Kimanzi Constable's Blog, page 58

How To Start and Market a Profitable Online Buiness (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?

How To Start and Market a Profitable Online Business (Part 2)

In case you missed it we are in a series right now talking about how to start and market a profitable online business using the knowledge and experience you already have. If you haven’t, I would encourage you to go back and read the first post in the series which talks about the three type of experts and where you fall in that arena.

People are realizing that they are experts and that they can help many people with what they know. Some Examples:

Cover for my new book

Dan Black is an expert on leadership.

Josh Hinds is an expert on motivation.

Derek Halpern is an expert on marketing.

Kent Julian is an expert on public speaking.

Amanda Hocking  is an expert on Self-Publishing.

I can’t tell you if all of these people went to school or had special training for these fields but I know that I go to them to learn about their topics. I also spend money to get more training from them, it’s my goal at least one time this year to go to Kent Julian’s “Speak It Forward Boot Camp“.

Just through your life experience of the things you know and are passionate about, you can and should share that knowledge and build a business from it. This business can give you a life of freedom to do the things that are important to you and value from helping others.

So now I want to move on and give you what you’ve been waiting for, the how to of all of this. I want to warn you upfront that I’m not a technical person at all, I have learned a lot of things along the way but I still defer to the experts when it comes to the harder stuff. Having said that our technology today makes it easy for even the non technical person like myself.

You have to start a website

You can’t have an online business without a website, right? I know that there are many options out there and certain people prefer certain things but I always recommend you start your website through WordPress. You can go to WordPress.com and have a website functioning in minutes.

WordPress just gives you so many options, widgets, and plugins and a lot of them are FREE. WordPress is an open source project which means people from all over the world contribute to making it function and prosper.

I had the honor this year to speak at nine WordCamp conferences which are all about WordPress and the many things you can do with it. Having been there and interacted with WordPress lovers worldwide, I see that this goes beyond a simple website structure. This is a community of people who are dedicated to so much more.

In WordPress you can choose a hosted or self-hosted option. Self-hosted is more for the person who has some technical expertise or someone who can hire someone to design their site.

Even though it’s more technical, anyone can learn. Michael Hyatt even has a video on how to set up a self-hosted WordPress website in 20 minutes, it’s good and I recommend you watch it. This website is self-hosted, but my family’s website is not self-hosted and I operate both of them.

I won’t spend anymore time here. You will have to do the research and figure out what’s the best option for you and what best fits your needs. One thing that I do want to say is that with whatever option you choose I highly suggest you buy the domain name for your website. It’s easier for people to remember and makes them more willing to check out your site if they don’t have to type kimanzi.something.com. If you look at any successful online business out there most own the domains.

The basic look of your website

Every website is different because we all have different tastes. My favorite color is blue, so that’s why you see a lot of blue in all that I do. You might hate the color blue but like some other color, my publisher made the cover of my book a certain color because it represented prosperity. (Pictured in this post)

The point isn’t so much what we like but what would appeal to your target audience, you have to do some research. More than the color though, there are a few key things to know and have:

