This is a note I sent in an email yesterday. I thought you might enjoy reading my thoughts too...
This morning started off really rough. Which is odd, because I typically LOVE Monday's. Call me crazy, but there's something about a new start on a fresh week... doing the stuff I love!
The "stuff" - my work online - I've been doing for just over 18 years now. It supported a family of six until I got divorced, and it has been my sole source of income as a single parent for the last 15 of those 18 years.
My business also allowed me to put one of those kids in college and the other in business. It's been GOOD...
It helps me to practice a little gratitude, especially when I'm in a crabby mood. 😛 lol. YES, that happens. This morning the fence crew showed up to repair the storm damage ($750), and I had an appointment with my CPA to file my taxes ($15,000 - but actually, that amount was a relief). Etc, Etc, Etc - I could go on and on. My life gets nutty just like everyone's does, and sometimes the expenses really pile up fast.
I've been stressed lately.
Overwhelmed is probably a better word. You know that feeling, I imagine. There's always so much to tend to, take care of, fix, pay for, be here, be there, blah blah blah. I've been running circles around myself for the last few weeks.
This is of course, all on top of dealing with the grief of losing my dear Molly, who passed away suddenly 3 weeks ago tomorrow. She was my great dane baby, just over a year old, and it has been completely devastating.
"Was" - gosh, that's hard to say. 🙁
Life happens. Sometimes I wish it would happen a little less. Or at least slow down some. I'm sure you can relate. "Life" certainly doesn't discriminate, does it? It also doesn't always seem to distribute it's weight fairly sometimes. But hey, that's Life.
I finally reached my breaking point this past week.
I do two things when that happens (because it does) - and I hope this helps YOU when you're in that situation. First, I take the downtime I need, and I take care of ME. You absolutely must do that. Second, I ask myself this question:
"What ONE thing can I do today, if NOTHING else gets done?"
By breaking it down to one single task, worst case scenario, it feels a lot less overwhelming. I even do this on weekends and holidays. I committed myself a long time ago to doing at least ONE task toward growing my business every single day.
Why? Because consistency is the key to success.
In my 18+ years in business, I can look back and see that being both consistent and persistent is exactly what got me where I am today. And I DO have a great life, even when it feels like it's raining bullets. 😉
I travel the world, spend summers on the lake, ENJOY my work, I'm able to foster Rescue Danes and help the people I love, I travel around to see my favorite bands play live... and pretty much have it made.
It's not because I'm smarter than other people, or luckier even. It's not because I've been doing it so long, because things change (dramatically!) online every single year.
It has to do with my business model. And probably some to do with the WAY I run my business. I'm super efficient, guard my time like it's GOLD, start every single day with a Money Task, and I have a personal rule to create more content than I consume.
^ Those tips ARE gold.
I'm not a money-hungry wanna-be millionaire. I simply wanted a good life for my family, and I wanted to ENJOY life. And I achieved that. Which is awesome. We're all very fortunate to live in a time with the technology that makes that SO much easier to achieve.
Back to today...
I was a total spaz this morning. I "shelved" it all though and dealt with one thing at a time - first the repair crew, then the appointment with my CPA.
Every time I thought beyond "right now" I started to spaz again.
Do you ever feel that way? Totally overwhelmed by your task list, responsibilities & obligations, or even just "what the heck am I going to do first, and how?!" - ? Geez. It's exhausting really. After my appointment, I had to just STOP. I pulled over and had lunch on an outdoor patio, with pen & notepad in hand, and mapped out a plan.
This always works for me.
I made a list of all the things buzzing through my mind, then prioritized them in the order they should be done. BAM! I had an action plan.
I immediately felt a huge sense of relief, enjoyed my meal (and shared it on Instagram, lol), then drove home to get straight to work on my list.
You and I are probably not that different. We're human. I get stressed, overwhelmed, drop the ball, get sick, and have been hit sideways with some of Life's best whammy's over the years. 😐 Here's the thing though...
