Jeff Goins's Blog, page 60

036: The Secret to Setting Goals That Get Done: Michael Hyatt Interview [Podcast]

Fear is something we usually avoid at all costs. But when it comes to setting and achieving goals, are fear and discomfort avoidable? How do fear and discomfort fit in with a happy life?

According to Michael Hyatt, those are key indicators that we are on the right track.

I recently had the chance to chat with Michael about setting and achieving goals. We talked about his 5-day process for goal setting. And the reasons why some people are able to achieve their goals while others don’t.

We all start with good intentions. But good intentions don’t translate to lasting change and we usually give up. Failure doesn’t happen because our intentions are flawed. Failure happens because the process is flawed.

Michael tells us about the seven major life areas that need goals to help us be well-rounded, successful people. Because the truth is, each area of life impacts the other.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, Michael shares how happiness is not found in arriving at the destination but in the journey.

We are never more happy than when we are making significant progress toward a goal that matters to us.

Listen to the podcast

To listen to the show, click the player below (if viewing this in email, click here).

You can also download it at iTunes or on Stitcher.

Listen in as Michael talks about the process of setting goals and how to have the best year ever.

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

How fear is an important marker that we are doing something important
The difference between a New Year’s resolution and a bonafide goal
The ideal number of goals to set — Can there be too few or too many?
Why it’s more important to set difficult goals rather than easy ones
Essential ingredients to achieving goals

About my guest

Michael Hyatt is a best selling author and sought after speaker. On his personal blog he writes about personal development, leadership, productivity, platform, and publishing.

I hope you enjoyed the interview. You’re welcome to download it and share it with your friends. Also, I’d love it if you take a moment leave a review on iTunes (this helps more people find the podcast).

In this free video series, Michael shares strategies to create a solid foundation for success with your goals. You can find out more about 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever here.

Do you have written goals? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 036: The Secret to Setting Goals That Get Done: Michael Hyatt Interview [Podcast]! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

035: What About Me? Avoiding the Comparison Trap [Podcast]

Let’s be honest for a moment. At times, we all want what other people have. We long for the fame and fortune we seem to be missing out on. We are envious. This envy often leads to guilt and shame. But is it always such a bad thing?

It’s easy to see someone else’s success and compare yourself to what you think you see. Their finished product looks great, they must have it together. “Why don’t I feel that confident or competent?” you wonder. 

Or maybe you see someone doing the same thing you’re doing but experiencing far greater success. Why is that? What makes their work better than yours? On the surface, this kind of comparison feels detrimental. But perhaps, there’s a way redeem this “trap” and use it for good.

Here’s the truth:

Envy isn’t always bad. Complacency is. Envy is an indication of something you want, but don’t yet have. [Tweet that]

The hidden benefit of comparison is that you can use it to push forward. In this episode of The Portfolio Life, my co-host Andy Traub and I talk about how we both have struggled with comparison, what we’ve done about it, and how you can turn your comparison into motivation.

Listen to the podcast

To listen to the show, click the player below. (If you’re reading this via email, click here).

You can also listen at iTunes or on Stitcher.

Join us as we explore this tension between envy and motivation and why the two can go hand in hand. Admiring someone else’s success gives you something to strive for. In other words, envy, with the right motivation, can help you succeed.

Many of us feel like we’re competing with our friends or peers. But wanting to be better than everyone else is an empty pursuit. The real question is do we want to be better than we were yesterday?

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

Some questions you can ask yourself when you’re feeling jealous (so you don’t get stuck in that “What about me?” trap)
The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and why understanding this will change everything for you
How to use your envy to become a more productive pereson
Practical tips for intentional self-improvement, even when you’re feeling jealousy or unworthy

Your job as a creative is to be a little bit better today than you were yesterday. (Tweet that)

Resources mentioned in the show

The Comparison Trap: How to Enjoy (and not Envy) the Success of Others Online at 99U
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck (affiliate link)
The Innovators by Walter Isaacson (affiliate link)
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly (affiliate link)

You can also sign up for an Audible membership (my preferred way to listen to audiobooks and how I am able to read several books each month) and get your first book for free (also an affiliate link).

I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode. If you know someone who would benefit from it, feel free to download and share it. Since iTunes only cares about comparison, we’d appreciate it if you would leave a review on iTunes.

Note: My online course, Tribe Writers, opened for registration this week, along with a new bonus — my brand new course on blogging! This will be the last time this course is available until June 2015. Find out more by clicking here.

