Jeff Goins's Blog, page 63

024: Getting a Book Contract is Hard Work (But You Can Do It) [Podcast]

I am a big fan of self-publishing. There’s never been a better time for writers to get their words out into the world without waiting for permission from gatekeepers.

But what if you still dream about a traditional book deal with a Big Five publisher?

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Chad Allen, Editorial Director for Baker Books, has worked in the publishing industry for more than fifteen years. He’s done a little bit of everything — from publishing assistant to indexer; from project editor to acquisitions.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, Chad and I talk about killer book proposals and the formula you need to get a book contract.

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.

Find a great concept

Think your ideas need to be original to be great? Nope.

In fact, if your idea has never been talked about it’s probably because people aren’t interested.

So when you are looking to catch the attention of a publisher, aim for different over new. Don’t try to compete in an over-crowded market, but don’t try to enter a non existent market that has no demand, either.

It isn’t about finding the newest and most original idea. It’s about filling the space you occupy differently from anyone else. Take something you love, and do something interesting with it.

“Creativity” is just the mashing up of ideas and concepts in a unique way – your way. (Tweet That)

Build your tribe

Think you need huge numbers of followers to get a book deal?

Not exactly. But you do need a tribe.

When you’re building your tribe, you’re connecting to people who are interested in your message or who share the same vision. These are the people who will stick with you as you grow and who will review and recommend your book. These are your true fans.

But don’t let this scare you.

It isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about relationships. You can use your blog, social media, and email list to engage with them long before your book hits their shelves. And a small, engaged list is better than huge numbers of people who don’t really care.

Yes, Chad looks at numbers when he evaluates potential projects, but he also knows there’s time to build. If you are just starting out, you can still catch the attention of a publisher. Include your plan and show how determined you are to grow.

Be a terrific writer

What do published authors do to stand out from the crowd?

It’s not their impeccable grammar or flowery vocabulary. It’s how they create an amazing experience for their reader.

You can study your craft to become a better artist, but here’s the thing. There are no shortcuts or secret “get published quick” methods. It comes down to one thing: hard work.

It takes practice. It’s that simple. If you do the work, you will see results. And good writing and a great attitude can still take you pretty far in this world as a writer.

Chad’s advice

Hang in there. Keep going for it.

So, what if you don’t have an email list or a huge following on social media?

Chad says don’t worry. Ninety percent of your journey as a writer is going to be about tenacity and your determination to keep going.

Hard work is the only thing standing in your way.

Who cares if your list isn’t massive or if someone, somewhere already wrote about your topic? If you create a breath-taking experience for your reader, you can still find success.

Do you have questions for Chad about how to get published? Now is your chance! Leave them 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 Amazing Realization That Turns Amateurs into Professionals

Become who you are. It happens once in a lifetime.

–Switchfoot

Cole Bradburn is a chiropractor who longs to be a poet. Most days, he works in an office, helping people improve their health. Secretly, though, he longs to make a difference with his words. “Some day…” he hopes. But some day may not come.

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It’s not that Cole hates his job. He likes it, which is the whole problem. There’s another life he longs to live, a parallel one that feels at odds with his day job.

The world, it seems, is full of these people: Closet artists and aspiring authors — people longing to do meaningful, inspiring work. There’s just one problem. They’re not doing it.

The longing that lasts

Many of us worry about our lives, that we won’t make an impact. In the late hours or early mornings, we wonder what we’ll be remembered for, what our legacy will be. While some are trying to make it through another week, others find themselves succeeding at the wrong things.

Make no mistake, though. All of us, at some point, wonder if what we’re doing matters. But for some of us, maybe for you, this question sticks. It haunts you, whispering from afar. It keeps you wondering and waiting.

All the while, deep inside your heart, something dangerous stirs, something you’re afraid to admit — something I was afraid to admit.

The secret fear we all face

Years ago, I was in Spain. As part of a college study abroad program, I was spending the fall semester of my junior year in Seville: a beautiful, historic city full of art and wonder.

On a very ordinary day, my friend Martha and I took a trip to La Giralda, the impressive tower adorning the world’s third-largest cathedral and the place where Columbus was allegedly entombed.

After ascending the massive spiral staircase, we gazed out over the city. We looked down, watching thousands of souls pass by. As we descended the stairs and entered the cathedral Martha posed a thought I’ll never forget:

I wonder what kind of legacy I’ll leave.

