Honoree Corder's Blog, page 4
March 11, 2018
Relationship Building Requires Constant Contact
Relationship building and networking do not end with a contract being signed or a handshake. The key to success with current and future clients is following up. The saying is true, “The gold is in the follow-up!”
Here are three ways to stay in touch and be remembered long after the initial encounter is over:
Send a handwritten note. The day after you meet a potential client, write them a note stating how much you enjoyed meeting him. Invite him to meet you for a breakfast or lunch so you can get to know each other better. When friendships form, business opportunities eventually develop. With your current clients, stay in touch with a note to say “hello,” “thanks for your recent business” or in my case, “Way to go!”
Send an inexpensive gift card. Most people love books or coffee. Send that potential client a gift card from Starbucks or a local bookstore. If you send Starbucks gift card, write a note that reads, “Thanks a “latte” for your time yesterday. I look forward to seeing you soon.” Don’t like that? Come up with your own creative, memorable message.
Send an article, book, or post of interest. During your conversation with a current or potential client, listen for clues about what interests her. For example, if she casually mentions that she is going to Italy for vacation or she enjoys a particular hobby such as mountain biking, scan newspapers, magazines or the Internet for interesting articles pertaining to her interest. Sending a handwritten note with the article enclosed is another way of putting your name in front of them. Besides, she may even respond to your gesture with a personal phone call or e-mail.
It’s important to “touch” your prospects and clients on an on-going basis outside of the times where you’re performing what you’re being paid to do. Reach out because you care, and because you can. So few people do it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what happens to your business and your bottom line.
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long (and it’s *free* if you don’t already have an Audible account).
Read: Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Ram Brafman
Watch: Book Publishing Tips – my guest appearance on Smart Passive Income TV with Pat Flynn
Hack: 8 Ways to Hack Your Email
Here are three ways to stay in touch and be remembered long after the initial encounter is over:
Send a handwritten note. The day after you meet a potential client, write them a note stating how much you enjoyed meeting him. Invite him to meet you for a breakfast or lunch so you can get to know each other better. When friendships form, business opportunities eventually develop. With your current clients, stay in touch with a note to say “hello,” “thanks for your recent business” or in my case, “Way to go!”
Send an inexpensive gift card. Most people love books or coffee. Send that potential client a gift card from Starbucks or a local bookstore. If you send Starbucks gift card, write a note that reads, “Thanks a “latte” for your time yesterday. I look forward to seeing you soon.” Don’t like that? Come up with your own creative, memorable message.
Send an article, book, or post of interest. During your conversation with a current or potential client, listen for clues about what interests her. For example, if she casually mentions that she is going to Italy for vacation or she enjoys a particular hobby such as mountain biking, scan newspapers, magazines or the Internet for interesting articles pertaining to her interest. Sending a handwritten note with the article enclosed is another way of putting your name in front of them. Besides, she may even respond to your gesture with a personal phone call or e-mail.
It’s important to “touch” your prospects and clients on an on-going basis outside of the times where you’re performing what you’re being paid to do. Reach out because you care, and because you can. So few people do it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what happens to your business and your bottom line.
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long (and it’s *free* if you don’t already have an Audible account).
Read: Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Ram Brafman
Watch: Book Publishing Tips – my guest appearance on Smart Passive Income TV with Pat Flynn
Hack: 8 Ways to Hack Your Email
February 13, 2018
What Do You Love Most About Writing?
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I really hope this finds you loving every minute of your writing. I believe a love of what you do is a huge contributor to whether or not you’re prosperous, and to what extent. Let me explain…
Something you love to do is easier to do than something you don’t. And you wouldn’t be a writer if you didn’t love to write, right? So you’re off to a strong start! But what if the major emotions you have around writing are frustration because of outside circumstances (I don’t have time to write. I’m too tired to write. I don’t think my writing would sell…)? What can you do to shift your mind and heart into a better state? And why would you take the time to do it, anyway?
You do what practically everyone is doing about their human love interest right now: they focus on what’s great about the person they love. You can do that with your writing. Identify the top 3, 5 or even 100 things you love about writing.
Here are a few of mine:
I love the creative aspect of writing.
I love that my words encourage my readers.
I love that writing supports my family.
There are dozens of other reasons, yet when I stop and reflect on just these three, my heart and spirit are full of love and gratitude. I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t write, or if I hadn’t started writing.
If you want to become a more prosperous writer, spend a few minutes getting really connected to what you love about your writing. Just a couple of the many benefits are these: you’ll want to write more and writing more will make you a better writer, give you more words to work with (and to work on your behalf). Shifting your energy to love, widely known as the highest and most powerful energy in the universe, makes you wildly attractive to lots of wonderful things … not the least of which is more financial abundance.
Which in and of itself is pretty amazing, right? Shift into the higher vibration of love by identifying what you love about writing, and then #BOLO* for all of the goodness that surrounds you and is on it’s way to you.
I hope I’ve encouraged you to fall in love with your writing again today. Had a wonderful day, and weekend, full of love!
Check out my newest book with coauthor Ben Hale! We share our marketing plan, common mistakes that first-time authors make and more:
More Good Stuff…
~ If you’re looking for ways to write your book and treat it like a business, Ben Hale and I have you covered with the Like a Boss series. I suggest starting with Write Like a Boss!
~What’s the difference between being interested in writing success and committed to writing success?
~ 5 Tips for Editing Your Own Work
~Does your book’s description give someone the need … the need to read? If not, read The 11 Ingredients of a Sizzling Book Description.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
Something you love to do is easier to do than something you don’t. And you wouldn’t be a writer if you didn’t love to write, right? So you’re off to a strong start! But what if the major emotions you have around writing are frustration because of outside circumstances (I don’t have time to write. I’m too tired to write. I don’t think my writing would sell…)? What can you do to shift your mind and heart into a better state? And why would you take the time to do it, anyway?
