Linda
This past 6 months has been one challenge after another. Actually mostly several challenges simultaneously. It has been stressful and allowed me the opportunity to practice what I preach.
Some of the challenges, like redoing my website from scratch, were done by necessity after a hack job that left my site corrupted and unusable. Not the kind of challenge I wanted. Other challenges like completing the draft of my book were self imposed and though challenging, were really good to go through.
Then there were the usual challenges of keeping a balance of working on my business and working in my business. I have been developing a franchise system to help other practitioners that has turned into more of a challenge than I expected and is taking a lot longer than I had planned. As much as I would love to pour all my energy and resources into that and really get it going NOW! …I also have clients to see, which I positively love doing and which gives me the motivation and satisfaction to keep going.
As you can imagine along with the usual things like dishes, kids, drippy faucets, unending winter this year, and just life, keeping a sense of balance and calm is a challenge in itself. That is why I wrote a book. It’s for the clients that I don’t have time to see or who don’t have money to see me, but they still need balance and help getting through their challenges. It’s them who drove me to write a book. There are so many people who need some help keeping that balance. People who need to push the reset button and learn the skills to design a lifestyle they love out of the chaos they live in. If you want to find out more, my occasional newsletter brings you tips, news, and products to help you live the life you want.
This past month has been another challenge. I joined the 30 Day Book Marketing Challenge with D’orah because I was well aware that writing a book was the easy part! Just as I tell clients: get informed and educated, find a mentor, and develop a plan. Stress takes over when worry and lack of direction keep you frozen. I knew I needed help and wanted it from someone who had been there. Developing an author platform wasn’t even on my mind when I started the website rebuilding process, but what I learned through D’vorah’s 30 day Challenge has really helped me focus and enrich my website so that it will serve my readers as well as my clients.
No matter what the challenge, break it down, organize it into bite-sized pieces and get at it. I have so many ideas in my head now: Build an author platform, develop the workbook to go with it, do some teleseminars to connect with readers. I think the biggest takeaway for me is just spend 15 mins a day doing it. If I manage the challenge and break it into doable steps to implement regularly I will conquer the challenge. That is what I teach in my book. That is what I do in my practice. That is what this challenge has helped me to organize and incorporate when it comes to writing and promoting my book. Managing stress is all about staying on top of the challenge. Doing this challenge has made becoming an author a lot less stressful. Stress takes over when worry and lack of direction keep you frozen. I knew I needed help and wanted it from someone who had been there. Developing an author platform wasn’t even on my mind when I started the website rebuilding process, but what I learned through D’vorah’s 30 day Challenge has really helped me focus and enrich my website so that it will serve my readers as well as my clients.
Comments 19
Linda, I remember well the constant challenges of trying to be a mom, manage a home, and work at the same time. You sound like you’re not only doing it well, but willing to reach out to others as well! I see your business skyrocketing — just be sure you value what you have to offer enough to get paid what you are worth!
Author
Thank you Peg. I love what I do and am learning to share it in ways that are a fair exchange for the value and energy offered.
Good point, Linda! Stress management and organization are crucial. Thanks for the insight and good luck!
Managing stress is all about staying on top of the challenge. Wise words. Thank you for an insightful post.
Linda, the lessons you learned during the book marketing challenge can be applied to every area of life, “No matter what the challenge, break it down, organize it into bite-sized pieces and get at it.” Thanks for the inspiration and example!
Nicely said Linda! I’m trying to balance my full-time job with all my author “work” along with church, family, etc. It gets overwhelming at times! I like the “bite-sized pieces” idea. All the best to you!
Hello Linda, I can definitely relate to much of your story, the website that became corrupted, things taking longer than expected, and on and on. It was a miracle to be introduced to the BMC and my book in almost complete.
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Have a great day.
Organization definitely can help reduce stress. And finding the perfect balance (if there is such a thing) between home life and work life can be very challenging. Prioritize and one bite at a time. Much success to you.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing. All the stress of raising a young family AND writing a book. Well done, and all the best for building up your author platform!
Linda, The journey during the Challenge mirrors the journey I took after the car accident. I didn’t particularly wish to accept the diagnosis of being disabled. I was forced to learn to take “bite-sized” steps each day. If I chewed off too much I found I would back-slide the following day. It became a daily journey of pushing just a tad harder than the day before so I could start the next day just a little ahead of the day before. If I didn’t push that little bit more, I knew the day was wasted because I would wake up the next morning no further ahead. It was an incredible balancing act. Successes and failures were the rule of the day. I believe in any endeavor we have to follow your advice and pace ourselves by understanding we cannot push past our capabilities…when we do that, we lose the next day. Thank you for reminding me to take it a bit slower than I have been going the past few weeks. I can’t afford to backslide at this point. Please stay in touch and let’s keep learning together! I find my passion is my greatest asset and some days my greatest enemy as I constantly struggle to judge the size of the “Bite” I’m taking out of the day.
Author
Thanks for sharing your storey. The principles aooly to almost everything. Keep going one step at a time.
Hi Linda! You sure are juggling a lot of balls at once. I’m impressed that you managed to re-do your website during the Book Mktg. Challenge. That sounds like a nightmare to me! Think you are wise to break all these tasks down into bite-size pieces. Your work sounds amazing! Wondering if you know Sharon Carne. She’s a Sound Healer based in Calgary. Think you’d really like her.
Author
Hi, I do know Sharon. she is great.
Another way to say it is: Keep It Simple. And love every moment!
Wow. You talk about curve balls. And, you juggled them with calm and maturity. If you have a FBP, I’d love to continue our journey through the marketing challenge. Here’s my link: https://www.facebook.com/S.A.SmithsBookNook;
Hi Linda. I remember liking the East House FB page but didn’t realize it was yours so maybe we are already in contact on FB.
Sharon, I love your take away from The Book Marketing Challenge. I know that the reason I’ve been able to accomplish what I have in my life is because I play at everything regularly. I’m having too much fun to call it work!
I signed up for your newsletter. I would love to exchange guest posts.
Linda, I love your take away from The Book Marketing Challenge. I know that the reason I’ve been able to accomplish what I have in my life is because I play at everything regularly. I’m having too much fun to call it work!
I signed up for your newsletter. I would love to exchange guest posts.
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