How do you deal with the comparison trap? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 035: What About Me? Avoiding the Comparison Trap [Podcast]! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

Here’s How to Get People to Care About What You Create

There’s a question every person is asking when they pick up your book, glance at your website, or consider buying your product. And it’s something we creators don’t often think about.

Photo Credit: Ian Sane via Compfight cc

“What’s in it for me?”

This is what every audience member and prospective customer is thinking, whether it’s consciously or not. And the best thing you can do to make a difference with your art, to share a message that connects, is to answer that question before they ask it. In other words, make your work so valuable that sharing it is a no-brainer.

Some examples include:

Offering an eBook that you could charge for and instead give it away to anyone who signs up for your email newsletter.
Spend an entire year (as I did) being as generous as you possibly can be to whatever readers you have, without asking for a thing.
Offer the first 15 minutes of a coaching or counseling session for free so that potential clients can see the clear value you offer.

Instead of making it about you, make it about them.

A funny thing tends to happen when we take this generous approach with our creations: When you make it about them, they’ll make it about you.

You know this already, of course. You just need to apply it. You’ve heard that people won’t care about you until you’ve shown them how much you care. The same is true here. We have to discipline ourselves to not be selfish, to open up our hands and not be stingy with the world.

I think you just might be surprised at the response you get.

To see exactly what I mean, watch this video (and don’t miss the other two in this free series I’m doing): Check it out.

What could you share with your audience? Tell me in the comments.

You just finished reading Here's How to Get People to Care About What You Create! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

Here’s a Simple Way to Get People to Care About What You Create

There’s a question every person is asking when they pick up your book, glance at your website, or consider buying your product. And it’s something we creators don’t often think about.

Photo Credit: Ian Sane via Compfight cc

“What’s in it for me?”

This is what every audience member and every prospective customer is thinking, whether it’s consciously or not. And the best thing you can do to make a difference with your art, to share a message that connects with people, is to answer that question before they ask it.

In other words, make your work so valuable that it’s a no-brainer. Some examples might include:

Offering an eBook that you could charge for and instead give it away to anyone who signs up for your email newsletter.
Spend an entire year (as I did) being as generous as you possibly can be to whatever readers you have, without asking for a thing.
Offer the first 15 minutes of a coaching or counseling session for free so that potential clients can see the clear value you offer.

Instead of making it about you, make it about them.

A funny thing tends to happen when we take this generous approach with our creations: When you make it about them, they’ll make it about you.

You know this already, of course. You just need to apply it. You’ve heard that people won’t care about you until you’ve shown them how much you care. The same is true here. We have to discipline ourselves to not be selfish, to open up our hands and not be stingy with the world.

I think you just might be surprised at the response you get.

To see exactly what I mean, watch this video (and don’t miss the other two in this free series I’m doing): Check it out.

What could you share with your audience? Tell me in the comments.

You just finished reading Here's a Simple Way to Get People to Care About What You Create! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

How to Never Worry About What to Write Again

In my near-decade of coaching writers, there has been one question I’ve been asked over and over again. In fact, this is something I often ask myself: What should I write about? The problem is that’s the wrong question.

Photo Credit: Lisa Brewster via Compfight cc

When you get stuck thinking about what you should write about, your focus is on the wrong place. You begin to fixate on things like subject and genre, even niche. And all these are not essential to developing your calling as a writer.

The words you say are the paint on the house. The foundation is the belief behind them. Which is something most writers miss.

Where we must begin, if we want people to take us seriously, is not with what we say, but how we say it. As I’ve said before, people care more about the why than the what. In other words, your voice trumps your subject.

Of course, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t have a subject for your blog or book. You should. It just means that’s not enough. Good writers, the ones we remember long after they’re gone, are the ones who have developed a clear worldview and articulate it in a definitive voice. And you should do the same.

Getting practical

So how do we do this? You can tackle this by asking yourself three important questions:

What’s wrong with the world? Your answer to this in some way reveals your worldview, your particular perspective that makes you special. List out some possible ideas for this as clues to what makes your voice so unique.
What’s one experience I have had that’s unique to me? Everyone has a story, and the easiest way to find your voice is to start telling yours. People connect to other people’s experiences, especially when it’s painful or embarrassing. When you share yours, you’re inviting others into a place where they can feel heard. Write one true, vulnerable story, and see how people connect.
What’s something that’s easy to me that’s hard to other people? You are more of an expert than you realize. Right now, someone is looking to you for your expertise on something. A great way to figure that out is to reach out to a handful of friends and ask them what you’re an expert at. See what they say, and don’t discount how easy it is to you. This, too, is a clue to what you should be writing.

