Michael Hyatt's Blog, page 159

How to Find the Time for That Important Project

Almost everyone has some important project they can’t seem to get to. Maybe it’s starting a blog, writing a book, or launching a new business initiative. You just can’t seem to find the time to tackle it.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/zstigler

Whenever I speak on the topic of Platform, the first question I always get in the Q&A is this: “How do I make time for building a platform? I am so busy; I don’t know how I could possibly add one more thing to my schedule.”



I totally get it. My calendar is jam-packed too. But this belief—and that’s what it is, a belief—also keeps us from making the progress we’d like to see.

Here are seven steps for getting unstuck and finding time for those important projects:

Accept reality. You only have 168 hours a week—the same as everyone else, including presidents, captains of industry, and the homeless man you passed on the way to work. Time is finite. You can’t borrow, beg, or steal more of it.

Starting and finishing that important project is not about time management as much as it is about priority management. It’s not so much about efficiency as it is about courage.

The question is this: How important is this project compared to everything else in your life?

Get off your but. No, not your butt, your but—that excuse that keeps you mired in the status quo.

“I could do it, BUT I just started a new job.”
“I could do it, BUT I just don’t have the energy.”
“I could do it, BUT I have small children.”

In order to move forward, you have to accept responsibility for where you are now. Your current situation is the result of choices you have made—not all bad, by the way, but yours nonetheless.

The question is this: Are you ready to make new choices? Yes or no. (It’s okay to choose No. Just be intentional.)

Set a clear goal. The momentum begins to shift when you chose a different destination. The way to turn a dream into a goal is to put a due date on it. This one act will often create the urgency you need to get going.

And while you are at it, make the goal S.M.A.R.T. You can read more about that, in “The Beginner’s Guide to Goal-Setting.”

The question is this: What do you want? Can you clearly articulate it? Can you see it?

Understand what’s at stake. The is perhaps the most important ingredient in finding the time for that important project. You have to connect why your why.

The way to overcome inertia (or keep going when you want to quit) is to understand clearly what you gain if you do your project and what you lose if you don’t.

The question is this: Why is this important to you? Write down your reasons as a series of bullets. Keep them handy—you’re going to need them.

Schedule time on your calendar. This is where the rubber meets the road. What gets scheduled gets done. You literally have to block out time on your calendar to focus on your project. It won’t happen otherwise.

I literally set these up as appointments with myself. If anyone else looks on my calendar, they see that I am busy—and I am busy. I have set aside this time to work on my project.

The question is this: When will you set aside time to begin? Or re-start? Or finish?

Keep your commitments. Too often, we sacrifice the important on the altar of the urgent. We can always do it later, right? Wrong. The key is to honor your commitment to your project as though it were an uber-important meeting with an uber-important person.

I just faced this again today. Someone wanted to book an appointment with me when I had scheduled time to work on my pet project. I said, “No, I’m sorry. I can’t meet then. I already have a commitment.” I didn’t provide any detail. My response was enough. And guess what? We found another time.

The question is this: Do you really want to get this project done or not? Are you brave enough to say No to other demands, so you can say Yes to this?

Make time to celebrate. Honestly, I am not very good at this. I’m better than I used to be, but no where near where I want to be. As a recovering Type-A personality, as soon as I check something off, I refocus on the next objective. Ultimately doesn’t serve me or the people I work with well.

It’s important not only to acknowledge what you have accomplished but thank the people who helped you. Otherwise, you wear out your team and eventually yourself. (Don’t ask me how I know this.)

Yes, it really is possible to find time for those important projects you want to accomplish. You just have to be intentional and use the right strategy.

Question: What is an important project you would to tackle? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
 

The Practical Value of Deadlines [Quote]

To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.














Leonard Bernstein

#065: Why You—Yes, YOU!—Should Consider Writing a Book [Podcast]

Admit it, you’ve thought about writing a book. According to a recent reader survey, 61.5% of my blog readers have thought about writing a book. Is it time for you to stop thinking and start doing?

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/plastic_buddha

Being a published author has done more for my career—and my income—than I could have ever imagined. It has opened doors of opportunity I couldn’t have dreamed were possible. It can happen for you, too.

Click to Listen

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download

 Here are five good reasons why you should consider writing a book:

It provides an opportunity to share your expertise.
It provides an opportunity to establish your authority.
It provides an opportunity to differentiate yourself.
It provides an opportunity to expand your market.
It provides an opportunity to launch a business.