It hung in the air for all to hear (as if anyone else were listening). We stopped and stood in front of the altar. There we were, surrounded by centuries of art, and Martha wanted to know which of her creations would endure. What would still be standing in another thousand years?

I had to wonder the same.

How to put a dent in the universe

We are all hoping something we do in this world matters. We want our creations to stay with people forever. As Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computers, once said, we all long to “put a dent in the universe.”

It’s true. We’d all like to leave some kind of impact on this ball of dirt. But most of us, tragically, won’t. We’re afraid of the cost, worried we don’t have what it takes, anxious about the road ahead of us.

Terrified we’ll fail to live up to our own expectations, we play it safe and abide by the rules. Before we even start, we sabotage our work and subvert our hidden genius.

And how, pray tell, do we do this?

With words. Subtle but serious words that kill our passion before we can pursue it. Words like “aspiring” and “wannabe.” Phrases like “I wish” and “someday.”

There is a solution to this. A simple way of facing your fears and living the dream: Become who you are.

An adventure in identity

At a time in my life not so long ago, I was wrestling with this longing I wanted my life to matter, wanted to know I had a personal legacy. One day, my friend Paul asked what my dream was, and I told him I didn’t have one. Which was exactly the wrong thing to say.

“That’s too bad,” he said. “Because I would’ve said it was to be a writer. I guess I was wrong,” he shrugged.

I began to steam. Swallowing hard and working up the courage to speak, I finally uttered, “Well, I guess it is. I mean, I suppose I hope to maybe be a writer… someday.”

My friend looked at me without blinking and said these words that would forever change my life: “Jeff, you don’t have to want to be a writer. You are a writer. You just need to write.”

The next day, I started writing. Without excuse or exception (and without being very good), I began. And you know what? My friend was right.

The results come… eventually

Pretty soon, I became a writer, almost without realizing it.

It began with a few hundred words before sunrise, every day. Sure, those words stayed on my hard drive at first, but with practice and discipline, I got better. I was publishing articles and producing work on a regular basis that started to surprise me.

Slowly, I shared those words, and over time an audience grew. It was gradual at first and then seemed to happen all of a sudden. But the important part wasn’t so much how slowly or quickly it occurred. What mattered for me was I was finally becoming myself.

I found my dream not by searching for it, but by submitting to what I had always hoped was true. I was, in fact, a writer. All I had to do was write.

Anyone can do this. All it requires is a simple, but sometimes scary, solution. Claim you already are what you want to be, and then start acting like it. Soon, you will start to actually believe it. And so will others.

What would that look like for you? Share in the comments.

This story first appeared in my book, You Are a Writer , which became an Amazon best-seller and has only ever been available as a digital book — until today. If you’ve longed to be a writer or know someone who has, this is the book to read. It’s on sale this week, and if you get the updated paperback version (with 3000 words of new content!), you’ll also get the Kindle version for free. Check it out.

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

How I Used Writing to Heal My Depression Without Taking Drugs

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Janna Marlies Maron. She recently released her first ebook, How to Manage Depression Without Drugs , which is her personal journey of using story, music food and ritual to find her way out of depression. You can find Janna on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog.

You might think that writers are naturally inclined to use writing as therapy. But that’s not always the case.

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I used to be super depressed.When I say “super depressed,” I mean like don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed depressed and go-to-bed-for-the-night-as-early-as-4 p.m. depressed. And although I’m a writer, writing wasn’t particularly therapeutic for me.

Writing and my depression

Yes, I wrote while depressed — nearly every day. But I wrote emotional rants. Diatribes about how awful life was and how horrible I felt. What an untalented, unskilled, unlucky, unlovable, un-everything person I am.

The problem with this kind of writing is that it reinforces the negative pattern of depression. I think and feel miserable, therefore I write down the miserable thoughts and feelings. This cycle is not helpful. It is not therapeutic.

Sure, maybe I get some of the negativity out of my body and mind, but then it is down on paper or computer screen — glaring back at me in black and white — telling me that, yes in fact, that negativity exists. It is real.

When I think back on it now, it strikes me as odd that my editor-brain was completely blind to my own writing.

If I were to read an emotional rant from a peer or client, someone asking for my professional feedback, I would view it with a critical, editorial eye as a shitty first draft, and I would look for ways to revise it to the next best possible draft.

