Jeff Goins's Blog, page 61

Why Pursuing Your Passion Is Not Enough (and What You Should Do Instead)

A lot of people will tell that all it takes to succeed in life is to pursue your passion. But is that always true?

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There are plenty of people out there who are trying to do things they love and aren’t necessarily succeeding. So what are they missing? The truth is that passion is only one of three characteristics you need to find your calling.

Watch me explain this in a free video series: Why Passion Is Not Enough.
Demand, competency, passion

When I’m working with my students or workshop attendees, I walk them through an exercise in which I ask them to answer three important questions. If you want to build a blog that people actually read, make a living doing what you love, or launch a business that succeeds, you’ll have to answer them, too. They are:

What do people want?
What am I good at?
What do I love doing?

Where these three questions converge is where you’ll your “sweet spot.” As Frederick Buechner wrote, your vocation lies in the intersection of the world’s deep need and your deep joy.

In other words, you have to do something that is both interesting to you and that other people are interested in. And of course, you have to be good (quality is assumed). These questions cover the following areas:

Demand: what the world needs or what the market wants.
Competency: what skill or ability you offer to meet that demand.
Passion: the enjoyment you get from the work you do.

If you have only one or two of these but not all three, you won’t make it. Competency without passion is drudge work. And passion without demand is a hobby. You have to have all three to make a meaningful contribution.

But of course, that’s not to say there isn’t value in doing things you love. I have lots of hobbies I enjoy. I just don’t expect people to pay me for them.

And neither should you.

What’s in it for them?

If you want to get the most satisfaction out of your work and make the most meaningful contribution, you have to move beyond just what you’re passionate about. You have to consider what’s in it for other people.

This is not such a bad thing, actually. Earning the right to share your dream means you value people’s time. It means you actually care about someone other than yourself. But what does that look like, practically?

Here are three simple steps you can take today:

Ask good questions. How else are you going to figure out what people want? You discover demand when you find out what others are struggling with.
Share what you know. The best way to figure out what you’re good at and what value you can offer the world is to share what seems natural and obvious to you and see what resonates with others.
Pay attention to what gets you excited. See how what you share connects with other people and how that affects you. Do you get excited when you teach? Does it drain you to speak in front of people? Take notice of what lights you up and find ways to do more of those things.

No, passion is not enough. The world needs more than for you to just do what you love. It needs you to make a difference. And each of these steps will help you figure out what people want, how you can deliver value, and what it takes to make that work both fulfilling and satisfying.

So you had better get started.

(Note: I’m not sure who first originated this demand-competency-passion model, but lots of folks have addressed it in different ways. I know for a fact that Scott Belsky and Michael Hyatt have both written and spoken about it.)

Learn the keys to successful blogging in my free video series.

Free video: Learn why passion is not enough to build a popular blog in my free video series: The Keys Every Successful Needs to Master.

Do you think passion is enough to succeed? Share in the comments.

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031: The Importance of Being Your True Self [Podcast]

What do you do? It’s a common question. And it seems like the answer should be easy enough. But it doesn’t always feel so simple. Many of us struggle with answering that very question.

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Sometimes the thing we are doing or the job title we hold doesn’t encompass who we fully are. Sometimes, our dream looks different than our day job. And the truth is we are more than what we do. We are not just one thing. Which is where the struggle comes in.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, my co-host Andy Traub and I discuss the importance of owning who you are, even when it feels risky.

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 practical and profound ways to own who you really are. And as usual Andy and I share a couple predictions for the future.

What we don’t say (and why it matters)

Sometimes, people won’t admit who they are. They’ll hem and haw and stammer, waiting for permission to be their true selves. I know this, because I was this way (still am sometimes). And I can tell you: it is an utter waste of time.

Here’s the essence of the episode in a short statement:

The things you neglect to say about yourself say as much, if not more, than the things you really do say. [Tweet that]

In other words, what you are afraid to admit about yourself just might be an indicator of exactly who you are.

