Michael Hyatt's Blog, page 176
February 15, 2013
My Take-Aways from the Platform Conference
This is a guest post by Justin Wise. He is a family man, author, professor, and digital communications expert. He lives in Des Moines, IA (by choice) with his wife and two children. Visit JustinWise.net for a free social media ebook.
What do a trumpet, a George Bush impersonator, and the C+C Music Factory all have in common? If you guessed, “Nothing, weirdo,” you’d be wrong.
Pat Flynn, Ken Davis, Carrie Wilkerson, Andrew Buckman, Michael Hyatt, and Stu McLaren
The correct answer, dear readers, is they were all part of the inaugural, sell-out Platform Conference, held in Nashville, Tennessee on February 11–13.
I was pleased to produce the live-media experience on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for Michael and his team, so I had a front row seat to all the action.
After seeing the amazing speaker line-up, I knew the material would be solid. But as far as other expectations, I didn’t have any. I was a blank slate, ready to learn.
Let me start out by saying I’ve been to a lot of conferences. I’ve been backstage at some of the biggest events around. With some notable exceptions, they all follow a similar script. They all have the same feel.
For instance, speakers will book the latest flight in and earliest flight out. You’d be lucky to have them breeze through the green room, say “hi,” and then shuttle off to the airport.
This was not the case at the Platform Conference. Smart money man, Pat Flynn was there for the entire conference, not just for his time on stage. Every session, every break, every meal—he was there (so were most of the other speakers, by the way). I saw Pat interacting, sharing, and learning from everyone else. I cannot overstate how rare this is. It’s also incredibly generous.
Podcasting powerhouse, Cliff Ravenscraft, was emotionally generous with us. He shared his very personal story of career missteps, frustrations, and, ultimately, redemption—through podcasting, no less. I could feel the relief in the room from those who are/have been in a situation similar to Cliff’s—hate their job, but it pays the bills. Cliff’s story showed me what happens when passion meets up with good ol’ fashioned determination.
My biggest takeaway, by far, was hearing membership site maven, Stu McLaren, unlock an entirely new way of doing business: recurring revenue through membership sites.
Stu’s comment about being from “the middle of nowhere” Canada (his words) instantly endeared him to me. See, I’m from Des Moines. (Yes, by choice.) While Des Moines may not be a thriving metropolis, it’s home. Hearing Stu tell the story of how his business grew from his little corner of the world gave me hope I could do the same—even from Des Moines.
After sharing some of my story in a side conversation with Stu, he encouraged me, “Anyone can run a business on the Internet. It doesn’t matter where you live.” I gushed on Twitter about his talk, but it was for good reason. He changed the way I think about business. Permanently. You can’t put a price tag on an enlarged mind.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Michael. Not because this is his blog, but because I saw a different side of him most don’t see. I was fortunate enough to spend considerable time with his five daughters (FIVE!) backstage. Do you know what I learned? I learned his children not only love, but actually like, their dad. Crazy, isn’t it?
Being a father myself, and sitting with dozens of parents during my time in ministry, I know how hard it is to have a healthy relationship with one child, let alone five. It doesn’t happen by accident, let me tell you. But Michael’s done it. This says something about the type of man he is.
This same relational intentionality permeated every aspect of Platform Nashville. To quote Stu McLaren, “I have never met someone whose public and private personas matched up so well.” Of course, there were plenty of stand-out moments from the other presenters. But, as they say, “so many words, so little time.”
I’d encourage you to consider your own platform-building efforts. If you need a nudge in the right direction, Platform Dallas is taking shape as we speak. (If you’re the worrying type, the Nashville event sold out. Keep that in mind as you’re considering!)
Question: What is one obstacle getting in the way of building your platform? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 14, 2013
Stay Stupid [Quote]
The three dumbest guys I can think of: Charles Lindbergh, Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill. Why? Because any smart person who understood how impossibly arduous were the tasks they had set themselves would have pulled the plug before he even began.
Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprise is going to be—and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway. How do we achieve this state of mind? By staying stupid. By not allowing ourselves to think.
How do we achieve this state of mind? By staying stupid. By not allowing ourselves to think. A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. It’s only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.”