Email subscription box: One of the most important things you need to do for a profitable online business is build your email list. Why? You hear a lot about your social media following and SEO but what happens if you lose a bunch of your following or for some reason your website gets delisted by Google? If you have built up your email list then no matter what happens in the world those people on that list will still get your latest post or you can email them explaining what happened, it always comes. Plus it’s kind of annoying to get emails, so if someone takes the step to sign up then you know they’re really interested and more than likely they’ll buy something of yours one day. You have to make this box front and center, people have to be clear what to do. Side Note: For those of you who want to have a book traditional published the first thing a publisher asks is how big is your email list. One of the best websites to learn the importance of this and learn how to do this right is Social Triggers.
Give away a freebie: In order to get someone to sign up for your email list, give them a free gift. If you subscribe to this blog you get a little manifesto I wrote as a prequel to my second book. I’m also working on a video training series that I’ll be giving away for an email subscription. You can take that knowledge you have and create a mini informational product (ebook, workbooks, audio guide) and upload it to a website that I’ll be telling you about a little later. This will be done and stored digitally and sent out automatically. This will be something that’s running 24/7 while you are doing other things, it’s like the phrase “making your money work for you”.
Popular post: You can install a widget that automatically displays your most popular post on your side bar or at the end of your post, I use this one on my site. You want new visitors to read your best work and that will make them want to sign up or buy more of your work.
Social media links and share buttons: You want people to connect with you outside of your website, it builds valuable relationships, and fosters engagement (wow, I sound like such an expert . Have those buttons with links to all your social media profiles very visible and encourage people to connect. Mines are right at the top of this website. You also want people to share your content and website so have them very visible in the places you want them to share, ask for that. We’re trying to spread the word here! Again you can use a widget like this one but you have some options for this already in WordPress.
Search: People may come to your website for whatever reason but once they’re here they might want to search for a certain topic. You can have a search box, you can have a “tag cloud” (like on my sidebar) or have the different categories on the side bar. The point is to give them options and make it as easy as possible to find what they’re looking for.
Video: Video is HUGE right now, sometimes people would rather watch then read, sometimes they just don’t have the time. I strongly encourage you to get a theme or design that lets you have a video somewhere. If you can’t, it’s easy enough to embed a video in some content. The key here is to give people something worth watching, create high quality videos and you will get massive exposure.

A website can and should have so much more, it has to have your own personal touch. I just wanted to give you some things that you must have to have the best chance for success. On Monday we will dive deeper and talk about getting this online business making money right away.

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!

What has been your experience with your online business? Are you or have you started one? Any questions (even random ones)?

How To Apply The Law Of Affirmation To Your Everyday Life

This is a guest post from Ryan Ridgway who is the founder and a key contributor to WeeklyHustle.com. He is an avid entrepreneur, always exploring new opportunities. Blogger, hustler, avid fitness enthusiast, and adrenaline junkie are all great terms to describe him. He loves open networking; connect with him on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+. If you would like to guest post here email a post to kimanzi@talesofwork.com and I’ll review it.

“What you say is what you get.”

Cliché right? But really though, have you ever stopped for a moment to dissect that statement and find if it’s actually true? A poor man is poor because he utters the phrase “That would be nice if I could obtain that.” On the other hand, a rich man is rich because he uses the phrase “It will be nice when I obtain that.” Whether we realize it or not, our lives are carefully constructed of what we expect, and the attitude we give to every single situation that comes our way. As the title of this post precludes, an affirmation is simply a declaration of what is true, and as far as I’m concerned just about anything can be true, and it all starts from the words that come out of our mouth.

I have a large mirror in my room. I don’t use it to see if I have anything up my nose, nor do I use it to see if my outfit would pass a test. I use this mirror to empower myself every morning. I’ve written around 20 phrases on my mirror that I read aloud every morning. It’s a task that is often overlooked by many, but try it out and tell me at the end of the day that it wasn’t one of the most productive days you’ve had in a while? Written upon my mirror, you’ll find phrases like “I will make my first liquid-million by age 25″ – “No Drama, Only Results” – “You are a gentleman” – among many other phrases and reminders. A note card placed on your desk or on your car’s dashboard can also be a great constant reminder of what you’re chasing after.

Look at your life right now and think of one particular thing that is holding you back. Maybe it’s the fear of an upcoming job interview or business meeting. Perhaps it’s the inability to use your time efficiently. No matter the circumstance, I’m a firm believer that radical changes can start taking effect solely dependent on the way we speak. Here are some common circumstances where you can use your power of verbal affirmation to propel you forward in life…

“It will be great if I get this job.”

“When I get hired, I will be among the top 5 sales reps in a matter of months.”

–

“I’m so nervous for this date!”

“This date will be fun and relaxing. I hope she’s an amazing woman.”

–

“I hope my Grandma will be okay.”

“My Grandma will make an incredible full recovery very quickly.”

–

Are you starting to see how your words can set the pace for the rest of your day or even the rest of your life? This power of affirmation is bestowed upon us two-fold if you’re thinking about it from a faith-based perspective. I believe that if we take time out of our day to think upon our dreams and goals, and speak them aloud, God will honor those future plans to fruition.

