Kimanzi Constable's Blog, page 28

4 Unexpected Consequences of Achieving Success

—

This post isn’t going to be easy to write. I want to share a thought with you without sounding like I’m whining—it’s not going to be easy. Please hear me out. When you’re on the journey to create freedom in your life, you work super hard and focus on what it will take to get there. In your efforts, you don’t think too much about what life will be like once you accomplish some of your major goals.

I worked hard from June of 2011 until January of 2015. January of last year was the tipping point where things went from good to crazy amazing. I had been writing for several large media publications for a while, an interview I did with Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income went live, and I did a TEDx Talk. After January, my life and business were put on overdrive. I spent the better part of 2015 just trying to catch up.

As my business and the opportunities grew, some things started to happen that I wasn’t expecting. I want to share them with you because with talking to others; they have also experienced something similar. There are many who will read this that will deal with these unexpected consequences of success as you make your dreams a reality this year.

1. Your Relationships Change

Not all of them, but the ones that you thought were solid might not be as sure as you think. There are people I counted as close friends that distanced themselves as I experienced new opportunities. I acknowledge that it could be me—maybe I’ve changed—but I’ve tried to stay humble and focused.

Changing relationships are a part of the cycle of life. Some friends will come and go. Some friends will reveal their true colors. Some friends will get jealous/envy your success. You can’t control how other people interact and think about you, but you can control who you allow to be in your life. Surround yourself with people who will cheer for you no matter what. People who will laugh and cry with you—people who will help you without expecting anything in return. 

2. There’s a Constant Pull for Your Time

As you grow, so will your circle of influence. Many more people will be in your world and want some of your time. They will send social media messages, emails, and even texts. If you are like me, you want to help whenever you can and in whatever way you can. It’s very hard to say NO.

Success means more responsibility. It means more people want to be a part of your world. People will see what you’re doing, and they’ll have questions—they won’t be shy about asking them. Just because they try to connect or ask doesn’t mean you have to give up your time. It’s your job to stay focused and in control. If you don’t, you’ll get off track.

3. You Battle Extreme Highs and Lows

There’s assumption that once you reach a certain metric that everything will be peaches and cream all the time. It could be a certain money goal or place in your life, but even at that level, you will still experience lows. That’s the reality of life. You will have times when you feel like you’re on cloud nine and times when you don’t even want to get out of bed when you think about all that you have to do. Learn yourself. Learn your moods and how to address what you’re feeling. Be the master of your emotions. 

4. You Have to Work Even Harder  

Success doesn’t mean you can coast. It means you might have more responsibility, and that means working harder. Success isn’t an end destination—it’s a constant journey to be the best version of yourself. Work even harder to create more freedom and make an impact in the lives of others.

I don’t want this post didn’t come off sounding too whiny. It’s been a blessing to live this life. I’m writing this post from my hotel room in Panama City, Panama. I’ve been here training at a company and have gotten paid well to do it. I love getting to do this for a living. It’s been great, but it has also been eye opening. Get ready for success and what will follow. The more prepared you are, the more you can handle the unexpected moments.

What have been some things you’ve experienced that you didn’t expect?

—

Photo: Flickr/ Nikky Stephen

How to Keep Your Love Strong as You Travel for Your Lifestyle Business

There is an audio version below.

—

A lifestyle business will look different for every person reading this. For most, it will involve some traveling to speak at conferences or train at companies. Travel is fun, but can be hard if you have a family or a significant other.

I travel a lot. In the last couple of years, it’s been 100,000 miles each year. It’s hard to be away from the woman I love with everything in me. There are times when I think I should just focus on the “from home” portion of my lifestyle business, but I want to see the world. Travel has taught me so much.

There are five ways I keep my love strong despite the distance. This list isn’t the end-all, be-all if you travel. You may know things that I haven’t figured out. If that’s the case, help us out in the comments. But, travel doesn’t have to be a relationship killer.

Use Technology to Stay Connected

One of the benefits of the time we live in is modern technology and connectivity. We are an interconnected world and can reach each other from almost anywhere. This allows you to stay in touch with your love on a regular basis. I make daily Skype calls to my love. I text, email, and send social media messages when I’m connected to WiFi. It’s important to use technology and access to stay in frequent communication. When you don’t talk, some distance can build between you and your love. 