Steven Pressfield
Do the Work (New York City: The Domino Project, 2011), Loc. 161-163
February 13, 2013
#041: 7 Actions to Take Before You Quit Your Job [Podcast]
You know it will eventually happen. You’ll quit your job to take another one. Maybe you’re in the midst of this right now—or considering it. Regardless, in this episode I discuss how to finish well and setup yourself up for success.
The time will eventually come that you have to quit your job. The only real question is how to do it in a way that doesn’t burn your bridges. So what I want to share in this episode is this: before you turn in your resignation—or even begin looking for another job—let me suggest that you consider the following seven actions:
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Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download
Action #1: Determine to exit with dignity and honor
Action #2: Count the cost of leavening your present job
Action #3: Give your employer a chance to address your issues
Action #4: Honor your commitments to your current employer
Action #5: Don’t look for another job on company time or with company email
Action #6: Don’t share proprietary information with prospective employers
Action #7: Don’t conspire with others to leave the company
With a little planning, anyone can make a graceful exit. Life is short. The world is small—and cold. You don’t need to create any unnecessary enemies. You’ve already made an investment in your job. Now make one in your career. Think of the future and keep the end in mind.
Listener Questions
Amy Anderson asked, “I have rarely left a job without another one waiting … How do you feel about leaving a difficult situation even if you don’t have something else lined up?”
Christopher Scott asked, “Should you give your current employer a heads up if you are planning to quit or just wait and give them the perfunctory two weeks notice?”
Heman Smith asked, “I want to leave my present company, enter a non-competitive industry, and use the concepts I use now. How do I do that without causing concerns about intellectual property?”
Jeff Jones asked, “When I left my position as a drummer in a band, I found that I really needed to focus on where I was headed and not on the past. How did that play out in your recent transition from Thomas Nelson?”
Wayne Henderson asked, “I really want to be a full-time voice actor, but I am concerned about those in management knowing where my true passions are? Should I be wary of posting too much on Twitter and Facebook about this?”
Special Announcements
Platform University is going great. We now have about 1,300 members. If you haven’t done so yet, please check it out. It’s only $25 a month—less than a dollar a day. We have lots of great content coming. You don’t want to miss this.
The Get Noticed! Theme is still in private beta. Things are progressing well, albeit a little slower than we had hoped. We have not announced a release date. Thank you for your patience. I really wish we could get this to market faster, but I promise, it will be worth the wait.
The Platform Conference for this year is wrapping up. We were completely sold out.
The good news is that we have just put tickets on sale for the next Platform Conference. It will be November 3–5, 2013 in Dallas. While we haven’t officially announced a speaker lineup, many of this year’s speakers will be returning, and we are in dialog with a few others as well.
If you are thinking about coming, I urge you to decide quickly, especially if you are interested in a Masters Level ticket. This is open to just ten people. You will eat every group meal with me while at the conference. You’ll also participate in a special reception with just you, the speakers, and your fellow masters level students.
My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Fine Art of Delegation.” 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.
Episode Resources
In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
Book: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Conference: The Platform Conference
Theme: Get Noticed! Theme for WordPress
Website: Platform University
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.
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Question: What has been your experience when quitting a job? What did you do well? What did you do not so well? How will next time be different? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 11, 2013
5 Ways to Energize Your Team
As a leader, you have an effect on people. When you leave the room, people either feel taller or smaller. This is an almost super-hero power, but, unfortunately, leaders are often unconscious of it.
A few years ago, I met with an author I had always admired. It wasn’t our first meeting; I had met with him a few times previously. I had always enjoyed being with him and left our encounters with a renewed commitment to serve him well.
But this time was different. He marched into the meeting with an entourage of assistants and a heavy dose of entitlement. Something had changed.
My people had worked hard to deliver stellar results, particularly in a tough economy. They had spent the weekend preparing, eager to share what they had accomplished. They had slides, handouts, and (they thought) good news to report.
However, he managed to “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” He scowled during the presentation. He was cold and aloof. When we were finished, he asked why we hadn’t accomplished more. He offered a litany of complaints.
His staff—several of them new and eager to look smart—followed his lead. They focused on the hole rather than the donut. In our two hours together, not one of them expressed an ounce of gratitude. It was demoralizing and we left feeling diminished.
On the way to the airport, I did my best to encourage my team. They were clearly deflated. One of my senior people sighed, “He made me feel like an idiot.” Another added, “Honestly, that meeting made me want to quit.” In my own heart, I felt precisely the same way.