I’m not saying that writing a book is easy. It takes a lot of hard work and, most of all, perseverance. But it is possible. I promise, every published author—every successful author—started out just like you.

Listener Questions

Bruce Cross asked, “What is one thing that can help me get started writing a book?”
Christopher Scott asked, “What is the most likely type of book a a publisher would publish from a first-time author?”
James Kinson asked, “Is there benefit to publishing a book before establishing my platform?”
Kari Scare asked, “Is writing a book really worth the time when there are so many books written by such competent people?”
Regan Kakoschke asked, “Can I publish my journal or should I start over to turn it into a book?”
Steve Dwire asked, “Should my reasons for writing a book impact the path I take (e.g., ebook, self-publishing, traditional publishing)?”

Special Announcements

Just a reminder about Platform University. The monthly subscription price is going up for new members. If you join before September 13th, you will save $5 a month on the membership fee. That’s $60 a year. I honestly don’t know of a better way to grow your platform faster than learning from the pros and brainstorming with like-minded people. This is why Platform University is so valuable. Click here to find out more.
If you are considering launching your own platform—or just getting serious about it—you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog.

This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes.
My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Primary Difference Between the Wise and the Foolish.” Which are you? And, as a leader, which do you have working for you? If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode.



Tip of the Week

Now let me leave you with one final tip. People tell me all the time that they know they should be reading more but can’t find the time. They also tell me they know they should be exercising but can’t find the time.

Well, I have good news for you. You can kill two birds with one stone. All you have to do is join Audible.com and listen to audio books while you exercise. I have been doing this for years. It’s one of the reasons I am able to read as much as I do and stay in shape.

The Audible app for iPhone is terrific. You can listen to books at normal speed, 1.5x, or even 2x. It really enables you to cover a lot of ground at once. I can usually read about a book a week using the Audible app.
Episode Resources

In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:

Course: Get Published
Membership: Platform University
Screencast: How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes or Less

Show Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs.

Subscription Links

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe:




iTunes

Zune

RSS

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

Question: What about you? What business would you like to be in? How could a book help you get there? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

 

4 Reasons to Join Platform University Now (Before the Price Goes Up)

I can’t believe it’s been almost nine months since we launched Platform University. It has been more successful than I could have imagined. The feedback from our members has been stellar.

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

We extended the introductory price of $25 a month longer than we initially planned. However, the price is going up to $30 a month on Friday, September 13. Until then, you can still get in at the old price.

Join Before the Price Goes Up

Platform University is specifically designed to help you launch your platform or build it faster than you could on your own. If you want more visibility for your product, service, cause, or brand, this opportunity is for you.

Our members include:

Authors, Speakers, and Publishers
Social Media Managers
Small Business Owners
Business Executives
Bloggers and Podcasters
Mortgage Brokers
Real Estate Agents and Sales Professionals
Online Marketers
Pastors and Church Planters

Each month, they receive the inspiration, training, and resources they need to succeed while avoiding the most common—and costly—mistakes.

Here are the four benefits you’ll enjoy, beginning on the first day you join.

Practical Training from World-Class Experts. Each month, we deliver a brand new video Master Class with a world-renown platform-builder. So far, we’ve learned from Dave Ramsey, Amy Porterfield, Jeff Goins, Ray Edwards, Stu McLaren, and Andrew Buckman. I have also taught a few sessions.

We have some amazing Master Classes planned in the months ahead. You won’t want to miss these sessions. You’ll also have access to the ones from the last seven months.
Direct Access to Me. One of the reasons I created Platform University was so I could go deeper with those who were ready. Each month I take you backstage (via video) and share some aspect of my own business with you. I share the workflows, tools, and resources I use to lead my tribe and run my business.

In addition, I host a monthly live conference call with our members. This is your opportunity to get your specific questions answered and learn from everyone else. I also participate in the discussion forums as I am able.
Support from a Community of Fellow Travelers. Building your platform can feel lonely at times, which is why we have placed a high value on community and creating opportunities for our members to interact with one another.

I have loved watching our Discussion Forums take off. They are a safe place to share your victories, challenges, and setbacks. This is also a great place to gain insight and inspiration from the collective wisdom of serious platform-builders like yourself.