Don’t Feed Your Mind Garbage

There’s a danger that doesn’t get talked about enough but affects many people—especially when you’re alone: porn. When you are alone in a hotel room and have a desire for physical affection, porn seems like an alternative to cheating—it’s NOT.

Porn is as powerful as any drug and destroys lives and minds. It stays with you long after doing what it takes to get the urges out of your system. It can make you angry, treat your partner with less respect, and affect the quality of your sex life.

Feed your mind with positivity and motivational content. Read good books, watch inspiring and informative videos, and listen to interesting podcasts. Yes, it’s hard when you have those physical urges, but you are strong and can overcome them.

Focus on Doing Your Job

You traveled for a reason, so pour all of your energy into why you are there. If you have a talk or training in the next few days, go over it again and see how you can make it better. Research where you’re speaking and see how you can build a better connection with the audience. Work ahead on other parts of your lifestyle business. The point is to use the time wisely.

Utilize the Hotel Gym

You have some pent-up physical energy that needs to be released, and the hotel gym is a great place to do it. You can work out all of that energy on the thread mill as you listen to your favorite music. You can lift weights and tire yourself out. Go to bed drained of the energy that could tempt you to look at porn or worse.

Make Smart Choices

At the end of the day, your choices can make or break your relationship. You can choose to look ay porn, you can choose to cheat, and you can choose to flirt or do things that can destroy your relationship. This all comes down to the choices you make, and you will have to live with the consequences of those choices. Don’t choose to put yourself into a situation that leads to heartache.

Relationships have ended over distance, but it doesn’t have to end your relationship. Don’t put yourself in a place that you’ll regret. Use what’s around you for good and stay focused. The distance can help you miss your love and make your relationship stronger if you handle it in the right way.

How do you stay faithful while you travel?

—

Photo: Flickr/ Ed Yourdon

7 Things Every One Wants to Experience Once in Their Life

—

One of life’s great pleasures is what we experience. The things we do and the memories we make will outlast any of our material possessions. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to enjoy nice things, but at the end of our life, we won’t be reminiscing over what we owned. We’ll relive those experiences that felt surreal at the time.

There are seven things every man wants to experience at least once in his life. These are things that make him laugh—things that make him cry. They are experiences he will take with him to the grave. If you are a man wondering if these experiences and the consequences they bring are worth it, the answer is YES. Life is too short to live it unfulfilled.

1. A Love So Strong You Know It’s Going to Break Your Heart

There will be that person who touches you in ways words can’t explain. When you’re with them, it’s electricity, and even though you’re getting burned, you want more. You know, at some point, you’re destined to get your heartbroken because you are head-over-heels in love and realize they probably don’t feel the same way.

Breakups are hard, and even harder when the feelings are that intense, but it’s an experience that’s worth it. Love that strong doesn’t often happen in life, and even if it’s for a period of time, the experience and those moments are worth it. Just be prepared.

2. Complete Financial Freedom

Stress related to money has kept many-a-man up late at night. It sucks when you can’t pay your bills, or it feels like you can’t ever get ahead. Every wants to experience true freedom with his finances. He wants to experience all his bills paid off and enough money to do the things he enjoys in life. He longs to have more than enough. Not because money is everything in life, but having freedom from financial stress would be a dream come true. 

3. A Period of Time Without Any Responsibility

As men, we have a lot on our shoulders at any given time. We have family, partners, work, and a thousand other responsibilities. One wish would be some time—even if it’s a little while—to be completely free of anything but experiencing that moment. We want a time to chill, relax, and laugh at crazy memories from the past.

4. A Sexual Experience That Transcends the Moment

Too often, sex is rushed or done when it’s not a convenient time. One thing every man wants to experience is a mind-blowing, sweaty, breath lost, sexual experience. We want an experience like you would see in the movies and with a person we deeply care about. We want a sexual experience where we drown out the world and our responsibilities and give into our animal urges for pleasure.