Writing and my personal narrative

It took the help of a therapist to help me revise my personal narrative. (You might say he was acting as my editor.) I remember distinctly going for one appointment and saying, “I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel.” I was referring to a new health regime that I had recently started as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Do you want to be on a hamster wheel? my therapist asked.

No, I said.

Well, what do you want?

In the moment, I didn’t know and I couldn’t answer the question. I started crying.

At home I sat in front of my computer and wrote the question “WHAT DO I WANT?” in all caps at the top of a blank word document.

I started typing. Out came things like, “I want someone to tell me this diet is working” and, “I want to know that I’m making progress” and, “I want to see a light at the end of the tunnel” and, “I want to know how long it will take” and, “I want to see results.”

Finally, after about 1,000 words, I wrote, “I want to be healthy and strong.”

Instantly I knew that I had to revise the story I had been writing. I had to revise it from the miserable emotional diatribes that I wrote while depressed to this better story of vibrancy and rejuvenation: I want to be healthy and strong.

Writing and my revision process

It all began with writing. Anything. What comes out doesn’t matter. What matters is that something comes out, because then I have a starting point. I have words to work with. Any words are better than no words.

Once I have some words I can revise. I can read the words and think about whether they are the best words.

Are they the words that I want? Do I want to be that miserable person? No? Then how do I change the words so that they are not so miserable? I change one word here and one word there. “I am unhealthy” becomes “I am healthy.”

Then I write some more and see if the revisions have transferred into the new work. Do I continue to write the miserable stuff? Or do I begin to write revised stuff that is slightly less miserable?

Revising is improving—always improving, moving closer to the positive and true version of the story I want to be writing and living. (tweet this)

Writing and my health

A person who is healthy and strong doesn’t write about how miserable she is.

A person who is healthy and strong doesn’t write about being unlucky, unskilled, untalented, unlovable—she doesn’t write about being un-anything.

Instead she writes about being full of energy and how she can do yoga poses now that she couldn’t do just one year ago. She writes about how she manages her health. She writes about her own creative life in spite of depression and chronic illness. She writes about how much progress she has made in one year. She writes about her personal journey and publishes ebooks so that others may benefit from her story.

Has writing played a part in your personal narrative? Share it with us 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.

023: What Unfinished Projects Teach Us About Our Life’s Work [Podcast]

This essay is an unedited excerpt from my upcoming book, The Art of Work, which comes out next March. Here are three stories about unfinished projects and what they can teach us about our calling.

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022: How to Succeed as a Writer in an Era of Change [Podcast]

Recently, I learned the word literally no longer means what it used to mean. This bothers me, but this is the nature of language – it’s always evolving. In this week’s podcast, we discuss the state of flux of the writing world and how to survive the changes.

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In today’s episode of the podcast, my co-host Andy Traub and I experiment with a new show format (we had perhaps too much fun with this), including five new segments that blend both the informative with the informal.

On the show, we share a weird way to become more disciplined, some tips on what it takes to overcome procrastination, and the bright future of publishing.

Not to mention: a profound thought on life, a prediction regarding the future of dictionaries, and why you should be paying more attention to Dunkin’ Donuts (seriously). Enjoy!

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.

If you are more of a text person, I totally understand. Below is an article based on the podcast, but if you have about 20 minutes, I really hope you give the show a listen. I think you’ll like it.

A surprising secret to becoming more disciplined

For me, building a daily habit of writing was hard. In fact, it was easier to get up and run five miles than to develop the habit of writing every day. So I got up and ran.

And then a surprising thing happened. When I got back from a run, it was easier to sit down and write. As I grew the discipline in one area of my life, I found that discipline in other areas came a little easier. Or as I’ve heard my friend Jon Acuff say:

Discipline begets discipline.

If you’re struggling to develop discipline with anything, whether it’s writing or exercise or something else entirely, try starting with something easier. And I’m not above bribery, either. Find little ways to reward yourself for your discipline. It works.

The three phases of mastery

Once you’ve committed a certain discipline and started to grow in that skill, you have a choice. You can settle for good or aspire for greatness. Not too long ago, I interviewed a man named Robert Greene who changed what I thought about that.

In his book Mastery, Green shares a simple but counterintuitive message. While most people tend to talk about success and how to make more money or beat your competitors, he says that if you focus on mastering your craft, success will follow. According to him, being great at what you do is the secret to any sustainable success.