We also provide special discounts and early access to the Platform Conference, Get Noticed! Theme for WordPress, and my other products, along with special perks and bonuses that aren’t available outside the membership.
A Ridiculously Low Price. When I launched Platform University, I wanted to make it affordable to anyone who was serious about building their platform. I wanted to empower as may people as possible to get noticed. That’s why we have held the price to $25 a month until now.

However, we can no longer justify keeping it this low—what we provide inside the membership is just too valuable. The price is going up to $30 a month on Friday, September 13th.

Until then, you can still get in at current price—and you’ll never pay more, no matter how much the price goes up in the future. But remember, you must join before Friday, September 13th.

Platform University is not for everyone. But if you are serious about launching your platform or taking it to the next level, you can’t afford to miss this opportunity. And keep in mind, there is no risk. You can cancel your membership at any time.

Join Before the Price Goes Up

Question: If you are a member of Platform University, what is your favorite feature? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
 

How to Get More Media Coverage for Your Product, Service, or Cause

What could happen to your product, service, brand, or cause, if you could more media coverage—the right kind of coverage?

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

In this brief video, my friend Stu McLaren interviews me about how platform-builders can get more media coverage for their business or cause. This is an excerpt from this month’s Master Class at Platform University.

I have done more than 1,600 radio, television, newspaper, and podcast interviews. In the Master Class, I share what I have learned—the good, the bad, and the ugly.



In this six-minute excerpt we discuss:

Why chasing television shows is largely a waste of time.
The kind of media coverage that delivers much better results—at a fraction of the cost.
My strategic media priorities—what I pursue first, second, and third.
Why podcast interviews are particularly valuable.
How you can begin building media relationships now—before you need them.

At the end of the video, Megan Hyatt Miller (yes, my daughter!) provides an overview of the content we’ll be sharing this month with our Platform University members.

In our Master Class, Stu interviews me in-depth about how to get more media, how to do interviews like a pro, and the mistakes you must avoid to succeed. (The above video is an excerpt from the class.)
In our Backstage Pass, I share how I prepare for speaking engagements. I talk about everything from how I prepare my slides and notes, to the information I gather from the event sponsor.
In our Member Makeover, Megan and I review the platform of one of our members. We share with him ten recommendations to take his platform to the next level.

In addition to this, I will be hosting our members-only Live Q&A Conference Call at the end of the month. This is an opportunity for our members to ask me any question they want about platform-building.

If you’re not a member, check us out. I created Platform University to help you build your platform bigger and faster than you could on your own. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the inspiration, training, and resources you need to succeed.

Question: What have you done to try and get more media coverage for your business or cause? What have the results been? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
 

Are You Using These Top 5 Travel Apps?

Because of my public speaking, I spend a lot of time traveling. In just the past four weeks I have been to Charlotte, San Diego, Richmond, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Mobile, Dallas, Tulsa, and Denver.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/scanrail

In some ways traveling has never been more stressful—more delays, more canceled flights, and more crowded flights. But technology eases the burden and makes it manageable.

Here are my favorite travel apps and how I use them:

TripIt. This is “command central” for my travel details. My assistants and I use it to maintain all my transportation and accommodation information. When they book a flight or a hotel, they forward the information to TripIt.

The program parses the email and creates neat records with all the details. It tells me when flights are delayed, the travel time, my seat assignments, confirmation numbers, and whether or not the flight provides wireless Internet service. It gives me similar information about hotels.

Basecamp. I have lots of paperwork surrounding every speaking engagement: contracts, “Event Detail Forms,” slide presentations, speaking notes, background research, etc. We used to store all this in Evernote. However, recently, we moved to Basecamp for this kind of information.

While I still use Evernote for nearly everything else, I prefer Basecamp for travel. I think of each trip as a “project.” It has its own set of to-dos, discussions, files, milestone dates, and team members. Basecamp is perfect for this. When the project is over, we archive it. When we book a new engagement, we begin with a project template.

Expensify. I used to hate doing expense reports. Over the last 30 years, I think I have tried every system known to man. But I love Expensify. It is simple to understand and easy to use.

I start by creating a report with the beginning date of the trip and then the name of the engagement. When I incur an expense, I take a photo of the receipt, add the metadata (or use SmartScan to parse the receipt), and then discard the receipt.

When the trip is over, I submit the report to my booking agent, so he can request reimbursement from the event sponsor. I also submit it to my accountant, so she can make sure I get paid. Once I hit “Submit,” I am done.