5. Energy That Doesn’t Seem to End

To be strong in your day, your month, or just in the moment, you need energy. As men, we always want more energy because we have a lot that we have to get done in our life. We want energy that doesn’t fade when we need it the most.

6. Accomplishing an “Impossible” Life Goal

So much of life doesn’t work out as planned. It feels impossible to get ahead and accomplish big dreams. For once, we would love to accomplish a life goal that feels impossible to us. It could be quitting a job you hate, traveling to a cool country, moving to a dream destination, or finally dating that dream girl. Whatever your goal is, you want one life experience when that dream becomes your reality. 

7. Letting Go of Past Hurt  

Our past can bring a smile to our face, or it can haunt us. If you’re a man who has a difficult past or maybe have some difficulty in your past, you wish to let it go. Every man wants to forgive, forget, and start the healing process in his mind. We know that peace can come from letting go, and it’s an experience we want at least once.

If you’re a man who says “YES” to anyone of those points, I want you to know that you can experience one or all of them in your life. I’m not going to give you the standard “work harder” spiel. I will tell you that I’ve experienced every one of these and today live a happy life—my dream life.

It starts with getting honest with yourself about what you want from your life and then doing something about it. Choose your experiences over stuff, and choose action over self-limiting beliefs. Being a “good man” means being the best version of you. Only you know what that means.

What is one thing you want to experience at least once?

—

Photo: Flickr/ Geraint Rowland

This article originally appeared on The Good Men Project.

My 500th Blog Post. Thank You!

There is an audio version below.

—

I started blogging in June of 2011. I don’t think I took it seriously until January of 2012. It’s been a crazy and fun adventure to get to 500! If you have been around since the beginning, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I do this for you and always try to give you value.

Looking back there is so much I wish I had done better, but the past is the past. I have shared a lot of those lessons over the years. More than anything, my goal has been to educate. There was a lot of advice I learned along the way that wasn’t helpful—it actually took me farther from my goals. I don’t want you to go through that.

Thinking about the future is kind of overwhelming right now. My business and dream have changed a bunch since I started this blog. It has exploded in a good way as a result of the lessons learned over the last five years. This year is busy.

The One Shift

In 2011, I made $14.37 in my lifestyle business. 2012, I made $37,323. In 2013, the first year I was full time, I made $46,732. In 2014, I made $67,698. I won’t tell you how much I made in 2015, but I will say it was multiple six-figures.

I don’t tell you these numbers to brag.

In the middle of 2014, something important happened that led to what 2015 ended up becoming. I know this is a shift someone reading this will need to make this year to reach that next level on their journey to create freedom and success in their life.

The beginning part of 2014 was great–things were going better than ever before, and it scared me. I kept wondering when I would run out of customers, or for some colossal disaster to happen that would wipe out my business/dream. I had a limited mindset that didn’t understand abundance and opportunity.

In July of 2014, I read three books that helped me make a shift to a prosperity mindset: Just Blow It Up by Dixie Gillaspie, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and The One Thing by Gary Keller.

I cut down on the number of podcasts I listened to and focused on the ones that would help me. I stopped following all the popular advice online and focused on what would help me grow my audience and reach.

This shift changed how I approached everything. I realized that 2.5 billion people log onto the Internet every day–I had a potentially limitless customer base if I stopped chasing opportunities in the online space. I focused on mainstream opportunities, and it’s made all the difference.

If you are wondering if your dream/lifestyle business can support you and if it’s sustainable, the answer is YES. There’s SO much opportunity through the Internet and even social media–just outside of what I call the “online space.” You no longer have to go through the old school gatekeepers. You can build a life centered around “work” you love.

What’s the difference? 

Instead of trying to speak at a conference like Social Media Marketing World (online space opportunity that doesn’t pay most of their speakers), I went after speaking at a company or industry association event (where I’m getting $10,000 a training). But, I leveraged the large publications (online) that I write for and contribute to regularly.

Instead of trying to guest blog and reach that audience (online space opportunity), I focused on writing for a website like the Huffington Post (online, but mainstream opportunity. Most people recognize that name, and its significance), which gets 218 million unique visitors a month. It’s a wider reach and more opportunity.