On the show, we talk more about this fear of becoming ourselves and how we shouldn’t ignore it. Instead, we ought to realize that in the midst of this fear lie some of our greatest assets.

Don’t spend your life hiding behind the facade of a fake self. Be your true self — you’ll be happier, more successful, and live a better life. [Tweet that]

As you listen to this week’s episode of the podcast, I hope you’ll find encouragement to be your true self, even when it feels risky.

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

The most significant conversation I’ve ever had, in regards to my vocation.
When I began to call myself a writer and what happened the following week.
The most overlooked page on every website, the number one clicked page on my homepage, and why they are so important.
Three things that need to be included on your About Page.
The importance of owning who you are.
The bravest thing you can do for yourself.

Resources mentioned

The Gifts of Imperfections by Brené Brown
HarperCollins e-commerce program for authors
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port

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).

I wanted to remind you about Jeff Walker’s video series on how to do online product launches. I highly recommend this free video series. I’m a proud student and affiliate and recommend his course (which you’ll hear more about but are in no way obligated to buy). I can honestly say this is the best stuff I’ve ever seen on the subject of launches. If you decide to get his course, I will receive a commission, but remember I don’t recommend anything I don’t use myself and absolutely love.

Click here to check out the videos.

What’s one fear that keeps you from being your true self? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 031: The Importance of Being Your True Self [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 Courageous Decision to Show Your Work

The only way to find your voice is to use it.

—Austin Kleon

The hardest decisions we face are the ones that can’t be made without you — in other words, the important stuff that often doesn’t feel urgent.

Like taking your spouse out to dinner for no reason at all. Or showing that coworker how much you appreciate her. Even deciding to hit “publish” on a blog post.

They’re the decisions that if you don’t make them no one notices but you. It’s the choice to leave your job when you think it’s time, despite the fact that everyone says you do great work. It’s the choice to launch an important project when there is plenty of email to answer.

These are the decisions that shape us, that shape our world and affect our future. They’re not easy decisions to make, but they are important.

The better of two goods

Often, it might feel like choosing between two pretty good options. But in your heart you know which one is right. The life of an artist is full of moments like this. Moments where the only wrong choice is to not move forward, to stagnate.

I can’t say what this means for you. For me, it means hanging onto a project far longer than I should. It means starting something (or finishing it) before I feel ready. It’s learning to trust my gut, obey my instinct, and listen to the spirit inside that says, “It’s time.”

One of the most important decisions I made happened three years ago. It was the decision to start calling myself a writer. When I did this, all kinds of crazy things started happening. The most amazing one was this: I finally began to believe I was a writer.

And as a result, I began to act like it, publishing and sharing my work.

Eventually, the world started to take notice. Publishers, agents, and editors were now asking me to write. Instead of me going to them, the gatekeepers were showing up at my doorstep, which was, admittedly, weird. But I’ve learned to embrace the lesson in this experience.

In the words of Maya Angelou, “Nothing works until you do.”

Daily decisions make a difference

Now, the biggest decisions I face on a daily basis involve when to release my work to the world.

For example, I’ve been finishing up the manuscript for my next book, which in many ways feels like the most important thing I’ve ever written. But I’m beyond petrified of finishing it. Which is what makes me confident I need to do it.

When you begin to feel that fear of inadequacy, knowing you’ve done the work and simply sat on your behind, this is a telltale sign that it’s time to ship. To let go. To turn the work in and move on to the next project.

I’m thankful for this hesitation, the thing that causes me to deliberate over something until it’s as close to perfect as I can make it. But at the same time, I kind of hate it. It’s paralyzing.

So without thinking, I close my eyes and hit send on the email or “publish” that blog post and let go of my work which will never be totally finished.

Often, I have no idea if it’s going to move people or flop. But that’s not my call to make. What’s mine to do, and perhaps yours as well, is to do the work and accept the outcome. Quality comes with time.

Your job is to trust the process and keep showing up.