There are plenty of nay-sayers in this world, but surprisingly enough, the biggest one can be ourselves. Eliminate this dilemma! If you speak poorly about your health, finances, or family…the outcome will be poor. If you speak optimistically about your health, finances, and family…the outcome will be abundant! The biggest thing stopping us from achieving our wild dreams and ambitions is ourselves.

Given the way you speak, what expectations are you setting for yourself? What are some phrases you can start using in your everyday life to ensure a positive outcome?

How to Start and Market a Profitable Online Business (Part 1)

I want to thank everyone who emails me or asks me questions on social media; it’s an honor for me to help you in any way that I can. Thank you!

I get two questions over and over again. The first is asking for helping launching and selling ebooks. In case you missed it I wrote a LONG post talking about this subject.

The second question is someone saying that they’re in this situation…………. they describe the situation. Usually these are though situations and my heart goes out because I’ve been there and felt stuck and helpless as well. They ask me what they can do to get out of this situation and chase their dreams.

I find over and over again I give the same answer because it makes sense to so many situations and if you read this blog chances are you’re thinking about this anyway. The answer to most (not all) of the questions is the title of a series that I want to write about in the next few posts: How to start and market a profitable online business.

*Disclaimer*

Before I get into this I want you to know something upfront, this is hard work, very hard. It will also take time and a lot of patience, that’s just how it is. You can do this and you can create an amazing source of income but you’re going to have to be willing to work harder than anybody!

The first part of this series I want to deal with some preliminary things that can be the difference between success and failure so please bear with me. I’ll get to all the good tips and tricks as we move on in the series.

Usually when I tell people this the first thing they ask is “what could I start an online business about”? Good question.

You’re an expert

I heard Brendon Burchard at a couple of his events this year talk about the topic of being an expert and he says there is three types of experts:

Knowledge: You know about a certain subject from experiencing it in your life. Let’s say you went to school for…………. You have done a lot of…………. I would be considered an expert in self-publishing because I have self published two ebooks and sold over 75,000 copies. You have lived life so whether you’ve thought about it or not you do have knowledge about something. You have more knowledge than you even realize and when you sit down and think about it you’ll see.
Research: You have passion about subject and maybe a little knowledge. You then do intense research to find out everything you can about this subject.
Results: You have used your passion and knowledge plus research and have gotten results (like myself with self-publishing) and then you use that to help others.

You can get some in-depth training and learn a lot more than I can teach on Brendon’s YouTube channel.

Whether you realize it or not, you fall into one of these three categories which makes you an expert on………….. I can’t answer what that subject is, you’ll have to take time to think about something you really know and are passionate about.

A good way to determine what’s your topic is to see what people are always asking about. Do people always ask you about……………. Then maybe that’s what you are an expert in.

Whether you realize it or not there are people dying to learn from your expertise on that subject, you just haven’t found them yet. You would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t) by the things people want to learn or the websites they follow online.

Have you ever heard or read the story of Ana White? It will inspire you! She didn’t realize she was an expert and before she knew it she had a blog that was getting four million visitors a month. I ran across her story as she was featured on problogger.net.

She started out with a passion and turned that passion into an online business that supports her entire family in rural Alaska.

Building your business on the side

So once you have figured out what your passion is and what you want to talk about, it’s time to take advantage of all the amazing tools we have all around us.

First though, building this online business will have to be something you do on the side, unless you have some other source of income that will fund you getting this off the ground. I didn’t 

You could also be in a situation where you were fired or layed off. In this situation I would say unless you have a large savings, that you put either finding work or making money through a side business first (odds jobs that put cash in your pocket), then work on your online business.

You need to have money coming in or you risk turning your dreams of an online business into a complete nightmare! Take care of what needs to be taken care of first, and work on this on the side.

I would encourage you to keep a balance because the temptation will be to work on this project night and day; I’ve been guilty of this myself. So before you start, determine how much time you can spend on this and do a little something everyday.