Make sense?

Change your mindset. Create a plan. Ignore the noise. Embrace risk and failure. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Focus. Go after mainstream opportunities. I look forward to celebrating with you at the end of this year!

Audio version:

Thank you again for sticking around.

What is one thing you want to accomplish this year?

—

Photo: Flickr/ Rich

3 Ways to Find Paid Public Speaking Engagements

Finding paid speaking is one of the things I teach in Exposure through Large Publications. Registration closes on February 8th.

—

Speaking is a dream of many entrepreneurs. To get onstage in front of a room of people who are eagerly awaiting your every word is appealing. The income and impact are also great motivators.

To book paid speaking, however, has been a struggle for a large percentage of entrepreneurs. All over the world, there are thousands of events every day, but finding the ones that pay can be a needle in a haystack.

There are speaking agents and bureaus that offer to help, but the results haven’t been impressive. Most of these services only offer to get you leads, but there are three ways you can book paid speaking on your own and for free if you’re willing to put in some legwork.

1. Target industry associations.

Whenever we think of a conference, we think of an event like New Media Expo. However, these large events do not pay most of their speakers. Because they’re so popular, many speakers gladly come and speak for free to gain exposure and new contacts.

If you want to book paid speaking, your best bet is to speak at the conferences of industry associations. These industries could be healthcare, lawyers, auto, and so on. Speaking for these associations doesn’t mean you have to talk about their industry.

You can talk about topics to help their industry, and these are the topics they want to learn more about. They are looking for new skills and strategies to help improve their industry. If you’re a social media expert, for example, you could have a talk about social media marketing strategies healthcare institutions need to incorporate.

Industry associations have budgets to pay speakers and are always looking for new and interesting entrepreneurs. You can find these associations with a simple Google search. Also, many of these and other conferences around the world can be found through a website such as Lanyrd.

2. Book consulting at companies.

Last year, companies paid outside consults $39.3 billion dollars according to Business Week. These companies bring in consultants to train on every topic imaginable. While you might not get the experience of speaking for a crowded room, you can still generate income and make a difference at a global company.

To book outside consulting, start locally. Chances are you have a connection to a company where you live. Here is a formula you can use.

Identity a company where you can talk to a decision maker.
Research that company and identify the problem you will solve.
Offer to take the decision maker out for a coffee, dinner or grab 10 minutes of their time. A cold email rarely works. Face to face is what closes the deal.
Present the problem that you can help solve. This presentation should include hard numbers, not your opinion. You want to show this company why they can’t afford not to hire you. They also want to make sure they get a return on their investment.
Charge a rate that’s worth your time.
Do a good job and get referrals.

In 2012, I booked my first consulting contract at a local McDonald’s franchise. Last year, I booked contracts at companies in 12 countries and generated over $80,000 in consulting income. This strategy works.

3. Leverage Rotary Clubs or Chamber of Commerce meetings.

In every state, there are Rotary Clubs and Chamber of Commerce meetings. These meetings bring in speakers. While the event may not be paid, the opportunity is there. These meetings are for business owners and executives who have their events. One good presentation can create a full speaking or consulting schedule for you.

Research the meetings where you live. Offer to meet the organizer or send that person your proposal. Make the talk unique and with clear takeaways. Event organizers want their audience to walk away with actionable information. Get video of the talk and testimonials from those in the audience. Once you’ve spoken, network like an entrepreneur and create new opportunities.

You can set up a table that has your books, a one-sheet to book you to speak, and a one-sheet that explains your coaching program or group class. When you add value to your event, people will naturally want to know what else you offer. The income adds up.

Be sure to have a sign up for your email list at the event. At the very least, it’s a good opportunity to add names to your list that could be future customers. You can have a sign-up sheet somewhere or use a text to add program.

Many email service providers now offer the option to have people opt into your email list through text messaging. I use MailChimp, and I know they offer it. It’s very convenient to say “text hello to 555” and get people to sign up.

The world of paid speaking doesn’t have to be a mystery for entrepreneurs. Nor do you have to pay thousands of dollars for speaker services that promise results, but deliver disappointment. Finding paid speaking takes time and legwork, but the results are amazing. Traveling the world and getting paid to do it will never get old.