My guess is that this author had no idea what he had just done. He may even have thought he was somehow motivating us. Not so much. In fact, he had just shot himself in the foot—maybe even in the head.
He had evidently forgotten that, at the end of the day, everyone is a volunteer. People will only go so far in the performance of a duty. If you want their very best, you have to have their hearts. You can’t demand this or even buy it with a paycheck. You have to earn it.
In my experience, there are five ways to do this:
Assume others are smart and working hard.
Listen intently and ask thoughtful questions.
Acknowledge the sacrifices others have made on your behalf.
Express gratitude for their effort and their results.
Remind them why their work is so important and the difference they are making.
Yes, you can talk about issues that need to be addressed, but it has to be done in a way that leaves people motivated about what is possible.
As a leader, you have more power than you think. You will get more of what you focus on. Next time you walk into a meeting, consider, How do I want people to feel when the meeting is over? Begin with the end in mind.
Question: Think back to a great meeting where you left feeling empowered. What happened to make you feel that way? What happened to your performance? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 8, 2013
The One Thing You Must Do to Achieve Break-Through Results
I often meet people who are stuck in one area of their life or another. They want a break-through, but they can’t seem to get traction.
Contrary to what they think, it’s not about having:
More money;
More time;
The right contacts; or
Better luck.
Instead, it almost always is about overcoming an invisible barrier that exists in their own head.
The barrier isn’t something external. It’s something internal—something they have created in their own mind.
Years ago, I heard a speaker talk about a research project conducted by a marine biologist. It seems he put a barracuda in a large tank. He then released smaller, bait fish into the same tank. As expected, the barracuda attacked and ate the smaller fish.
Then the researcher inserted a piece of glass into the tank, creating two separate chambers. He put the barracuda into one and new bait fish into the second. The barracuda immediately attacked.
This time, however, he hit the glass and bounced off. Undaunted, the barracuda kept repeating this behavior every few minutes. Meanwhile, the bait fish swam unharmed in the second chamber. Eventually, the barracuda gave up.
The biologist repeated this experiment several times over the next few days. Each time, the barracuda got less aggressive, until eventually he got tired of hitting the glass and stopped striking altogether.
Then the researcher removed the glass. The barracuda, now trained to believe a barrier existed between him and the bait fish, didn’t attack. The bait fish swam unassailed, wherever they wished.
Too often, we are like the barracuda. The barrier isn’t “out there.” It only exists inside our heads.
Think how many other barriers have turned out to be only mental obstacles:
The sound barrier. Pilots didn’t think it was possible to fly faster than 768 miles an hour (the speed of sound at sea level). Then Chuck Yeager officially broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.
The four-minute mile. Runners didn’t think it was possible to run a mile in less than four minutes. Then, in 1954, Roger Bannister ran it in 3:59.4.
The two-hour marathon. Endurance athletes didn’t think it was possible to run a marathon in less than two hours. Now several athletes are on the verge of breaking Geoffrey Mutai’s world-record of 2:03.02.
The reason why most of us don’t accomplish more is because we set our goals inside our mental barriers, where it’s safe. (That’s why it’s called “the comfort zone.”)
But if you want to get unstuck and start getting traction again, you have to set your goals on the other side of the barrier. You don’t have to get crazy, but you do have to stretch yourself and push past the invisible barrier in your head.
This is the secret to achieving break-through results.
Question: What goal do you currently have that is outside your comfort zone? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 6, 2013
#040: Get Out of That Funk [Podcast]
In this episode, I talk about how to get out of that funk. I discuss the winter blues, also known as “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD, and how to keep your energy up regardless of the time of year.
Many people get depressed during this time of year. Sometimes there are legitimate medical or psychological issues that must be addressed. However, some people resort to medication prematurely, before making sure they have the basics covered.
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Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download
So, if you are experiencing the winter blues or you are finding that your energy is lower than usual, I suggest you ask yourself seven questions before scheduling a visit to a professional:Question #1: Am I getting plenty of rest?
Question #2: Am I exercising three to four times a week?
Question #3: Am I eating high-energy foods?
Question #4: Am I staying hydrated?
Question #5: Am I getting enough sunshine?
