Kimanzi Constable's Blog, page 57

What If They Kept Coming?

Hello and I hope the start of this year has been amazing for you, it has for me! I wanted to let you know that I’ll be needing your help soon. On Monday February 4th I’ll be opening a call to form a launch team for my very first published book. I’m so excited not only to have this dream come true but spread a message of hope. This will be a fun experience for all involved and I’ll be giving away some free goodies that I think will help you as you chase your dreams.I hope you will help!

I went to work out today, working on knocking out one of my goals for 2013. The gym was packed again today and because it’s the beginning of the year we expect that, right? A phrase that I’ve read/heard a lot lately was rolling around in my head: “they’ll be there until March and then they’ll stop coming, they’ll quit their resolutions”.

Something really hit me: What if they didn’t stop coming in March? What if they kept coming for the whole year, every week getting closer to their goals and dreams?

It’s pretty easy to get irritated when you go to the gym and you can’t even find a towel. You get tempted to jump on the bandwagon of putting people down but what about a different approach? What if you encouraged them? What if you cheered them on week after week? You know what would happen? REAL CHANGE!

What I’m doing about it.

I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and do something “crazy”, I’m going to befriend a random new comer and ask if we could keep each other stay accountable. I’m kind of a shy person, so this won’t be easy!

Could you do the same?

If we cheer each other on and encourage people who have tried and failed, tried and given up, maybe they’ll have a fighting chance. Maybe they’ll get closer to their goals and in doing so inspire you to go to new, higher level’s in your life.

In that circumstance everybody wins, we start seeing real change and maybe it will become contagious and start a movement! It’s it about time we do all those things we always talk and dream about doing?

Isn’t it time we stop believing all of our doubts and fears and the things other people tell us aren’t possible and show them (and US) what is possible!

I hope you’ll join me in helping anyone you can accomplish their goals this year. Let’s start this movement together!

What movement can you start? Will you?

Keep Chasing Your Dreams

This is a guest post from Drew Tewell who is the author of the book, The Dream Job Program: Get the job you want. You can purchase it on Amazon or get it for free when you subscribe to his blog. You can also connect with Drew on Twitter and Facebook.

As individuals, we are all on a journey. You may have read Kimanzi’s post earlier this week where he told us about finally getting to hold his book in his hands and also give a copy to his 87-year-old grandpa. Kimanzi is living his dream and an inspiration to us all.

Today I want to share a little bit of my journey and hopefully encourage and inspire you to keep chasing your dreams.

Years ago I worked with young people as a youth pastor. Every week I had to prepare a talk that I delivered on a Wednesday night. Over time I felt like I was getting better and better, but I always thought the message that I wrote on paper was better than the message I delivered to the young people.

I eventually got married and ended up moving out-of-state. I had lined up a position again working with young people but it didn’t work out. So I ended up taking whatever work I could get and eventually found myself selling credit cards.

Before getting the job selling credit cards, while I was working at a temp job, I got an idea for a book. I ran the idea by someone I knew who was also an author and who was helping aspiring authors publish their book. He liked my idea and sent me a contract to work with him. But, I never ended up following through and the book was never written.

At the time, I still had a dream to work with young people again. I was going to start a youth center and use it as a model to start other centers all over the U.S. I dream big. But over the years, the youth center idea never came to fruition.

I eventually got a new dream, I was going to start a coaching business.

After my job selling credit cards, I got a job at a community center, helping people of different ages with work related issues. I worked as an instructor for career planning and job search and also as a case manager of a couple of different grant funded programs, both having to do with helping people with work.

So when I started my coaching business, I decided to do career coaching. I created some material to go through with clients to help them with career planning and job search. I eventually took this material and turned it into a book.

I still do a little coaching but now my passion is blogging. The feeling I get when I write something that I feel is good material is unlike any other. And the relationships I have made and am still making are also part of what I love about blogging.

Now my dream is to become a NY Times best-selling author. Like I said earlier, I dream big. But if you look over my past, you can see how the work that I did at the different jobs that I had prepared me for what I want to do today.

This year my goal is to land a book publishing deal. My strategy to make this happen is to write a guest post every week in 2013. I am also giving my book away (which sells on Amazon) to people who subscribe to my blog.

So wherever you are on your journey, be encouraged and inspired. God is able to take where we are and use the skills and experience we are gaining and do something great with our lives. Never stop chasing your dreams!

What dream are you working towards currently? 

Holding My Dream In My Hand

If you are newer here, I would be HONORED if you subscribed to my email list. You’ll get two amazing bonuses and inspirational/motivational content twice a week (No spam, I promise):

Have you ever had one of those idea’s that you were convinced was brilliant?

Several years ago there were some crazy, stressful, and depressing things going on at my job. We were independent business owners yet weren’t treated that way and we had enough.

I decided to do something about it and started organizing a drivers association for everyone in our warehouse. The more I thought about it, I patted myself on the back, because it was pure genius!

I found a place to meet, and I ordered some pretty nice food. I sent out the invitations and the response was even better than I thought. The day of the meeting was a great day; we were finally going to take charge!

