“I love your work…”

“Wow, your life is so perfect…”

“You changed my life…”

Sounds great, right? All that praise and approval?

Isn’t that just what you’ve always wanted?

So why do you have a horrible, sinking feeling in your stomach?

There are quite a few unexpected thoughts and feelings that can arise when you begin to be a successful public person:

• “I’m a fraud.”
• “Everyone thinks my life is perfect and it is SO not perfect – I feel awful.”
• “Why is being so popular so exhausting?”

Don’t worry – you’re not crazy. You’re just dealing with a very wonderful problem.

Here’s the link to the blog post I created about this topic for the wonderful people over at CreateHype.com:

http://createhype.com/why-it%E2%80%99s-so-awful-when-everyone-thinks-you%E2%80%99re-so-wonderful/

And here’s the free audio event I recorded about this topic:

I’d love to hear your thoughts….

{ 2 comments }

As Things Begin, So They Go…

It is my experience that when a project or relationship begins with missed communication, confusion and weirdness, it almost never gets better. Keep a weather eye out for the Flakes, Bananas and Flim-Flam Artists and when you smell something sour, GET OUT.

(Be gracious, of course, but GET OUT.)

On the other hand, if things start out all groovy, flowing, fun and easy – don’t wait for more evidence. Seal the deal.

Our first impressions are not always spot-on, but you may have noticed that they’re a lot more reliable than our “logical” I’m-doing-this-because-it-makes-sense-despite-my-niggling-reservations-about-it decisions, yes?

Here’s to trusting your instincts today!

{ 2 comments }

Here’s what they want: THEY WANT YOU TO TALK TO THEM.

I’m teaching a free webinar on easy systems to follow-up with clients and customers (and turn them into raving fans) and I think you’re going to love it —

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/449436145

NOTE: We’re going to try and record it, but I know there’s been some issues with the system lately, so it’s best if you can be there live…

This webinar is for you if:

1) You’re not sure how to even get customers…(it’s OK to admit it…)

2) You have customers, but you’re not very good about following up with them….after all, you don’t want to be a bother…

3) You’re ready to turn your customers into RAVING FANS who happily refer to you all of their friends…

BTW, did you know that a person who has been recommended by a friend is 70% more likely to purchase from you? That’s the kind of statistic that could really make a difference in your bank account, yes?

You MUST create a fun, easy-to-use system for following up with clients and potential customers – that is the lifeblood of any good business, and Brian and I are here to show you exactly how to do it.

And there will be none of that annoying “we’ll tell you what and why but you have to buy some expensive training to learn how…” b.s. – we will actually tell you HOW.

We’re not selling anything on this webinar – this is pure content.

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/449436145

Learn the 3 keys to consistently following up with your leads, prospects, and clients. In this webinar, we’ll discuss the stages of a typical buying process, and how to ensure that a single lead/client/advocate never falls through the cracks.

Title: 3 Keys to Consistent Follow Up… Getting MORE out of LESS
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Time: 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

You may also listen in via phone.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

I want to hear your questions, comments and thoughts on this – so show up and let’s have some FUN!

PS There are a lot of webinars out there, I know. I think I can pretty much guarantee that this one will be well worth your time. Check it out and let me know! Claim your FREE seat here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/449436145

This is the practical, how-to-do-it advice you’ve been looking for.

Be there.
- SSB.

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The Question

Hi Sam,

Wow, as of last week I have discovered ‘The Organized Artist Company’ and am so grateful for your work! I find you so filled with encouragement and grace. THANK YOU!

I am a freelance Designer/Animator based in NYC, creating on-air branding for television networks. As of a year and a half ago, I founded a nonprofit organization called ALEGRIA: Hope through Art, a nonprofit organization invested in empowering children living in orphanage communities through creativity. Now, in the midst of these commitments, I feel like I’m barely treading water.

My question is: How do you know if you’ve taken on too much?
How do you know when to delegate, how to delegate, or when to just slow down your goals?

I just purchased the digital Get It Done Home Study Kit, so if there’s a blog post or seminar that you’ve spoken about this, feel free to point me there.

Very best to you!
Shay

ALEGRIA: Hope through Art
Join us. Unese con nosotros.
Connect with us. www.facebook.com/wearealegria
Follow us. www.twitter.com/wearealegria
Give today. www.wearealegria.org/give

The Answer

Dear Shay – aren’t you WONDERFUL!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

First of all – hooray for you and all your good work.  I know it’s a big slog, but you are doing God’s Own Work and I’m proud to know you.

Secondly – your question is genius.

In some ways, it is the ULTIMATE question for the independent artist, not to mention all the teachers, parents, volunteers, do-gooders and civic-minded citizens of the world.