Question #6: Am I focusing on the positive?
Question #7: Am I hanging out with energetic people?
Listener Questions
Jon Stallings asked, “How do you deal with a project or a goal that saps your energy?”
David Kirkaldy asked, “How do you keep your energy up when the pace and energy of your life is not dictated by your surroundings?”
Andrew Mason asked, “Do you have any suggestions for being consistent with your exercise in the winter?”
Noah Coley asked, “I am constantly pouring out to others. I need someone to pour into me. How do you found those kind of people?”
Matt McWilliams asked, “What tips do you have for creating a more uplifting environment indoors?”
Special Announcements
Platform University is going great. We now have in excess of 1,200 members. If you haven’t checked in yet, please do so today. It’s only $25.00 a month—less than a dollar a day!
The Platform Conference is next week. I am pleased to report that we are technically sold out. However, my manager, Joy, was able to rearrange the seating and create space for another ten people. If you’d still like to come, it’s not too late. You can go to platformconference.tv to learn more.
I have several speaking engagements coming up. However, I still have some availability this spring. If you are interested in having me speak to your group, check out my speaking page.
My next podcast will be on the topic of “7 Steps to Take Before You Quit Your Job.” I have seen this done badly, and I’ve seen it done well. It’s important to do it right so that you can leave with dignity and set yourself up for future success. 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.
Episode Resources
In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
Book: Wheat Belly
Essential Oils: DoTERRA Essential Oils (You can also email my daughter Marissa for more information. She can tell you how to buy these products at wholesale prices.)
Light: Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device
Playlist: Music for an Outstanding Day
Software: Lift
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 steps do you take when you try to get out of a funk? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 5, 2013
The First Platform University Monthly Q&A Call [Audio]
I hosted our first ever Monthly Q&A Call for Platform University last week. In case you missed it, you can listen to the recording here (or download the transcript here.)
Going forward, this will be a members-only call. However, I wanted to share this first session with you—even if you are not a member—so you could sample the kind of content I am providing at Platform University.
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download
Each month, I will answer questions submitted by our members. Half the call will be pre-submitted questions; the other half will be live. In this first call, I answered the following questions. First, I addressed the most common ones:
“What do you do if you feel overwhelmed by all the social media options? Where do you start?”
“What are your favorite platform-building tools—the ones you use every day?”
“How you can find time to build a platform, especially with a full-time job, a family, and other responsibilities?”
“Should people build their platform around a personal brand, a corporate brand, or both?”
“What is the one thing people must do to succeed in building a platform?”
Next, I answered questions submitted by the participants:
Ellen Debenport from Texas asked: “Michael, everything you do is so classy with such high production values that I’m guessing you invest a lot of money in it. How can I build a platform that lends credibility when I don’t (yet) have much cash to invest in it?”
Steve Crutchfield from Pennsylvania asked, “I’ve been consistently inconsistent in building a platform. What have you learned to be the top three hurdles to overcoming the inconsistency and how do you jump over or through them?
Mark Williams from California asked, “As a beginning blogger, how should go about getting signups for my blog?”
Jay Willis from Texas asked, “How do you get started building an audience? How do you find your voice or ‘one thing’ to focus on?”
Jay Goluguri from Texas asked, “You mention in the “Start with the Wow” Master Class video [inside the membership] that it’s important that our platform (and services we offer) are at the intersection of passion, competence, and market demand. What are some techniques to test and verify the market demand for what we have to offer before we go all out into putting efforts to building a platform?”
Ken Brayton from Oregon asked, “Is it possible to build a platform on a part-time basis? I already have a 50-hour a week ‘regular job.” Can one be successful building a platform slowly over time?”
Dana Reynolds from Texas asked, “What is your #1 suggestion for promoting a new book?”
Jody Mayberry from Washington asked, “Holding back, waiting to create wow, can keep me from getting started. How do you balance the desire to begin with wow and the need to launch?”
Kevin Rains from Ohio asked, “Sequencing. What comes first, second, and third in terms of building a platform… collect email addresses? develop a product? etc… so many things seem so important but not sure which ones to pursue and in what order.”
