic, full of energy, ideas, and excitement. As a result, people love listening to him. Another would be blogger and best-selling author Tim Ferriss, whose mantra is basically, “If I can do it, so can you.” This is the message of a star: I’m just like you.
Networkers fall into this group, as well. They have influence, because they’re good with people. They may not be the up-front-and-center person, but they are charismatic, nonetheless. People like stars because stars tend to like people (or at least pretend they do). You can’t be a star if you’re a misanthrope. It just won’t work. More than an other personality, this one is contingent on community.
What type of platform will you build?
These are the five main types of platforms that I’ve observed. I’m sure there are others, but these seem to cover a lot of opportunities and possibilities for you. If you have a message that you want to get out to the world, you need to identify what type of voice you have and, therefore, what type of platform you will build.
If you’d like to learn more about this, check out a recent webinar I did on this topic. We cover more of this in Tribe Writers, an online course I teach that opens just a few times per year.
If there’s a question I didn’t answer in the video or in the blog post above, feel free to ask it here.
What type of platform is right for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