This is the secret to how you never run out of an idea on what to write. And this, after years of frustration, is what I finally decided to do. Don’t chase trends. Write with a worldview. And trust that the topics will follow. It works. (Click the image below to learn more.)

Download my free video on what you should write about.

Bonus: Check out my free video that tells you how to decide what you should write about. It’s part of a three-part series I’m only offering this week. Check it out here.

What do you write about? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading How to Never Worry About What to Write Again! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

The First Question You Must Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Professional Writer

Spoiler alert: This post is about how I became a professional writer. At the end I link to a video that shares more about the process. If you want to just skip to that, just click here.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

–Proverb 23:7

I waited seven years to do this. I read dozens of books and wasted hours upon hours every week meeting with people, trying to learn this simple secret. It was the answer to the question my heart was asking. Maybe you’re asking it, too.

Click hereto watch my free video series.

Do I have what it takes?

Every writer struggles with this. In fact, every person grapples with it on some level. It’s not just a creative struggle, but a human one. We all are wondering if what we are made of is enough. Can we really survive this trauma, this struggle, this current trial – whatever it may be?

The answer, though, is not something you can find out there, in the world. It’s something you must grapple with from within. It’s a question only you can answer. And for the longest time, I misunderstood this.

My awakening

When I was starting out a few years ago as a blogger, I had a few conversations that changed my life. Even though this question your heart is asking is one you know the answer to, you will find guides along the way. These were mine.

CONVERSATION #1: In an interview, Steven Pressfield told me that a writer becomes a writer “when he says he is.” It doesn’t matter what other people think. It matters what you think, what you believe about yourself.

CONVERSATION #2: A few months later, I was having a conversation with my friend Paul and he asked me what my dream was. I told him I didn’t have any, and he looked surprised.

“Really? Because I would’ve thought your dream was to be a writer.”

“Well,” I said. “Yeah, I guess I’d like to be a writer… some day.”

“Jeff,” he said. “You don’t have to want to be a writer. You are a writer. You just need to write.”

That was all it took for me to get started. And what happened next was nothing short of extraordinary:

I launched a blog which had over 50,000 monthly readers by the end of the first year.
The next year, I replaced my wife’s income, and a few months later replaced my own.
A few months after that, I quit my job and became a professional writer and never looked back.

It sounds like it happened so fast, but really the process took about nine years – seven years of waiting and two years of finally doing the work. But all of this knowledge is worthless without understanding one simple principle.

BONUS DOWNLOAD: Watch my free video in a three-part series on what it takes to become a professional writer. Click here to get started.
The Activity-Identity Principle

I don’t know why, but when I started calling myself a writer, everything changed.

Maybe it was because now that I was owning my identity, I felt pressured to live into it. Or maybe we are all waiting to become who we really are. Regardless, I now believe in a very simple but powerful principle:

Activity always follows identity. 

This, I think, is the reason behind most people’s struggles. And it’s the secret to breakthrough in your career, your goals, and your life. Before you can do something, you have to become someone.

But where, exactly, do you begin?

Start with your words, with the everyday things you say (or think) about yourself. In the words of Mr. Pressfield, “You are when you say you are.” And that, as simple, as it sounds, just might be the answer.

Here’s your challenge (and a free video series)

If you’ve read my blog for some time, you’re probably not unfamiliar with this story or even this idea of owning your identity. Because of the impact it’s had on my life, I’ve written about it many times.

But just because you’ve heard this doesn’t mean you’ve applied it, right? Often, it’s the most familiar things that we take for granted the most.

So if you’re reading this and feeling a little uncomfortable, maybe that’s a prompting. Maybe it’s time for you to take a significant step towards changing your life. Maybe it’s time to become yourself.

Here’s what I want you to do. Try this out. If you were like me, wondering when you would have permission to start writing, why not do what I did, what my friend made me do?

Call yourself a writer. And watch your confidence grow. Slowly, you will begin to believe more in yourself, and your competence will increase. It’s a mysterious but beautiful process. As you declare these things to be true, you are becoming more that person.

If you’re in, go watch the first video in my three-part series on the questions every writer must ask. Click here to leave a comment, declaring you’re a writer.

You just finished reading The First Question You Must Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Professional Writer! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

034: Create Balance, Create Better Art: Interview with Mars Dorian [Podcast]

We’re all trying to find the balance in life allowing time and space for relationship development, financial income, and artistic expression. But sometimes you have to ignore your work in order to become a better artist.

When he first built his successful freelance business, Mars Dorian’s daily routine was vampire-like. He began work every evening between 6 and 10, and didn’t get to bed until 3am. His health, social life, and work all suffered because of it.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, Mars shares how he’s finally found balance for his creative process, in his daily routine, and as a support for building a self-sufficient career.