Joshua Hood from Texas asked, “Can you talk about the balance between what we think people WANT to hear, versus what we WANT to say? I sometimes find myself blogging what I think people want to read, because what I want to write doesn’t feel flashy, marketable, or impressive. For example, the series of posts on leadership we thought would be epic barely gets any attention. But the silly post about things that bother us takes off and becomes our biggest hit. How much should our perception of what people want affect content creation?”
Wayne Stiles from Texas asked, “Other than keeping track of unique visitors, what information should we use Google Analytics to measure–and why?”
Tom Maibe from Maryland asked, “If you’re not as gifted in writing as speaking, what alternative do you suggest to writing a blog?
I hope you can see from this list of questions, the wide-range of platform-related questions we got in. Again, we will be doing this every month, because I want to address the real-world questions our members have.
As I mentioned earlier, you can also download the transcript of the call, courtesy of Ginger Schell, who does all my transcription work. The transcript contains twenty-seven pages of my answers and resource links.
If you are interested in finding out more about Platform University, please visit the site to discover what we offer. Admittedly, I’m biased, but At $25 a month, I think it’s a steal.
If you are serious about building a platform this year or taking yours to the next level, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
If you don’t think it’s worth what you are paying, you can quit at any time.
Question: What questions do you have about Platform University? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
February 1, 2013
5 Characteristics of Weak Leaders (and How Not to Be One)
Sometimes you learn from positive role models. Often you learn from negative ones. This is one of the reasons I love to read history—you inevitably get both.
After watching Steven Spielberg’s movie Lincoln, I decided to review Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I had read this book a few years ago. It is a page-turning account of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his political genius.
At the beginning of Lincoln’s first term, he appointed each of his former Republican rivals—those who had run against him for his party’s nomination—to cabinet posts. The narrative demonstrates his amazing ability to tap into a broad array of perspectives and create alignment among those who often disagreed violently with one another.
Unfortunately, Lincoln’s leadership was not perfect. He occasionally selected men for public service who were unworthy of his trust. One such individual was General George B. McClellan, commander of the “Army of the Potomac” and, eventually, first general-in-chief of the Union Army.
General McClellan had significant character flaws that I believe serve as warning signs to anyone in leadership. Ultimately, these cost him dearly: He lost Lincoln’s confidence, his job, and a run for the White House (against Lincoln). Worse, they prolonged the Civil War and cost the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
Here are the five flaws I jotted down as I read the book:
Hesitating to take definitive action. McClellan was constantly preparing. According to him, the Army was never quite ready. The troops just needed a little more training. In his procrastination, he refused to engage the enemy, even when he clearly had the advantage. He could just not bring himself to launch an attack. When Lincoln finally relieved him of his duties, he famously said, “If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time.”
Complaining about a lack of resources. He constantly complained about the lack of available resources. He didn’t have enough men. His men weren’t paid enough. They didn’t have enough heavy artillery. And on and on he went. The truth is that, as a leader, you never have enough resources. You could always use more of one thing or another. But the successful leaders figure out how to get the job done with the resources they have.
Refusing to take responsibility. McClellan blamed everyone else for his mistakes and for his refusal to act. He even blamed the President. Every time he suffered a defeat or a setback, someone or something was to blame. He was a master finger-pointer. Great leaders don’t do this. They are accountable for the results and accept full responsibility for the outcomes.
Abusing the privileges of leadership. While his troops were struggling in almost unbearable conditions, McClellan lived in near-royal splendor. He spent almost every evening entertaining guests with elaborate dinners and parties. He insisted on the best clothes and accommodations. His lifestyle stood in distinct contrast to General Ulysses S. Grant, his eventual successor, who often traveled with only a toothbrush.
Engaging in acts of insubordination. McClellan openly and continually criticized the President, his boss. He was passive-aggressive. Even when Lincoln gave him a direct order, he found a way to avoid obeying it. In his arrogance, he always knew better than the President and had a ready excuse to rationalize his lack of follow-through.
President Lincoln had the patience of Job. He gave General McClellan numerous opportunities to correct his behavior and redeem himself. But in the end, McClellan either could not or would not do so. He left the President no choice but to relieve him of his duties.
These same character flaws afflict many leaders today. The best safeguard is self-awareness.
By the way, you might want to read this post with your team and then discuss it. Even better, read the book and discuss it.