You do what practically everyone is doing about their human love interest right now: they focus on what’s great about the person they love. You can do that with your writing. Identify the top 3, 5 or even 100 things you love about writing.
Here are a few of mine:
I love the creative aspect of writing.
I love that my words encourage my readers.
I love that writing supports my family.
There are dozens of other reasons, yet when I stop and reflect on just these three, my heart and spirit are full of love and gratitude. I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t write, or if I hadn’t started writing.
If you want to become a more prosperous writer, spend a few minutes getting really connected to what you love about your writing. Just a couple of the many benefits are these: you’ll want to write more and writing more will make you a better writer, give you more words to work with (and to work on your behalf). Shifting your energy to love, widely known as the highest and most powerful energy in the universe, makes you wildly attractive to lots of wonderful things … not the least of which is more financial abundance.
Which in and of itself is pretty amazing, right? Shift into the higher vibration of love by identifying what you love about writing, and then #BOLO* for all of the goodness that surrounds you and is on it’s way to you.
I hope I’ve encouraged you to fall in love with your writing again today. Had a wonderful day, and weekend, full of love!
Check out my newest book with coauthor Ben Hale! We share our marketing plan, common mistakes that first-time authors make and more:
More Good Stuff…
~ If you’re looking for ways to write your book and treat it like a business, Ben Hale and I have you covered with the Like a Boss series. I suggest starting with Write Like a Boss!
~What’s the difference between being interested in writing success and committed to writing success?
~ 5 Tips for Editing Your Own Work
~Does your book’s description give someone the need … the need to read? If not, read The 11 Ingredients of a Sizzling Book Description.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
February 11, 2018
Simplify for Success
My personal lifestyle goals include enjoying life, working as intelligently as possible, and still prospering massively. I use a few simple ideas in my quest for an amazing lifestyle. While implementing business-changing shifts looks easy, it takes thought, effort, and planning. In this four-week series, I’m going to share my strategies for creating a business that supports you financially and allows time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
The first step is simplification. People say they hire me because they want to “double their income and triple their time off.” Entirely possible, because it’s been done by my clients again and again, and can be done by you, too!
The first thing you must learn to do is simplify everything, starting here:
Ruthlessly evaluate each and every activity you’re engaging in, then reduce and eliminate those low-value activities that (a) take up valuable time while (b) contributing very little to your goals. It is tempting to answer emails, surf the web for a lower price, and go to Office Depot. Yet you could hire an assistant or have one of your team members handle these tasks for a fraction of your hourly earn rate. Delegating these tasks allows you to focus on the high-value activities that bring in the big bucks.
Do more of the things that make an impact on your bottom line. These are known as revenue-generating activities {RGAs}. When I hear, “I spent the whole day in my office and got nothing important done,” I’m quite frankly flabbergasted. How on earth can you have a profitable business if you’re not getting anything of value done? Then exactly when will you do valuable, profit-increasing, revenue-generating activities that need to be done to keep the business moving in the right direction? Without question, you must first identify these activities and then schedule them on your calendar for your close attention every single day.
Use “Zero-based Thinking” by asking yourself this question: What am I doing right now, that knowing what I now know, I wouldn’t start doing again if I was starting over (such as: a relationship, business, activity, product, service, expenditure of time or money). When identified, this activity/relationship/situation needs to be downsized, minimized or eliminated. Implementing Zero-based Thinking can simplify your life almost overnight (not to mention lowering your stress level). Most likely, the next-most important questions are: How do I get out of this? How fast can I delegate this? What should I do more of, less of, start, or stop doing?
The benefits of taking the time to simplify are well worth it. You’ll be doing work that’s productive, the work you’re doing will provide you with the cash-flow and profitability you need, so you can have the personal life you desire. The process takes time and is well worth the effort.
Next time we tackle leverage. Stay tuned!
Cool things to ensure your success…
Read: If you’re looking for ways to write your book and treat it like a business, Ben Hale and I have you covered with the Like a Boss series. I suggest starting with Write Like a Boss !
Learn: 5 Tips for Editing Your Own Work
Hack: How to Stay Motivated Even Though You Can’t See Yourself Moving Forward (LifeHack)
The first step is simplification. People say they hire me because they want to “double their income and triple their time off.” Entirely possible, because it’s been done by my clients again and again, and can be done by you, too!
The first thing you must learn to do is simplify everything, starting here:
Ruthlessly evaluate each and every activity you’re engaging in, then reduce and eliminate those low-value activities that (a) take up valuable time while (b) contributing very little to your goals. It is tempting to answer emails, surf the web for a lower price, and go to Office Depot. Yet you could hire an assistant or have one of your team members handle these tasks for a fraction of your hourly earn rate. Delegating these tasks allows you to focus on the high-value activities that bring in the big bucks.
Do more of the things that make an impact on your bottom line. These are known as revenue-generating activities {RGAs}. When I hear, “I spent the whole day in my office and got nothing important done,” I’m quite frankly flabbergasted. How on earth can you have a profitable business if you’re not getting anything of value done? Then exactly when will you do valuable, profit-increasing, revenue-generating activities that need to be done to keep the business moving in the right direction? Without question, you must first identify these activities and then schedule them on your calendar for your close attention every single day.