All was well until I got to the place we were meeting; I was shocked (and scared) to see the top two managers from the company waiting. Thoughts ran through my head like crazy: how did they know? Why were they here? What was going to happen to me?

I walked up and tried to look as brave as I could. They asked me why I was doing this and I said it needed to be done. As the drivers came in they had the same reaction as me, even though they didn’t show it, I knew they were scared.

Everybody gathered and the managers were shocked by the attendance, they asked to say a few words. After they hijacked the meeting I stood in the corner paralyzed in fear.

My good friend was there and he wasn’t afraid, he stood up and told them nobody came here for them, this was about us. They left but were very angry.

We met, agreed on some things we wanted changed. The crazy thing was that by getting together and uniting, those things we wanted changed were changed, it was amazing.

After a few months everybody was enjoying victory and started to slack. Less and fewer people showed up to the meetings and slowly the company started taking back some of the changes. It eventually got to the point where we lost everything we fought for but it was too late.

We tried to have one last meeting but only two people came. After the dust cleared I was the last man standing and I was called into the office.

I can’t go into everything that was said but it was strong enough to make me scared and after I left the office, I spent five minutes crying in my car. That moment was the “straw that broke the camels back”, I was finally going to quit making excuses and chase my dreams.

This past Friday, after a two years of blood, sweat and tears, I was finally able to hold my dream in my hand:

 

This moment was completely overwhelming, I laughed, then cried. That incident and every crazy experience from the last 12 years came rushing back. All the struggle it took to get here, all the times I wanted to give up.

This moment made me glad I didn’t give up, it made me glad I chased my dream. Now I can hold that dream in my hand, it’s amazing.

If that wasn’t enough, I had one of the proudest moments of my life when handed a signed, physical copy of my book to my 87-year-old grandpa yesterday. He doesn’t read ebooks, doesn’t touch computers. He held the book and started to tear up, so did and I can’t wait until he comes to my book signings at Barnes and Nobles and other book stores.

This day wouldn’t have come if I listened to my doubt and fears, if I listened to what other people said. This day wouldn’t have happened if I settled in what was a decent job.

Has a day like this ever happened for you? If it has I’m celebrating here with you, that’s awesome!

If you haven’t had a day like this, then don’t give up, don’t make excuses, don’t listening to your doubts and fears and don’t settle for “good enough”.

No matter how crazy people tell you your dreams are, don’t listen. Prove them wrong and make your dreams a reality by taking action on them today. This is your year and I’m excited to see all the amazing things you’ll accomplish this year!

What do you need to do to make your dreams a reality? Are you doing it? 

P.S. Read more about all the crazy things that happened in my working career here

I’m Broke And It’s No Joke!

When I was seventeen years old I thought I was a grown up. My parents always attended church and they expected us to go as well, this didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to do what I wanted to do, not be told what to do.

I rebelled, I gave them a hard time at every turn. I was an arrogant seventeen year old but things came to a boiling point. My parents drew a line in the sand and said that if I didn’t obey the rules I had to leave, so I left.

I stayed with friends, sleeping on their couches. I hit up family members begging, they stood with my parents. I spent a few hard nights sleeping in parks and bus stops, I even stayed in a few homeless shelters. I definitely learned that I wasn’t all that I thought I was.

During this time I got two minimum wage jobs and ended up meeting my wife at one of the jobs, we were married three months later. We ended up getting our own place and I felt vindicated in my mind, I still didn’t get it.

Since I was so arrogant I didn’t heed any lessons from my elders, actually I didn’t listen to anyone. My wife and I made good money but I spent money like we were millionaires. I bought what I wanted and didn’t save a penny.

I wish I could tell you that as I grew up I learned some lessons about money but I just learned how to live beyond my means. Things went from bad to worse fast.

Early last year I had over $100,000 in debt, I probably owed you money. I was constantly getting calls from bills collectors, I was getting calls at home, work, and my cell phone. It seemed like every step forward I took, I fell ten more steps back.

The bills were so overwhelming at times that I had some pretty dark thoughts. I just didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, I didn’t have any real relationship with my Lord. I was afraid of what would happen next.

I never said it out loud but I thought with the life insurance policy I had, it would be better if I was gone and my wife and kids could get that money and pay off the debt. Looking back on it now that wouldn’t have been a better plan, it would have been an EASIER plan, a cowardly plan.

I praise the Lord for His grace and I thank Him for sending amazing people to be in my life. Eventually I did get a clue and went back to my parents and other family members and apologized and begged for help!

I was turned onto Dave Ramsey and I started making smart decisions with my money. Things still weren’t perfect but at least there was hope.

Can you relate? Have you ever been in a rough financial situation? 

I don’t have a real outline for this post, more than anything I just want you to know that there is hope if you are, have been or will be in this situation. Please don’t feel like checking out is your best option, it’s the worst!