Note: If you’ve ever wondered what this looks like practically or what you can do to put your work out in the world, I recommend starting a blog. Next week, I’ll be sharing something that will help you take all the hassle out of blogging so that you can get your message heard. Stay tuned!

What courageous decision to share your work can you make today? Share in the comments.

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

The 4 Keys to Creating Powerful Product Launches

I’m launching a new project later this month. It’s always a scary thing, sharing some brand new creation you’ve made. What if people don’t understand what you’re trying to do? What if they don’t see the value? What if they hate it?

Photo Credit: Let Ideas Compete via Compfight cc

There is, however, a simple way to make sure none of those fears come true.

Every great launch begins with a plan. All worthy endeavors, or at least most of them, are not merely thrown together but carefully considered and then executed.

To make sure I don’t get this wrong, I’m reviewing a few epic launches from the world of business, technology, and online entrepreneurship. And I thought I’d share what I learned with you.

So here goes. There are four keys to launching anything — a book, a business, even a blog — well. And below I will share them with you, along with some familiar and not-so-familiar examples.

Key #1: Anticipation (Why People Stand in Line for iPhones)

There is a reason why people stand in line for hours to get the new iPhone when they could merely order one or waltz into an Apple store the next week, getting one without any trouble or hassle. They just can’t wait.

Anticipation creates demand. It’s what makes people want what you have and gets them talking about it. (Tweet that)

So how do you do this? You create anticipation by:

announcing a launch date, and
telling people exactly what they need to do on that date.

Think of a “save the date” card for a wedding. It’s designed to get people interested in the event, make sure they don’t schedule something else, and to hopefully get them to attend.

When Michael Hyatt told people to wait to buy his book until the week it came out, he was building anticipation. And that book became an instant best seller.

Lesson: When you tell people to wait, it creates an energy that can be leveraged into action.
Key #2: Generosity (How Giving Has a Way of Giving Back)

Speaking of Apple, why did they give all their users a free upgrade to more iCloud space a day before doing a major product launch? And why did Chris Guillebeau give a free copy of his new book to every single attendee of his conference, totaling nearly 3000 people?

Was it just to be nice? Maybe. But generosity has a way of rewarding the giver. Especially when you time it right.

This is what product launch expert Jeff Walker calls a “pre-pre-launch.” The idea is to do this before you begin building anticipation for a launch. Do something unexpectedly nice before making an ask like “go buy my product” or “go tell people about my new book” and see the power of reciprocity at work.

Lesson: Practicing generosity is a way of filling the trust tank and building rapport with your audience before asking them to do something. But in order for this strategy work, it must be done in a completely generous way, and you can’t expect anything in return.
Key #3: Urgency (Taylor Swift’s Secret to Selling a Million Records)

It’s not enough to have something great to sell or share with the world. It’s not enough to be generous and kind and hope people will actually give you their time or money. You have to make it urgent.

Most people are procrastinators. I know I am. I will wait until the last possible moment to do something that I know I should do. Why? Because if I don’t have to do it now, I would rather be doing something else. But when things start to get urgent and I know the clock is ticking, I start to get serious.

I am not alone in this. Many people are this way. Why else are the malls overcrowded on Christmas Eve, trying to cram in those last few hours of gift buying before it really is too late?

In order to get people to say yes to whatever you’re offering, you can’t just tell them a date to buy. You have to tell them why now is the best time. As some have said, something bad must happen on the day after your launch. Maybe you take the product off the market or take away a bunch of bonuses.

This is why why after launching my online course seven different times, I still see most of the students sign up on the last day. It’s also the secret behind Groupon’s success.

A more recent example is Taylor Swift’s latest album launch, which included a time-sensitive contest that required you to buy the CD to enter to win. The timing of the contest just so happened to be the week that the record released. A million records later (all of which sold in a week), Taylor’s strategy apparently worked.