Through it all, I have managed to run a successful online business - and continue growing that business year after year.
I don't just teach Internet Marketing, by the way. That may be what you know me for, and I know a lot of people believe "Internet Marketers" are the only ones making any real money online. That's simply not true.
More than 10 years ago I knew an affiliate marketer making over $10k/month in the telecom niche. That was awesome for way back then! Most people who are super successful online don't even talk about it. < Something to consider. 😉
I'm working in the trenches myself. I have a food/travel blog which is where I spend most of my time. That's how I know what's working and what's not, and where I get the details to share on my blog - like in this case study:
http://www.clicknewz.com/11334/results-social-media-case-study/
I have a Facebook Group in that niche with over 44,000 members (and growing by the hour!), and use a variety of revenue sources to monetize the blog and all of my other assets in that niche.
It's FUN. I really love my work there. 😀
I teach everything I do inside my Private Brainstorming Group and also in the Niche Success Blueprint training modules. NSB is a great step-by-step guide where you basically get to watch over my shoulder and learn how to set up your own successful online business - and get in profit, FAST.
The Niche Success Blueprint works for any online business model, by the way. I'm a super affiliate, so you'll get tons of details on affiliate marketing of course - but I have a wide variety of revenue types, which I also teach in great detail. I think you'll love it if you haven't subscribed already.
I actually write it (and update it) myself, so it's the most current information & training you can possibly get. And from someone (me) that is actually running an online business successfully, not just teaching IM - or rehashing other things they've read, but haven't actually put into practice themselves.
You have to watch out for that. Make it a point to learn from someone that is DOING what you want to achieve yourself.
The course is $199 (or $37/month for 12 months - it walks you through an entire year step-by-step). BUT... it's FREE to members of my Private Brainstorming Group, and right now I have the monthly option open for that - which is rare.
You could sign up for a month at $37, check it out, enroll in the Niche Success Blueprint AND my Social Marketing Results course - and if you decide it's not a good fit for you (the group, the courses, AND my hands-on help with your business) you are welcome to keep both courses if you cancel.
The details are on this page:
http://www.clicknewz.com/hands-on-help/
I'm very particular about the quality of my group, so if it's not a good fit for you and you totally hate the courses (lol), you can cancel anytime. If you need help with that, you can always reach me directly by email.
The rate to join is super low. It's basically just a "qualifier". My goal is to work with awesome people, and spend my time working with the people who really want to make things happen. People like me. 😉
If that's you, let's get started today!!
Note: You can save almost $200 if you're ready to commit to a full year of letting me help you start or grow your business. The "$100 off" option on the annual plan comes to only $21.67/month. You can count on that being a good investment too, because I'm all about "fast profit potential"!
I don't offer refunds on membership due to the hands-on nature of the group, and the value of the courses you can access immediately inside, BUT if you sign up for the annual plan and then decide it's not a good fit for you... I will refund you all but $37 (to cover the first month). If you really want the savings, that will help you make your decision.
If you join us, you'll learn firsthand how to "tackle life" and get on the fast track to taking your own business to maximum profit potential. I hold nothing back inside my group about what it takes, or how to do it.
I'm off to go blog about food now. 😉
I hope to see you inside the group!
Best,
Lynn Terry
ClickNewz.com
p.s. You can also go straight to http://www.clicknewz.com/members/ and register, then upgrade from there to join the Private Brainstorming Group and get access to the training.
Membership includes access to the Brainstorming Hour sessions I host twice a week. If you have any questions, just leave a comment below. I would LOVE to work with you, and help you reach your goals this year! *cheers*
About Lynn Terry
Lots of thoughts about this one…not even sure where to start.
I’ll start with a <3 for Molly.
And a second one for you, Lynn. 😉
I’m trying once again to get start an online business—I’ve been floundering for a very long time. Erratic effort followed by shelving the entire thing for months at a time. There are lots of reasons many related to fear of failure and as part of that, my need to become an expert before I get started. 😀
Your webinars are filled with great tips and your courses break things down into extremely manageable steps. Both are fantastic.