Please don’t feel like you’ll never get from underneath your bills, like you’ll never have financial freedom because if you want to you can. Please don’t fell like you have to be “strong” and hold it all inside not wanting to “bother” anybody. Be a bother, ask for help, CRY if you have to.

After you have gotten help, after you have cried it out, after you have done whatever you have to do to get through the worst of it, take control.

For me to get control I had to work a crazy amount of overtime to start making progress, I hate to say it but you’re going to have to as well. If you want control, if you want to finally get out of the hole, you’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes.

I wouldn’t suggest taking out a loan, you can’t get out of debt by taking on more debt. I will say that if you absolutely have to, ask your family for help. Do the research, figure out a budget, work overtime and start to make progress.

Once you do get out of this situation, learn the lesson and don’t ever go back. I know I won’t!

Have you ever been broke? 

How To Start and Market a Profitable Online Business (Part 5)

Have you ever seen or heard those commercials from BMO Harris bank? The ones where they say “verb: great customer care…….” or whatever it is that they’re saying. I HATE those commercials, I hear them and think “who would do business with them based off of these commercials?”

Here’s the thing that took me a while to realize: those commercials aren’t meant for me. BMO and other large companies as well as a lot of other people have figured out one of the most important parts of marketing: you’re not trying to get everyone, you’re trying to get the right someone. 

Find your target audience

When my first book came out I thought about marketing it and I thought I had a one up on a lot of other books. My book was about work and most (if not all) people have to work, so my target audience was pretty much everyone, right? WRONG! So instead of focusing on the people who were most likely to buy the book, I tried to get everyone. What do I mean?

When I was building my audience I would guest post everywhere that I could and I would interview with everyone that I could. I definitely got the traffic and exposure but it wasn’t the right kind of exposure. So as a result those people would come to my website and look around but they wouldn’t stay very long, they didn’t subscribe to my email list and they didn’t come back.

Why would they? They probably just clicked through because I was guest posting on a blog they liked and they were curious. I wasn’t talking to my target audience. Have you done this?

Do the research

When you start to market your online business the first thing you have to do is figure out who your target audience is and it’s NOT everyone. We have some amazing tools that we can install on our blogs to help us figure this out, the best being Google Analytics. There is so much information to help you figure out where your audience is, and what they like.

Once you start looking into things you’ll be surprised who your target audience is and what they want and how they want it.

The other way that Ramit Sethi recommends is to simple ask your audience through surveys. There are amazing survey services you can use, one of the best being Survey Monkey. They have many great FREE options. I heard an interview with Ramit where he says he sends out 4,000 surveys a month, crazy! He also makes an excellent point: If you can’t get someone to do something as small as filling out a survey, how are you going to get them to buy from you? Click to Tweet (thank you). 

Once you know who you’re talking to, create things just for them

The research and knowing your target audience are the most important components in your marketing. Once you know information about them, you can figure out the best products and services to create that would help them and that they would spend money on. Plus you can figure out how they best and most likely will consume the content. Do they like video versus audio? Would they be more likely to buy your webinar than your ebook? This is why knowing is so important.

You can create all sorts of products and services but if it’s not created for your target audience, no one will buy it. This is the reason so many authors have a hard time selling their books, they haven’t figured out who they’re talking to.

Get traffic and exposure

After you figure out who your target audience is, go after them! Guest post on the blogs they read, blogs that are larger than yours and can bring you traffic and exposure. Big bloggers have to produce a lot of content, so when they get good content that will benefit their audience, they will use it.

Before you send out guest posts, make sure you know the style of the blog. Don’t send out a generic post. Also guest post on blogs that fit your brand, my friend Jared talks about this.

Do interviews either through print, podcast and radio shows (TV if you can get them). Spread the message about your online business and how you want to help people ……… Once people see that you’re genuine, they will respond.

This is a great time to make this happen!

2013 is here and this is the best time to start an online business or any business. A lot of people will believe the news they hear and see about how bad things are, that’s ok. This means less competition for you, this means they will learn and be inspired by what you do and how well you succeed!

If you are on the fence, get off and take action today. In the next part we will wrap this series up talking about some final marketing things. I hope this has been helpful and helps you start something amazing this year!

Have you found your target audience? Are you reaching them? 

 

How To Start and Market a Profitable Online Business (Part 4)

So here we are at the beginning of a New Year and a another opportunity to accomplish amazing things. I don’t know about you but I’m excited for all the possibilities!

I want to continue our series and give you some helpful information that you could use to start an online business that might change your life, it has changed mine.

So in the last part we talked about creating awesome content based off of the topic you choose from your passion and life experience. Today I want to talk about the how-to of taking that knowledge and formulating a real business that brings in money.

First things first. 

Before you start seeing the money rolling in you’re going to have to focus on what you can or will be able to learn how to do first. I listed out the options for making money last week but which one fits best?

Are you going to write an ebook first? Are you going to host a webinar first? In my personal opinion I would say to create a little workbook or audio guide. Think about your topic and how you learned what you know, then think about the best way to get started teaching somebody about it.