Let me see if I can answer your question a few different ways:

Answer #1: How do you know if you’ve taken on too much?  Check with someone else.
Seriously.  You will ALWAYS feel as though you are not doing enough, because you always have The List clamoring inside your head.

And The List doesn’t care what’s already been done; The List only cares about what’s still left undone.  This is part of our hunter-gatherer mind.

We are always on to the next thing and we often fail to notice that 1) we’ve already accomplished a lot today and 2) we’re exhausted.

It’s time for a Reality Check.

Find someone else you admire – someone you think of as being a good, dedicated person, and ask them for their opinion about your current roster of projects.  If they raise their eyebrows in surprised concern, you might want to think about cutting back.

That person might also have some helpful tips on how to keep all your balls in the air without losing your marbles.

Answer #2: Check with yourself
Sometimes your body knows best.  Get quiet and let your schedule question float in the air – how does your body respond?  Clenching, anger and feelings of exhaustion are a good sign that it’s time to cut back.

Answer #3: Check your Balance.
Sometimes people talk about creating “balance” in their lives as though life were a pie chart.  You know: equal amounts of time for exercise, spiritual development, friends, family, work, art…

I say: Hooey.

As creative people, our lives ebb and flow and tilt and whirl.  Our schedule changes, our income fluctuates and sometimes we are completely consumed by a project while other times it appears we are almost inert.  (I call that “letting the field lay fallow.”)

So for us, Balance is not question of time-dispersement.  Balance is a question of input/output.  When you put a lot into your project, are you getting a lot back?  When you put in a nickel do you get back a gumball?  And the gumball can be anything: money, clients, a happy feeling, new learning, fun…

And this is where volunteer/not-for-profit activities can get tricky.  Because they ALWAYS need more.  501-c3s are, by definition, an endless gaping maw of need.  They will take as much as you have to give and still need more.  They will never say, “OK, thank you – you’ve given enough time and money now.  Please go take a rest.”

So it is up to you to set limits on what you can give and still feel like you’re getting the better end of the deal.  You must keep yourself fueled and aflame.  You need to keep an eye on the Balance of what you are giving (time, money, expertise) and what you are getting (good feelings, community, connections, prestige).

Here are my tips:

- Be damn strict with yourself.  You are innately generous and you need to hold that impulse in check so you don’t give away the store, OK?
- Put the oxygen mask over your own nose and mouth first.  You can’t help anybody if you’re all burnt out.
- Do the work that only YOU can do.  The work that anyone can do – like setting up the chairs for the concert or calling the people about the bake sale – let someone else do.

Answer #4: Delegate The Right Stuff
There is work that you do cheerfully and there is work that upsets you.  Guess which one you should delegate?

I’ve started to keep a list of tasks that make me feel “ugh” when I think of them.  Those are the ones I delegate to my virtual assistant.

On the other hand, there is work that might seem tedious to some that I LOVE to do – that’s the stuff I offer up to others as a service.

So the short version is something like: The work that feels like play to you?  Offer that as a service and feel free to charge a bundle because you are bringing so much love to the work you are a value-added proposition from the get-go.  The work that feels like work to you?  Find someone else for whom it feels like play and overpay them.

This is what we call a win-win-win situation.  Cultivate those.

PS. You don’t get any extra credit for doing work you hate, so find another solution, you Creative Genius, you!

Answer #5: Break time!
In my experience, the only time people wonder if they’re over-scheduled is when they’re already over-scheduled.

And for a lot of us workhorses out there, our “exhaust-o-meter” doesn’t work.  We just keep going. Until we collapse.

So you MUST build in systems to support you:

- Draw a big red line through at least one day per week on your calendar and take that day for yourself alone
- Schedule in daily quiet-time, naps and daydreaming time – even 15 minutes can make a big difference (and for heaven’s sake, turn off your phone during those times)
- Take at least two consecutive days off per month
- Make your “time off” inviolate – do not make any exceptions.  Put an auto-responder on your email if you must, but stay off the computer.
- Check your life for sustainability: do you have enough money coming in?  are you getting enough sleep?  are your eating habits good?  If you are a broken doll, you won’t have anything to offer anyone, so make sure your life both sustains and supports you.

Please let me know how you enjoy the Get It Done Home Study Kit -

Yours,
Sam.

The Free Audio Recording

This question inspired me so much that I did a free call about it, sponsored by the good people at MaestroConference.

Here it is for you to listen or download and enjoy!  Tell your friends!

{ 0 comments }

The Question…

Dear Sam,

I am enjoying your Get-It-Done Toolkit very much! I just love
listening to you talk and love your upbeat, encouraging, yet gentle
tone.