His process for achieving mastery looks like this:

Preparation: You’ll spend a portion of your life, often before you even realize it, preparing for your calling.
Apprenticeship: It takes an extended period intentional practice to become great at what to do.
Creative/Active Phase: Mastery comes when you actually live out your calling.

What I love about this is the aspect of apprenticeship, something that I think is lost on our modern culture. Before you can become great yourself, you have to see what greatness in action looks like.

Why now is the best time to be an author

Recently, Amazon opened up pre-orders for independent authors. This, I think, is a game-changer. The inability for indie authors to offer pre-orders used to give an advantage to traditional publishing, and now Amazon is leveling the playing field. That’s a big deal.

If you are enrolled in Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing program (which is free), you can now make your eBook available for pre-order for up to 90 days prior to its release. This allows authors to build energy for their book launch, which means more sales and ultimately more readers.

In other news, you may have heard about the conflict between Amazon and the publisher Hachette. Among the issues between them (which I don’t pretend to fully understand), one surrounds who gets to set book prices. Here’s my thought on that: Amazon is a business. And a business gets to set prices for what it sells.

But isn’t that a monopoly? Shouldn’t we writers boycott Amazon for being evil? Maybe not.

Amazon knows that by offering the products readers want at a better price, they will sell more books. And from an author’s perspective, this is a good thing. If writers are worrying about prices going down, the best way to respond is not with a scarcity mindset, but with an abundance mindset.

In other words, I will continue to use Amazon to reach readers and sell books. And though I’m not necessarily “pro-Amazon” I certainly respect their right to sell books at the prices they choose to sell them at. They’ve done some interesting testing on books priced above $9.99 versus those priced below and have seen the lower-priced books sell more copies and generate more revenue.

Based on Amazon’s sales history, lower prices (to a point) mean significantly more books in the hands of readers. And that’s what I care about.

On writing and living

For me, writing has never been about the cash. It’s always been about sharing a message that resonates with people. Since I began this journey years ago, I aspired to help as many people as possible while providing for my family.

As time has gone by, I’ve learned an important lesson: Writing doesn’t just make me just a better writer, it makes me a better person. I read about this recently, discovering that daily journaling (by hand, in cursive – yes, cursive) increases cognitive activity in ways that typing doesn’t.

In other words, writing can help you:

Be more disciplined.
Think better.
Get more done.

That’s why I’m writer. That’s why I encourage other people to claim the title of writer. Because good writing inspires great living, and great living inspires better writing. (Tweet that)

To hear more tips on writing and living, check out to the full podcast. If you disagree with Andy’s prediction about Dunkin Donuts rivaling the popularity of Starbucks, let us know. While you’re at it, please drop a review on iTunes. It helps more people find the show.
Resources mentioned in the show

Here are some books, articles, and podcasts you might be interested in:

The Now Habit by Neil Fiore (book)
Mastery by Robert Greene (book)
Bryan Allain Interviews Me on the Schnozcast (podcast)
Amazon’s Update on Preorders for Kindle Direct Publishing (article)
Why Writing By Hand Could Make You Smarter (article)
A Life Worth Writing About (article)

Have you subscribed to the podcast yet, so you can get brand-new, weekly episodes delivered straight to you? You can do that with any podcast player by copying and pasting this URL into the app:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePortfo...

If you need a recommendation on what to use, I recommend using iTunes to subscribe and then listening on your computer or via the podcast app (for instructions on how to do that, click here), or you can also use Stitcher.

Let me know if you need any help!

What habit are you trying to master? Share in the comments.

How to Write a Book: The 5-Draft Method

Not too long ago, a friend asked me to read his book. He’d written a rough draft and wasn’t sure what to do after that. After reading it, I explained how writing a book involves five different drafts. He was surprised to hear that. Most people are.

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We have this idea that writing a book is a magical process involving only inspiration but nothing that looks like hard work. The truth is the most creative, successful people I know are also some of the most disciplined — in their own way.

If you have a project you want to share with the world, chances are it’s going to take more of you than you want to give. It might break you and cause you to scream. But in the end, you will be better for it. And it will be worth it.

Here are the five drafts I use in any project, product, or book I create (including my upcoming book, The Art of Work):

Draft #1: The Junk Draft

This is your first try, what my friend Marion calls the “vomit draft.” It’s where you get all your ideas on paper or screen or whatever. It’s where you dream big and swing for the fences.