Google Maps. I have used GPS since it first became available for cars. It eliminates the stress of having to figure out how to get to where I need to go. For years, I used Hertz NeverLost. It served me well.

But then I discovered I could use an iPhone app, and save myself some money over the long haul. I bought the TomTom app and it worked great. My only complaint was that it was slow to load.

However, I switched to Google Maps a few months ago and haven’t looked back. The app is easy to use, beautiful, and accurate. Best of all, it’s free. I have also begun experimenting with a social mapping program called Waze that looks very promising.

Uber. This is a special-purpose app that does one thing: it allows you to book limousine (black car) service from your iPhone. Before you dismiss this as “too expensive,” check it out. I find it is often much cheaper than a rental car.

I land in a city, and before getting off the plane, I load the app and book a car. From my phone’s GPS, it knows where I am. It also knows where the closest drivers are and who is available.

Once I book the car, I get an almost instant notification back with the name, photo, and phone number of the driver who has been assigned to pick me up. It also has his five-star rating. Literally, by the time I get to the curb, the driver is there.

Unfortunately, Uber isn’t available in every city. It’s also strictly on-demand; you can’t schedule a car. But it is a clever solution to a common problem—getting a ride. I’m sure we will see more of these kinds of networking solutions in the future.

If you have followed my blog for even a few months, you know I go through apps faster than an eight-year-old through Halloween candy. So if you have discovered something I should consider, I’d love to hear from you.

Question: What are your favorite travel apps? What have I missed? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
 

Andy Andrews — Putting the Boys to Bed [Video]

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.







Andy Andrews doesn’t hope you’ll do great things with your life. He’s expecting it. Watch this touching video about putting his boys to bed to find out why!

#064: Two Kinds of Thinkers: Which One Are You? [Podcast]

Over the years, I have noticed that there are two kinds of thinking: Abundance Thinking and Scarcity Thinking. One leads to success, joy and fulfillment, while the other leads to failure, fear and discontent.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/salez

If you look behind the outcomes—in any area of life—you will see specific actions that caused them. But if you look beyond the actions, you will see the thoughts that gave birth to them.

Click to Listen

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download

So, which type of thinker are you? Maybe it’s time to do some honest self-evaluation. Better yet, ask those closest to you.

First, consider the eight characteristics of abundance thinkers.

They believe there is always more where that came from.
They are happy to share their knowledge, contacts, and compassion with others.
They default to trust and build rapport easily.
They welcome competition, believing it makes the pie bigger and them better.
They ask themselves, How can I give more than is expected?
They are optimistic about the future, believing the best is yet to come.
They think big, embracing risk.
They are thankful and confident.

Now, consider the eight characteristics of scarcity thinkers.

They believe there will never be enough.
They are stingy with their knowledge, contacts, and compassion.
They default to suspicion and find it difficult to build rapport.
They resent competition, believing it makes the pie smaller and them weaker.
They ask themselves, How can I get by with less than is expected?
They are pessimistic about the future, believing that tough times are ahead.
They think small, avoiding risk.
They are entitled and fearful.

So if being an abundance thinker is that important, how can you develop this ability.

Cultivate awareness
Practice gratitude
Be generous

If you change your thinking, you will change your actions. And if you change your actions, you will change your outcomes. And if you change your outcomes, you will change your life. It is that simple.

Listener Questions

Brandon Vaughn asked, “How do we teach our children to become more abundant thinkers?”
Jill Savage asked, “In pursuing abundance thinking, is it possible to go to an unhealthy extreme that is not healthy for ourselves or others?”

Special Announcements

If you are considering launching your own platform—or just getting serious about it—you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog.

This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes.
This fall’s SCORRE Conference is filling up fast! My business partner Ken Davis, who originally developed the SCORRE Conference, and I will be hosting this next conference on October 14–17 at the beautiful Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Hotel in Vail, Colorado.

This Conference will sell out, so get your tickets today!
My next podcast will be on the topic of “5 Reasons You Should Consider Writing a Book.” Yes, YOU! If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode.



Tip of the Week

Now let me leave you with one final tip. I want to talk to you about the Gratitude Rock.

Several years ago, at the encouragement of a friend, I started carrying a gratitude rock in my pocket. It’s really just a small, smooth stone that I picked up from the fish pond behind our house. I carry it with me wherever I go.

The idea is simple. Whenever my hand contacts the stone–usually several times a day–I give thanks for whatever is happening at that moment, whether good or bad.