Use “Zero-based Thinking” by asking yourself this question: What am I doing right now, that knowing what I now know, I wouldn’t start doing again if I was starting over (such as: a relationship, business, activity, product, service, expenditure of time or money). When identified, this activity/relationship/situation needs to be downsized, minimized or eliminated. Implementing Zero-based Thinking can simplify your life almost overnight (not to mention lowering your stress level). Most likely, the next-most important questions are: How do I get out of this? How fast can I delegate this? What should I do more of, less of, start, or stop doing?
The benefits of taking the time to simplify are well worth it. You’ll be doing work that’s productive, the work you’re doing will provide you with the cash-flow and profitability you need, so you can have the personal life you desire. The process takes time and is well worth the effort.
Next time we tackle leverage. Stay tuned!
Cool things to ensure your success…
Read: If you’re looking for ways to write your book and treat it like a business, Ben Hale and I have you covered with the Like a Boss series. I suggest starting with Write Like a Boss !
Learn: 5 Tips for Editing Your Own Work
Hack: How to Stay Motivated Even Though You Can’t See Yourself Moving Forward (LifeHack)
January 16, 2018
Writer Resources for 2018!
I’d like to share my best strategies and ideas for writing a book, a blog, or even an email … and not being stressed about it. I’m going to share things you can do, start doing, stop doing, and consider. You can consider each of them part of a huge menu (think: Cheesecake Factory), and you get to choose what makes sense and sounds good for you.
There’s no quick fix or magic bullet for writing. You have to sit yer arse in a chair and write. However, I do have some great resources to make your writing faster, easier, and better.
Let’s start with listening and reading. Listening to podcasts revealed to me a community of people who were writers of all kinds: fiction, non-fiction, prolific, aspiring, bloggers, freelancers, scriptwriters and more. Here are podcasts I think are top-shelf:
The Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast (Chris Syme)
The Self-Publishing Formula Podcast (Mark Dawson, James Blatch)
Authority Self-Publishing (Steve Scott, Barrie Davenport)
Wordslinger Podcast (Kevin Tumlinson)
The Writer Files (Kelton Reid)
The Author Hangout (Shawn Manaher)
The Author Biz (Stephen Campbell)
The Sell More Books Show (Bryan Cohen, Jim Kukral)
I don’t listen to every episode, but I listen to every one of these podcasts at least once a month. You might not like them all, but I suggest you give each one a try. Where can you find the time? Here’s when I listen:
Doing housework (laundry or dishes, anyone)?
Working out
Driving
Walking
Shopping at the grocery store
During my Miracle Morning
The most amazing thing about these podcasts is, if nothing else, you’ll hear your fellow writers share their best ideas. There’s something about listening to other people do what we want to do that can spur us on to our own success.
Now, on to reading.
Before I had author friends, I loved to learn from other writers and authors by reading their books and blogs. You can learn about craft and how to become a better writer. You can learn about marketing, everything from developing your author brand, and building fans, to how to sell more books. You can even discover writing methods and use them to develop a new series.
Here are just some of my favorite reads for writers:
Sell More Books with Less Social Media Chris Syme
Six Figure Author Chris Fox (and all of his books for writers)
How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis Bryan Cohen
The Miracle Morning for Writers Hal Elrod & Steve Scott (and me)
Write, Publish, Repeat Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant
2K to 10K Rachel Aaron
Reader Magnets Nick Stephenson
Save the Cat Blake Snyder
Your First 1000 Copies Tim Grahl
Write for Your Life Lawrence Block
Let’s Get Digital David Gaughran
And a few books that aren’t directly for writers, but have lots of great content:
Platform Michael Hyatt
The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg
Epic Content Marketing Joe Pulizzi
You Everywhere Now Mike Koenigs
For the cost of a very nice dinner, you can buy millions of dollars worth of knowledge in the form of books (books!) you can read (I know, reading is awesome!). That sounds like a delightful way to spend some time, don’t you think? I hope you’ll get started right away.
MORE GOOD STUFF…
~Facebook Groups You’ll Love… The Prosperity for Writers Mastermind, 20Booksto$50K (Host: Michael Anderle), and SMART Marketing for Authors (Host: Chris Syme) all provide inspirational and informational spaces for authors. Did I miss one? Let me know!
~Want to learn more? I was a guest on Hal Elrod’s Achieve Your Goals Podcast: 5 Easy Steps to Turn Your Vision to Reality.
~100 Great Articles to Read. I met James Clear a couple of years ago, and he’s continued to impress me with his writing. Some of his articles might be great for you, too, particularly this one on creativity.
~Think you don’t have time to write? I promise you do… Brian Meeks and I co-authored The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day . This could be just the “beautiful kick in the behind” you need!
Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
There’s no quick fix or magic bullet for writing. You have to sit yer arse in a chair and write. However, I do have some great resources to make your writing faster, easier, and better.
Let’s start with listening and reading. Listening to podcasts revealed to me a community of people who were writers of all kinds: fiction, non-fiction, prolific, aspiring, bloggers, freelancers, scriptwriters and more. Here are podcasts I think are top-shelf:
The Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast (Chris Syme)
The Self-Publishing Formula Podcast (Mark Dawson, James Blatch)
Authority Self-Publishing (Steve Scott, Barrie Davenport)
Wordslinger Podcast (Kevin Tumlinson)
The Writer Files (Kelton Reid)
The Author Hangout (Shawn Manaher)
The Author Biz (Stephen Campbell)
The Sell More Books Show (Bryan Cohen, Jim Kukral)
I don’t listen to every episode, but I listen to every one of these podcasts at least once a month. You might not like them all, but I suggest you give each one a try. Where can you find the time? Here’s when I listen:
Doing housework (laundry or dishes, anyone)?
Working out
Driving
Walking
Shopping at the grocery store
During my Miracle Morning
The most amazing thing about these podcasts is, if nothing else, you’ll hear your fellow writers share their best ideas. There’s something about listening to other people do what we want to do that can spur us on to our own success.