Save your cynicism and self-doubt for later. Here, anything is possible.

Lesson: Your dreams must be bigger than your doubts. [Tweet]
Draft #2: The Structure Draft

This is where you look at the structure of your project. Does the story flow? Is the argument cohesive and consistent? Will people look at it and see something that resembles some kind of order?

At this point, you need to make a decision. Will you commit to this? Here is where you abandon your project, go back to the drawing board, or decide to forge ahead.

Lesson: Before you can make it pretty, you have to make it work. [Tweet]

Draft #3: The Rough Draft

This is the point at which you have an actual manuscript, something you can legitimately call a “work-in-progress.”

At this stage, you will review you work as a whole and see if what you’ve said makes sense. From idea to idea, chapter to chapter, and sentence to sentence. Now that you’ve got a structure, it’s time to make this thing sing.

Lesson: Excellence takes longer than we want. [Tweet]

Draft #4: The Surgery Draft

At this point, you need to start slicing and dicing, cutting your content down to its most essential message. You’ve gone through enough edits that you’ve added things, beautiful things. Unnecessary things. Distracting things.

You’re too close to the work now and need to have a someone review it. Ask a friend, peer, or professional editor (if you can afford it) to do her worst. Be ready for the criticism to come and decide ahead of time to apply it.

All feedback is a gift, if you choose to see it that way.

Here, you must cut superfluous phrases and nonessential details. You might even kill entire chapters and sections. It’s hard and painful but so important to making your message clear and good.

Lesson: The simplest version of a book is the best. [Tweet]

Draft #5: The Last Draft

This is when you go through your work and try to tweak the parts that could be better, where you make sure there are no loose ends or dangling parts that don’t make sense or resolve.

Simply put, this is the final edit. After this draft, it’s wise to have a whole team of people review your work to catch simple errors. But this is the last chance to make major edits to your project.

This is also when you decide to push forward and ship your work. It’s the decision point at which you throw the manuscript in the trash (as Stephen King did with Carrie before his wife pulled it out) or swallow your fear and push on.

As Leonardo da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

You will never have a “final” draft. Your work will never be done, not completely. However, there comes a point when you must decide to release an imperfect creation into the world — or not.

And this is where so many people stop, which is sad. Because by now, you’re closer now than you think. In some cases, it’s only a matter of inches or hours between you and a breakthrough.

If you’ve done the work, this is the easy part. Because chances are, after all this editing and critiquing, you’ve got something good. The question is, will we get to see it?

Lesson: Your work is never complete. But at some point you must decide to finish, anyway. [Tweet]

What comes next

What happens next? What do you do after you finish writing this book? Well, you go write another. Sure, there’s launching the book and promoting it, maybe even traveling some to speak about it. But don’t wait too long before you start your next project.

I’m learning this lesson right now as I finish what I hope will be a breakthrough book for me, something I’ve been wanting to write for three years. Even so, I’m moving on. Soon, I will start writing the next book.

Why? Because when I wait, I stagnate. What makes a writer is not a book deal or platform. It’s the writing. [Tweet]

You better get on with it. So should I.

More on the writing process

Of course, this is just the overall process. For more on the actual writing process, as well as what to do once you have the book written, check out the following articles:

10 Ridiculously Simple Tips for Writing a Book
Book Writing Tips that Work
Book Ideas for Young Writers
Yes, You Can Publish a Book (Here’s How)

What’s your process for writing a book? Share in the comments.

If You Stop Writing Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later

Editor’s Note: This a guest post from Chad R. Allen, a writer, speaker, editor, and creativity coach. Chad serves as an editorial director for Baker Publishing Group, a major trade book publisher. Connect with him on Twitter and his blog.

When I was younger I played the trombone, but I didn’t really get it. I had friends who got it. You could tell orchestral music did something for them.

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I wanted to like it, I just didn’t. Perhaps that’s why I was always just a mediocre trombone player. I hated practicing my scales; that I remember.

Listening for the music

But as I get older I’m starting to understand it more. I hear moments in orchestral and chamber music now that make me tear up. It’s not just sound, it’s music, and I’m beginning to hear it.

So many different elements – the different timbres of the instruments, the volume, the tempo, the underlying feel — they all come together to fill the air. When orchestral music is performed well, it can transport me to a different world.

That’s how it is with books too.

When I work with an author, I’m listening for the music. I listen for flow, consistency, engagement, fit, voice, rhythm, tempo. I listen for a theme.