Audio version:

—

Photo: Flickr/ Kerri Lee Smith

This article originally appeared on Entreprenuer.com.

3 Ways Successful People Think Differently

—

Your mindset affects what you believe is possible, and that will dictate what actions you take in your life and business. Your thoughts will either help or hurt your business. The way you think is one of your most valuable assets as an entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs understand this better than most.

Cultivating a strong mindset is a lifelong process, but today we have access to books, blogs, podcasts and videos that help us learn, grow and accomplish our goals. Successful entrepreneurs make learning and understanding themselves better a priority.

This year, I saw firsthand how the important it is to think differently. Having the right mindset led to explosive growth in my business. Here are three ways successful entrepreneurs think differently that helps them grow.

1. They realize excuses don’t lead to results.

Excuses stifle progress. Successful entrepreneurs understand how detrimental they can be and recognize them when they start to creep up. They do their best to control problems and issues head-on. They don’t run away and they don’t blame someone else.

When things don’t go as planned, it feels easier to avoid dealing with the issue, especially if it’s our fault. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing and excuses will kill your reputation. Don’t let excuses have any part of your business. Realize that roadblocks in are overcome when you don’t pretend they’re not there.

2. They accept failure as valuable life experience.

Successful entrepreneurs understand that failure teaches you invaluable life lessons, and they learn instead of giving up. They view failure as a sign that they’re continuing to grow in their life and business.

If you are not experiencing failure in your entrepreneurial journey, you aren’t taking enough action. If you hit every goal you set without much resistance; you aren’t setting big goals. You should set goals so ambitious that you don’t some. Use those to stay motivated and never complacent.

3. They value their time above all else.

Successful entrepreneurs value time above money. They realize time is the one thing you can’t get back or create more of. They maximize their time by saying “no” to things that don’t benefit where they are in their journey. They realize time is precious and avoid wasting it.

Your time is your most valuable commodity. Treat it accordingly. In business, this means saying “no” to meetings and opportunities that don’t make sense for your business. It means not allowing all the bright shiny objects out there to sidetrack you. It means you focus on what will help your next steps.

You started a business to create a life of freedom. That freedom lets you spend each day and moment on what is important to you. Your business should fit into your life, not your life into your business. The life part has to come first. That means valuing your time.

You can build a business and life you love. It starts with your thoughts. Feed your mind daily with content that inspires and motivates you to the best version of yourself. Stay away from toxic people and situations that will fill your mind with doubt and fear.

Don’t try to be like a successful entrepreneur. Don’t copy. Embrace what makes you unique and study what your customers/leads respond best to. There’s nothing wrong with modeling success, but modeling isn’t copying. Don’t follow conventional wisdom, think differently. Don’t give into excuses, learn from your failures and realize how precious time is.

Create success in your life. You’ve got this!

—

Photo: Flickr/ Kacper Gunia

This article originally appeared in Entrepreneur Magazine.

5 Fears I Overcame to Become an Entrepreneur

—

The freedom entrepreneurship can provide is priceless. Being able to set your schedule and earn an income based off of the value you provide is appealing. There are many enjoyable parts of an entrepreneur’s life, but life isn’t a movie, and there are challenges and struggles every entrepreneur will face. These challenges are especially strong when you’re starting a business.

Fear kept me stuck in a business I hated because the money was good and pretty much guaranteed. I had a full plate of customers, but the work felt like it was draining my soul. My dream was to create a lifestyle business that allowed me to write, speak and consult. I had to beat these five fears to make that dream a reality.

Fear isn’t a negative thing if you understand it. Starting or growing a business is a hard enough task on its own. When you add in fear, it can feel impossible. Here are five fears you may need to overcome to build your business.

1. Losing my steady paycheck.

Knowing how much money you have coming in, and having it come steadily, makes you feel secure. The income from a business is sporadic at times if you don’t have systems in place. I was terrified of leaving that consistent check from the same customers I had dealt with for years. This idea of making money online didn’t feel safe at first.