So I feel like this is a good place to take a break until part 2. I hope you find value in this series. More than that I hope you see that you are an expert in something and that knowledge can help many.

This has got to come from a place of service

I don’t want you to misunderstand what this is all about: helping people. Yes you do want to make money on your online business and possibly turn it into more. However, for me and hopefully for you the first motivation is to use your knowledge to help people change their lives for the better.

That knowledge you have is something that someone else can use to accomplish amazing, life-changing things, the money you may make is just a bonus. I never log on to Amazon just to see how many books I’ve sold, I only check if it’s requested by an interviewer or my publisher.

The thing that keeps me going is YOU! When I get that email from someone saying my books helped them, or a company that says they are hiring more employee’s because my advice has helped them or my coaching clients that are living out their dreams, that’s what this is all about.

The fact that I get paid to do this everyday is priceless. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me at Kimanzi@talesofwork.com. If you already have an online business then I hope this first part gives you a little reassurance and the following parts give you a few more idea’s.

I look forward to picking this back up on Friday, until then you have some thinking to do! Please come back and bring others that you think will benefit from this series.

Have you started an online business? Have you been thinking about starting one? If you have, any beginning tips?

Any questions you would like to ask me?

 

 

Punching Fear In The Face

I can clearly remember waking up that morning in May; it was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. This was it; the day I had dreamed about for years and years was finally coming true.

As I was getting ready I had a range of emotions going on in my mind, I had so many questions. All the doubts and fears that were in the back of my head were screaming louder and louder. At one point my knee’s got weak and I almost fainted.

Some how I pushed through all of this and I told my doubts and fears to shut up, this was my dream. There was one more time things almost fell apart, it was right as I was walking up to the stage.

They introduced me as the expert that was going to speak, those nerve’s came back in force. I looked and saw all the people in the crowd; I thought there’s no way I could talk to them!

I did get up and talk to them and it just felt natural and right. This was the very first time I spoke in public, it was in Huntington,West Virginia and I’ll never forget it. After that conference I went on to speak in seven other states and four countries.

It has been an amazing experience but it almost never happened because of fear. Can you relate? Has fear ever or almost stopped you from doing something?

Fear is a liar

Most of the time we’re afraid of things that we don’t really need to be afraid of, I know this personally. Fear tells us every reason why things won’t work before we even give them a chance to.

Fear told me that I would get up in front of that audience and look like an idiot. Fear told me that no one would ever be interested in what I have to say. Fear was wrong!

What has fear kept you from doing?

Fear told me that a guy who delivered bread for a living can never be an author or speaker. I can’t imagine what life would be like right now if I listened to my fear. I’m guessing fear is probably telling you the same kind of things, what are you missing out on because of it?

You can be anything; you can take advantage of all the opportunity that surrounds us, the only thing that can stop you is YOU.  Proper planning and action will be your greatest weapons against fear, so use them.

This year is almost over and I’ve heard so many people say that it went fast, I totally agree. We’re coming up on a new year and another opportunity to make this the year you make all your dreams come true.

I pray that this is the year that everyone who ever has or ever will read this blog will take action and help me start a movement of people who will not settle, who are done making excuses and life the life of their dreams.

Will you give into fear or will join me in a movement of action?

Have You Seen This?

Every day I read or listen to some amazing content that I learn so much from. Sometimes when I read or hear some of this content I just want to scream to someone but no one is around.

A light bulb went off the other day and I realized that I could share this great content with you. I know many that read this blog are chasing their dreams and there’s a wealth of FREE material that can help you with that.

So here is some amazing content from all over the web that you should definitely check out:

Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is the author of two NY Times best-selling books: “The Four Hour Work Week” and “The Four Hour Body”. This past week he released his third book: “The Four Hour Chef” which is a lot more than a cook book, it’s a book that teaches you a new way of learning anything.

The thing that really caught my attention and why I’m telling you about it is how Tim launched his book. I know many here have or will release books so you should take note of the things Tim did.