It is great to hear that I can do it “my way,” and this has given me
the freedom to accept that I kind of hurl myself somewhat haphazardly
into things. There IS a “poor planning” jeopardy in this approach,
though.

Here is a question…my first project is to clear out the “extra” room
that has turned into a catchall closet for everything/who knows what.
I made a great start on it, including wrestling an old bookshelf out
the door and into the garage on my own. (whoopee!) After the initial
steps, I have arrived at the STUCK moment, where I look at things and
just have no idea what to do with them, where to put them.

Today I reached that space; usually this would result in my turning
away from the project to “deal with it later,” since I didn’t know how
to proceed.

Well, I chose to spend 15 minutes in the room anyway, and
opened the window to let the sun in (mimicking a joyful experience
from the past). I used the 15 minutes to make a list of all the
piles in the room and anything else I could think of. I moved a few
minor items. So I did accomplish my 15 minutes.

Still, however, I feel stuck and do not know how to proceed with any
level of productivity. I am wondering what advice you might have for
this stage. I am sure others go through it!

Thank you very much for your excellent course. I look forward to
listening to more of your talks and to absorbing your great energy!

Warmly,
Donna, California

Sam’s Answer…

YAY! WHOOT! WHOOT!

Hooray for you, Donna!

I am sitting here just beaming at your wonderful accomplishments so far. Really good work. And it thrills me to bits to know that the GID Kit is working so well for you.

Here are a few suggestions for you for your “room” project:

1) Decide what you’d like that room to be. A craft room? A writing room? Prayer center? Workout room? Once your room has a defined purpose, it becomes easier to figure out what needs to stay and what needs to go.

2) Next, think of three words that you would like to be able to use to describe this room. Maybe it’s something like “Clear, Open and Peaceful” or “Warm, Cheerful and Clean.” Then write those three words on to a little sign and post it where you can see it. Anytime you are in debate about an item, ask yourself if it supports or contradicts those words.

3) Keep setting your 15 minute timer and working in short bursts. Go longer if you are so moved, of course, but give yourself permission to quit after you’ve done 15 minutes a day.

4) Call a friend – a real, loving, trusted friend – to come and sit with you for an hour or two as you work on the room. They don’t have to do anything; they can just sit in a chair and have a cup of tea. The idea behind this is twofold: 1) it’s great just to have some company and someone to talk things through with a little bit and 2) sometimes just knowing that someone’s coming over will prompt you to make some big strides before they arrive.

5) Don’t forget to reward yourself! Every time you make some good progress I want you to give yourself a treat – whether you go for a nice walk or take a yummy afternoon nap or buy a new book or a fancy cup of coffee – it doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive – maybe pick something your Inner Nine-Year Old would like. (I find that when my Inner Nine-Year Old is happy I get a lot more done

Please let me know how this goes for you, OK?

And again let me say: YAY!!

Yours,
Sam.

The Results…

Thank you so much, Sam.

How cool is it that you send a personal reply and so quickly!

Just to let you know, I have continued to move forward, even in the
face of the stuckness, and have made headway. My 15 minutes has
turned into 45 minutes for two days.

I am realizing that I can use this first project as a template for any
project I wish to undertake.

I love the 3 word idea especially, and I am going to try that.

Thank you again.

Warm regards and blessings,
Donna

{ 2 comments }

OK – enough theory.

Let’s experiment and see if we can’t make a little money.

7 Easy Steps To Making A Profit – Today!

Here is a step-by-step process that you can try – feel free to adjust it to your own taste, standards and project.

You might do this all in one day (really – you could do this all in one day!) or you might choose to spread it out over a few days.

And if you elect to NOT try this (which is totally fine, of course) I still want you thinking about what you might do if you were to try it. Deal? Deal.

Step One: Pick A Product

Think of something you have already created that you think would benefit people. Maybe it’s a story or a song, maybe it’s a product, maybe it’s a pdf or an audio recording of a class.

If you’re not sure, ask someone who’s familiar with your work – sometimes others will remember things we don’t. Like, “Oh, you should sell that talk you give on how to organize your desk – that’s great stuff!” or, “What about those t-shirts you designed on Zazzle.com?” (And here you had forgotten all about those t-shirts….)

By the way, Zazzle.com and CafePress.com are two websites that allow you to design and sell a product without ever having to pay set-up costs or buy inventory. You set your own royalty, and they can “host” your “shop.” It’s pretty fun. You can check out Sam’s admittedly poorly designed page (now that’s getting a “C” in action!) here for inspiration: http://theorganizedartistcompany.com/products-gifts/

For virtual or digital products, you can host them on your own website, of course, but you can also build super-quick sites using Seth Godin’s Squidoo.com or on Weebly.com. You don’t even have to have a domain name to build a easy-peasey site on Weebly!