Listen to the podcast

To listen to the show, click the player below (if viewing this in email, click here).

You can also download it at iTunes or on Stitcher.

Join us as Mars talks about how he switched back to daylight hours and a healthier life. It wasn’t easy.

He had to develop a new schedule that allowed him to create with discipline without neglecting relationships or his own body. He attacked this common problem with a unique solution you’ll want to hear.

You need a critical mind to say, ‘This is a good art work but how can I create a better one?’ After everything that I finish whether it’s a book or an art book, I always ask myself, ‘What can I do better with the next one?’

–Mars Dorian

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

How your unique style and the freedom to create makes your art work better
Why books are products that add value, not merely ideas to be shared for free
The importance of relationships and building your work schedule around them
How mental and physical health impact your creative process
The first two-part step to self-sufficiency

About my guest

Mars Dorian is an illustrator and sci-fi storyteller who built his platform in English because he wanted to address the whole planet not just those within Germany’s borders. He’s an artist whose work is unlike anyone else’s. And if the internet was a woman, he’d marry her.

I hope you enjoyed the interview. You’re welcome to download it and share it with your friends. Also, I’d love it if you take a moment leave a review on iTunes (this helps more people find the podcast).

Don’t forget to enter the Ultimate Blog Package giveaway and share it with your tribe. Every time you refer a friend, you get three extra chances to win. Here’s the link.

How do you balance the tension between health, relationships, and work? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 034: Create Balance, Create Better Art: Interview with Mars Dorian [Podcast]! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

033: Is That It? How to Create Experiences, Not Just Exchanges [Podcast]

How can we make a difference in someone’s life? Really, it doesn’t take much. Just a few small gestures can make a big difference.

Photo Credit: jpellgen via Compfight cc

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, my co-host Andy Traub and I talk about creating wow experiences for people and what it really takes to exceed expectations.

The idea of this show is this: Go beyond what is expected, do a little bit more than status quo, to make a difference in someone’s life. Being generous isn’t always about grand gestures. Doing small things on a consistent basis is all it takes to blow people away.

As you listen to this week’s episode of the podcast, I hope you are encouraged to make a difference in someone’s life.

Listen to the podcast

To listen to the show, click the player below (if viewing this in email, click here).

You can also download it at iTunes or on Stitcher.

Listen in as we talk about the practical ways to create wow experiences for others. And don’t miss our usual ridiculous (but sometimes serious) predictions of the future.

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

The right kind of wow and the wrong kind of wow (and how to tell the difference).
How to give generously and make a lasting impact in other people’s lives.
Some simple ways to make someone’s day (it’s not as hard as you might think).
The sad product of living an ungenerous, self-centered life.
How to redeem bad experiences through a life that is others-focused.
Why generosity, ultimately, wins.

Resources mentioned in the show

Heath and Alyssa Padgett of Hourly America (check out their documentary in the making!)
Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders
Today We Are Rich by Tim Sanders

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode. Feel free to download it and share with friends. And I’d love for you to take a moment to leave a review on iTunes (this helps more people find the podcast).

Note: If you’ve been getting more than you expected from this blog, if I’ve been able to “wow” you in some small way, I’d love for you to vote for me for this Top 10 Writing Blogs Contest. It only takes a few seconds!

And to thank you all for being awesome, I’m giving away a chance to win The Ultimate Blog Package (worth over $1,000): my premium Tribe Theme, a full year of access to the Intentional Blog course, and a one-on-one blog coaching session with me. Click here and enter to win.

What small things can you do to make a big impact? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 033: Is That It? How to Create Experiences, Not Just Exchanges [Podcast]! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

The Best Blogging Advice I Ever Heard and Why It Ultimately Failed Me

It was the one thing everyone seemed to say. The crucial piece of advice that I was hesitant to take. And as great as it was, it just wasn’t enough.

Photo Credit: gatogrunge via Compfight cc

“Just get started.”

This was what all my friends with successsful blogs had told me. It was the holy grail of advice. If I could just begin, they reasoned, then I would find my way.

The problem was I had already done that eight times before. And it just didn’t work.

Why starting isn’t enough

There’s something to be said about starting. It’s the place where we all begin. And I’m definitely a fan of not waiting for perfection and just getting on with the work you know you need to do.

But is that enough to succeed? Not quite.

After seven years of trying and failing and then two years of finally figuring it out, I’ve realized that starting is just, well, the start.

If you’re going to share your message with the world, if you’re going to build a blog that matters, you’re going to have to get intentional.