First, he signed a publishing deal directly with Amazon which upset 1,100 bookstores that decided to BAN his book, the biggest of which was Barnes and Nobles. Can you imagine trying to have a major book release and not have your book in one of the biggest book stores?

Tim’s book went on to sell 60,000 copies the first week and make every best seller list, pretty amazing. What was inspiring was how he went after it, you can see one example by looking at his schedule here, it’s insane!

I get a ton of emails asking about how to market and sell books, read his blog updates and you’ll get an excellent example of what it takes.

Tim was also interviewed on socialtriggers.com and the information he shared on that interview is a must listen, seriously! Take note of his strategy:  http://socialtriggers.com/tim-ferriss-4-hour-chef/.

Social Media Examiner

I listen to a lot of podcasts while I work out and one of them is the Social Media Marketing Podcast. It’s packed with everything you need to know about using social media and how to use it to grow your online business.

One episode really got my attention because it was about marketing your eBook. There was one major idea that really made me do a double take and changed the way I think about my books. You can read and listen to the episode here.

Jared Latigo

My friend Jared has been all over the place lately, I think I even saw him at the grocery store in my hometown Jared wrote a post that was featured on my mentor Dan Miller’s blog that had me thinking.

In the post he lays out a very important point but also gets our attention with telling his story of trying to get a job working for Dave Ramsey. You can read this great post here.

Jon Acuff

Jon Acuff wrote one of the best posts I’ve read in a long time. The post is about fear and fear with chasing your dreams, the way he wrote the post is just brilliant. You MUST read the post here.

I definitely want to start doing this more so I hope this information helps you! Please take advantage of the wealth of free information out there, it’s a gift to us.

What is something amazing that you have read or listened to lately? Please share!

This Is My Love Letter To You

My wife said I have never written her a love letter

Instead of just writing her a love letter I decided to write a whole book about her My third book is about marriage and it starts with this love letter:

Even before I knew you I was head over heels in love with you.

I went through many relationships feeling a void, I knew something amazing and unbelievable was missing, I just didn’t know what it was.

The day that I saw you was the day I had my first heart attack, I literally couldn’t breathe and didn’t want to breathe until I could hear just one word of your heavenly voice.

When you did finally talk to me I couldn’t hear any sound from the rest of the world, your voice was in my head and it pierced my heart, I couldn’t believe this moment was really happening.

From that day on I had a mission, I had to get to know you, I had to become friends with the love of my life, I couldn’t think of anything else.

You didn’t know what to think of me as we got to know each other; it’s because I just didn’t know how to act. How could my words and actions justify being able to even exist in front of your absolute beauty.

We got past that awkward phase, I finally got enough courage to be able to talk to you but every time my heart-felt like it was going to burst.

As time went on we became friends and after friend’s destiny took over and we started to become more, we could clearly see the truth.

I thought of you everyday, and dreamt about you every night. Every relationship before ours seemed like a colossal waste of time, I wish I could go back and just have found you from the very first one.

I can clearly remember our first kiss; it was one of the greatest days of my life. If I had died that day I would have died the happiest man alive. Since that day I have to kiss you at least one time a day or it will be a bad day.

We talked and talked, we got to know each other better, we knew where things were leading, and it just made sense.

I knew what I wanted, I knew what would make my life complete: YOU! So it was time for me to man up, it was time to make our bond an eternal bond. I determined what my heart already knew, that you were the only one for me, I was going to ask you to marry me.

That day was the most nervous I have or ever will be, my knees and teeth were shaking all day. I picked you up and told you I had something to say, it was more of a whisper.

I asked you the question that I had been waiting to ask you all my life and to my surprise and absolute delight you said YES!

The rest is history right? We got married and lived happily ever after……. This isn’t a movie and I have to tell the truth. We got married at eighteen; we were a couple of kids who already knew everything 

There were some amazing times but they were also some rough times, that’s why the words are “for better or worse”. We definitely found out what that means and are still learning.

So after all we’ve been through in the last fourteen years as of today, this is my love letter to you, which is really my promise.

For the rest of the time the Lord gives us together I’m not going to settle into a comfortable, same old same old. I’m going to do all the things I should have been doing.