And if you’re wondering how to create a recording, it’s easy with FreeConferenceCalling.com – and it’s also, um, free.

If you don’t already have something you can repurpose, then just imagine you, 10 years ago. What information (related to your project) do you dearly wish you had had? What insights would have been helpful to you?

So for example, Steve might say, “Three things you need to know about becoming a TV writer in LA” or Sam might say, “How to price your product… and what to do about refunds.”

Great.

Write your Product Name down here:

____________________________________________________________

Step Two: Get Ready For Debut

If your product is all ready to go, then great! You can skip this step.

If your Product is almost ready, then complete whatever’s necessary to get a “beta” version out the door. Spend less than an hour on this. Turn the Word doc into a PDF, add a graphic element, edit out the boring introduction – whatever. And really – set the bar low. No, lower. Seriously…lower it some more. OK, that’s good.

Step Three: Prepare to Profit

Set your price about a third higher than you think it should be. If you need to, do 10 minutes (only!) of research on how other, similar products are priced.

Step Four: Delivery

1) Get a proper email address. If you don’t already have a “business” email address, set one up via your website – most website hosting services offer nearly unlimited email addresses. If that doesn’t work for you, then set up a Gmail account with a professional name like “yourbusinessnamehere@gmail.com.”

Do NOT use your personal address or any “sbcglobal,” “yahoo” or, heaven forfend, an “aol” address. We’re going bare-bones, but we don’t want to look like amateurs, OK?

2) Set up a way to receive payment. Paypal is fine. Google Checkout is also fine. Amazon Payments can also work great. Pick whichever one you vibe with. Again – do not spend more than 15 minutes making this decision.

3) Figure out delivery. How is your product delivered? Do you send out an email — and if so, can you use an auto-responder? Do you have to mail it? Or maybe it’s a digital product that just lives on web page somewhere and you just have to communicate the address of the page?

Step Five: Get It Out Of The House!

Now write a brief, simple email to your people explaining that you have just released this fabulous new recording/pdf/ebook/t-shirt/workbook/video/whatever and you can’t wait for them to enjoy these benefits from it:

Benefit #1: ______________________________________

Benefit #2: _______________________________________

Benefit #3: _______________________________________

And -

- that it’s available right now at a special pre-launch price of $XX – but that next week that price will double so they should hop on board right now. (Even if you’re only charging 99 cents, please charge something as that’s an important part of the point of this exercise.)

- that they should “click here” to purchase right now!

Step Six: Press “Send”

This is far and away the scariest thing you’ve done in a long time, I bet. The thought of pressing “send” will bring on dizzy spells, upset stomachs, the urgent need to reorganize one’s sock drawer…

I know how hard this is and I’m with you every step of the way.

Once you’ve sent, please let me know how it went for you and what your results were – and if you’d like post your product link in the comments here, I’m all for it. (No affiliate fees necessary ; )

Step Seven: Celebrate!

Do whatever feels right to celebrate your amazing accomplishment.

Take a walk in the sunshine, buy yourself a treat, lay down and read a book, go see a movie…

Whatever you do, do NOT sit at your computer waiting to see how many people buy. That’s poison. Go enjoy yourself for a few hours and then check, OK?

That’s it.

Congratulations, you’ve just launched a product.

Damn, you’re good.

* Created for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program led by me and Steve Harper, June 2011

{ 4 comments }

The 10 Essential Steps to Get Your Work Out There article is just below this, but first…

I want you to make a decision.

Please take a minute to review our Get Your Work Out There VIP Program — Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?

Is it your time?

Are you ready to go from feeling stuck, worried, overwhelmed, unclear, frustrated, struggling and uninspired…

To feeling focused, enthusiastic, creative, wise, joyful, intuitive and FUN?

Then apply for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program NOW.  We still have a few seats available, and if you’ve been considering/ruminating/toying with the idea then I invite you to fill out the application and see what happens.  Could be magic. You are invited to join us for a one-of-a-kind experience designed to maximize your unique skills and talents to Get Your Work Out There!

Here’s The Gut-Check: Fourteen Ways To Know If The Get Your Work Out There VIP Program Is Right For You

• You know that getting your project out into the world will really benefit you
• You have a big vision and no idea where to start
• You’re ready to quit playing small (no more putting on plays in the backyard)
• You know that with a little extra focus, encouragement and support, you can whip your project into shape
• You’re thisclose already
• Your intuition is tugging on your sleeve, saying, “Try this!”
• You can see yourself, eight weeks from now, saying, “Wow! I did it!”
• You are ready to invest in yourself (for a change…)
• You sense that the moment is now – it’s the perfect time for the world to receive the special gifts you have to offer
• You are willing to say, “OK, everybody – MY turn!”
• You are ready to see REAL, TANGIBLE RESULTS
• You know that being part of a motivated, inspired, active community of like-minded creatives, entrepreneurs and spirited individuals will help keep you on the path to accomplishment
• You are ready to feel the fear and do it anyway
• You don’t know how you know – you just know – this is right!

