This has been a big month for me. I’ve come across some great resources and have learned a lot. I thought I’d share with you the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past month, and the resources that helped provide the aha moments. 
1. Procrastination is caused by doubt.
I read this on a blog (I don’t remember which one) who was quoting from his twitter stream, and I had to share! But when I thought about it, really thought about it ~ totally true. When I avoid something or procrastinate it’s really because I have some doubt around the subject. Whether it’s “is it gonna work?” or “will people like it”, “will people buy it”, “who am I to write that…” there’s tons of doubts, and they are definitely what keeps me procrastinating.
However, when I am totally lined up with something, and I have no doubt, the possibilities are endless. Hello ~ I just completed a product in 48 hours from start to finish. It can happen.
2. Play Big(ger)
One of my all time favorite quotes is about this topic:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~ Marianne Williamson
While this quote is prominently displayed in our home it’s so easy to play small. It’s so easy to stay where it feels safe. This month Dave Navarro really helped me tackle this one with his free workbook 7 Steps to Playing a Much Bigger Game. I’ve been able to do quite a few things this month that have moved me toward a much bigger game.
3. Things only work if you take action.
I get ebooks ~ a lot of ebooks, some free, some not and I read them all. However, I frequently fail to take action. Sometimes it’s because they don’t fit in with project I’m currently working on ~ which is good because it means I’m staying on track lol. However, sometimes it’s because of number 2, and it’s much easier to play small. I recently subscribed to Kim Roach’s blog and got her 24 untapped traffic secrets freebie. It was really good and had some fantastic ideas on how to increase your traffic. I have taken action on a couple of the ideas that resonated with me and I’m already seeing an increase in my traffic from those sources.
Ebooks, paid or free, don’t do anything but waste the time it takes to read them if you don’t actually take ACTION on the information inside.
4. You gotta network.
Knowing my neighbor down the street doesn’t much help me build a bigger business online. I have to network ~ get to know ~ help people out who are “bigger” than me. That means purposefully taking action to get their attention, help them out, get to know them, become part of their network of friends.
Your online network is your biggest resource, your friends friends are all part of your network as well. The bigger and more influential you can make your network the more opportunities you give yourself.
I thought it was pretty much impossible to get “in” with the “big wigs” but thanks to Dave (again ~ this guy is REALLY good) and his free workbook 7 Steps to Networking Your Way to A-Listers Fast I have a concrete networking plan and I’m building my network.
5. You’ve GOT to take chances.
It is pretty easy to let fear run our lives, let it make choices for us. It’s easy to keep writing blog posts and submitting articles to EZA. There’s not much risk in it, it’s easy.
However, jumping into the world with both feet, and putting yourself out there. Taking chances. Facing rejection. Really going after what it is you want. It makes a difference. It moves you forward, it gives you momentum, it puts you in a space to really move to the next level.
It can also open doors, bring you traffic, get your guest posting spots, get you interviews, get you EXCITED!!!
6. Challenge yourself
It goes along with playing a bigger game, but it’s a little more than that. Challenge yourself. Give yourself a goal ~ it doesn’t matter what it is, but something that feels scary as hell when you think about it because you don’t know if you can really do it. This lesson came again from Dave (dang that guy has infiltrated my life this month lol) and his free workbook Start Making Money with Your Products in 3 Days
It doesn’t matter what the challenge is:
~ create an entire product and launch it in a weekend.
~ write 20 articles to post to directories
~ complete an entire month of blog posts in a weekend so you can focus on promotion all month
~ Do 2 guest posts a week for a month, hell do 3 or 4 guest posts a week!
~ Write a free report and get a guest post gig on the biggest blog in your niche (link to your report in your resource box)
~ Build 20 Squidoo lenses in a weekend
It doesn’t matter what it is, but challenge yourself, and the shorter the time frame of the challenge the better I think. Less time to freak yourself out and quit.
The thing about challenging yourself is this:
Once you’ve done something amazing, the little everyday things you need to do don’t seem half as big.
Really.
If you really built 20 lenses over the weekend would writing a blog post and an article on Monday morning seem like such a big deal? I can tell you… it doesn’t.
7. Everything doesn’t have to be huge and complicated.
Maybe it’s just me, but as soon as I start something it morphs into this HUGE ASS thing. It doesn’t matter what it is, it gets big and complicated. That sometimes keeps me from even getting started because I know it’s going to get big and overwhelming.
Jonathan Leger helped me with this lesson this month. The “Write that Report” report I got of his really helped me see I can EASILY create something simple that has great value. Once I could see it in one area, I was able to see many ways I can simplify and steamline other things.
8. The only thing that really gets in my way is me.
(yeah I know I said 7, but this one’s a bonus)
What’s Holding You Back was really the start of all the learning I did the last 30 days. It was a seriously game changing workbook. I thought I had a pretty good handle on my thoughts but there were things in that book that I hadn’t even thought of. They were definitely things that were holding me back, AND they were all me. It wasn’t something outside myself keeping me from what I want ~ nope ~ it was all within me.
This is probably the biggest lesson I have learned this month. It’s connected to everything really. YOU are really the biggest thing standing in your way. Your doubts, your beliefs, your thoughts, those are the things that keep you from going where you want to go.
Thoughts like this: (taken from the comments section of this post)
I seriously doubt I have any marketable knowledge. I know I am too desperate to get something off the ground to stop and try something new at this time.
That’s not anything outside of that person holding him back ~ that is his thoughts, his beliefs all things he has control over.
It can be a little disturbing to face the fact, that it is only you that holds you back. However, the super awesome thing is YOU can totally change any and all of that! You don’t have to depend on someone else, you can do it. Which means YOU have total control over your future and success.
I hope my lessons learned and the resources that have helped me will also help you. I highly recommend every one of them and can’t wait to hear about what YOU’VE learned from them. Make sure you tell me your story in the comments section ~ or send me an email!
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"Things only work if you take action" - We get so eager and overwhelmed with learning what to do and what not to do that we later on realize we have not done anything at all! Taking action on our plans and dreams is what moves us forward and be successful.
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