I’m going to listen to you more and really listen. I’m going to discover the words beyond the audible words that you are saying; I’m going to hear the true meaning.

I going to put you first in all that I do, even when it comes down to that last piece of pizza, that piece is yours.

I’m going to clean and cook. I know how hard you work and I know that you need a break; I’m going to be your break.

When you are struggling I’m going to do everything in my power to make you feel better. I’m not going to get mad or try to guilt you into feeling better.

I’m going to stop yelling, stop getting mad over the stupid things that nine times out of ten were my fault anyways.

I’m going to work as hard as I can to leave you and our children a lasting legacy that will continue when I’m gone. If I die today I don’t want you to have to lift a muscle, just take care of the kids with no financial stress.

I’m going to be the man you married, the man you dreamed of when you were a little girl, your true love.

Talk is cheap and this is the last time I’m going to talk, from here on it will only be action.

You have been the best thing that has ever happened to my life and I’m going to prove that by how I act and treat you. I love you more than life itself, I love you more than myself.

This is my promise; this is my love letter to you on our anniversary. Happy fourteenth anniversary baby, I pray the Lord gives us many, many more.

Thank you for all that you have done, thank you for being you. Thank you for putting up with me, thank you for forgiving me.

I don’t deserve you but I thank God everyday that I have the privilege to be your husband, I will always be grateful for that honor.

14 years ago today you made me the happiest man in the world Tanya Rochelle Constable, thank you and I love you. Happy Anniversary!

With all my love,

Kimanzi T. Constable

Today’s My Birthday (I Have A Gift For You)

Thirty-two years ago today I was born. I want to thank my parents for everything they have done and continue to do for me. Those of us parents know that a parent’s job is never done

The one thing I think about the most as the years go on is how precious time is, it’s the one thing we can’t ever get back. I have wasted a lot of time in my life, pursuing things that really don’t matter.

I know that my life is destined for great things, the Lord has shown me that. It’s not just me though, He has great things in store for you as well.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you know. It doesn’t matter where you are in your life right now, this is your life and you only get one of them. Don’t just exist, you have to truly live!

My prayer is that from my writing, courses and speaking that I can encourage and inspire you to get to the life you’ve always dreamed of living, the life you truly deserve. If you haven’t already, TAKE ACTION TODAY! If you need help or have questions feel free to email me at kimanzi@talesofwork.com

So I said I have a gift for you. I had the honor to interview an amazing person chasing their dreams despite coming from a really good situation.

Keith St.Onge wanted to do something so badly growing up and he actually accomplished that dream. After years of living that dream out he realized he wanted more and is going after it in a big way. I had the honor to hear his story and it truly amazed and inspired me, here is the interview:
 
Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and interview me. You are absolutely welcome Keith, thank you for the inspiration.

 
1. What do you do to create income now and what’s your dream?

I co-own a barefoot water skiing school called World Barefoot Center. We teach and train individuals how to barefoot water ski for the first time to becoming one of the best in the world. This has been my dream since I was 13 years old and now I’m looking at other dreams I want to accomplish.

 
2. What would you say to people who say you have it made, why move on?

Sitting in the boat most of the day does have its benefits but like most things, it has become my “job.” Don’t get me wrong, I love to be in the boat but all day every day looses it’s luster. The sun beats you down, rainy days aren’t so fun and the blistering heat of the summer wears you down. I need to remind myself that it’s better than sitting in a cubical but I just need a change of pace and I want to grow in other area’s of life.

 
3. What has been the hardest past of this process for you?

The hardest part has been learning a new business. It’s fun and challenging but I’m out of my comfort zone. Blogging is new, finding clients to buy the book is tough and becoming recognizable in a different community besides the water ski community isn’t easy.