Lesson: People are procrastinators. And you can help them not miss what you have by making your offering impossible to ignore.
Key #4: Scarcity (Why People Want What They Can’t Have)

People don’t want things that are abundant. We humans have a tendency to ignore the things that are right in front of us, even when they offer incredible value.

But gold? Diamonds? Buffalo nickels? These rare finds always grab our attention.

If you haven’t heard, the next big thing online is a new, ad-free social network called Ello. It started out as a way for some friends to stay connected with each other but when it began attracting groups that felt disenfranchised from places like Facebook, suddenly everyone wanted in.

When you sign up for Ello, you get five free invites to share with your friends. And much like with the release of a new Google product, you will find people (like me) begging their acquaintances for an invite.

Apparently, Ello gets over 40,000 invite requests a day. In other words, scarcity works. But for this to work for you, the scarcity you create needs to be legitimate. It can’t be contrived. For example, when a developer limits the amount of licenses to a new piece of software they can sell, it’s usually because they want to be able to support their customer base. I also think that’s the right thing to do.

Lesson: Genuine scarcity leads to trust and demand, whereas false scarcity leads to skepticism and doubt. (Tweet that)
Putting it all together

So what does this all mean for you?

It means you need to:

Create something that people are anticipating.
Be as generous as you possibly can be before and while launching it.
Make your offer urgent so that people have a reason to buy now.
Make it scarce in a way that increases its value.

If done right, this can make people want what you have even more. Any fool can put something together and tell people to buy it, but it takes a plan to do a launch right.

Good luck.

If you want to learn more about this, I highly recommend this free video series from Jeff Walker on how to do online product launches. I’m a proud student and affiliate of Jeff and highly recommend his course (which you’ll hear more about but are in no way obligated to buy), and I can honestly say this is the best stuff I’ve ever seen on this subject.

If you decide to get his course, I will receive a commission, but remember I don’t recommend anything I don’t use myself and absolutely love.

Click here to get the first video.

Have you launched a product recently or do you have plans to launch one soon? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading The 4 Keys to Creating Powerful Product Launches! Consider leaving a comment!

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

030: Practical Strategies to Build Your Platform [Podcast]

You want to share your message with the world. You want to be heard. But in this day and age, with all the noise the Internet creates, building your platform can be challenging.

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In this episode of The Portfolio Life, my co-host Andy Traub and I discuss the five platform personalities and the reason they are so important.

We also talk about attracting attention to your work and the importance of relationships. And how offline connection leads to online influence.

The way to build influence is one small interaction at a time and the key behind it all? Be thoughtful.

If you want to connect with an influencer, don’t start with what you want, start with what they want. [Tweet that]

As you listen to this week’s episode of the podcast, you’ll find practical strategies to build influence and grow your platform.

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 practical and profound ways to build your online platform. And as usual Andy and I share a couple predictions for the future.

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

How to build offline connections that lead to online influence.
The five platform personalities and the reasons they are important.
Defining boundaries and how to choose what to share on your platform.
The smartest way to build a platform.
The 1%-9%-90% rule of the internet.

Resources mentioned in the show

All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin
Ev Williams’ Medium is Blogging for the 9% — Article by Hunter Walk
Publishing platforms — Medium and Ghost

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).

My book, You Are A Writer, is now available as an audiobook. You can get it free when you sign up for a free trial of Audible.

What is your platform personality? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 030: Practical Strategies to Build Your Platform [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.

Finding Your Genius: 3 Surprising Places to Get Creatively Re-inspired

Today, I don’t know what I should write about. This doesn’t happen too often as I keep a repository of ideas for this very purpose. But today, nothing feels right. So what do I do?

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I thought I just might share my process for where I turn to when I run out of ideas — and why creativity never happens in a vacuum.

We all get stuck sometimes. We lose the inspiration that made us want to create in the first place. Overcome with so many possibilities, we get overwhelmed and don’t know what to do.

The answer to this feeling of “stuckness” is a complicated one. Some will tell you to just check out. Go for a walk or take a break. But sometimes, a quick fix doesn’t do the trick. You’re on a deadline or committed to following through no matter what. You don’t have time to take a break. You’ve got to produce something now.