Question: Do you see any of these flaws in your own leadership? What can you do to correct them now—while you still have time? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
January 30, 2013
#039: The 7 Benefits of Keeping a Journal [Podcast]
In this episode, I talk about the benefits of keeping a journal. I also share my own practice and offer a few tips. Whether you have never journaled, need a little motivation to keep going, or are just curious about what others do, I think you will find this episode helpful.
Click to Listen
Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download
Between blog posts, podcast show prep, courses, speeches, and books, I typically write several thousand words a week. However, I have never been a consistent journaler. I tried. I had friends who swore by it. It just never worked for me, until recently.
On our vacation last summer, my wife, Gail, challenged me to give it another try. I reluctantly agreed and fell in love with it. I have now journaled daily for more than six months.
If I had to sum it up, I would say journaling has afforded me seven benefits.
Process previous events
Clarify my thinking
Understand the context
Notice my feelings
Connect with my heart
Record significant lessons
Ask important questions
When I started journaling, I did it the old fashioned way. I kept my journal in a physical notebook. I happen to use an EcoSystems Journal. However, I am not the best at writing lots of text by hand. The legibility of my writing deteriorates quickly.
On day three of my journaling experience, I stumbled upon a software program called DayOne. This is a beautiful minimalist writing tool that reminds me a lot of ByWord, the program I use to do much of my blog writing.
About a month ago, I started using Evernote for my journaling. Several people had suggested this from the beginning, and I finally saw the wisdom of it. It makes all my journal entries readily available when I search for a topic, making my notes available for blog posts, speeches, books, etc.
Regardless, there are a thousand different ways to keep a journal. Don’t get hung up on the method or the software. The most important thing to do is just to start.
Listener Questions
Aaron Johnson asked, “Some people just can’t seem to journal. Are there other ways people can engage in the process of self-reflection?”
Bud Brown asked, “How do you flag pages in your journal, so you can get back to the important stuff?”
Christopher Scott asked, “How do you catalog or keep track of previous journal entries?”
Lynn Morrissey asked, “Is journaling scriptural or should Christians be wary of it as a New Age practice for self-exploration?”
Jackie Ulmer asked, “Is your journal more of a Cliff Notes summary of the events of your life or is it super-detailed?”
Jason Jones asked, “Is there a benefit to paper journaling?”
Kwin Peterson asked, “For whom do you Journal? Who is the audience you envision?”
Linda Kuhar asked, “When you are journaling, how do you keep yourself from lapsing into performance-mode and writing for an audience?”
Sam Lytle asked, “What are the benefits of keeping a private journal as compared to a public one, like writing a blog or engaging in social media?”
Special Announcements
Platform University is going great! We now have in excess of a thousand members. If you haven’t done so yet, please check it out.
If you are serious about building your platform this year, you couldn’t make a better investment. Each month, we offer four significant content components:
Master Class—This is where I or another expert take you through some key aspect of platform-building. This month, for example, I discuss the importance of starting with wow and how to build that into your platform. We make this available in video and audio, along with a study guide.
Q&A Teleseminar—This is where I host a one-hour live teleconference and answer your specific questions about building a platform. We just had our first Q&A last night. We had hundreds of people on the call, and I got very, very specific in my answers.
Member Critiques—Each month, our members volunteer to have me critique their site. I pick one and tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly. The whole thing is recorded, so that all our members can learn and improve. It is amazing how much you can learn by watching a real live example.
Backstage Pass—This is where I take you behind the scenes and show you exactly how I do something. This month, for example, I give you a tour of my workspace. You’ll see my computer setup, my standing desk, and my podcast equipment. And, I explain the rationale for why I have tried to engineer everything to optimize my productivity.
We still have six tickets left for the Platform Conference, which will be held here in Nashville on February 11–13, 2013—just two weeks away.
My next podcast will be on the topic of “How To Get Out Of That Funk.” I will be talking about coping with the winter blues and how to keep your energy up during this time of year. 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.
Episode Resources
In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
Book: The One Year Bible
Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Conference: The Platform Conference
Journal: EcoSystem Journal
Podcast: “Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual”
Post: “The Difference Between Trying and Doing”
Post: “Why Should I Journal?” by Don Whitney
Software: Evernote
Software: DayOne
Template: My Evernote Journal Template
Website: Easy Journaling
Website: Platform University
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.
