While I started off 2011 with good intentions and drive, I have to admit that most of the year didn’t go “as planned”. While I was blessed with a gorgeous baby girl (my 4th kid-let), my own creative execution has been a struggle. To be fair on myself, most of the year was spent with our family making the adjustment to the new addition, along with everyone catching every cold and flu that came our way.
shit happens
Let’s focus now on how to break out of your shell in 2012 and / or explode out of the gate. I have planned lots of things of my own, but let’s pull in some help right now to get your mind thinking about it.
1. Chris Guillebeau has put together ‘The Tower’ : a manifesto on URGENCY and LEGACY to help you focus your precious time on developing what really matters to you. It’s free and will help set you on a path to change your life.
2. Dave Navarro, a long time successfull internet marketer, has put one of his best work’s up for sale this month: “How to launch the **** out of your ebook”.
Yes, ebooks are still popular, and yes they can still be quite successfull for you for getting a bit of money in the door while executing your vision. I’ve bought it myself, along with quite a few other “Dave” products, and it’s good.
Forget the “pie in the sky” type of marketing or advice, Dave brings a grounded plan to help you maximize your success.
3. Absorb as much Seth Godin as possible, if you’re not already doing so.
4. Head over to Chris Garrett’s website and grab his two, high quality, free ebooks. Chris’s material (excellent stuff) will help you figure out how to create better content than you do now, which is needed for nearly every web venture these days. To help you sell your creative products or goods, you have to find and resonate with the audience that will support you. Chris’s materials will help you out here.
5. Increase the activities that will help you, decrease the ones that won’t: Buy your spouse more flowers, talk to him / her more than you do now, spend less time on endless time sinks (of the “Lost” category) and more time with your kids. Instead of filling every moment of your time with social media, try to schedule mental vacations that are havens from technology itself. Trust me. By shifting around some of your perspective (even slightly), you can re-focus on your creative pursuits and goals with renewed energy.
To quote Jean-Claude Van Damme from Hard Target, “Work smarter not harder”.
6. Bonus tip : STOP BEING AFRAID TO ASK FOR MONEY – Most people I know when they first start on the path of selling their goods or services online, are afraid to ask for money. They are in business and trying to survive (maybe even make a tiny bit of profit), but somehow worry that by asking your audience for money your precious readers / audience will vaporize. They won’t.. As long as you take care of your people, as long as you treat every relationship as precious, people will stay and help support you.
Don’t get me wrong here. HARD WORK IS STILL REQUIRED, but focused hard work is more productive and will help you achieve the goals you want to set for 2012.
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