Map out exactly how this is going to look from start to finish. One way to really catch someone’s attention right away is share your story. Everyone loves a good story, plus it helps them identify with you and makes them realize you know what you’re talking about. Start with your story and then proceed to the first lessons.

After you have this mapped out start a Word document or record audio on your computer. If you want to know if you’re doing this right, either Google it or check out some other products online that are similar. Once you have something put together that you feel offers tremendous value and will help people, send a copy out to a close friend or family member.

Have them be your “Beta” testing group to see if this is something that you can sell and feel confident about. Once the word has come back that you nailed it, upload the product to a storage and shopping cart website. I personally use e-junkie.com for up to a certain amount of data (more than you’ll need) the cost is a flat rate of $5 a month, that’s it! It will incorporate Google checkout, PayPal and PayPal Pro and handle all your shopping cart services.

You upload your product, you type in all the information about your product and it gives you a custom code that you can copy and paste and put anywhere on your website. They even list your product in E-Junkie’s marketplace and I have gotten a few sales from there.

If you want your product to stand out on your website and all the places you’ll market it, then have a cover designed. If you don’t have the technical skills yourself, you can pay someone on a website like Fiverr.com. That’s right, only $5 will get you a cover or any other variety of services you could be looking for, I’m always surprised to see all the things on that website. Just be sure to check out their rating or talk to someone who has used a person on there.

Have them make you a killer cover for your product, upload that to E-Junkie and get your code, paste that bad boy somewhere and you’re ready to start making money. It’s not easy but easier than you thought, right? If you look at my books and the products on my product page, you’ll see that those are all set up through E-Junkie.

The other ways.

Webinar: So that’s what you do for an audio book, ebook, workbook. There are other ways to monetize your knowledge. You can host a paid or unpaid webinar. This is something that I haven’t personally done but with some of the services out there even the non-technical person can put together something professional.

You can put together a killer presentation, promote it and charge a certain amount for people to attend. You can also kill two birds with one stone by asking for their name and email address and have that go directly into your email list.

You can also do a free webinar and at the end of it offer your online course, ebook, or any other product you created. You get people in by offering them the free content and sell them the more advanced pay content.

Online Course: This one will take a lot more time, research and experience, I would say that this is the last one you work on. You can take your knowledge and package it as a (insert time) certain timed course. Right now my friend Ben is creating an online course on Parenting Pitfalls.

You can outline how you want someone to get from the starting line to a certain end point. If you’re teaching someone how to find work that they love, you would start with identifying what they want to do for work and take them to where they’re happy making good income in that job that they love.

Each week your course would teach them something new that gets them closer to the end goal. You can make it more valuable by adding interviews from people who have successful done this, material on how to make the journey a little bit easier. You can also make your course over the top by offering something free when they buy the course. We will cover more of this in the marketing part of this series, so  come back!

Well I think we’ve covered a lot in this post. On the next post we will start to get into the marketing of all of this, how to get people’s attention and get them buying!

Right now is the best time to start your online business, right now is the best time to pursue your dreams. Every where you look you see and hear bad news about our economy and business, don’t believe the hype! You can create something that gives yourself/family a life of freedom and value.

Stop thinking about all the things you want to do “someday”, start doing those things today! Take action and make your dreams your reality! Click to Tweet (Thank You).

What dream do you want to make a reality this year? 

 

There’s Always Going To Be Another Monday

So the new year is here and I set my goals and resolutions. I’m back on the weight loss journey and ready to kick this extra weight once and for all! I set some big goals and I made them public, no turning back now!

Have you set any goals or resolutions for 2013?

I’ve been here before, I know what I have to do but there’s a minor problem: I LOVE sweets. I don’t know why but I get cravings for sweets at the oddest times and the cravings come on strong. Just ask my wife

The problem I have with sweets, besides them not being healthy, is that I can’t eat them in moderation. Once I start it’s hard to stop! The first time I lost the weight I was going strong for two weeks and had kicked sweets. I went into work and the managers wanted to thank the drivers so they got us a FULL spread of donuts, every variety you could ever imagine.

As I was loading the truck (took about an hour) I was fighting the urge to go over to the table and just pig out. I almost made it out of there but as I was walking out the door I had to go over there and talk to one of the managers. The whole time talking to him I was looking and thinking about the donuts.

In the end I gave in and grabbed two of them on the way out, that was the beginning. I tried hard but once that first taste of sweets hit my mouth, I just wanted more and more. It was three weeks later before I finally realized how fast and far I had fallen. I woke up and got back on track and lost the weight.

The thing that kept me getting the sweets, not hitting the gym, and not working on any of my other goals was the lie I was telling myself. As I would carry on with the bad behavior and I felt guilty, I would tell myself that I could get back on track on Monday.

I would say to myself: “I’ll start over again on Monday and I’ll hit it twice as hard, don’t worry”. Monday would come around and guess what? I had another excuse! It’s just easier to lie to yourself then actually do what you know you should be doing. Click to Tweet (Thank You).