It is amazing how this simple act changes my perspective and, ultimately, my attitude. Instead of seeing the glass half-empty, I see it half-full. Instead of focusing on what I don’t have, I focus on what I do have–right now.

It’s amazing how this can train your mind over time. It’s the perfect antidote to fear, discouragement, worry, anger—almost every negative emotion.
Episode Resources

In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:

Book: Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders
Conference: The SCORRE Conference
Screencast: How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes or Less

Show Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs.

Subscription Links

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe:




iTunes

Zune

RSS

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

Question: How do you see these two ways of thinking impacting your world? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

 

Ray Bradbury — Quantity Produces Quality [Quote]

Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you are doomed.














Ray Bradbury

Learn from the World’s Leading Platform-Builders

The market is more crowded than ever. Worse, people are more distracted than ever. To succeed, you need a platform. We designed The Platform Conference to help you achieve dramatic growth in building yours.

The Spring 2013 Platform Conference Panel Discussion

Do you feel stuck and not sure what to do next?

Do you need the inspiration to take your platform to the next level?

Have you plateaued and don’t know how to move forward?

Do you just need to figure out how to get started?

If you answered Yes to any of these questions, this conference is for you. We created the Platform Conference as a sort of bootcamp to give you the training and tools you need to succeed. You will learn more in three days than months—perhaps years—of trying to build a platform on your own.

Whether you are looking for more information on blogging, podcasting, membership sites, Facebook, Twitter, marketing, sales psychology, or publishing—if it’s about platform building, we’re going to cover it.

Register Now!

Who Should Attend?

The Platform Conference attracts people from all walks of life who have one thing in common: they are on a quest to build a powerful, personal platform.

Whether they are beginners or they’ve been at it for years, they all understand that a platform is necessary to stand out from the crowd and be heard in a noisy world.

We’re expecting a sold-out conference with platform-builders from around the world including:

Small Business Owners
Business Executives
Social Media Managers
Authors, Speakers, and Publishers
Bloggers and Podcasters
Mortgage Brokers
Real Estate Agents
Online Marketers
Pastors and Church Planters

Who Will Be Speaking?

This industry-defining conference features ten of the top platform builders in the world today. These are people who are working, just like you, day in and day out to build their own platforms and more importantly, share what they’ve learned with the world.

Perhaps you have dreamed of getting direct access to these people. Now you can. Through lectures, panels, and informal discussions, you will learn from each of our speakers in a way that is both personal and relevant to your individual situation.

This year’s event features:

Ken Davis—motivational speaker, bestselling author, and my business partner in Dynamic Communicators International

Ray Edwards—blogger, podcaster, and one of world’s most respected copywriters

Jeff Goins—blogger, speaker, writing coach, and author of Wrecked and The In-Between.

Stu McLaren—entrepreneur and co-founder of WishList Member, the leading membership site software in the world

Amy Porterfield—blogger, podcaster, and the world’s leading Facebook marketing expert

Lysa Terkeurst—New York Times bestselling author (twice!) and book marketing expert and founder of the She Speaks Conference

Cliff Ravenscraft—founder of the GSPN.TV, business coach, and the world’s leading authority on podcasting

Derek Halpern—blogger and marketing psychology expert, specializes in how to get people to buy in today’s noisy world

Of course, I will be speaking too. I am leading two sessions and will be mingling with the attendees the entire time.

Where Will It Be Held?

The Platform Conference will be held November 3-5, 2013 at the elegant Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West in Dallas, Texas. Located near the vibrant Las Colinas Business District, and only ten minutes from the DFW International Airport, this twelve-story luxury hotel will be the perfect setting for this year’s conference.

Why Should You Attend

All sessions are focused entirely on the business of building a platform. You’ll be able to network with your peers, meet and shake hands with top experts, and walk away with the contacts, advice, and practical how-to to take your platform to the next level.

Last year’s conference was a SELL OUT. Our master level tickets have been sold out for months. The remaining tickets will go quickly.

But here’s the deal …

If you register on or before September 14th, you can get the special, Early Bird Pricing. If you register this week—on or before Sunday, September 1st—you can take an additional $200 off the registration price. Just enter the coupon code HYATT.

Register Now!

Don’t miss this opportunity to turbo-charge your platform. Reserve your tickets for Dallas today.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Question: How could this conference help you take your platform to the next level? You can leave a comment by clicking here.