Now, on to reading.
Before I had author friends, I loved to learn from other writers and authors by reading their books and blogs. You can learn about craft and how to become a better writer. You can learn about marketing, everything from developing your author brand, and building fans, to how to sell more books. You can even discover writing methods and use them to develop a new series.
Here are just some of my favorite reads for writers:
Sell More Books with Less Social Media Chris Syme
Six Figure Author Chris Fox (and all of his books for writers)
How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis Bryan Cohen
The Miracle Morning for Writers Hal Elrod & Steve Scott (and me)
Write, Publish, Repeat Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant
2K to 10K Rachel Aaron
Reader Magnets Nick Stephenson
Save the Cat Blake Snyder
Your First 1000 Copies Tim Grahl
Write for Your Life Lawrence Block
Let’s Get Digital David Gaughran
And a few books that aren’t directly for writers, but have lots of great content:
Platform Michael Hyatt
The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg
Epic Content Marketing Joe Pulizzi
You Everywhere Now Mike Koenigs
For the cost of a very nice dinner, you can buy millions of dollars worth of knowledge in the form of books (books!) you can read (I know, reading is awesome!). That sounds like a delightful way to spend some time, don’t you think? I hope you’ll get started right away.
MORE GOOD STUFF…
~Facebook Groups You’ll Love… The Prosperity for Writers Mastermind, 20Booksto$50K (Host: Michael Anderle), and SMART Marketing for Authors (Host: Chris Syme) all provide inspirational and informational spaces for authors. Did I miss one? Let me know!
~Want to learn more? I was a guest on Hal Elrod’s Achieve Your Goals Podcast: 5 Easy Steps to Turn Your Vision to Reality.
~100 Great Articles to Read. I met James Clear a couple of years ago, and he’s continued to impress me with his writing. Some of his articles might be great for you, too, particularly this one on creativity.
~Think you don’t have time to write? I promise you do… Brian Meeks and I co-authored The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day . This could be just the “beautiful kick in the behind” you need!
Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
January 14, 2018
Get Your Goals
It’s the beginning of the year and you can’t read a newspaper, magazine or watch a morning talk show without hearing about New Year’s Resolutions and goals. Why do they work? Why don’t they work? How do you set them? What worked for this person or that? Do I keep them in my head or do I have to write them down? Most importantly, what is going to make the goals you set become the goals you achieved?
Let’s review what we’ve heard about goals:
Most goals that are set are never reached.
That there was some study at an Ivy League university that is evidence we should write them down
If you do set a goal you want to reach, make sure it’s a SMART goal.
First, the bad news. Most of the goals that are set are actually not achieved. They become goals that are set over and over, and eventually given up on because we just can’t take repeated attempts that end in failure. I personally believe goals that are not achieved are goals that are not set and attended to properly. It’s not the goal that doesn’t work or isn’t possible, success or failure lies in the goal-setters ownership and stewardship over their goal.
Next, the interesting news. Research has revealed that there was never a goal study that revealed that written goals yielded way better results. Even Tony Robbins tells the story of the Harvard Class of 1979 Harvard (or was it the Yale Class of 1953?) in Personal Power I & II: … “the 3% that wrote their goals down achieved more than the other 97% combined!” This oft-told story is actually urban legend, but wait! Before you feel like you’re off the hook and don’t need to write down your goals, read on.
Psychology Professor Dr. Gail Matthews’ curiosity was piqued when she saw an article in Fast Company citing just that study and upon discovering there never really was a study, decided to do her own. You can read about it, but I’ll cite the “what you need to know” here:
Matthews recruited 267 participants from a wide variety of businesses, organizations, and networking groups throughout the United States and overseas for a study on how goal achievement in the workplace is influenced by writing goals, committing to goal-directed actions, and accountability for those actions. Participants ranged in age from 23 to 72 and represented a wide spectrum of backgrounds.
Participants in Matthews’ study were randomly assigned to one of five groups.
Group 1 was asked to simply think about the business-related goals they hoped to accomplish within a four-week block and to rate each goal according to difficulty, importance, the extent to which they had the skills and resources to accomplish the goal, their commitment and motivation, and whether they had pursued the goal before (and, if so, their prior success).
Groups 2-5 were asked to write their goals and then rate them on the same dimensions as given to Group 1.
Group 3 was also asked to write action commitments for each goal.
Group 4 had to both write goals and action commitments and also share these commitments with a friend.
Group 5 went the furthest by doing all of the above plus sending a weekly progress report to a friend.
Broadly categorized, participants’ goals included completing a project, increasing income, increasing productivity, improving organization, enhancing performance/achievement, enhancing life balance, reducing work anxiety, and learning a new skill. Specific goals ranged from writing a chapter of a book to listing and selling a house.
Of the original 267 participants, 149 completed the study. These participants were asked to rate their progress and the degree to which they had accomplished their goals.
At the end of the study, the individuals in Group 1 only accomplished 43 percent of their stated goals. Those in Group 4 accomplished 64 percent of their stated goals, while those in Group 5 were the most successful, with an average 76 percent of their goals accomplished.
“My study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools: accountability, commitment, and writing down one’s goals,” Matthews said.
Here’s what I take away: Write down your goals. Create a plan that includes benchmarks and timelines. Write down why you’re committed to achieving your goals. Share your goals with those who will encourage you and hold you accountable and give them a status update every single week.
Here’s what I’ll add: Review your goals every.single.day.
Coach’s Call: The only thing standing in between you and your goals is you and how you treat those goals.
“What gets attention, gets accomplished.”