But what I’m finding even more important or at least equally important in a totally different way is seeing how you manage your business, your time, your focus. The “one thing I can do today” seven days a week. Root canal or not. 😉
I know the platitudes like “failure is a step on the ladder of success.” The problem with them is that often they just wash over, they don’t sink in or if they do, they don’t stay.
What does stay is seeing how you manage life’s challenges.
Thank you Lynn.
Thank you, Watson. I really appreciate your kind words. 😀 And lol @ "root canal or not" - true enough, haha. Like everyone else, I would love the opportunity to just knock out one BIG project in one sitting, but waiting for that right time (and enough of it) just puts me back. I learned a long time ago to break it down into micro-tasks and just knock out what I can when I can, one piece at a time. It's how I've built my business, and how I continue moving it forward. 😉
The "fear of failure" and wanting to become an "expert" before you really get started are both very common mindsets. On the first, see: http://www.clicknewz.com/10710/fear-of-failure/ - I love that video because Molly is in it. 😀
The thing about the second... is that the internet is constantly changing. You can't possibly learn everything you need to know before you start, without things changing in the process - so it's a futile effort. You simply have to jump in and learn as you go, change as you go, and just GO period. 😉 You'll learn more by doing anyway. *cheers*
I absolutely love and wholeheartedly agree with what Watson said! Your teachings are most definitely kick butt and I love you for them, but watching you do what you teach, and just plain struggle through life sometimes but keep on going has been very instructive for me. I've said before, many times through the day, I'll "hear you" in my head and it's very, very helpful! 😉
That's truly a high compliment, so thank you both! It's especially appreciated this week, as I'm really "struggling & juggling" - and sometimes I worry my writings are disjointed (and maybe they are! haha) or that the point won't prove helpful. Your feedback is kind, and very helpful!
It's often tempting to pull back and keep to yourself when things are going just peachy, but I think there is much to be learned from "reality" - and how to grind through the not-so-peachy moments. Though I'll be happy enough when things get back to peachy. 😉 lol. *cheers*
Thanks. I needed that this week. I have sticky notes all over the edges of my computer. Lists keep me grounded, too, but this week is beyond crazy. Last week, I had a crying jag, which helped and, as a result, good friends helped me figure out some new approaches for my business, which I will try. I do keep going, but some days, it's just HARD.
I'm so glad it was helpful, Mam! Your week sounds like mine. 😛 Ugh. Here's to better, easier, more productive weeks ahead. 😉 *cheers*
Hey Lynn,
I have another quote that you can comment on:
You only fail only when you stop trying.
*Cheers*
True, Pavlos - always keep on keeping on.
Wow, I thought you were talking to only me!☺
Very nice reminders, I'll be digging that gold you mentioned.
after all, it's all right there... In front of me.
Better still, is the stuff about NOT needing to be a hypey millionaire. Nothing wrong with millionaires, of course, but the image of the Ferrari dude is so tiring.
Funny how women don't really do that?
I think there's a female gender equivalent for the Ferrari IM dude, I'm just not sure what it looks like.
it's a bit more subtle.
It's an interesting thing, Jason - yes it's "hypey" and I agree it's tiresome. Our opinions aside, it actually appeals to many people, or a certain demographic... otherwise it wouldn't be done, hey? 😉
I really love my life. Simple, easy, FUN (that's the key!). I prefer to travel and spend my life (and/or money) on people, places & experiences - and of course Great Danes. 😀 I do love being involved in the Dane Rescue. Everyone has their thing I suppose. : ) *cheers*
I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy...such devastating news for any pet owner.
I lost my cat...the first pet I had ever owned...last fall and I'm still sad over him. He was with us for 14 years, and it's strange not to have him around.
Hope you're feeling better soon!
Thank you Erin. I miss her sorely - and appreciate your kind words. How very sad about your cat, too. The loss is so very real. *hugs*