 
4. Have you struggled with any doubt or fear along this journey?

I try not to have doubt but fear of all the TIME spent on this project is what gets me. The time I have put towards writing my book was and is a concern. I’m running my other business, training for the National and World Championships in barefoot water skiing along with being a newlywed has taken its toll. I kept saying to my wife, “All this time put into the book will pay off some day and help others.” She replied, “This book may be a great future for us but there may not be a future for us because it’s taking up “OUR” time together.” Wow, that was a reality check for me. Time is so valuable and I’m just now understanding how to balance it all.

 
5. What will you do if this book or your speaking career doesn’t “take off”?

Fortunately, I have my current business but it would be sad to see all the TIME I put into this project go down the tubes. Luckily, I have had great reviews and awesome stories on how my book has helped others already and we just released the book on Nov. 27th on Amazon. That would make it all worth it but I can’t see myself not doing what I set out to do. It may be on a much smaller scale than I am dreaming of but I can’t throw in the towel. It’s not my nature.

 
6. What is one thing you really think people should know about chasing their dreams?

Don’t stop and don’t quit. Whatever the dream is and it keeps you happy then keep it going just be careful it does not take away from others that need your time. There’s a big difference of someone needing your time and someone who is needy though. You can’t let others stop you from chasing your dreams because they are needy people. Know where to draw the line.

 
7. Tell us a little about your book and where to find it?

My book is about my life and the lessons I have learned along the way. It’s not about how to barefoot water ski but very similar to Lance Armstrong’s first book “It’s not about the bike.” I had great people in my life in my younger years and then made very poor decisions while in my twenties. I admit to many of my mistakes and young adults will be able to relate. I hope they can learn not to make the same mistakes I have and I also hope parents get an inside view how to raise their kids and understand what they are going through.
 
There was a time I continued falling short of my dreams. I took runner-up at the World Championships two times in a row and as the favored skier I just could not seal the deal. A good friend gave me a quote card and it help me make massive changes in my life. I went on yet again to come runner-up at the next worlds. I continued to make changes and sacrifices in my life and finally won a World Title. To simplify, my stories in the book are of my failures and triumphs that everyone can learn from in an easy to read manuscript.
 
The book can be found on Amazon: Gliding Soles, Lessons from a Life on water
 
I want to thank Keith for taking the time to interview with me, it’s really inspiring.
 
What is one dream you want to go after in this coming year?

A Truly Life-Changing Experience

Nairobi, Kenya

Last week I had the honor to speak at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya and it completely changed my life. I’ve vowed to always be honest in my writing and as I’m writing this post and thinking about what I saw I’m tearing up. We have it really good in this country, what I saw truly opened my eyes to this fact.

The last time I was in Kenya was 18 years ago, some things are far better than they were but some things haven’t changed at all. Even in Nairobi (the capital city of Kenya) electricity would go out from time to time. Once you get out of the city center, the roads are in pretty bad condition. The water is bad and definitely not drinkable for a tourist, you have to take pills.

Despite all these things I plan on buying some land and building a small home in Kenya next year The people are absolutely amazing and the most giving people I have ever met.

Pilau

My mother is from Kenya so most of my family is still in Kenya, it was a huge blessing to stay with family and get to know new family. When we sat down for a family meal, they would serve me first and wanted me to be full before they would even think of eating. If I had eaten a lot it would have meant other family would have gotten a small portion or not eaten at all.

That kind of sacrifice is something I don’t really know and I had to ask myself several times if I sacrifice for others in that way. It was humbling to see people who didn’t have much give without thinking about themselves, I learned a valuable life lesson.

Life in Kenya can be rough, the unofficial unemployment rate is 50% and the people who do have jobs are usually under-compensated. On this blog I talk about finding work that you love but I think first and foremost we need to be thankful that we can and do have work. Even the miserable jobs in this country are better than many good jobs in other countries.

Are you grateful for the life you have?

City Center

Seeing what I saw made me more determined than ever to start a movement of people who don’t settle, who don’t make excuses so that they can live the life of their dreams. With all of the opportunity we have it’s our responsibility to take advantage of it.

We have to get to that dream, we have to achieve those goals, we have to get to that next level because when we do we will be in an excellent position to give back. For those that have read my second book you know the last step in the 9 steps is to “pay it forward” but you need to be set first.