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
December 18, 2017
6 Ways to Write Your Book Next Year
While you’re enjoying the holiday season, you can be noodling on your book’s title, content, and avatar. If you want to write your book next year, there are several ways you can make sure it gets done.
You might already know I passionately believe every person would benefit beyond their wildest dreams from writing their own book. I can’t predict what amazing things will happen for you as a result of writing your book, but let me ask you this: wouldn’t you like to know? I can promise you this: you won’t regret it in any way but I’m pretty confident you’ll be grateful you did.
Here are six simple ways to make sure it gets written:
1. Decide it’s time and commit to writing your book. Finish this sentence: I commit to writing my book about …… next year. Write it in your Bullet Journal, or on a sticky note … put it somewhere you’ll see it on a regular basis.
2. Give yourself a publication deadline, a.k.a. a goal with the deadline to have it done and out in the world. Finish this sentence: I am so excited to publish my book on ….. {date}. Add that to your sticky note or wherever you wrote down your goal.
3. Read (or re-read) You Must Write a Book. I put everything in that book I could possibly share without talking to you about your specific situation (which I could actually do).
4. Give yourself a daily word count goal. Just 500 words a day, 300 days a year, results in 150,000 words. One hundred and fifty thousand words is the equivalent of three to five non-fiction books (or at least two fictions books). Five hundred words is the equivalent of a few wordy emails, which means you crank that out, no problem.
5. Get accountability. If you already have a coach, make sure they know about your daily word count goal. Or perhaps you have a friend who is also working on their book. Exchange goals and keep each other accountable (who has to buy lunch if they don’t make it? What’s the reward if you do?). If you have a young child, tell them they get something if you reach your goal (you might have to work on shorter time frames, which is just fine). I promise you they will ask every single day (sometimes twice a day!) if you’ve done your writing yet!
6. Go ahead and have your cover designed (by a professional). I personally love to “write to a cover.” Once my cover is designed, I’m extra-motivated to get the book written. Explain your book’s concept and message, and let your designer take it from there. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get it just right (meanwhile, you’re writing consistently and racking up the words). Cover reveals are fun and start the conversation about your book. If your designer gives you a couple of options, do a post on Facebook and see which one of your ideal prospective readers like the most.
I’ll continue this conversation in the next post, early next year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and day, and 2018 is everything you want it to be!
***RESOURCES***
~ How to Navigate Amazon’s KDP & Other Digital eBook Retailers
~ A Tool You Can Use to Research Profitable Book Ideas
~U nderstanding the How & Why of Book Formatting
You might already know I passionately believe every person would benefit beyond their wildest dreams from writing their own book. I can’t predict what amazing things will happen for you as a result of writing your book, but let me ask you this: wouldn’t you like to know? I can promise you this: you won’t regret it in any way but I’m pretty confident you’ll be grateful you did.
Here are six simple ways to make sure it gets written:
1. Decide it’s time and commit to writing your book. Finish this sentence: I commit to writing my book about …… next year. Write it in your Bullet Journal, or on a sticky note … put it somewhere you’ll see it on a regular basis.
2. Give yourself a publication deadline, a.k.a. a goal with the deadline to have it done and out in the world. Finish this sentence: I am so excited to publish my book on ….. {date}. Add that to your sticky note or wherever you wrote down your goal.
3. Read (or re-read) You Must Write a Book. I put everything in that book I could possibly share without talking to you about your specific situation (which I could actually do).
4. Give yourself a daily word count goal. Just 500 words a day, 300 days a year, results in 150,000 words. One hundred and fifty thousand words is the equivalent of three to five non-fiction books (or at least two fictions books). Five hundred words is the equivalent of a few wordy emails, which means you crank that out, no problem.
5. Get accountability. If you already have a coach, make sure they know about your daily word count goal. Or perhaps you have a friend who is also working on their book. Exchange goals and keep each other accountable (who has to buy lunch if they don’t make it? What’s the reward if you do?). If you have a young child, tell them they get something if you reach your goal (you might have to work on shorter time frames, which is just fine). I promise you they will ask every single day (sometimes twice a day!) if you’ve done your writing yet!
6. Go ahead and have your cover designed (by a professional). I personally love to “write to a cover.” Once my cover is designed, I’m extra-motivated to get the book written. Explain your book’s concept and message, and let your designer take it from there. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get it just right (meanwhile, you’re writing consistently and racking up the words). Cover reveals are fun and start the conversation about your book. If your designer gives you a couple of options, do a post on Facebook and see which one of your ideal prospective readers like the most.
I’ll continue this conversation in the next post, early next year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and day, and 2018 is everything you want it to be!
***RESOURCES***
~ How to Navigate Amazon’s KDP & Other Digital eBook Retailers
~ A Tool You Can Use to Research Profitable Book Ideas
~U nderstanding the How & Why of Book Formatting
December 17, 2017
How’s Your Attitude?
If you haven’t read about doubling down, you’ll want to take a step back and start here.
I believe the very first influencer of success is attitude. Now, I’m sure you agree everyone thinks they have a great attitude, and of course, that’s not true… Are you a bona-fide positive-attitude-haver … or do you have some work to do in this area?
Step Two: Master Your Mindset
Got attitude? Negative or positive? Yes, I’m talking about what’s going on inside of your mind! I truly believe that the most competent, talented person will f-a-i-l without a fantastic attitude.
You may be committing “mental malpractice” … not making a positive attitude mandatory and therefore living out the unfavorable results of your thoughts. If you don’t have a fantastic attitude you simply won’t have a fantastic life. That, my friend, is mental malpractice in the highest order.