What do you do?

This, I believe, is the place where some of the best creativity happens — when you feel absolutely stuck and aren’t quite sure where to turn. Let me explain why.

Creativity is not an isolated incident

Over the years, psychologists have changed the way they think about creativity. Originally, to be creative was a highly individualistic endeavor. It was something that happened to very special people. We called them “geniuses.”

Now, researchers understand the science of creativity to be a little more complex than that. Many embrace what’s called a “systems theory” of creativity, which basically means the environment you’re in and the people you’re around affect the work you do.

Genius, according to the research, has little to do with inborn characteristics. It isn’t so much about having a great idea or being an exceptional person. It’s more about finding the right combination of factors that will allow your originality to shine.

As famous psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (which is fun to say and even more fun to try to spell) said:

Creativity presupposes a community of people who share ways of thinking and acting, who learn from each other and imitate each other’s actions.

In other words, in spite of what we would like to think, creative work doesn’t happen in a vacuum, some mad scientist workshop out in the middle of nowhere. True creativity, the kind that makes a mark on history, happens in a community, an environment full of interconnected parts.

How to get unstuck

Great ideas just aren’t enough. The world’s most creative people need encouragement and help getting their ideas out into the world.

So when you’re feeling creatively stuck — whether it’s with a blog post or a new business venture — it’s important to not retreat. You have to find a way to get moving in the right direction again. Below are three strategies that work.

Copy someone else. When you don’t know what to do, it’s not a bad idea to imitate what someone else is doing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be “original.” That comes with time and practice. As Picasso famously said, “Good artists copy. Great artists steal.” And in the stealing, I believe, we find something original.
Move around. Transition from your desk to your sofa. Work at the kitchen table instead of the home office. Or get even more extreme and pack your bags. Michael Crichton used to finish his novels in a hotel room, and Ernest Hemingway didn’t really become the author we know him as until he moved to Paris. A change in environment can do a lot.
Do what’s easy. We are all born with a unique set of genes that influence who we become. In the writing world, a popular adage is to “write what you know.” The idea here is you have more resources than you know what to do with. Flannery O’Connor said that if you survived childhood, you have enough writing material to last you a lifetime. Sometimes, doing the easiest, most natural thing is all it takes to find your genius.

What I did

How did I do these things with this blog post?

First, I did a little bit of research because I’ve looked around at other writers (like my friend James Clear) who do a much better job of integrating scholarly articles into their writing. And I learned from them, applying what I could to this piece.

Then, I went upstairs to lie on my bed, stomach-down, to write (I don’t know why, but this posture just has a way or squeezing the ideas out of me). I think it’s because it’s a little uncomfortable and not a posture I can maintain all day.

Finally, I did what I knew: I wrote a blog post. I didn’t try to sound too much like someone else. I just did me.

When we do what feels natural, what seems obvious or even easy, we are tapping into our individuality — which is much more valuable than we realize. But that individuality needs to be leveraged with the right environment and shared in a way that will make an impact. You have to pay attention to what your peers are doing and be aware of the gatekeepers, while at the same time putting yourself in a place where your true self can shine.

Note: If you need help compiling your best ideas into a book, check out Learn Scrivener Fast, an online course that will help you make the most of my favorite word processing tool. For the rest of today, you can get access to a free webinar replay and a special discount. Learn more here.

What do you do when you run out of ideas? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading Finding Your Genius: 3 Surprising Places to Get Creatively Re-inspired! Consider leaving a comment!

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

029: The Secret Behind a Million-Dollar Kickstarter: Adam Greene’s Bibliotheca [Podcast]

I began to perceive books as this sort of reverent artifact, this special thing that miraculously transmits words across centuries and millennia.

—Adam Greene

More than words that make up pages. More than just a good story. Books are works of art meant to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation. But in this day of mass production, are books being made that will stand the test of time?