Three keys to blogging success

Recently, I released three free video trainings on what I’ve learned from building an online audience of 100,000 people. This was a process that took less than two years, and since then, I’ve taught over 2000 people to do the same.

And now I’m sharing these secrets with you.

Here’s what I’ve learned (click the links below to watch the videos which are all now available for a limited time):

Find your voice. This is the one thing that only you can provide, your unique perspective and way of viewing the world. Learning how to share it is an essential skill.
Combine passion with need. It’s not enough to have a dream. You need demand. People must want what you have to offer and actually value it. Otherwise, you only have a hobby.
Help people. Some say it’s not who you know but who knows you. But I think it goes deeper than that: it’s not who you know, it’s who you help. Being resourceful is the absolute best way to build an audience.

An opportunity to go deeper

If you’d like to learn more about this and have a chance to work directly with me, I want to encourage you to check out my new course, Intentional Blog.

This is an A-to-Z course on all things you need to know to start and build a powerful blog. With over 30 step-by-step video tutorials, I share everything I’ve learned in the past decade of training bloggers to succeed and doing it myself.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or have struggled with building an online audience and wondered what the secret was, this course is for you.

The course will only be available at a 50% discount for first-time students until 11:59 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 26. After that, registration will close and the price will go up. I’m also offering exclusive group coaching calls with this first class.

So you won’t want to miss it. I’d love to work with you. You can find out more by clicking below.

Check Out Intentional Blog

What’s the best piece of blogging advice you’ve ever heard? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading The Best Blogging Advice I Ever Heard and Why It Ultimately Failed Me! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.

032: Facebook Isn’t the Problem — You Are: Interview with Joshua Becker [Podcast]

Everyone seems to be complaining Facebook these days. Too many ads. Too much clutter. Too little interaction with the people you want to reach. But what if Facebook wasn’t the problem? What if you were?

Mark Zuckerberg and company have given us an opportunity. An opportunity to reach people and interact with others. And maybe it’s up to us to make the most of us.

But let’s face it. Facebook is a busy place with lots of people vying for your attention. So is it really possible to stand out and get noticed in the crowd? I brought that question to someone I consider an expert on the subject.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, Joshua Becker shares his specific formula for using Facebook to reach more people. If you’re a content creator or just someone who wants to reach and help more people on the largest social network in teh world, you won’t want to miss it.

Listen to the podcast

To listen to the show, click the player below (if viewing this in email, click here).

You can also download it at iTunes or on Stitcher.

About my guest

Joshua Becker is the founder of the super popular blog Becoming Minimalist. He’s also a good friend and incredibly nice guy (last time we hung out together, he bought everyone’s lunch).

In less than three years, Joshua followed a few simple strategies that took his Facebook page from 4,000 likes to over 190,000 likes. He describes being on Facebook as a small storefront in the middle of Times Square. It’s busy, crowded, and filled with people. You have an opportunity to connect with people.

But how do you stand out and be seen? His advice was simple:

Give people the content they are interested in seeing.

Simple, but not so easy. How do you know what people want? And how do you give Facebook the kind of content that it thinks people want? You have to find out what people want to see and then deliver that content to them in a way that resonates.

His basic process is:

Post consistently to your page (a few times per day).
Share relevant links with good descriptions and images.
Use interesting images that people can immediately connect with (image quotes work well).

Following these principles that Joshua lays out in our interview will give you better engagement results with Facebook. I know, because I’ve started following his advice and have seen unexpected growth in my own Facebook page.

 Interview highlights

In this interview, Joshua and I talk about:

The switch Joshua made in how he viewed Facebook and why it made all the difference.
The specific formula Joshua follows (and that I have started following) for posting on Facebook.
How to get out of a rut when your engagement declines.
His thoughts on Facebook ads (and why he rarely uses them).
How Facebook rewards people who are posting great content and penalizes those who don’t.
And a lot more!

Resources mentioned

Joshua shared some important resources, including where to find free, high-quality photos, and how to edit them. Here are some resources to check out:

Pixabay
Unsplash
Picmonkey (for editing photos and easily adding text to them)
Joshua’s Blog: Beccoming Minimalist
Becoming Minimalist Facebook page

I hope you enjoy the interview. Feel free to download it and share with friends. And I’d love for you to take a moment and leave a review on iTunes.

What strategies are you using to stand out in the crowd? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 032: Facebook Isn't the Problem — You Are: Interview with Joshua Becker [Podcast]! Consider leaving a comment!

Are you ready to embrace the "in-between" and experience all life has to offer? Check out my new book.