I conquered this fear by realizing that there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. Job security is a thing of the past. We see that played out every day. You can create more reliable income in your business with a plan. You should have a plan for promotions and how you will make money each month. You then schedule your content around what you’re promoting.

2. What will I do with more free time?

When I chased this dream on the side, I used every minute wisely. I would get home from my business and work for three uninterrupted hours every day. This helped me build my online business to profitability in a year. No time was wasted, and the side business grew as a result.

This idea of having all this free time brought on fear. I worried I would watch more Netflix than work. For the first two months in my lifestyle business, that was the case. Don’t fear having free time, fear not having a plan for that free time. If you set a realistic schedule for yourself, you can be even more productive than when you were in a day job.

3. What will family and friends think?

Our society has been trained to believe in this idea of the “American Dream.” This dream is that you graduate high school, go to college and get a degree. You can then get a “good job” and buy a house with a white picket fence. While the idea of the American Dream has changed, the overall premise remains strong.

A lot of your family and friends won’t understand your desire to be an entrepreneur. The narrative is still in their mind. There’s always a fear of what they will say and how they’ll react. Realize this is your life and you have to live it how you best see fit. Accept that some people won’t get it and that’s okay.

4. Past failures.

Failure doesn’t have to be something that holds you back, and it’s not a fear that should keep you from becoming an entrepreneur. Use any failure as a life lesson to help you avoid the same mistakes. If you have failed at starting or growing a business in the past, dust yourself off and go back to the drawing board.

5. Self-limiting beliefs.

Doubt, fear and listening to people who don’t get entrepreneurship will feed into your self-limiting beliefs. These beliefs can amplify your fear and convince you to settle for a life you don’t want to live.

After overcoming my fear, I sold the business I hated. I now write, speak, and consult. I wake up every day knowing I’ll be spending my time on the things I love. I still have fear, but it isn’t about the same things and I understand what it means.

I don’t know what fears will hold you back from achieving success in your business. I only know you can beat them when you get honest about them, and address the reason fear manifested itself. Don’t let fear keep you from all the great things you can accomplish in your business.

—

Photo: Flickr/ Gustavo Diaz

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur Magazine.

Success is NOT About Money. It’s About Creating Freedom

There is an audio version below.

—

I’ve had some cool wins in the last year, but I’ve also had just as many (if not more) losses/lessons. I was rejected 36 times by various publications in 2015 (even some that I was already a contributor to). I lost two coaching clients (as in, they got a refund). I lost the opportunity to speak at four different events (in some amazing countries) because we couldn’t agree on terms. I lost focus more times than I can count, and I let envy sidetrack me for months.

The wins are glorious, but the “losses” are what help us grow. They teach us to be grateful for the wins, and they help us develop thick skin/determination. For some, they defeat, and that breaks my heart.

Success isn’t an end destination. It’s a constant journey to be the best version of yourself and make a positive impact on those in your life and this world. Success isn’t about money or speaking gigs, or viral articles.

It’s about what impact those opportunities have, and how they help someone’s life as you share your truth. I don’t view the failures as losses. I think of them as valuable lessons in shaping my path.

There Are Many Ways to Make Money  

If you’re chasing success because you want to make a lot of money, you can probably achieve it. Despite how the news tries to portray our economy, we know the Internet and social media have created tremendous opportunities to make a significant income. There will always be ways to make some or more money, but money, as a goal, is hollow. Success is about more than money.

The money should be to give you the freedom to live comfortably. I think most people desire to live a life free of financial stress. There are ways to make enough or more money to get to that point in your life. Having the right mindset related to money makes all the difference in the direction you take. 

Freedom Gives You Control

The main reason to work on making some money is to achieve freedom. Each of us longs to live life completely free—and that includes freedom from financial stress. But, it also includes control of your time. Each of us wants to spend every day on the things that are important to us.

Life is short. We can’t get time back, and we only get one chance to spend our time doing what’s important to us. I’m typing these words to you from Panama City, Panama. I spoke in Fort Lauderdale, Florida last week, and I speak here in Panama twice this week. This freedom has been invaluable. Creating a lifestyle business gives you that freedom and control. 