Sometimes a manuscript comes to me with only a partially formed idea of the finished piece. As I read, I’m trying to hear what the manuscript wants to become.

The symphonic moment

When I give feedback to authors, I comment on things like understandability or appropriateness for the audience or verbosity.

I tell the author to consider telling a story here or deleting those two paragraphs. Try the word “audacious” not “auspicious” there, I might say.

But the real magic happens when an author and I walk our way into an overall conception for the book. I call it the “symphonic moment” — that moment when we hear the music.

Sometimes, in fact often, when we hear it we realize it’s going to take a lot of work to get there. But usually the tune is so compelling, we have to try. Even if things don’t come together in just the way we want, the book is still so much better than it would have been.

Every once in a while the music comes through loud and clear, and we both have to sit back and take it in. These are the moments that keep me coming into the office.

How to hear it

You might wonder, where’s my symphonic moment? How do I get in on this? Here’s the thing:

You’ll never experience it if you give up. It is only when we writers keep writing that we have a chance of hearing the music. [Tweet that]

Writers: keep listening.

Sometimes, you won’t hear it until the rough draft is complete. It certainly won’t happen if you don’t put in the time. Your work will be worth it in the end, so please keep on writing.

You can do this, and we need you to do it.

I put together a resource kit especially for Jeff Goins readers, just because I love Jeff (and you!) so much. Visit this special page, enter your email address, and I’ll send some items I’ve prepared specially for you. Here’s what you’ll get:

A new infographic on how to come up with a great book concept. I recently collaborated with an artist to design this. It unveils a process for brainstorming and refining your ideas so you’ll know exactly what book concept you should pursue.
A video tutorial in which I talk through the infographic and help you apply it to your situation.

Get it all here.

What do you need right now to keep yourself on the writing journey? Share in the comments.

021: How a Photographer Built an Online Business, One Relationship at a Time [Podcast]

At 19 years old, David Molnar had plans of what he thought his future would look like. But in one moment, a horrible accident turned his world upside down. His college athletic scholarship and dream of being a pilot were gone forever. Now, he had to figure out what to do next.

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David thought he had it all figured out, but the accident showed him how quickly things can change, which is always the case in life. We are never quite as in control as we think.

The unexpected twist in David’s story, though, held an important opportunity.

Instead of getting angry at the world (which was a struggle), he chose to focus on what he could do. As a result, he found his true calling, which not only introduced him to the love of his life but led to one of the fastest-growing online platforms I’ve ever seen.

In this episode of The Portfolio Life, we talk about how tragedies can be turned into dreams, how serving others is the best way to get what you want, and why building an online business is something anybody can do.

David also shares specific steps he took to create explosive growth in his email list — over 12,000 people in three months — and how you can do the same.

Listen to the interview

To listen to the show, click the player below.

You can also download it at iTunes or on Stitcher.

Endurance is essential to building anything

After spending a decade traveling the world as a successful celebrity and wedding photographer, David was ready for a change. He wanted more time to focus on his family and the freedom as an artist to say no to projects he wasn’t passionate about.

But in order to do that, he was going to have to find another way of making a living.

David knew he had to shift from what he calls a “wheelbarrow business” — one where you have to trade hours for dollars – to a more automated, scalable way of working.

Initially, he found it hard to switch directions. Full of starts and stops along the way, David’s journey is one of perseverance. It took him two years to write the book he had thought about writing for a long time. But once he published it, the book was the catalyst for everything else to come.

Most people spend years making plans and talking about their goals. Not David. Once he got serious, he accomplished amazing things — growing a huge email list and launching an online business — in a matter of months.

Looking back, there were some lucky moments, but there were also unexpected setbacks. What allowed him to endure, in spite of all that, was his commitment to finish.

Three steps to building anything (plus a bonus)

So what do we learn from David’s story? A few things:

He was prepared. He made a practice of self-education by reading blogs and books and taking online courses that could help him. He studied and prepared for his transition. He didn’t just jump into the deep end of the pool; he invested the time in learning how to run an online business.
He was committed. He gave freely to his online community, asking questions, sharing updates, and learning how to better serve an online audience as he was building one. He made his goals and deadlines public, which created accountability that forced him to finish his book.
He didn’t give up. As many do, David could have given up, leaving himself stuck in the cycle of an eternal work-in-progress. Instead, he did something that scared him. He shipped. He found something people wanted and shared it.