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing book designer Adam Greene who was the mastermind behind the million-dollar Kickstarter campaign, Bibliotheca.

Adam believes content and design are meant to complement each other. Even in the Information Age, he believes in creating books that are elegant and enjoyable to read. He decided to apply these beliefs to one of the oldest pieces of literature in the world: the Bible.

Bibliotheca, as it was called, had a starting goal of $37,000 on Kickstarter, which was met in just 27 hours. It eventually reached $1.4 million in 30 days. How did he do it? Adam didn’t start with a massive blog audience. He started with an idea, passion, and the support of family and friends.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, Adam and I discuss the history of books and what makes them beautiful (and readable). We also talk about his project Bibliotheca and what it takes to launch a super successful Kickstarter campaign.

Listen to the interview

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.

Interview highlights

In this interview, we discuss:

How books should be beautiful, elegant, and well-made (even in the Information Age).
The story behind Bibliotheca, one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns in history.
How Adam met his Kickstarter goal of $37,000 in just 27 hours after launch and went on to raise $1.4 million.
The video behind his successful launch (and why it was crucial to Bibliotheca’s success).
What happens after a Kickstarter campaign ends (and the real work begins).
What’s next for Adam Greene (and maybe for book publishing, in general).

What is Bibliotheca?

Bibliotheca is the entire biblical library separated into volumes and designed purely for reading. The text is reverently treated in classic typographic style, free of all added conventions such as chapter numbers, verse numbers, section headers, cross references and notes.

Adam desired to create an alternative to the encyclopedic nature of the Bible and create a reading experience that was less daunting. The Kickstarter campaign that funded the project is over, but Bibliotheca is now available for pre-order.

To find out more, watch Adam’s video, or pre-order Bibliotheca, go here.

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.

A couple of interesting writing resources

Here are some things you might have missed:

Don’t miss my free webinar today with Joseph Michael, the Scrivener Coach, on how to organize, write, and format your eBook (replay available for those who sign up).
If you’re interested in seeing how a book is written from idea to publication, check out Fiction Unboxed. If you pick it up today, you’ll also get a free bonus video series: “Write. Publish. Repeat. Conversations” when it’s released next month.

Do you think it’s important to have well made books? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 029: The Secret Behind a Million-Dollar Kickstarter: Adam Greene's Bibliotheca [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.

Why I Will Never Use Microsoft Word Again

I wasted years of my life doing all my writing on Microsoft Word. But that’s all over now. I have finally seen the light.

After hearing so many writers I respect (people like Michael Hyatt and Andy Traub) talk about the magic of Scrivener, a word processor designed for serious writing projects, I decided to give it a go.

I had no idea what I was missing.

What’s so bad about Microsoft Word?

First things first. Here’s my beef with MS Word:

It’s complicated. I find the auto-indents and instant formatting cumbersome and frustrating. And yes, you can turn this stuff off, but navigating a plethora of menus is anything but easy.
It crashes. Like, all the time. I thought this was just me until I heard from other writers who struggle with this, too. Word will just randomly crash on you and unless you’re saving every seven seconds, you’re likely to lose some of your work. I have lost more than a few chapters of my books thanks to this feature.
It’s irrelevant. Those who swear by Word tell me they love the robust features like being able to add footnotes and chapter links and the like. Yes, that’s cool, but the problem with these features is that they’re pointless for authors. Any fancy formatting that Word lets you do doesn’t register with most typesetting software (subheads, bulleted lists, and endnotes/footnotes all have to be marked up manually and then designed by a book designer). So who cares?
It’s ugly. This may not be a big deal to you, but I like using beautiful, simple tools. They inspire me. And every time I open up Word, I feel like I’m making my life as a writer way more complicated than it needs to be.

What I really want when I write

As a writer, I basically just want to write. I don’t want to have to worry too much about making sure the tools work right or having to fix some funky formatting because of an invisible rule that Word set up because it “intelligently” thought I was doing something that I wasn’t.