You Can Make an Impact and Pay it Forward

This is one of the main reasons I run a lifestyle business. Yes, the travel is fun. Yes, the money gives us financial freedom. But, the impact I can make when I write, speak, and coach is priceless. I don’t do this to be some influencer or expert. I do this to help people who are where I was.

You, too, can make an impact in the lives of those around you and beyond. You can help people who desperately need hope and inspiration—it’s far more rewarding than money. You can accomplish life goals and help others do the same—that’s the real definition of success.

In a lot of my articles, I focus on how you can make some or more money. I wanted to write an article like this so you can see the motivation beyond all of this—it’s not money. I talk about the money because I know how much it can change a lot of situations.

Evaluate where you are in this journey. Think about your why and what your main goals are. Get honest with yourself. Realize that success isn’t an end destination—it’s a constant journey to be the best version of YOU. This isn’t about making money—it’s about creating freedom.

Audio version:

How are you trying to create freedom in your life?

5 Attainable Opportunities That Come From Large Publications

There is an audio version below. If you want specific helping getting these opportunities, check out Exposure through Large Publications. Registration is open. New York Times bestselling author, Dan Miller, was the first person to join the new class.

—

2015 was a surreal year in my life and business. If you follow my blog or social media accounts, you have been on this journey with me. After a year a half of writing for The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Good Men Project, and Mind Body Green, the opportunities started to find me.

I spoke all over the world; I got hired for some major consulting gigs, and my business grew by 150%. What excites me the most is that you can follow the same path. It probably won’t work out exactly the same way, but the opportunities are there when you take action. There are five benefits that come from the exposure a large publication can give you.

1. Growing a Larger Email List      

When you write for websites that get millions of visitors, a few of those readers are bound to be curious. They read one of your articles and check out your bio. If the bio matches what you’re writing about, they will click back to your website. If you have a strong freebie for your email list—they’ll take the bait and sign up.

In the last year and a half of writing for publications, my email list has grown from 3,263 to over 30,000 subscribers today. As I’ve consistently put articles out on ten publications, the growth has accelerated. This isn’t some Internet Marketer secret that will cost you money to learn. If you write for large publications that get millions of visitors, you will grow a larger email list as you publish articles. It’s that simple.

2. Consistent Book Sales  

One cool feature of most publications is that they have a book widget that allows you to display your books. For the ones that don’t, you can link to your book in your bio. When someone is digging your article, it’s a natural decision for them to get more through your book. It’s one click, and they’re on Amazon buying it. In all of my years in this space, it’s one of the most consistent ways I’ve encountered for steady book sales. You even get the big spikes from time-to-time (I’ve had several 2,000 books sold days when an article went viral).

3. More Coaching Clients  

When you write for large publications, you’re viewed as an “expert.” I just cringed when I wrote that because I hate that word, but it’s the truth. You’re writing for places that have names everyone would recognize. You can tell a potential client that you guest posted for “so and so’s” blog, but if they’re not in this space, they will have no clue who that is.

When you say, “I contribute to The Huffington Post,” most people will know that name. There will be people who read your articles, see you as an authority on a subject, and want to hire you to help them. I currently have a waitlist of 16 people for my coaching program (not taking new clients until March). Most of those people found me through one of my articles.

4. Paid Speaking  

This benefit is my favorite and one that I get asked about the most. There are a lot of speakers who want to book paid gigs—especially internationally. To book paid speaking, you must have social proof that an event organizer can recognize and understand. Most of the social proof in the online space is only relevant to opportunities in the online space.

Mainstream, name recognizable exposure translates into the traditional world. You’re viewed as an expert, and that can lead to speaking gigs. You can also find the gigs on your own and show them why you deserve to speak based off of your leverage.

5. A Consulting Contract With a Company

Paid consulting has been a pleasant surprise this past year for me and several of my coaching clients. I have clients that consult companies on social media, engineering systems, marketing, mindset training, and leadership training. I consult companies on email marketing, building an online presence, and teaching their employees how to unlock their inner entrepreneur. These gigs pay WELL.