Dave Ramsey always says “a broke person can’t help anyone” and he’s absolutely right. I have already been on the debt-free journey but since getting back I have literally watched every dollar, I see now how precious they are. If I can avoid wasting money I can send that money to my family members that would take my few dollars and make better use out of them then I can.

Speaking

I went to Kenya to visit family but the main reason I went was to speak at a conference. I usually talk about my own experience and being miserable for all those years at a job I hated. Seeing what people went through I couldn’t get up there and complain about a job that people there would have killed to have.

Instead I talked about an alternative to looking for jobs that wouldn’t really support them, I showed them how they could start and market an online business. All they would need is an internet connection and they could build something from home that could be a good revenue stream. The reception was amazing and I met some amazing people.

A dream come true

This year has been everything I dreamed of and more. I have literally traveled the world doing what I love to do, I still have to pinch myself. I want you to see that your dream life is completely possible for you too, it may not happen over-night and it’s going to be hard work but it is possible.

That was my last trip for this year and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next year, the sky is the limit! My eyes

Dream come true!

were opened in Kenya and I don’t ever want them to be closed. I’m grateful for all the blessing I’ve received and I’m not going to take them for granted anymore. I hope you’ll join me!

Have you ever had a life-changing experience? Please share!

 

 

7 Reasons To Push Past the Frustration to Live Your Dream

This is a guest post by Jared Latigo who believes in a world where we all work in our strengths and for the good of others. He wants to help you understand your place in this world and the awesome gift you’ve been given. Check out his blog at JaredLatigo.com or download his free ebook, Symphony: A Manifesto of Purpose. You can also follow him on Twitter. If you would like to guest post here, send a post to kimanzi@talesofwork.com and I’ll review it!

For many of us trying to figure out this “living your dream” thing, we run into roadblock after roadblock. It seems that no matter where we turn, we spin our wheels.

But through it all, we know that it’s important to push through. Why?

Because there’s so much as stake.

Never Compare Your Beginning to Someone’s Middle

I know I’m not the only one that looks at what another person has achieved and think, “I’ll never get there.” Or, even worse, “Why am I even trying when they’re already doing the same thing way better?”

And then I remember that they all started where I am. Some with less opportunity than me. It takes time. Patience. Persistence. Stepping out of your comfort zone. And more.

These are all factors that come into play when we are going for our dream. We have to remember not to compare ourselves or we will become demotivated in a heartbeat. It’s not an easy thing to do though. I often catch myself wondering how I’ll ever manage to “get there.”

I’m not sure the battle ever really ends.

Don’t Forget

We can’t forget the importance of starting from scratch.

Time, hurdles and the like are the character building and muscle that we need to carry the weight of success whether it be money or anything else. If we don’t go through these, success in whatever form, will crush us.

I’m reminded of this from a story that Dave Ramsey tells of when his kids were younger. He says they were complaining because the other kids never had to do the same chores or save money the same way they did. He explained to them that they have been very blessed with money and if they don’t build the character to handle it when he’s gone, it will destroy them.

Success in any form will destroy if we don’t have the backbone to support it. Don’t forget that.

The 7 Reasons

There is good news though! Eventually, we will make progress. Eventually, we will achieve a level of success. And here are 7 reasons to push through the frustrations of tough times.

We get to add to the world instead of just take.
We can impact people along the way in ways we’ll never fathom.
We can change industries, start movements and alter the course of lives.
We can give time, money and energy to causes we believe in.
We create our own path in this world instead of just having to follow in line.
We can change the world.
We get to live out the dream placed deep within us by our Creator.

Is It Really Worth It?

Honestly? I’m not there yet. We talk about never truly “arriving,” which is fine, but I’m not even close to where I want to be.

I’d venture to say it’s very worth it. To have the opportunity to change lives. To change our family tree. To alter the course of history. To live out the very incredible desires God has placed within us.

The question isn’t “is it worth it?”

The question really is, “How is it not?”

Are there any reasons you would add to help others push through the frustrations? What’s something that’s helped you in the tough times? Share in the comments!