What you may have realized is your attitude determines your success, and yet have not taken ownership (yet) of the fact that your attitude is determined solely by you! When asked what determined their attitude, many will cite, “my family,” “my circumstances,” or worse, “the weather.”
The consequences of negative attitude and not mastering your mindset are often harsh, yet always fair. When we focus on the negative, our ability to be creative is lost. Our immune systems are compromised. It drains energy. Causes stress. Increases worry. Prolongs painful situations. Affects our ability to listen – and communicate. Need I say more?
In truth, every situation is an opportunity for growth and learning. You are the master, not the victim, of your present circumstances and your mindset — if you choose to be.
Follow these steps to master your mindset, and stop committing mental malpractice for good!
1. Develop a “no whining” policy. Once you’ve determined where you are (your “point A”) focus on the strategies and solutions for getting to your end result. Stay “in solution” by focusing on how you can make it happen, versus why it may not happen, until you get your desired result.
2. Focus solely on what you want, and nothing else. Use the power of your subconscious mind to effortlessly draw your desired results to you. Close your eyes and visualize your goals as if they have already been achieved. Get associated with how you will feel once you are working with those new clients or driving that new car.
3. Be grateful. Spend a few moments each day giving thanks for everyone and everything in your life that you are thankful for – when you connect with gratitude, the fear simply goes away. Adopt the belief that “every day above ground is a great day.” It’s true – if you’re reading this, then you’re still here. There’s still hope and the possibility for you to have, do, be and create anything and everything you truly want.
4. Set a time limit and adopt “Can’t Change It!” Hal Elrod, one of my favorite peeps and a Mindset Master, has a cool and effective strategy. Give yourself five minutes or less to “vent” about a situation that’s got your goat. Then say, “Can’t change it!” and move on. If you need more of a reminder, go here for help. Then refer back to #2.
5. When all else fails, or as a pre-emptive act, read this post.
You can master your mindset today! It all starts with a decision. Go for it!
P.S. If you missed Step One: Double Down, you’ll find it here.
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ:
10 Attitude Boosters You Can Use
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
I believe the very first influencer of success is attitude. Now, I’m sure you agree everyone thinks they have a great attitude, and of course, that’s not true… Are you a bona-fide positive-attitude-haver … or do you have some work to do in this area?
Step Two: Master Your Mindset
Got attitude? Negative or positive? Yes, I’m talking about what’s going on inside of your mind! I truly believe that the most competent, talented person will f-a-i-l without a fantastic attitude.
You may be committing “mental malpractice” … not making a positive attitude mandatory and therefore living out the unfavorable results of your thoughts. If you don’t have a fantastic attitude you simply won’t have a fantastic life. That, my friend, is mental malpractice in the highest order.
What you may have realized is your attitude determines your success, and yet have not taken ownership (yet) of the fact that your attitude is determined solely by you! When asked what determined their attitude, many will cite, “my family,” “my circumstances,” or worse, “the weather.”
The consequences of negative attitude and not mastering your mindset are often harsh, yet always fair. When we focus on the negative, our ability to be creative is lost. Our immune systems are compromised. It drains energy. Causes stress. Increases worry. Prolongs painful situations. Affects our ability to listen – and communicate. Need I say more?
In truth, every situation is an opportunity for growth and learning. You are the master, not the victim, of your present circumstances and your mindset — if you choose to be.
Follow these steps to master your mindset, and stop committing mental malpractice for good!
1. Develop a “no whining” policy. Once you’ve determined where you are (your “point A”) focus on the strategies and solutions for getting to your end result. Stay “in solution” by focusing on how you can make it happen, versus why it may not happen, until you get your desired result.
2. Focus solely on what you want, and nothing else. Use the power of your subconscious mind to effortlessly draw your desired results to you. Close your eyes and visualize your goals as if they have already been achieved. Get associated with how you will feel once you are working with those new clients or driving that new car.
3. Be grateful. Spend a few moments each day giving thanks for everyone and everything in your life that you are thankful for – when you connect with gratitude, the fear simply goes away. Adopt the belief that “every day above ground is a great day.” It’s true – if you’re reading this, then you’re still here. There’s still hope and the possibility for you to have, do, be and create anything and everything you truly want.
4. Set a time limit and adopt “Can’t Change It!” Hal Elrod, one of my favorite peeps and a Mindset Master, has a cool and effective strategy. Give yourself five minutes or less to “vent” about a situation that’s got your goat. Then say, “Can’t change it!” and move on. If you need more of a reminder, go here for help. Then refer back to #2.
5. When all else fails, or as a pre-emptive act, read this post.
You can master your mindset today! It all starts with a decision. Go for it!
P.S. If you missed Step One: Double Down, you’ll find it here.
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ:
10 Attitude Boosters You Can Use
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
November 29, 2017
Read These Books to Finish the Year Strong
…and crush 2018!
As you all know, I love a good book (obvi you do as well). There are so many great books out there, and as writers, it’s hard to choose which ones to pick first. That’s why I created this list of Books to Help You Finish Strong in 2017! I want to help you achieve your ultimate potential as a writer, and these books will certainly send you on your way!
Without further adieu, here they are:
Smart Marketing for Authors by Chris Syme
Get all three books and learn how to sell more books with less social media, the right social media mix, and put a polish on your overall book marketing.
Write Smarter, Write Faster by Chris Fox
Although Chris has only been in the book business a few short years, he’s accumulated a lot of knowledge and figured out some amazing strategies and ideas. I’m a huge fan of this six-book series and know you’ll gain a lot from reading them!
The Writer’s Guide to Training Your Dragon by Scott Baker
It’s no secret the most successful authors continuously write and publish books. To massively increase your word count, I can think of no better “hack” than using Dragon Dictate. Scott’s book is a terrific resource.