And if you want to share something important with the world (a book, an online course, a product), you’re going to have to do the same by building trust, freely giving to people, and helping others solve their problems.

That’s what David did with his book, iPhone Only Photography, and what he continues to do with his online course.

You can’t go wrong with preparation, commitment, and perseverance. They are the glue that holds anything important together. But even those aren’t enough. You’ve got to have a giving mentality. As David says about those willing to give you their attention:

Treat them like royalty.

Remember: When you focus on what you can do for others, and not on what they can do for you, a relationship is built. When tempted to hold back, be even more generous. And when you’re not sure what to do, find ways to add more value.

In the end, it’s all about relationship.

For more on how David implemented these steps that helped him build an online business, check out the full episode of the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher (be sure to leave a review if you haven’t already done so). And to download a free copy of his book, iPhone Only Photography: Shooting Essentials, visit his website (this is an exclusive offer just for my readers and listeners).
I’d love to hear from you

So tell me. What are you thinking of this podcast so far? I’ve done short episodes and longer ones, as well as Q&As and in-depth interviews. What are you liking? What could use some work? I really want to know.

And if you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to subscribe to The Portfolio Life (here’s how to do that in iTunes). It’s free and easy and ensures that you don’t miss a thing.

In other news, here are some places where we can connect in person in the near future:

Come see me in Washington. I’m going to be speaking at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA September 8 and 10. While I’m there, I’ll also be hosting a public meetup. Find out more and RSVP here.
Say hi in New Orleans. I’m going to be speaking at #FinCon 2014 September 18-20 and I’d love to meet you while I’m there. Get the details of the meetup I’m cohosting with my friend Grant Baldwin. RSVP here.

Special Announcement: My online course Tribe Writers is currently open for registration. This is the online course to help you discover your unique voice, find the audience your words deserve, and build a powerful platform that will get you published. It’s only available a few times a year, and registration closes this week. Learn more about it here.

What do you need to overcome or change to reach your goals? Share in the comments.

“Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

Hemingway never wrote drunk. Despite the quote being misattributed to him, the famous author apparently never said, “Write drunk, edit sober.” And if he did say it, he certainly didn’t practice what he preached.

Ernest Hemingway Collection. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

According to his granddaughter Mariel, “Papa” never wrote while under the influence. “That’s not how he wrote,” she said in an interview. “He never wrote drunk, he never wrote beyond early, early morning.”

So why do people go on believing this about him?

“I think it’s the misperception of addiction and living life on the edge,” Mariel said, “as if it’s cool.”

Obviously, it’s not. Still, the myth of art and addiction persists — and not just for Hemingway. 

We all do this. We believe false ideas about what makes a person successful. Athletes put their socks on in the same order every time. Musicians conduct pre-concert rituals that have nothing to do with the music.

Chances are you have your odd quirks, too. We are all weird in our own ways. But why do we think these quirks are what make us creative? They’re not.

Who cares?

Who really cares if Hemingway said this or not? Maybe it’s good to have a bottle of wine beside you while working on a novel. Maybe Don Draper is on to something with the fully-stocked liquor cabinet in the ad agency office. Then again, maybe not.

Such an idea, as harmless as it seems, might be more detrimental than we realize. 

“Write drunk, edit sober” is bad advice for two reasons:

It glorifies addiction. Maybe you’ve never known an addict or been one yourself, but I can tell you — it’s hell. I’ve seen addiction ruin more than one person’s life. It’s not fun or funny. It’s destructive, which is actually the very opposite of creativity.
It propagates the myth of creativity. It treats art as merely whimsical, not serious. Writing is work, not something silly anybody can do without discipline.

We would never say this of other crafts. You would never nod understandingly if a plumber came to your house, completely wasted, assuring you he’d return to clean up the mess when sober. That would be ridiculous.

But we do this every day with the arts, taking them less seriously than we do other trades. We excuse addiction or obsession as part of the process, not fully understanding the implications of such allowances.

Do the work

Writing, as William Zinsser writes, is a craft. Not some esoteric art we only understand under the influence. It’s hard work and ought to be treated as such.

So why do we persist in believing otherwise? Because it’s easier. It’s more pleasant to protect ourselves from the pain than to face the work we dread. We are, in essence, procrastinating when we rattle of such quotes as, “write drunk, edit sober.”