Don’t believe the lie

Right now you’re thinking about all the things you want to do and it can be scary. You might be telling yourself that you have more time or you can start at anytime. Those are the voices of doubt disguised, don’t listen to them. None of us is guaranteed anything in life, that’s why it’s so important to take advantage of every moment we have.

I don’t think my father (who died last year) expected to die at 54, we all thought he had more time. I think I have more time, my brain tells me I’m only 32 but the truth is only God knows when it’s my time and yours. The lie of doubt will tell you to keep doing what you’re doing and worry about “all that change stuff” some other day. Stop listening and make “that other day” today.

Take small steps

Usually when we do decide to take action we want to accomplish things all at once and it usually leads to a crash and burn (I know this personally). The key to beating doubt, the key to forming habits and making changes is to take tiny steps that lead to big results. If you set a goal to lose weight, break it down to a few pounds a week (I set a goal of 3 pounds a week).

If you want a new job, then set weekly or daily goals of how to get there. IF you set a goal to write a book this year, then write a chapter a week. You’re smart so I know you get the picture. These little victories are crucial to success and as you succeed more and more, you take bigger and bigger steps and you eventually win!

It’s time to get off the fence

I’m preaching to the choir and you’ve heard all this before, so the choice is yours: continue in a life of existing or truly live. I’ve made a vow that even if I fall flat on my face I would rather eat the pavement than to not try and live a life of regret. I’ve been there and done that, no more!!

What will you decide? What is one small step you can take this week? 

If you do take a small (or big) step, please share it here and we all win!

 

The Hard Part of Goal Setting

I want to take a small break from our series on How to Start and Market a Profitable Online Business to talk about something that has been on my heart and mind as we come to the end of this year.

Every where we look we’re hearing about New Year’s resolutions and goal-setting for the coming year (that’s if the world doesn’t end today) (He He). If you’re reading this then I guess someone was wrong.

From the time period of me being seventeen years old until last year the only goal I had was to get at least six hours of sleep a night, seriously. At seventeen my parents said if I didn’t obey their rules I had to leave, so I left. I lived on friends couches and cars for a while until I met my wife.

I met her and we were married three months later and got our own place. So from seventeen on I was a “working man” sometimes working two or three jobs to pay the bills. The idea of setting goals and changing my life/chasing my dreams was the last thing on my mind, it wasn’t even on my mind at all.

Last year I said enough was enough, I had to come up with a game plan to change. By chance I had come across Zen Habits and really liked how Leo wrote. As I was reading his blog I ran across a post about NOT setting goals and I thought I would give that strategy a try.

Now here I am at the end of a full year of trying this strategy and the one thing I realize is that everybody has to find what works best for them. I accomplished some amazing things this year but to be perfectly honest with you and myself, not half as much as I could have if I had set goals for myself.

I’m not going to go into the benefits of settling goals verses not setting them, my goal in this post is to conquer one of the hardest parts of setting goals: making myself publicly accountable! I tried no goals this year, next year I’m setting goals for myself and I need you to help me follow through with what I say here. Can you do that for me?? (Please)

Here are my goals for 2013:

Weight loss: I WILL lose 140 pounds.

Be Brave Z!

Three years ago I lost 132 pounds in six months. I ate 1,2oo calories a day along with working out for four hours a day. I lost the weight but didn’t learn what it really takes to be healthy. Last year I gained the weight back plus 30  pounds. I’m back on the weight loss journey now and in the last four months have lost 30 pounds and back to exactly where I started, I now weigh 332 pounds (it hurts to write that).  I know now how to truly be healthy, it’s a lifestyle!

I’m tired of carrying this weight and if I’m serious about teaching people how to change their life then I better lead by example. I want to lose the weight by the time my first published book comes out in May. So I need your help, please reach out to me from time to time and ask me how it’s going. Ask me if I’m staying away from the sweets, call me out!

My book: I WILL sell 60,000 copies of my first published book.

[image error]I was blessed with my first two self-published ebooks, selling over 75,000 copies to date. My very first published book comes out in May and I want to knock it out of the park. My publisher took a chance on me and decided they believed in the message, I would love to prove them right.

I will continue to go out there and focus on helping people truly change their lives, that’s first and foremost. I know as a result people will buy the book, it’s packed with useful information. You can help me spread the word by checking out the book on Amazon and if you like what you see, hit the “like” button. Thank you

Speaking: I WILL speak at 4 events that pay more than what I made this year.

I was incredibly blessed this year to speak on four different continents, it was an unbelievable experience. As a beginner speaker I wasn’t making experienced speaker money. I wanted to learn and build my portfolio so I made sure I got as much as I could.

In the coming year I want to be a little more picky about the events that I accept now that I have world-wide experience under my belt. Plus I spent a lot of time away from my family this year and I missed them like crazy, so if I am going to be away, it has to be worth it.

 I’m also going to limit the number of events that I speak at because when my book releases I’ll be touring the country signing books, speaking at events in those cities. Stay tuned because I could be coming to your city and I would LOVE to meet YOU in person

Travel: I WILL take my family to Kenya, and Hawaii. I WILL take my wife on a trip to London and Paris.

