I just wanted to take a minute and let the Tumblemoose clan know that I wrote a guest post for Mary Anne over at I Profit on Purpose. Here is the link.
I have to say I was a teensy bit intimidated given the outstanding post she put together for TM earlier this week.
The post is now live, and I’d appreciate folks having a look, because mary Anne has got some good stuff going on over there.
Cheers!
George
One of George’s recent posts provided a comprehensive list of potentially serious health hazards for writers. If you’re not giving good health top billing on your business-building “program,” go read his post right now!
In the spirit of that important article, I developed another list of hazards you need to avoid.
These hazards put your health at risk, too, but in a more subtle, insidious way than the items on George’s list.
And they can keep you from experiencing the wealth and happiness you’re seeking from your writing business:
1. WARNING: You’re not passionate about the subject matter of your projects.
What price are you paying to take on writing projects that don’t interest, move or excite you?
Taking on a broader range of topics and projects has its merits in the very early stages of your writing career.
But if you’ve been in business for more than six months and you’re still using this approach, it’ll be next to impossible for you to achieve the long-term success you desire.
If you don’t narrow your project topics to those you’re passionate about or at least interested in, how can you possibly do your best work for the client?
When you routinely take on assignments in which you have no emotional “investment,” you’re at high risk for professional burn out.
Become selective of the subject matter you write about. Project topics should fuel your interests and passions.
When your passions are ignited, imagination and creativity sparks fly.
And your physical, mental and emotional energy increase exponentially.
2. WARNING: You haven’t taken time to figure out what you are passionate about.
Do you know what stirs you at a soul level? And if you do, is your writing business built around that?
Unless you’ve devoted time, energy and conscious effort to uncovering your passions, chances are you’re off-target.
Most people assume they know what their true passions are. And you do… at a deep, subconscious level.
But your conscious mind is typically immersed in the so-called “logic” of conventional wisdom.
In other words, most of us are doing the things we’ve been taught we “have” to do to succeed-instead of doing the things that would actually help us succeed.
If you have no idea at all, or you’re the least bit uncertain about your passions, it’s critical that you identify them. Your long-term success and happiness depend upon it.
Don’t live another day of your life without knowing! This free guide will help you get started.
3. WARNING: You’re sacrificing all the wrong things on your path to success.
Are you running and trying to build your writing business with the belief that in order to succeed, you have to make certain undesirable trade-offs?
Most of us were taught to believe we have to sacrifice time for play and relaxation, quality or quantity of family time, a social life and some of life’s little “luxuries” in order to create a successful business.
This seriously-flawed thinking is also a byproduct of misguided conventional “wisdom.”
Some sacrifices do need to be made… but not the kind you’ve been led to believe.
You do need to let go of any thoughts, actions and behaviors that undermine your mental, physical and emotional well-being…
Things like smoking, extended periods of isolation, an unhealthy diet, an inconsistent-or non-existent-exercise routine, toxic relationships, or postponing the pleasures of living until after you’ve succeeded… instead of reveling in them NOW.
Most importantly, you must eliminate any mindsets and beliefs that you’re somehow undeserving or incapable of attaining everything you want.
These are the kind of trade-offs you must be willing to make if you intend to create a profitable, sustainable writing business that you love.
Are you willing?
4. WARNING: Your work space doesn’t bring you joy or inspire creativity.
How can you be at your creative or productive best if your work environment isn’t organized, attractive and carefully appointed with items that have special meaning for you?
Even if you’re living on a shoestring budget at the moment, this isn’t the place to skimp!
Create a space that’s visually and emotionally appealing to you and conducive to writing success-an office that’s clean, comfortable and orderly with personal effects that inspire and uplift you.
5. WARNING: You’re accepting clients as opposed to selecting them.
Do you say “yes” to every client who comes knocking on your virtual door?
This is one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs and small businesses make. Conventional wisdom has taught us that “any” client is better than “no” client.
Choosing the right clients is no different than choosing the right spouse or partner.
How can you build successful relationships (read: enjoyable and profitable for the long-term) if you haven’t clearly defined and developed a detailed profile of your ideal client?
Make a list of all the personal, professional and financial characteristics of the type of client you most want to work with. Then use it to carefully screen all of your prospects.
6. WARNING: You haven’t identified the big “why” behind your writing business.
The happiest, healthiest and wealthiest entrepreneurs throughout history are those who used their businesses to serve the highest good of all… not just themselves.
What’s the big “why” of your life? Why are you on this planet?
How can you use your unique gifts and talents to improve the lives of many, including your own?
There is no greater personal reward than living your life “on purpose.” And there’s no better vehicle than your business for helping you accomplish that.
7. WARNING: You haven’t developed a distinct personal brand.
How will prospects find you in today’s crowded marketplace? And if they do, why should they do business with you instead of another writer who offers the same or similar services?
When your business is built around your unique gifts, strengths, perspectives, passions and purpose, you make it very easy for prospects to find and want to do business with you.
And when your business is built around your uniqueness, competition doesn’t exist.
A successful writing business is one that is custom-tailored to and enhances the life experience of the unique individual behind it.
Design and develop a business that excites and inspires you… one that allows you to fully engage and express the authentic, “whole” you.
This is the fastest, most fulfilling and most practical means of achieving long-term health, wealth and happiness.
About the author: Mary Anne Fisher is the founder of
i Profit On Purpose and author of What Everybody Ought to Know About Making Money Online. Get more from Mary Anne on Twitter.
It’s been a fairly active week around these parts and I thought I’d take a TM post and tidy up a few housekeeping things:
Thanks for indulging a bit of houseowrk here at TM. I hope you like the changes, and of course feedback is always ignored welcome!
As you were. Carry on.
With thanks to Demian Farnworth over at CopyBlogger. In his post today, he had the most profound statement of internet usage I’ve ever heard: “They go there to drive 60 miles per hour—and look at billboards.” Now you tell me if that’s not the most accurate description you’ve ever heard.
So in the interest of not causing an accident on the information superhighway, I’ll keep my billboard very succinct today.
A little off topic, but cathartic no less.
A had to attend a 3 hour training session yesterday. I was soon reminded why I dread these things.
Here’s why:
I need a little feedback, folks. What kind of topics do you want to see here. Remember TM is here to inspire all of you aspiring writers out there. Let’s hear it!
This is the first post in a series of How to build a perfect book proposalUh-oh. What is that crazy Tumblemoose guy up to now? He’s puttin’ stuff backwards again.
I guess I can’t blame you for being a bit gun-shy. I know I’ve got a habit of turning things upside down in order to fit into my own warped little world.
Let me clarify a couple of things. First, the title is accurate. Second, I’m referring primarily to your nonfiction book here, but some of the gems may apply to the Great American Novel you are currently penning.
Getting a nonfiction book published requires a little different mindset than getting your novel published. If you have a great idea for a nonfiction book, you can actually sell it before it is written. Now, that does not mean that you can sell it without having to write down a single word. It means that you can put together a chapter or two along with some other basic material and shop it to agents or publishers.
It’s important to realize that you still have a great deal of work to do. This is not a short cut to easy riches. What it will do is perhaps save you months of labor writing a book that you think is awesome, but the rest of the world thinks is stinky. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Part II of this series will include a look at the components of a smart book proposal.