Maybe this is because we like the idea of creativity more than the work it requires. That’s often true for me. I would rather call myself a writer and enjoy the prestige and attention that attracts than get up before sunrise to write a blog post.

One has the appearances of being creative without the discomfort. And isn’t that what we all want, sometimes? To look a certain way without having earned it?

So here is my wish for you. If you aspire to be creative, may you not hide behind cliches but instead do the brave, beautiful work of making something new. In the end, it’s more rewarding than merely talking about it.

Reminder: I’m doing a live online training tomorrow at two different times, and you’re invited! The best part? It doesn’t cost a thing. Sign up here.

What myths about creativity have you been believing? Share in the comments.

One Habit That Will Help You Get Healthier, Create Better Art, & Live a Happier Life

The other day, I woke up early, got into my workout clothes, and did the worst thing ever. I checked email. An hour later, I had to peel my fingers from the keyboard and get dressed for work. I was out of time.

Photo Credit: Runar Eilertsen via Compfight cc

But that’s not exactly true. The truth is I had about ten minutes left before I had to start moving. So I had a choice:

Get dressed and go through my day feeling defeated, or…
Take what little time I had left (admittedly due to my own procrastination) and use it.

I opted for the latter and did a quick workout. It wasn’t much, but it had a dramatic effect on my attitude for the rest of the day. I felt like I had done something, and I had.

In fact, this is how all change begins — with something small.

Listen to this blog post

If you want to listen to me read this blog post (with some additional commentary), click the player below (click here if you’re viewing this in email):

We all do this, don’t we? We tell ourselves we’re going to be better, smarter, healthier, or more disciplined. That we’ll finally write that book or quit our jobs or start spending more time with family.

But then life happens. And we forget, procrastinate, or just plain run out of time. We feel out of control, but that’s not the whole picture. There is always something to be done. Something small. Something that looks insignificant.

And it is – if we only do it once. But the power in small things is that over time they add up.

The small habit that makes a big difference

There is one habit I have learned in life — in fact, I’m still learning it — that has led to writing every blog post or book I’ve ever published. It’s the secret I use to get into shape, and the one I forget when I don’t.

Here it is. The small but simple habit that could change your life: Stop waiting for perfect.

In your work.
In your relationships.
In your life.

Instead of waiting for the right moment or for that person to just do what you want them to do, what if you accepted reality for what it is?

What if, after doing that, you took it one step further and decided to do something with whatever life has dealt you? You just might change your life.

In writing my next book (which I will tell you more about in the coming months), I interviewed hundreds of people who are living out their calling. All their stories were different, but do you know the one thing they all had in common?

They all stopped waiting for perfect. Instead, they embraced reality, and decided to do something extraordinary with what they had.

The same is true for the most successful students in my online writing course. They stopped waiting and started writing. They became professionals in their minds first and then started acting like it.

You can do the same. All you need is this one simple practice that will revolutionize everything you do: You must start small.

“Big” is overrated

We all want to do big things with our lives, but the truth is that change, both good and bad, happens over time. It’s something practiced gradually.

With habits, it’s not the size of the task, but the frequency, that matters. [Tweet]

So here’s what that looks like, practically:

Set a goal (e.g. write a book, lose 20 pounds, etc.).
Decide on a habit that, practiced over time, will get you to you goal (e.g. write 500 words a day, run one mile per day, etc.). Make it small and easy to repeat. Repetition is what creates change.
No matter what, try to practice the habit daily. If you can only do it for a minute, do it. Don’t procrastinate or wait for a better time. Just start. The trick is to do something when you feel like you have time for nothing. That’s how habits are crated.

But what happens, you might be wondering, on the days when you completely mess up and miss the boat? What then? Don’t miss again. Get back onto the wagon as quickly as you can. Don’t wallow in regret; just do the next small thing.

Remember that none of us start perfect in life and none of us, in spite of appearances, ever reach perfection. It’s an illusion that creates disappointment and misery.

If you want to live a life full of joy and creativity, then you have to break up with perfect and fall in love with good-enough. It’s better than you think. (Did you like that? Feel free to tweet it.)

Note: I’m doing a free writing webinar next week for bloggers and content creators called “The Five Most Powerful Blogging Personalities & How to Find Yours,” and you’re invited! If you’re tired of writing words nobody reads, register now.

How have you seen small habits lead to big things in your life? Share in the comments.