Nairobi, Kenya

As of you already know we are moving to Hawaii next year! I also want to take my family to Kenya and meet my entire family. I want my kids to see how other children live and how blessed they are, I want the whole family to see how blessed we are. We are planning the trip late next year, so please pray for us.

My wife has been absolutely amazing as I’ve chased my dreams and had an insane schedule. I want some US time and I want it to be amazing. I want her to have a once in a lifetime experience and I’m sure Paris and London will help

Business: I WILL create at least two killer products that truly help people.  

My goal with all of what I do is to help people. I want to take all of the questions I get and create two products that will help people accomplish all of their goals and dreams. I have a few ideas in mind but if there is something that you would like help with, please let me know in the comments.

I don’t just want to throw something out there just to say I did, I want to put my heart and soul into something amazing and useful. This will of course be for sale  and help me grow my dream that supports my family Stay tuned…

Determine what works for you and take action!

You know what would be a dream come true? Seeing posts everywhere of people announcing their goals and see them take action on their goals.

You have to do what works best for you but I strongly encourage you to take this last week of this year and figure out what you want from next year. Take some time to figure out what your dreams are and a game plan to make them a reality. Be specific about your goals otherwise you won’t really have any measuring stick.

Be realistic and don’t try to do too many things at one time, focus. Bed BOLD and make your goals public to keep yourself accountable. Last but not least, take action. Theories, dreams and hopes are great but they’re absolutely nothing without taking action.

So I have to ask: What are some of your goals for 2013?

If you need help with planning or taking action, I’m here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out (I won’t charge you a cent). If you do write a post about your goals for 2013, please share the good news with me here

 

 

I Have a Treat For You…..

One of the honors I have is talking to so many amazing people, it get overwhelming at times but I love it. As a result I got to read two amazing books and interview the honors. What that shared will help and inspire you. So without any further delay:

Kim de Blecourt

 1. What do you do currently to pay the bills? I WRITE MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND SPEAK. I’M CURRENTLY RESEARCHING MY NEXT BOOK PROPOSAL AND SPENDING A GREAT DEAL OF TIME MARKETING MY RECENTLY RELEASED BOOK “UNTIL WE ALL COME HOME.”

 
2. What is your dream “life” and “work”, what would an ideal day look like for you? SEE MY FAMILY OFF TO WORK/SCHOOL, RETURN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, BLOG/SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES, WORK ON MAGAZINE ARTICLES, SEEK SPEAKING CONTRACTS AND CLOSE THE LAPTOP UPON THEIR RETURN HOME — PRETTY MUCH WHAT I’M DOING NOW.
 
3. What led to writing your book? MY JOURNEY WITH GOD THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION WAS SO AMAZING, THERE WAS NO WAY I COULDN’T SHARE WHAT GOD HAD DONE. I EXPERIENCED GOD IN AN ENTIRELY NEW WAY. OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WAS TAKEN TO A NEW LEVEL. I HAVE OFTEN WONDER WHAT I WOULD DO IN A TIME OF TESTING. THIS BOOK IS MY ANSWER.
 
4. What would you say to someone who is just starting out on the journey to chase their dream? LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. ABSORB THE INFORMATION, FOLLOW TOPICAL BLOGS, AND BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY SLOWLY. NO MATTER HOW PREPARED YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES. YOU MAY LEARN MORE FROM THEM THEN YOU CAN IMAGINE RIGHT NOW. DEVELOP A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS IN THE SAME AREA OF INTEREST. TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND VALUE THOSE CONTACTS. LAST, START NOW — NO WAITING FOR THE “PERFECT” TIME — IT DOESN’T EXIST.
 
5. So let’s talk about your book, what’s it about? MY FAMILY TRAVELED TO THE POST-SOVIET COUNTRY OF UKRAINE TO ADOPT OUR YOUNGEST. WHAT WAS TO BE APPROXIMATELY A MONTH OF TOTAL TIME IN COUNTRY TURNED INTO ME LIVING THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I LEARNED RUSSIAN ON THE FLY, SPENT MY TIME IN HIDING, AND FACED HUGE OBSTACLES COMPLETING OUR ADOPTION. “UNTIL WE ALL COME HOME” FOCUSES ON THAT ONE YEAR OF MY LIFE, GOD’S EXTREME LOVE FOR THE ORPHAN AND MY FAITH JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOST FEAR-FILLED EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. IT IS MY RAW, TRANSPARENT TELLING OF THAT STORY.
 
6. What do you hope people learn from this book? What’s the message you’re spreading? THAT AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE MANDATED TO CARE FOR THE ORPHAN. WE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY GOD IN THE LOVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR ADOPTION INTO HIS FAMILY IS WHY WE CALL FELLOW BELIEVERS BROTHERS AND SISTERS. OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL AND CAN BE TRUSTED. NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF IN, THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. HIS TIME TABLE MAY NOT MATCH OURS, BUT HIS TIMING IS PERFECT. STAY CLOSE TO HIM. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.
 