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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: Do you journal? If so, what has been the primary benefit? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
#039: The 7 Benefits of Keeping A Journal [Podcast]
In this episode, I talk about the benefits of keeping a journal. I also share my own practice and offer a few tips. Whether you have never journaled, need a little motivation to keep going, or are just curious about what others do, I think you will find this episode helpful.
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Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in browser | Download
Between blog posts, podcast show prep, courses, speeches, and books, I typically write several thousand words a week. However, I have never been a consistent journaler. I tried. I had friends who swore by it. It just never worked for me, until recently.
On our vacation last summer, my wife, Gail, challenged me to give it another try. I reluctantly agreed and fell in love with it. I have now journaled daily for more than six months.
If I had to sum it up, I would say journaling has afforded me seven benefits.
Process previous events
Clarify my thinking
Understand the context
Notice my feelings
Connect with my heart
Record significant lessons
Ask important questions
When I started journaling, I did it the old fashioned way. I kept my journal in a physical notebook. I happen to use an EcoSystems Journal. However, I am not the best at writing lots of text by hand. The legibility of my writing deteriorates quickly.
On day three of my journaling experience, I stumbled upon a software program called DayOne. This is a beautiful minimalist writing tool that reminds me a lot of ByWord, the program I use to do much of my blog writing.
About a month ago, I started using Evernote for my journaling. Several people had suggested this from the beginning, and I finally saw the wisdom of it. It makes all my journal entries readily available when I search for a topic, making my notes available for blog posts, speeches, books, etc.
Regardless, there are a thousand different ways to keep a journal. Don’t get hung up on the method or the software. The most important thing to do is just to start.
Listener Questions
Aaron Johnson asked, “Some people just can’t seem to journal. Are there other ways people can engage in the process of self-reflection?”
Bud Brown asked, “How do you flag pages in your journal, so you can get back to the important stuff?”
Christopher Scott asked, “How do you catalog or keep track of previous journal entries?”
Lynn Morrissey asked, “Is journaling scriptural or should Christians be wary of it as a New Age practice for self-exploration?”
Jackie Ulmer asked, “Is your journal more of a Cliff Notes summary of the events of your life or is it super-detailed?”
Jason Jones asked, “Is there a benefit to paper journaling?”
Kwin Peterson asked, “For whom do you Journal? Who is the audience you envision?”
Linda Kuhar asked, “When you are journaling, how do you keep yourself from lapsing into performance-mode and writing for an audience?”
Sam Lytle asked, “What are the benefits of keeping a private journal as compared to a public one, like writing a blog or engaging in social media?”
Special Announcements
Platform University is going great! We now have in excess of a thousand members. If you haven’t done so yet, please check it out.
If you are serious about building your platform this year, you couldn’t make a better investment. Each month, we offer four significant content components:
Master Class—This is where I or another expert take you through some key aspect of platform-building. This month, for example, I discuss the importance of starting with wow and how to build that into your platform. We make this available in video and audio, along with a study guide.
Q&A Teleseminar—This is where I host a one-hour live teleconference and answer your specific questions about building a platform. We just had our first Q&A last night. We had hundreds of people on the call, and I got very, very specific in my answers.
Member Critiques—Each month, our members volunteer to have me critique their site. I pick one and tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly. The whole thing is recorded, so that all our members can learn and improve. It is amazing how much you can learn by watching a real live example.
Backstage Pass—This is where I take you behind the scenes and show you exactly how I do something. This month, for example, I give you a tour of my workspace. You’ll see my computer setup, my standing desk, and my podcast equipment. And, I explain the rationale for why I have tried to engineer everything to optimize my productivity.
We still have six tickets left for the Platform Conference, which will be held here in Nashville on February 11–13, 2013—just two weeks away.
My next podcast will be on the topic of “How To Get Out Of That Funk.” I will be talking about coping with the winter blues and how to keep your energy up during this time of year. 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.
Episode Resources
In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
Book: The One Year Bible
Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Conference: The Platform Conference
Journal: EcoSystem Journal
Podcast: “Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual”
Post: “The Difference Between Trying and Doing”
Post: “Why Should I Journal?” by Don Whitney
Software: Evernote
Software: DayOne
Template: My Evernote Journal Template
Website: Easy Journaling
Website: Platform University
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: Do you journal? If so, what has been the primary benefit? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