CEO’s, managers, directors, and a lot of other people who can make buying decisions at companies read large publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine. If you write something that peaks their interest, they do email you about it. I have taken my clients from zero experience to signing contracts in less than a year. No fluff. You can contact Jimmy Burgess and Geri Alexander (just a few of many) if you need proof.

These are a few opportunities that can come from the exposure you get from large publications. The reason I’m such a fan of this strategy is because it works. There is too much that doesn’t work in the online space—it’s refreshing to see a strategy that can bring anyone results if they know how to leverage.

I want to see everyone who reads my blog accomplish amazing things this year. I want this to be your dream year and the year you can finally leave your day job. Use large publications and the exposure to build every part of your dream.

Audio version:

Which one of these five benefits appeals to you?

—

Photo: Flickr/ andlun1

 

6 Mistakes to Avoid When Pitching Large Media Publications

There is an audio version below.

—

It’s exciting that you can get your content featured in front of millions of people, but it’s not easy. Don’t get me wrong, you can do it, but only if you approach the editors and the publication in the right way. As an editor for The Good Men Project, I see some great pitches and some that have me shaking my head.

Getting exposure through large publications is a killer strategy for building an email list, your business, and creating opportunities. The key is to get in, and that has to be done with some care. Here are six mistakes to avoid when pitching. These mistakes have gotten many a writer rejected.

1. Don’t feel or come off as entitled.

One of the biggest turn-offs for editors is when someone approaches them with an entitled attitude. You may be some super entrepreneur who has done great things—that doesn’t matter or impress an editor. It’s all about the article.

Check your experience at the door and approach an editor from a place of how you want to make a difference on that publication. The credentials are great, but not necessary if you’ve done your homework researching what articles work for that specific publication. Check the tone of your email and DON’T make assumptions.

2. Fix the grammar and formatting.  

This is an easy fix, but one that keeps too many writers from getting accepted. You should submit your final version and that version should be as grammar free as possible. Use an amazing tool like Grammarly to correct most mistakes.

Also, the formatting in your article should be solid. There should be no awkward spacing, one space after the period, your main points and the title of the article should be bolded, but don’t go nuts with bolding throughout the article. If an article looks like it will be too much work, an article will reject it.

3. Don’t come off like a marketer in your article.

Another big turn off for an editor and publication is when someone or the article feels too promotional. You will get your links in the bio and people will click. When you have links that point towards your other content in the initial pitch, it’s an easy NO for an editor. You can use strategic linking but only AFTER you have established yourself in that publication. Also, avoid linking to landing pages. It looks bad, and a landing page is NOT enough information for someone to make a decision to subscribe or not. 

4. Be patient with editors.  

On average, it will take about three weeks before you hear back from an editor. One HUGE mistake many make is sending a follow-up email. It’s SUPER annoying to editors. You just want to check on the status of your article, but to an editor, it comes off as if you’re rushing them. Editors are busy and won’t respond well to someone pressuring them. You don’t want to come off as a high maintenance writer. Give them time and space. Only send follow-up emails when they have first interacted with you. 

5. Follow the guidelines and don’t misspell the editor’s name.

Most—but not all—publications will have a page that lays out what they want and how they want it. Here is an example on Mind Body Green. If they have one of these pages, read it and follow the instructions EXACTLY. When you don’t, you will be rejected. Also, make sure you spell the editor’s name correctly. This may seem simple, but you would be surprised how often this is botched in pitches. 

6. Don’t get complacent.

One danger is getting complacent after you’ve been accepted into a few publications. You feel good because you’ve had success, so you coast while you pitch new publications. One win doesn’t mean all the other pitches will be accepted. Once you get accepted into a few, don’t get complacent by not pitching new ones. You should be in five solid publications to see massive growth. Don’t let rejection keep you from trying and growing.

Between the last post and this one, you have a solid blueprint to pitch any publication you want. The key is to write a great article that works for the publication you’re pitching. You don’t need a connection, and you don’t need to be some decorated expert. Use these tips and get exposure. Leverage that exposure to take your dream to the next level.

Audio version:

What mistakes have you made when pitching a publication or blog?

—

Photo: Flickr/ Jonno Witts