You Might Be Wondering…

1) OK, Sam and Steve – what are you and the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program promising me?

• We promise to create and maintain an atmosphere that is positively charged for success.
• We promise safety, mutual support and at least one really good laugh per class.
• We promise that each class will be jam-packed with innovative techniques to move you forward.
• We promise you The Daily Goose – a daily email with an inspiring challenge.
• We promise hands-on, from-the-trenches advice and support.  We know what it takes to get an agent, start a business, sell your art and publish your own works, and what we don’t know, we can find out thanks to our expert network of super-smart friends and colleagues. Heck, we’ll even give you the names of our favorite web designers, CRMs and fulfillment houses.

2) What if it doesn’t work for me ?

Then we’ll refund your money, no questions asked. Satisfaction guaranteed. Here’s the whole deal: if you enroll and participate to the very best of your ability for the full eight weeks and end up genuinely dissatisfied, we will cheerfully refund your investment (less a $50 administrative fee).

3) What do you mean by “participate to the very best of your ability”?

This is an intensive, exclusive workshop, and it’s important for the community of the class that each person bring their A-game. Specifically:

• We expect you to listen to all of the calls in full (if you can be there live, that’s great, but if not, no biggie.)
• We expect to get a Weekly Project Report from you each Wednesday.
• We expect you to schedule, prepare for and attend your Private Sessions.
• We expect you to honor the confidentiality of the group.
• We expect you to communicate with us promptly if you are having any issues, questions, difficulties or a troubled mind. We can’t fix it if we don’t know what’s happening. We also expect you to communicate with us when you have big breakthroughs, triumphs and successes!

We know that you’re going to have good days and bad days and can’t-get-out-of-bed days and help-I’m-paralyzed days and exultant-hooray days…and we’re excited about taking this journey with you. We know that your best is always good enough.

4) So, we can get help from you when we need it?

Of course. We are available to be a resource for you, to support you and to guide you. The community of the group is open to you, too. You’re going to love feeling the energy of the group cheering you on!

5) What if I can’t afford it?

Only you know the truth of your financial picture, and if now isn’t the right time for you to invest in your project, then it isn’t the right time. Simple as that. The real question is, “Do I want the results of this workshop – whatever they may be – more than I want $997?” Because your money is going to go somewhere. I mean, it’s not like if you don’t spend the money on this then you will have extra at the end of the year – the money is going to get spent one way or the other. You get to say where and when. And we’ve noticed that investing time and money and right action in a project has an amazing, nearly-miraculous effect, so even if you don’t invest in our Program, we strongly urge you to experiment by making a financial commitment to your work and seeing what happens. There are a limited number of 10-pay plans available – that’s just $129.60/month!  Please reply to this email if you’d like that option.

6) Are you going to offer this again?

We’re not sure. We don’t have any plans to offer it again as of now.

7) Are you going to turn this into an info product?

No plans right now, but we’ll have to see how it goes.

What if I apply and get accepted and I don’t want to do it?

That’s fine. Just let us know that’s your decision within 24 hours and we’ll offer your spot to someone else. (And yes, “not responding at all” also counts as a decision – you don’t have to even write us back if you don’t feel like it.)

9) What if I have to miss a class?

No problem – just listen to the recording when you can and get caught up.

10) What if I have more questions?

Please email us at Sam@GetYourWorkOutThere.com or Steve@GetYourWorkOutThere.com or, if you want to talk in person, give Steve a call at: 917-232-8879 or call Samantha at 818-468-0540. www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com

Say Yes: Fill out the application here: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com (you’ll hear back from us right away)

Say No: Do nothing.

Not Sure? If you’re Not Sure and you’d like to discuss this offer with us, or if you want to request a personalized payment plan (for example: split payments between credit cards, create a monthly payment plan or pay by check) please don’t hesitate to call Samantha at 818-468-0540 or Steve at 917-232-8879.

As you know, there are only 30 seats available in the Program, and invitations are being issued first-come, first-served, so we ask that you decide as quickly as possible. We start TOMORROW – Thursday, June 2nd – APPLY NOW and join us! Click here to apply: (www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com) - you’ll hear back from us right away. Thank you.