7. Where can we find out more about you and where can we find the book? YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY CONTINUED JOURNEY WITH GOD AT MY BLOG, NOURISHEDHEARTS.COM. THERE YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON ORPHAN CARE, INFORMATION ABOUT THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION I SUPPORT, FOODFORORPHANS.ORG, AND THERE’S A CONTACT FORM. I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A FREE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR “UNTIL WE ALL COME HOME” AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. “UNTIL WE ALL COME HOME” CAN BE FOUND AT FINE BOOKSTORES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA, GREAT BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA, AND AT YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE BOOKSELLER. EVERY COPY SOLD FEED APPROXIMATELY 9 ORPHANED CHILDREN IN SIXTEEN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S.
 
What I really liked about the book was how well written the story is. It of course has a great message and story but the way Kim wrote it really captures your attention. I was really moved and I recommend this book to anybody, it’s real and honest.
 
Dagny Kight
 

1. What do you do currently to pay the bills? When I was a commodities broker, I created a website for grains trading information that was acquired by a marketing firm. That has afforded me the resources to focus on weight and fitness consulting and advocacy. I have written a book, created a website, and I earned NASM trainer certification. It isn’t generating much of an income yet but I’m working on it!
 
I also have other projects. I am developing a new trading website based on the GrainAnalyst.com model. And since self-publishing my book, I’m being contacted by people who are interested in advice for their own self-published books. I have been a professional writer throughout my career and have extensive experience in high-end digital pre-press production and design. I did all the work on my book and website myself. I’ve been the ghostwriter of many books “for hire.” This is my first book under my own name!

 
 2. What is your dream “life” and “work”, what would an ideal day look like for you? Much of my work is based in writing so I write extensively. I devote many hours a day to writing–blog posts, a new book, web content and promotional material for my own projects and others. Work like that requires devoting time to the various strategies for gaining exposure and spreading the word, of course!

 
I only have a few weight/fitness clients right now but I would like to work directly with more people to guide and mentor them toward taking their bodies and behaviors under control.
 
My ultimate “dream life” would be to be known as an advocate in weight issues and to speak to groups and hold seminars in taking control of serious weight problems. I would most like to be known as someone who changed the way our society views weight and weight loss and how people look at and take control of their own weight problem.

 
 3. What lead to writing your book? I was finally able to take my own lifelong weight problem under control about seven years ago I lost 170lbs and have maintained it. While I was losing weight, I started a blog and wrote extensively about weight-related issues. That planted the idea of writing a book. After selling my website and work on that project ended, I realized it was the perfect time to focus on weight advocacy and fitness as my work and make the book a reality.


 
 4. What would you say to someone who is just starting out on the journey to chase their dream? I’d suggest they pick up a really good book about step by step, realistic life change by this guy I know! Since you’ve read my book, Kimanzi, you know that I also believe a step by step approach is the way to bring transformational change into your life. Whether you want to change careers or lose 100 lbs, the steps are similar–first and foremost, educate yourself extensively. Be realistic about what it’s going to take. Everything in life has a cost in effort, resources, time, and sacrifice. Accept what it’s going to cost and answer the tough question–are you willing to pay it in full?
 


 5. So let’s talk about your book, what’s it about?  I’ve dealt with a weight problem for as long as I can remember. The impact of it has spread out across virtually every aspect of my life. A lot of people struggle with weight for all or most of their lives. After living my own experience, I identified what I believe causes so many people to struggle for years. Content about weight loss saturates the media. I believe my message is truly the new perspective people need to break the cycle of failure and take control of their bodies at last.
 


 6. What do you hope people learn from this book? What’s the message you’re spreading? The title of my book expresses the core of my message–our most “Powerful Hunger” is the need to be in control of our bodies, our behaviors, and our lives. I am speaking out against cultural paradigms that not only demean very large people but also derail our efforts to bring change into our lives.
 


Those of us who have struggled with a significant weight problem for all or most of our lives begin to believe what society tells us we are. But we are not out of control addicts, we are not victims, we are not ignorant, we are not weak and broken, we are not oblivious to the realities of weight as a health issue. We fight a very tough adversary in our own genetics, body chemistry, and brain wiring. The challenge of managing our weight and behavioral tendencies is intensified by the highly obesogenic food and marketing environment we live in, where we are bombarded by eating and food stimuli and eating gratification and indulgence are emphasized even in weight loss advertising.
 
I take an action-focused approach that starts with rejecting society’s shame and blame and taking–you guessed it— a step by step approach to life transition and ultimately, transformation.


 
7. Where can we find out more about you and where can we find the book? My website is PowerfulHunger.com. My book of the same title is available through Amazon and Smashwords in soft cover and all digital editions. Links are on the website where folks will also find my blog and links to my YouTube channel.

 
I am currently writing what will be a free ebook and very low-priced book. The title is “Defeat BodyShame, Declare BodyTruth.” I hope it will become a manifesto for everyone who has dealt with the stigma and struggle of a serious weight problem.
 