And I don’t think I’m alone in this.

By no means am I an accomplished technologist, but I know my way around a computer and can figure a lot of things out. And I know for a fact, I have wasted days of my life trying to fix something that Microsoft Word messed up, just trying to get the text back to normal. But what’s a writer to do?

For the longest time, I thought the answer was just “grin and bear it.” Well, not anymore.

Enter Scrivener…

As soon as I opened up Scrivener, I was amazed at how much easier it was than Word. Yes, it’s a robust program, full of features I know I haven’t taken full advantage of (more on that in a minute), but immediately I made a vow to myself.

“I will never use Microsoft Word again,” I said after writing my first piece on Scrivener.

I just finished my last book, The Art of Work, and wrote the entire thing on this wonderful word processor. Guess what didn’t happen while writing that book? I never lost a chapter due to the program crashing. I never screamed at the computer for forcing an indent I didn’t actually want. It just worked.

Why I love Scrivener

Here are a few reasons why I love this program and recommend Scrivener to any writer:

It’s affordable. At most, it’ll cost you $45 ($40 for PC). Compare that to Word’s $139 price point, and it’s a no-brainer (consider Scrivener is way better and much more writer-friendly). Find out more here.
It’s simple. Unlike MS Word, there’s a distraction-free mode that allows you to just write and not worry about anything else. If you’re a Mac user, it’s similar to what Pages allows you to do (but better).
It’s easy to use. One of my favorite features of Scrivener is how you can create small mini-documents (called “texts”) and drag and drop them in whatever order you want. This is essential for me when writing a book, as I am writing it piece-by-piece and often moving chunks around. In Word, you have to copy, scroll, and paste. It’s not very efficient or easy. This is my favorite feature of Scrivener.
It’s ideal for authors. You can export your work to any digital book version, which allows you to publish directly to Amazon, B&N, or wherever without having to hire a designer (which can easily cost you $500 just to format the book). That feature alone is worth the cost of the software.
It’s multifaceted. Scrivener comes with templates that allow you to write for whatever form or style you prefer (screenwriting, novel, nonfiction book, etc.). I have even heard of people like Michael Hyatt using it for blogging. The possibilities are endless, but honestly I am just beginning to learn all the potential uses for this tool.

So what does this mean for you?

I think if you’re happy with MS Word, by all means keep using it. As for me, I’m done with it. It just doesn’t compete with Scrivener. And finally, after years of feeling frustrated, I’m able to write without worrying about anything else.

If, however, you’re looking for something to make your writing life easier, something that will help you be more creative and product, I recommend you do the following:

Go grab a copy of Scrivener. It really is a steal for the value you get. There’s even a free trial version of it. Check it out here. Use the coupon code “selfpublishing” during checkout to receive $9 off.
Sign up for my upcoming Scrivener webinar. This Wednesday, my friend Joseph Michael will be sharing how to use Scrivener to its fullest potential (there are some advanced features that I admittedly don’t know much about and am excited to learn from the Scrivener Coach himself).

Whatever you do, I hope you don’t spend as much time as I did feeling frustrated, just trying to get your words out into the world. You deserve a tool that helps you get the job done. I’d love to hear more from you in the comments about what tools you use to get your writing done.

Do you like using MS Word? Why or why not? Have you ever used Scrivener? Share in the comments.

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How to Wow Your Audience with the Right Image

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Barry Pearman who lives in Auckland, New Zealand.  Barry blogs about Spiritual Formation and Soul talk for Mental Health. You can follow him on his blog and connect with him on Twitter.

There was something about this picture that grabbed me. Was it the black and white starkness? Shadow’s hinting of something unknown? Male or female? Poor or rich? Going unnoticed in a crowd to a home of loneliness?

Photo credit: SpaceShoe (Creative Commons)

Something grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Images can have a spellbinding effect and shape our thinking. They can trigger off memories of past events and places. Images speak the words we never thought we could say.