Here are ten areas of Your Project that are going to need work.  You don’t have to work on them all at once, but eventually, you’re going to need to have all of these bases covered.

Not surprisingly, these Ten Steps correspond EXACTLY with the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program that starts tomorrow.

Imagine that.

The good news is that most of this isn’t really “work” – it can be done in a fun, loose, intuitive fashion.  But however you do it, make sure you do it, OK?

1) Understanding Your Market

What makes Your Project different?  How does it compare to other offerings that are out there?  If you can’t happily answer this question in ten words or less, you need to spend some time researching, noodling and practicing your answer.

2) Your Target Audience

Who’s the perfect person to receive Your Project?  How do you reach them?  For example, if you want to reach college-age people, you’re going to need to reach them through their mobile devices because they are on the go!  If you want to reach baby boomers, you might want to try some Facebook ads, as boomers are the fastest-growing demographic in that community.

3) Ways to Move Past Perfectionism

Getting Your Work Out There means giving up your idea about how perfect it could be and getting your hands dirty.  Getting Your Work Out There means being willing to put it out there in “beta” – testing, experimenting and then learning from your (inevitable) mistakes.  Getting Your Work Out There means learning to rejoice in your discoveries, your belly-flops and your victories.

4) Willingness To Surrender To Surprise

This is the other half of #3 – once you move past your perfectionism and are Getting Your Work Out There — once you are way beyond your comfort zone — you are going to find unexpected allies, new friends, skills, talents and rewards that make you feel gooooooooood.  It’s not going to go the way you think, but it’s going to go somewhere good!

5) Lean In To Your Individualized Work Style

You are, ahem, a little weird.  And that’s good – you have a unique creative voice.  The work you are doing doesn’t fit into a 9-5 cubicle, so how does it fit?  What works for you?  What hours, what environment, what support, what systems do you need to have in order to Get Your Work Out There?

6) Telling Your Authentic Story In Your Own Voice, aka, Great Marketing

Crafting a clear, truthful, joyful story about who you are and what you do is the single most important thing you can do for yourself as a creative person.

When you are consistently telling your story in the right way to the right people at the right time, your success is INEVITABLE. If you take the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program for no other reason, getting this one strategy down pat is well worth it.

(apply here: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com)

You almost don’t even have to work at anything else – you become like the whistle-only-dogs-can-hear – you become a magnet for the people you want to attract.

This is not exaggeration or hyperbole.

This is the way we have each grown our own businesses (yes, in “this” economy) and have created profitable work that we love.  (Sam says: I’ve more than doubled my business in each of the past three years.  No joke.)

7) Accountability

To stay on track you need to create systems that support you.  It’s the only way we know to combat that “lots of initial enthusiasm, no follow-through” thing.  So again, whether you take this Program or not, get a buddy-system going with someone that you love and admire!

Monitor Your Metrics

You’ve got to know your numbers.  Whether it’s number of widgets sold or number of agencies submitted to or your Google Analytics, you’ve got to have some way of knowing if what you’re doing is working.

And – unlike almost all of the rest of this stuff – it can’t just be an intuition thing.  Because you know how sometimes something that feels like it isn’t working suddenly starts working?  Or how something that you are so sure is going to work all of a sudden doesn’t? Tracking your metrics will take some of the surprise out of those moments for you.

Plus it’s fun when the numbers show you your REAL PROGRESS (Sam says: I’ve increased my website hits by over 700% in the past few years, and I’ve grown my mailing list from about 700 to almost 7000….see? Isn’t that fun?!)

9) Consider the Growth of Your Project

How big or small do you want to get?  What’s the least amount of money you want to make?  Where are you resistant to growth?  Making a few quality decisions in advance about the growth of Your Project will save you hours of heartache later.

10) Celebrate!

If you never take time to celebrate, you will quickly get discouraged.  So schedule in frequent breaks, fun rewards and grin-inducing treats. Ask your Inner Nine-Year Old how he or she would like to celebrate your recent email blast, your new logo, your brave phone call.  Do you want to take a walk in the sunshine?  Visit with a friend?  Go antiquing?  (Sam says: I like to paint-by-numbers!  Really!)  (Steve says: Trip to the gym!  Or maybe some video games…no, wait – both!)

As you Get Your Work Out There , you will need to keep revisiting these ten steps.  After all, your creative efforts are not a destination, they are a process, and you need to stay in a dynamic relationship with them.

We hope these seven articles have been useful to you.

Remember: The World Needs Your Good Work.  (Now more than ever before!)

http://www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com

Steve Harper - YourCreativeLife.com

Remember - The World Needs Your Art

P.S. Still reading?  Then FOR SURE you need to just fill out the darn application already – it’s fun and it’ll only take 5 minutes and….you know you want to : ) www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com xoxo SSB.

