Tip for today…
I used to joke about this person I know being a “professional student”. The poor guy was in school on and off all the way into his 40′s, but never really had a solid career.
Me, on the other hand, I didn’t even finish high school – much less go to college or have any further education – and have been in business (successfully) for more than 12 years now…
I’m not suggesting that education or training is unnecessary. In fact, I had every intention of going to college after high school, and still threaten to attend a few classes at the local college from time to time.
That guy I mentioned is smarter than me by a long shot, by the way. Smarter meaning I wouldn’t stand a change against him in a debate on many topics. About the only thing that could make him squirm would be an income comparison.
Before you get the idea that I’m gloating, or making an attempt to devalue education, let me be clear: I’m not.
It’s just what popped into my mind this morning while I was sitting here trying to decide what to write. I’ve been staring at this blank screen on and off for days… and pretty much kicking myself for it every minute.
You see, I’ve been in a dry spell with my writing since sometime in January. I’ve been struggling with content development for weeks on end now…
I know better than to find myself in this situation. There’s no excuse for it really. Between WordPress and Aweber, there are plenty of options to keep the content flowing across my sites and through my lists – even when I don’t feel particularly inspired to write.
It’s called preparation. Forethought. Having a consistent publishing schedule. Having content pre-written and already in queue for times like this. I have all of the tools to make that happen right at my fingertips – including PLR & outsourcing & post-dating.
I’m more the type to fly by the seat of my pants. Go with it. Do first, fix later. And you could easily say that is what got me where I am today. It’s also what tends to get me in a pickle from time to time.
Compare that to the person who is afraid to do anything without having every little piece into place first, to the point of never getting anything accomplished at all.
Ideally, some combination of both would be the winning model. Knowledge and action combined is a sure recipe for success. But action seems to be the key – whether you learn and then do, or learn by doing.
Internet Marketing is a constant learning process anyway. You’re never going to know it all, and the only way you’re going to learn anything for sure is by doing.
Take some action today. Even if it’s wrong and you have to fix it later. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s a really bad blog post that gets you over the hump of a dry writing spell. Just take action.
Best,
p.s. Tip of the day: When you’re on a really good roll and pumping out great content, write just a little bit extra so you can put it away for a rainy day. Make use of autoresponders, wordpress features, outsourcing, repurposing… and all of the other tools & options you have right at your fingertips. Consistency & frequency are important.
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“Every behavior you participate in will have a consequence.” — Brian Tracy
Lynn-
This is what I enjoy most about you…your real. It’s great that you share all aspects of your business, the successes and the struggles that you go through.
Thank you for that. Great tip and taking action is essential too.
Tina
Follow me @Tina_Williams on Twitter.
I love how honest you are Lynn! It is so helpful to us newbies knowing that the people we look up to often experience the same thing. Great tip of the day!
Follow me @MrsIngie on Twitter.
Lynn
Love the opening story…
One of my ALL TIME favorite quotes by Jim Rohn is…
“Public education will make you a living,self education will make you rich”.
That quote changed my life about 8 years ago when I saw it on someone’s profile.
Dave
Ironically, Yaro Starak sent out a link to this older blog post again this week – yesterday in fact, the same day I wrote this post here on ClickNewz:
http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/891/how-to-remain-productive-when-you-feel-like-giving-up/
Definitely a good “next click” – it’s a great read.
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
You and me both, Lynny. I just use post-dating on my WordPress blog last week for the first time.
I’m always thinking of getting a bunch of posts pre-written and ready to go. My current technique consists of being scared to death of NOT posting something, now that I’ve said I will each weekday.
Gotta stay honest!
And for anyone feeling stuck about what else you can do with your plain ol’ articles, swing on by and check out my latest series on repurposing article content. You would not beliiiiieve some of this stuff!!
Dan
Follow me @DanReinhold on Twitter.
We can just hope that there are more like Lynn.
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Hey Lynn,
You said:
“Compare that to the person who is afraid to do anything without having every little piece into place first, to the point of never getting anything accomplished at all.”
Uhhh— that’s me! Raising my hand for that one. I have been learning this past year (by listening to you) to Just Do It!