Mastering Amazon Ads by Brian D. Meeks
Shows you how to create ads through Amazon Marketing Services, and includes a tool you can use to track your progress!
Brian also has a course you’ll want to check out here.
The Prosperous Writer Series Books 2-4: The Nifty 15, The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Making More Money, and The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Finding Readers by Brian D. Meeks & me
This is a compilation of the three books Brian and I have written to help authors write faster and easier, understand how to make more money, and find an endless supply of readers.
You’ll also want to grab Prosperity for Writers , the first in the series, if you still have a desire to increase your money consciousness.
The Miracle Morning for Writers by Hal Elrod, Steve Scott & me
This book has seriously changed my life, and Hal’s Life S.A.V.E.R.S. is a must for starting off your day on the right foot.
Teaches you through the steps of creating a new habit within 30 days that becomes a part of who you are, as well as sharing terrific strategies all writers will benefit from integrating into their lives.
Bonus: there is also a great Facebook group you can join!
Write Like a Boss by Ben Hal & me
How do you go from writing as a hobby to professional, full-time writer? Well, we tell you! It is possible to go full time in 2018 and Ben and I are both full-time authors who share our secrets and strategies for success.
This is only a short list of books I recommend and it just might take you well into the new year. To see a list of most of my favorite books, you can go here. Is there a book I’ve missed you’re sure I’d enjoy, let me know in the comments!
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Self-Care: 7 Short Art Projects to Help You Decompress by The Postman’s Knock–when holiday stress starts to get the best of you, make one of these seven short art projects!
~Prosperous Listening: Secrets of a Top Writer’s Muse Revealed on the 5 Minute Success podcast! (This episode airs at 8:30 am CST so you’ll be the first to hear it.)
~Prosperous Marketing: Amazon shares 10 tactics to help drive book ad performance during the holiday season.
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
As you all know, I love a good book (obvi you do as well). There are so many great books out there, and as writers, it’s hard to choose which ones to pick first. That’s why I created this list of Books to Help You Finish Strong in 2017! I want to help you achieve your ultimate potential as a writer, and these books will certainly send you on your way!
Without further adieu, here they are:
Smart Marketing for Authors by Chris Syme
Get all three books and learn how to sell more books with less social media, the right social media mix, and put a polish on your overall book marketing.
Write Smarter, Write Faster by Chris Fox
Although Chris has only been in the book business a few short years, he’s accumulated a lot of knowledge and figured out some amazing strategies and ideas. I’m a huge fan of this six-book series and know you’ll gain a lot from reading them!
The Writer’s Guide to Training Your Dragon by Scott Baker
It’s no secret the most successful authors continuously write and publish books. To massively increase your word count, I can think of no better “hack” than using Dragon Dictate. Scott’s book is a terrific resource.
Mastering Amazon Ads by Brian D. Meeks
Shows you how to create ads through Amazon Marketing Services, and includes a tool you can use to track your progress!
Brian also has a course you’ll want to check out here.
The Prosperous Writer Series Books 2-4: The Nifty 15, The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Making More Money, and The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Finding Readers by Brian D. Meeks & me
This is a compilation of the three books Brian and I have written to help authors write faster and easier, understand how to make more money, and find an endless supply of readers.
You’ll also want to grab Prosperity for Writers , the first in the series, if you still have a desire to increase your money consciousness.
The Miracle Morning for Writers by Hal Elrod, Steve Scott & me
This book has seriously changed my life, and Hal’s Life S.A.V.E.R.S. is a must for starting off your day on the right foot.
Teaches you through the steps of creating a new habit within 30 days that becomes a part of who you are, as well as sharing terrific strategies all writers will benefit from integrating into their lives.
Bonus: there is also a great Facebook group you can join!
Write Like a Boss by Ben Hal & me
How do you go from writing as a hobby to professional, full-time writer? Well, we tell you! It is possible to go full time in 2018 and Ben and I are both full-time authors who share our secrets and strategies for success.
This is only a short list of books I recommend and it just might take you well into the new year. To see a list of most of my favorite books, you can go here. Is there a book I’ve missed you’re sure I’d enjoy, let me know in the comments!
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Self-Care: 7 Short Art Projects to Help You Decompress by The Postman’s Knock–when holiday stress starts to get the best of you, make one of these seven short art projects!
~Prosperous Listening: Secrets of a Top Writer’s Muse Revealed on the 5 Minute Success podcast! (This episode airs at 8:30 am CST so you’ll be the first to hear it.)
~Prosperous Marketing: Amazon shares 10 tactics to help drive book ad performance during the holiday season.
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
November 27, 2017
Rights and Royalties: What You Need to Know
I received a question from a gentleman right before Thanksgiving, and I know some of you are wondering the same thing:
I want to write a book, and I’m an employee. How do I write a book, and retain all of the rights and royalties? What else do I need to know?
Great question, and a wise one if you’re an employee! I’ve seen this go badly for one person I advised, who sadly did not heed my advice.
One of my colleagues wrote a book while employed. The company “gave him (verbal) permission” to do write and publish a book to use for marketing purposes. But upon terminating his employment, made a claim to his then-bestselling book. They, even today, continue to take all royalties and use it as a marketing tool for their company—even though he did all of the work (and paid for everything except the WIFI). At the beginning of his project, I warned him they had every right to do this and he insisted they were too nice to do so. I wish I had been wrong!
If you have an employment agreement (or even if you don’t), you must work on the book on a computer owned solely by you, outside of work hours. If you think there is any conflict whatsoever, you need to consult an attorney and potentially your HR department.