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"I love these questions...you are so correct that just these (application) questions bumped me forward a step." - L.K., artist

Do yourself a favor and take 5 minutes to fill out the application for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program, OK?

GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT THE 5-MINUTE APPLICATION EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO THE PROGRAM – because just the action of answering the questions will move you forward in some fun, unexpected ways.

Also, we’ve just created a limited number 10-pay plan of $129.60/month for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program, so if that works for you, then just fill out the application here: Get Your Work Out There- – and the recording’s there, too!

“Thank you both so much for inspiring me to believe all is possible. I’m literally squirming to do something BIG. Thank you for sharing your own process and knowledge, your encouragement and faith!” – B., Dallas, TX

Article 6 of 7: The Help You Need (Will Come Once You Start Moving)

We’ve covered 1) “Mindsets That Freeze,” we’ve 2) ReNamed Your Project, Put Your Project Through The “Gulp” Test and Played With The Scope Of Your Project, we’ve helped you 3) Listen to Your Project, we’ve determined 4) What Makes Your Project Worth It and 5) we discovered Your Secret Special Magic Power.

You’re Stuck Because You Think You Know What You Don’t Know.

But You Don’t.

Because You’ve Never Done This Before.

You think you know how your project is going to go, and we’re here to tell you that you don’t.

You think you know how much people will pay for your product or service, and you don’t.

You think you know how much work your project will be for you, and you don’t.

You think you know how your project will be received, and you don’t.

All these things you think you know (but don’t) are keeping you from moving forward.

You know from your own experience – every single project you have ever done for the first time has grown and stretched and changed and evolved as you’ve worked on it, right?

So let’s shake loose some of these beliefs and see if we can’t get some forward movement going.

1) You Are Stuck Comparing The Perfect With The Possible

You have a thought in your head that’s The Perfect Version of Your Project.

Nice, isn’t it?

(But also sort of intimidating.)

You don’t really know how to get from here to there.

(How could you? You’ve never done this before!)

And you’re not really sure what’s Possible for you.

(How could you? You’ve never done this before!)

And the tension between The Perfect Version of Your Project and What You Think Is Possible for You is keeping you stuck.

So it’s like you’re looking at a map that has a “You Are Here” in one corner and a “Your Perfect Project” in the other and the whole middle of the map is completely washed out.

Invisible and unknowable.

(No wonder you haven’t moved forward as much as you might have liked.)

2) Let Go Of All That You Do Not Yet Know, OK?

So, just to recap:

1. You don’t really know how your project is going to go.

2. You don’t know that the version in your head is the “right” one.

3. You don’t quite know how to get to there anyway.

This doesn’t make you dumb…

It makes you ready for help.

3) Do You Resist Asking For Help?

I do.

In fact, I often forget that help is even available.

So I’ll spend hours trying to figure out some WordPress thing instead of asking my smart web designer friends for help. (The good news is that I’ve gotten a lot better at WordPress… sigh…)

But when I remember to announce that I’m doing something for the first time, then I remember to ask for help.

4) Swedish Pancakes

It’s like when I was a girl learning to cook. I would announce to my mother, “OK, I’m going to try and make Swedish Pancakes now, OK?” And my mother would say, “That sounds great, Sam – remember to be careful cracking the eggs – and I’m right here if you need me.”

Oh, yes – the shells. Good reminder.

And then I could move forward, checking the recipe, learning as I go, and knowing that Mom was there if I got into trouble.

And the Swedish Pancakes that ended up on the plate were always quite a bit different from the ones I started with in my mind, but that didn’t bother me. (Bring on the Lingonberry Preserves!)

5) What’s That Process Again?

Here’s how it goes:

- You get a vision (Swedish Pancakes)

…and you don’t get stuck on some version of “perfect”

- You do some research (find a recipe)

…and you don’t get stuck “getting ready to get ready”

- You announce your intention (go public)

…and you don’t throw yourself to the wolves – you announce only to allies!

- You rally your team (mom, Steve, Me…whomever is truly on your side)

…and it’s people you vibe with and respect ONLY, right?

- You start!

And once you start, you’ll be IN IT.

And you know that once you are IN IT you will find miracles and questions and quandries and answers and new paths and new rhythms and you’ll get braver and you’ll disappoint yourself and you’ll get up and try again and you’ll know new information and you’ll improve and then….

…..before you think it’s really ready…

(because if you think it’s ready, you’ve sat on it for too long)

You’ll Get Your Work Out There!