Well that’s what I’ve been doing this last month. I’ve just been doing it.
The feeling of actually getting things done is fantastic.
The other day I just couldn’t get a word out of my brain- my gray matter was paralyzed.
So I thought – you know what? I can at least optimize some images that I have and publish the images.
That’s what I did. I just published the images and when my brain was “back to normal” I went back and wrote the post.
So this one piece of advice is great- to just do it.
Blessings,
Eren Mckay
Follow me @erenmckay on Twitter.
Lynn,
Great advice. Thank you for sharing!
Blessings to you,
Hollye Clardy
What I love about you, Lynn is that even during a “dry spell†you turn out great stuff. It’s a wonder you’ve had much time at all for writing the last two months with all the meetings and seminars you’ve participated in. The blog medium has great potential, but it can be like having another mouth to feed. Slump or not, you continue to impress. I recently tweeted your link to sharp Silicon Valley-type Melody McCloskey (close friend of Kevin Rose). She DM-ed thanks and said she was very impressed with the energy you showed in your blog. As far as I’m concerned, the body of work in this site already offers enough value to justify your reputation for years. Relax, kid!
Follow me @wade_watson on Twitter.
Hi Lynn,
I’ve been wondering where you were. I figured you must have been all to busy working on other projects. I find the thing to do is to just write about anything in the brain dead mode. Just doing that seems to wake up the imagination and the ideas start to flow again.
Follow me @GlenysPower on Twitter.
Nicely put Lynn. I like the idea of having articles/posts already written for a rainy day…:) I too have been “suffering” from not knowing what to write on my From Small Beginnings site, but I decided rather than seeing no posts for a few months, I would just do something instead of nothing. So far it’s working…:) Thanks for your inspirations and being here for us all.
Lyle
Thank you all – your comments are very much appreciated
You’re right, I have been super busy lately, so it’s no wonder my inspiration was a bit tapped out.
There’s a big difference in not knowing what to write, and not having the inspiration or the energy to write. Content development takes a combination of both. I have drafts coming out my ears – dozens of topics & posts I started but just couldnt seem to finish over the last few weeks. I really appreciate your patience with the dry spell!
If you ever need a little kick start yourself, you’ll want to make sure you’re on my list at http://www.EasyUniqueContent.com Now that I’m back on a roll, you can expect some great tips there in the very near future
Thanks again, you guys rock!
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Hi Lynn,
It looks like you are over the dry spell. Good tip. I was or am that guy in my 40′s and taking action and speed of implementation are something I’ve just learned to embrace. Knowledge is useless without action and action is necessary to gain knowledge sometimes. I wish I had embraced that concept in my 20′s. However, thankful now know. Thanks for reminder too.
Follow me @https://twitter.com/#!/InsuranceTeam on Twitter.
Gee That was scary Lynn
Reading that is like looking in the mirror that 40 yr old person I could relate to him for sure.
But I’m improving as I go though it feels like everyday I’m making mistakes or I’m really slow at doing certain things.
Having said that AAG has really helped me Improve my out put.
I did write a really mad couple of thoughts about the blank screen syndrome in the forum a while ago.
I like (Do First Fix Later) My favourite bit.
Thanks Lynn
Warm Regards Ian UK
“Public education will make you a living,self education will make you richâ€.
I love reading about people who have become successful without college. It seems as if I’m constantly putting college and success in the same box, when clearly there is no box to begin with. I didn’t go to college either or finish high school for that matter. Formal education is a good thing and can be an aid to success, but it sure is awesome that its not required. I’ll probably get a degree sometime in the next decade, but I’d rather make money and find success on my own terms first.
)
- Scott
This is a great post!
“Take some action today. Even if it’s wrong and you have to fix it later. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s a really bad blog post that gets you over the hump of a dry writing spell. Just take action.”
True enough internet marketing, is learning by doing. It really is a step by step process wherein you have to be sure with the things that you do. You can’t expect success when you never try to do something for a change.
Great tips for those planning to venture into internet businesses and even for people who are simply slipping away from their careers even as a student or employee.