Your best bet is to draw clear lines between you and your employer, and to make sure you’re doing so in accordance with the laws of your state and the rules of your employment.
Let me repeat: consulting an attorney is a wise move. It might cost you a few hundred dollars, but I promise my colleague would have gladly paid that if he had known his now former company would still be reaping a nice four-figure monthly royalty payment several years later.
***RESOURCES***
~Chris Syme has a free new course on How to Succeed With Facebook Ads in 2018. Check it out!
~Harness the power of collaboration to supercharge your audience and income! Kirsten Oliphant, host of the Create If Writing podcast, just released her new book! Grab it here: Creative Collaborations: How to Form Lasting and Lucrative Partnerships without Being Smarmy
~MyBookTable is the easiest way to add your book to your website and sell it through online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. How can you add it to your author website? Learn more here.
I want to write a book, and I’m an employee. How do I write a book, and retain all of the rights and royalties? What else do I need to know?
Great question, and a wise one if you’re an employee! I’ve seen this go badly for one person I advised, who sadly did not heed my advice.
One of my colleagues wrote a book while employed. The company “gave him (verbal) permission” to do write and publish a book to use for marketing purposes. But upon terminating his employment, made a claim to his then-bestselling book. They, even today, continue to take all royalties and use it as a marketing tool for their company—even though he did all of the work (and paid for everything except the WIFI). At the beginning of his project, I warned him they had every right to do this and he insisted they were too nice to do so. I wish I had been wrong!
If you have an employment agreement (or even if you don’t), you must work on the book on a computer owned solely by you, outside of work hours. If you think there is any conflict whatsoever, you need to consult an attorney and potentially your HR department.
Your best bet is to draw clear lines between you and your employer, and to make sure you’re doing so in accordance with the laws of your state and the rules of your employment.
Let me repeat: consulting an attorney is a wise move. It might cost you a few hundred dollars, but I promise my colleague would have gladly paid that if he had known his now former company would still be reaping a nice four-figure monthly royalty payment several years later.
***RESOURCES***
~Chris Syme has a free new course on How to Succeed With Facebook Ads in 2018. Check it out!
~Harness the power of collaboration to supercharge your audience and income! Kirsten Oliphant, host of the Create If Writing podcast, just released her new book! Grab it here: Creative Collaborations: How to Form Lasting and Lucrative Partnerships without Being Smarmy
~MyBookTable is the easiest way to add your book to your website and sell it through online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. How can you add it to your author website? Learn more here.
November 19, 2017
It’s Time to Double Down!
It’s exciting to look forward to something, and next year is always a fun focus {especially if this year isn’t turning out the way you thought it might}.
I want to help you get set up for the best year you could possibly have. And you might be surprised that my advice includes:
Step One: Double Down
If you’ve already “called it a year” and are focusing solely on what next year holds for you, you’re missing out on the huge opportunity right in front of you: the remainder of the year you’re already in.
In the middle of November, there are 46 days left in the year or around 12.6% of the year left. You wouldn’t want to waste almost 13% of a year, so don’t!
I advise my clients this time of year to “hit the tape running,” which is what my dad always told me when I was a competitive runner. Many races are lost because the leader pulls up right before the finish line, and the winner wins by a stride because he was still going full-throttle as he crossed the finish line. You, too, need to hit the tape {December 31st} still going full out — because you’ll get the most out of this year and you’ll start the new year with a running start.
Now, this isn’t my first rodeo and I know you’re going to take off several of those days to enjoy holidays with friends and family, overindulge in yummy goodness, and lots of other fun and frivolity. And that’s perfectly fine.
That being said, you still have plenty of days left to:
schedule and have meetings with prospective clients, customers, etc. — have twice as many as you think you need to have!
call all of your existing clients and make sure they have everything they need from you — and be sure to show your gratitude for their patronage.
connect with your ideal strategic partners and work on your 12×12 Matrix {which I wrote about in here}.
schedule 2-5 hours to get every piece of paper filed, bill paid, phone call returned, and while you’re at it, empty out your inbox.
You have an amazing opportunity to close this year with the smile that comes with a job well done, knowing you’re set up to win big next year. So what are you waiting for? Get after it!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
I want to help you get set up for the best year you could possibly have. And you might be surprised that my advice includes:
Step One: Double Down
If you’ve already “called it a year” and are focusing solely on what next year holds for you, you’re missing out on the huge opportunity right in front of you: the remainder of the year you’re already in.
In the middle of November, there are 46 days left in the year or around 12.6% of the year left. You wouldn’t want to waste almost 13% of a year, so don’t!
I advise my clients this time of year to “hit the tape running,” which is what my dad always told me when I was a competitive runner. Many races are lost because the leader pulls up right before the finish line, and the winner wins by a stride because he was still going full-throttle as he crossed the finish line. You, too, need to hit the tape {December 31st} still going full out — because you’ll get the most out of this year and you’ll start the new year with a running start.
Now, this isn’t my first rodeo and I know you’re going to take off several of those days to enjoy holidays with friends and family, overindulge in yummy goodness, and lots of other fun and frivolity. And that’s perfectly fine.
That being said, you still have plenty of days left to:
schedule and have meetings with prospective clients, customers, etc. — have twice as many as you think you need to have!
call all of your existing clients and make sure they have everything they need from you — and be sure to show your gratitude for their patronage.
connect with your ideal strategic partners and work on your 12×12 Matrix {which I wrote about in here}.
schedule 2-5 hours to get every piece of paper filed, bill paid, phone call returned, and while you’re at it, empty out your inbox.
You have an amazing opportunity to close this year with the smile that comes with a job well done, knowing you’re set up to win big next year. So what are you waiting for? Get after it!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