Whatever you learned today about your project, we hope it’s information that will move you forward -

Because The World Needs Your Good Work

Tomorrow: Ten Essential Steps To Getting Your Work Out There

- Samantha Bennett & Steve Harper

“This series of articles is great…I’m really enjoying this. I think I may listen to that recording today!” – C.C., Chicago, IL

Click here for the downloadable recording of this material —-> Get Your Work Out There and to fill out your application for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program.

Or paste this into your address bar: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com

And please stay in touch with us – let us know how your projects are proceeding – you all have some REALLY fascinating projects going on!

P.S. for heaven’s sake, please tell your friends about this – we need all the help we can get spreading the good word: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com – ssb.

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"I love these questions...you are so correct that just these (application) questions bumped me forward a step." - L.K., artist

We know it’s a holiday and everything, but this information is just too good to wait, you know? Plus maybe today’s the day you can take 5 minutes to fill out the application for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program?

PLEASE DO FILL OUT THE 5-MINUTE APPLICATION EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO THE PROGRAM BECAUSE – just the action of answering the questions will move you forward in some fun, unexpected ways.

Also, we’ve just created a limited number 10-pay plan of $129.60/month for the man-it’s-filling-up-fast Get Your Work Out There VIP Program, so if that works for you, then just fill out the application here: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com – and the recording is there, too – both all the way down at the bottom of the page.

“Thank you both so much for inspiring me to believe all is possible. I’m literally squirming to do something BIG. Thank you for sharing your own process and knowledge, your encouragement and faith!” – B., Dallas, TX

Article 5 of 7: Your Special Magic Power

We’ve covered 1) “Mindsets That Freeze,” we’ve 2) ReNamed Your Project, Put Your Project Through The “Gulp” Test and Played With The Scope Of Your Project, we’ve helped you 3) Listen to Your Project and we’ve determined 4) What Makes Your Project Worth It.

Now Let’s Talk About You

This exercise is especially designed to give you the rocket-fuel you’ll need to Get Your Work Out There.

Step One: Get Quiet Inside

This is another one of those you-can’t-do-it-wrong exercises. You just want to get to a quiet place inside your mind and see what bubbles up. First thought, best thought.

Your logical brain is a terrific tool – and we’ll need it in a few minutes – but right now I just want you to work with your intuition.

1) Imagine the answer to this question: What Is The Super-Special Secret Magic Power That You And You Alone Can Bring To Your Project?

Is it your sense of humor? Your musicality? Your bull-headedness?

It might be a weird or unexpected special power.

It might be something you were criticized for as a kid. Like laziness, hyper-sensitivity or tremendous natural enthusiasm.

It might be something you love about yourself: kindness to strangers, good sense of direction, adventurous…

It might be something that drives you nuts about yourself sometimes: perfectionism, ADD-ish-ness, aggressiveness…

Let whatever Special Magic Powers rise up in your mind be the right ones.

2) Don’t judge Your Special Magic Power – everything is useful – even that which is sometimes disapproved of.

Can you imagine if David Letterman had stayed in Minnesota thinking to himself, “I’ll never get a television show…I’m just too cynical.” We would have been deprived of nearly 30 years of brilliant cynicism.

Or if Oprah let the thought, “I’m just too sensitive and pushy – all at the same time.” For goodness’ sake, the woman has built an empire on her sensitive/pushy combination.

So just because Your Special Magic Power might seem like a “negative” quality to you, allow yourself to remember the times when it’s been useful and even indispensible to you.

3) Using Your Powers For Good

Now let yourself imagine one way this Special Magic Power of yours might be useful to you in your project.

Maybe your friendliness might lead you to ask a mentor for support.

Maybe your tenacity will urge you to resubmit your manuscript.

Maybe your great sense of color will encourage you to design your own website.

Just brainstorm a little here – no commitments, just some ideas and exploration.

4) Now Move Your Project Forward Two Inches

So now let’s get your logical brain involved and see how you could take one teeny-tiny action step on your project today.

Combine Your Special Magic Power with some small (two inches!) action that could be done in the next 24 hours and see what you come up with…

Will you do it?

Whatever you learned today about your project, we hope it’s information that will move you forward -

Because The World Needs Your Good Work

Tomorrow: The Help You Need

- Samantha Bennett & Steve Harper

“Thanks from Buenos Aires. I was in the middle of cooking, but already feel fed in many ways! Thanks for the humor and motivation.” Deb, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Click here for the downloadable recording of this material —->www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com

and to fill out your application for the Get Your Work Out There VIP Program.

And please stay in touch with us – let us know how your projects are proceeding – you all have some REALLY fascinating projects going on!

P.S. And for heaven’s sake, please tell your friends about this – we need all the help we can get spreading the good word: www.GetYourWorkOutThere.com – ssb.

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