What I really liked about this book was that it’s a realistic plan. It’s not a bunch of great theories that you could never actually use, I’m using things from this book right now in my weight-loss journey.
 
Thank you!
 
I want to thank both of these amazing ladies for sharing their hearts with these great books. I want to ask you to check them out and help spread the word. The world deserves as much great content as possible!
 
See you on Friday as we pick up our series on starting and marketing an online business.

How To Start and Market a Profitable Online Business (Part 3)

Welcome back and thank you for reading and responding to this series, I’m overwhelmed by all the comments, social media interaction and email’s. I’m also touched by all of you who took the first steps in starting an online business or expanding upon what you have already done, CONGRATS!

If you have been reading these posts but still question whether or not you can do this, I pray that you see that you CAN do this and succeed. I’ll be the first to tell you that this isn’t easy but I can tell you that this is worth it. To be able to support my family with money that is made through this website has enabled us to live a life of freedom.

I hope this series helps you achieve all your goals. If even one person uses this to start something amazing, I will be over-joyed! So without any further delay:

Create awesome content

I heard Chris Guillebeau say in an interview that he wrote months worth of content on his blog before he ever started promoting it. Once he did start promoting it he wanted people to have something to look at and read for a good while. I don’t think you need to do that but once you get your website up and running, you need some amazing content that people will not only benefit from but want to share with their friends.

Not everyone who starts an online business will be a writer, most won’t actually and that’s ok. Great content goes beyond writing but your website is dead in the water without it. Even if you’re not a writer I would still have a page for a blog. You can use this page to update your customers or address any major customer complaints that apply to many.

If at all possible your blog should not be the first page of your website, your landing page should be, is it pretty obvious what Ben wants you to do, right? We do this to build up your email list which are your most interested prospects. So what is awesome content? Anything that moves the needle to get people from where they are to where they want to be. Tweetable? (Thank you)

This goes back to why you started this online business and what you want to help people do, so do it. Take what you know along with research and start creating articles and products that people can use. If you’re a writer, starting blog. I can’t tell you how many times a week that should be but whatever you choose be consistent.

I’m serious here. If people come to your website and don’t see much they won’t spend anytime there and won’t come back. You have to get their attention with your content. Make all your content relative to your target audience (we’ll cover more of this in marketing).  Enough said?

Making money from your content

There are many ways to monetize and I want to get the most obvious out-of-the-way.

Adsense you make money by letting Google place ads on your website. I don’t personally use this but I’ve heard from the people who do that Google does a good job matching the ads. The thing you should understand from Adsense is that you must have A LOT of traffic to make any real money from it. This is a process that takes time in general so if you’re willing to build slowly you can build your Adsense income slowly as well.
Affiliate links this is where you put links to someone else’s products or services and you get paid every time someone buys through that link. You can see an example on the side bar of this website, you see those books that have a link to Amazon? Those are all books that I have read and feel would help people but every time someone clicks on those and buys them through Amazon I get a small commission. Currently I make about $45 a month through people clicking on those links and buying those books. The cool thing about Amazon affiliate links is that whenever someone buys from your link you also get commission on anything else they buy on that transaction. So if they buy one of those books then buy a 70 inch TV, I get commission on both. There’s a great interview that explains this here.

The other lesser known ways

There are a lot of other ways to take your knowledge and monetize it. For the sake of the length of this post I’ll list them and I’ll go in-depth on Friday’s post (so that means you’ll have to come back).

Webinars
Online Courses
Ebooks this book is my dream come true. I would be HONORED if you went and “liked” the page. Thank You So Much!
Guides and WorkBooks
Audio Guides

So in Friday’s post I’ll talk about the how to of all of these and how to plug-in your knowledge and start making money.

You have to take this seriously

One big mistake a lot of people make is that they treat something like this as a hobby. Starting and succeeding at an online business could open up so many doors and can completely change your life. If you want to get to that level you’ll have to treat it like you’re already at that level.

When you start this business up and you get that first comment, or first customer, or first email, you need to go over the top. Even after you multiple these by 1,000 you still need to be going over the top for your fans, followers and customers. This is how you build something that last.

Being serious means you give your 100% effort no matter what. If you’re a writer and you have one person reading your blog, don’t get lazy and write average posts. You should give 100% to each and every post no matter who’s listening. If you are creating other types of content, give all that you have to make the best product you can make, go beyond your best.

A Challenge for you:

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If you have been wanting more and thinking about starting something that could support a life of freedom and value, then I want to give you a little extra motivation. Here is the challenge:

You have to take some kind of action this weekend or soon. It could be buying a domain or getting a new website set up. It could be taking an existing website and doing something new specifically to further your dreams. The point is action, that first step forward.

When you do, I want you to share it on my Facebook page. I will then pick a few people and send them a copy of one of the above books from my publisher Sound Wisdom. This will be a little reward but the bigger reward will be you taking steps to change your life!

Thank you to all those that responded last week, it was amazing.

What could having an online business do for your life? Any tips from your own experience?