When I saw this image it triggered off a Jim Wallis quote:

Only those willing to stand close enough to listen will ever hear those closest to the problem.

–Jim Wallis

I have stood close to those who have been wrecked and interrupted by Mental Illness. I have listened to the stories. Images of suffering seared into my mind that keep me grounded to a reality unknown to most.

Pictures have power

What thoughts and feelings were triggered when you saw this image for the first time?

A group of young people gather around a large block of wood. With hammer and nail in hand the first contestant comes forward. How many swings of the hammer will it take to drive that nail home. The count is taken with the winner being the one that has mastered both strength and accuracy.

I want to make one point in my writing. Every tap of the keyboard needs to hammer that one point home.

If you give people too much to remember they won’t remember anything.

–Andy Stanley

The image is a big hit of the nail. I place it at the start where there isn’t much friction yet between the nail and the blockheads, oops people, who read my material.

Where to find the right photo

Finding the right image for your article, webpage, or slide presentation requires a little digging, but it’s worth the result. Here are some places to look (depending on your budget)

Personal. With photos of yourself, family, holiday, office you literally invite the world to ‘come on over’ and ‘pull up a chair’. You are inviting them into your life and to be friends. Just a word of caution here, make sure other family members are ok with this world famous exposure.
Bought. Stock images are available from many different sources such as istockphoto. Stock photos do make your blog feel more professional, but you have to ask yourself if this is what you are aiming for. Also, you have to be careful here as sometimes the same image can get over used and you don’t get that ‘Wow’ effect because you’ve seen it before.
Free. I use mostly free images from Flickr. The amount of photos available is enormous. The photos are generally of high quality and have can have an arty feel to them. Compfight is a search engine that can search through Flickr’s library and also has a gadget for WordPress users. Using Flickr also enables you to support and encourage other artists like yourself, just make sure you give proper attribution to the artist.

Here are some practical pointers

Now that you know where to find your images, here’s how to choose the right one:

Look for an emotional connection. Look for an image that emotionally connects both with you and the reader. Whatever grabs you will most likely grab others.
Use photos that attract attention. Try to find pictures that scream “Look at me.” No more nice boring cliche clips. Just as your writing comes from within you, the story behind the picture needs to also connect with something of you.
Remember the size of a thumbnail. The first time your picture will most likely be seen will be in the size of your thumb. If you want people to hit your thumb it has to stand out and beg to be hit.

What sort of images grab you and why? Share in the comments.

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028: Family First: Managing the Tension Between Work and Family [Podcast]

Balancing the demands of work and family is a lot to manage. And it’s not easy to do well. Work can consume our time and attention and, if we’re not careful, things quickly become unbalanced and the scale tips too far.

Photo Credit: Photosightfaces via Compfight cc

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, my co-host Andy Traub and I talk about the importance of putting family first (and when that’s not always a good idea).

We also discuss the importance of boundaries and communication and share our own stories of navigating that timeless tension between work and the rest of life.

The idea of this show is this: If you are successful in life, it can actually fuel your work instead of distract from it. (Tweet that)

As you listen to this week’s episode of the podcast, I hope you are encouraged to schedule your work around your life — and not the other way around.

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 and profound ways to manage your life and work and don’t miss this week’s publishing industry spotlight as well as our usual ridiculous (but sometimes serious) predictions of the future.

Show highlights

In this episode we discuss:

The tension we feel when trying to balance family and work.
The scary question Andy asked his wife.
A personal story of mine — and how my wife is my biggest fan.
The value of platforms like Vook and Snippet (and why the future of the book is probably not going to be in multimedia).

Resources mentioned in the show

Three Figs Villa (these guys do amazing prints for writers!)
When Work and Family Collide  by Andy Stanley
Tyler Ward — his blog and his book, Marriage Rebranded

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).

How do you manage the tension between work and family? Share in the comments.

You just finished reading 028: Family First: Managing the Tension Between Work and Family [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.