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!
No related posts.
“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.
Having a goal and constantly challenging yourself may be the two of the most powerful things you can do in order to succeed. Successful people always have a goal, and these goals often originate from the challenge they set forth for them to conquer. Without this, I don’t think we can get ourselves to take any action.
I love the heading “Things only work if you take action” to true. I can suffer from over anlaysis without action.
Something im overcoming but only with considerable effort.
Thanks for post
John @ Marshall Amp´s last [type] ..A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock Paperback
Jackie,
As always I appreciate your willingness to share with us, your readers. A lot of this resonated with me, but none more than #5.
Starting out in IM was about doing something different… taking a chance. Now that I’ve had a small measure of success, the temptation is to keep rinsing and repeating. While it’s easy to keep doing what seems to work, I know I have to keep trying new things too.
Thanks!
jackie, thanks for your tips, this can really help us!
Jackie,
Thanks for all of the great advice and resources. You are an inspiration.
Linda
I think one of the biggest after mindset is the taking action.
It’s true, whether ebooks or ANYTHING we come across, it’s ALL worthless if you don’t do anything with it.
I dunno where I’d be now if I didn’t spend my first couple YEARS writing the to-do lists, then taking a nap…so to speak.
Thanks for the heads-up on the traffic report.
.-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..UPDATED: Aweber Affiliate Link Contest! – This Is It!! =-.
I have a product idea for ya Jackie… How do you make a video product like you did via a wordpress site?
I LOVE making videos… I just cant find my Flip which is why I haven’t been making any recently… but I have awesome ideas for video products. I just have no idea how to do it… But, you do now
.-= Primal Toad´s last blog ..Living A Primal Lifestyle While Traveling – Chicago & The 80/20 Rule =-.
Hi Jackie,
I have been receiving your emails daily and thought I should just try to jump in the community. Actually, it didn’t occur to me to visit your site.
1. Procrastination is caused by doubt.
This was almost as painful to read as it was liberating.
For the last week, I have been writing a list of all actions I took toward moving my business forward. It is becoming clear where the doubt shows up. I may revise the list to include where I gambled a little.
I will try to make it back tomorrow.
devin
.-= Devin´s last blog ..Writing about Personal Subjects and Painting the Shit out of the Door =-.
Great post Jackie – Very inspiring.
We are really on the same track – the past 30 days have been the best 30 days of my life. As you know, it is because I started my new blog and the success as far as traffic goes and the participation with comments (244 to date – half are mine, but still) has been unbelievable.
But, I KNOW these next 30 days are going to be infinity times better. Why? Because I am finally motivated to make money. This whole time I have been “afraid” to make money because I want to help people out so damn much and hate to take money from anyone. Don’t get me wrong – I was planning on making money the entire time. But, I was lacking motivation and had no urgency to monetize my site and create my own products within the first 30 days.
Then my sister motivated me and then YOU just had to post a challenge at the absolute PERFECT time. I was unable to do the challenge for the weekend because I enjoyed time in Chicago, then watched the series finale of Lost.
But, I actually took action this afternoon with the product and got very far as soon as I started. I am happy to say that I will have my first product finished tomorrow by Noon. When I actually do this it will mean I created and finished a product IN LESS THAN 20 HOURS.
Do you see that everyone? If I can do it then YOU can do it too. I am doing the audio recording like it said in the free e-book that was recommended last Friday with the challenge. Let me tell you something… Creating a 20-30 minute audio of you talking is FUN, SIMPLE, EASY, EXHILARATING, and can make you a lot of money very easily if you market it correctly.
Ok, that’s enough for my comment. I was going to e-mail you today Jackie, but got slightly ill this evening due to eating way too much sweet potatoes. Lol. Look for the e-mail tomorrow once I finish my product.
Take action guys!!!
.-= Primal Toad´s last blog ..Living A Primal Lifestyle While Traveling – Chicago & The 80/20 Rule =-.
All your posts are good and they inspire me a lot but this was one of the most heart felt post.
It takes a lot of effort and I try to constantly remind and feel and act like a ‘child of God’,
and this daily self- reminder and reinforcement has changed my life for the best in the last one year.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for this post Jackie. I love to hear about your journey. It helps me to realize that you are a real person just like me and not one of these “pie in the sky gurus” making $10,000 a day with no work involved. Helps to keep me motivated to keep going until I find my success.
Thanks!!
Jane
MoneyMom
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Radio Flyer Trike Classic Ride-On Toys for Toddlers updated Mon May 17 2010 9:11 pm CDT =-.
First of all, I’m so proud of you for getting that product done and up for sale over the weekend! I appreciate you posting about what a hard time you had getting things to work right. That makes me feel SOOOO much better about the 3 dozen times I’ve had to re-do things in my blog. It’s comforting to know that the complicated stuff is part of the package, and it’s not because I’m too stupid to learn!
I finally gave up this last week and changed the theme. The other was really cute, but it was just so darn buggy. Things are working a lot better now — again, nice to know that some things weren’t my fault!
Love this post – I really do tend to limit myself with doubt. Not so much in a ‘I can’t do this’ sort of way, but more of a ‘why would anyone else be interested’ way. But if you can do it, so can I! I really am going to do this challenge as soon as I get through this freelance work I’m obligated to – I don’t have the equipment for video/audio recording, but I CAN put together an eBook and get it up for sale on my site.
Thanks for the constant encouragement.
.-= Kelly @My Life in Peru´s last blog ..I Love Pizza. Period. =-.
Hey Kelly,
Don’t count out audio ~ you can always open a free account at http://www.freeteleconference.com and then just call your number, talk and record.
It will even create the mp3 for you!! woot.
There’s always a way to make it work.
I can’t wait to see what you put together!
Great post my friend.
I saw your action this weekend – and it was INTENSE. You got out of your way and DID.
I love that Marianne Williamson quote – can’t count the number of times I have referred to it in times where my self talk was destructive.
Glad you liked Ledger’s Write That Report – umm report – it really does focus the mind on just what can be achieved with a little action.
Like you always say ->Keep taking action!
.-= Frank Dickinson´s last blog ..Coffee Conversations: What Are You Passionate About? =-.
Thank you for talking me off the ledge a couple times.
Hey Kim,
Thanks for stopping by. You are absolutely right! I had a hard time letting the “comfort zone” thing in ~ but once I got over the “yeah buts” (aka fear) it has been huge. Thanks for your part in that, your video was really good.
Hey Jackie!
Thanks for the props
So glad you enjoyed my traffic report.
I LOVE the tips you’ve listed here.
I think a lot of people online don’t realize that one of the
#1 keys to succeeding online is mindset.
Without the proper mindset, the rest is futile.
Get your mindset right and everything else falls into place.
Another big thing that I teach my subscribers is to get outside
of your comfort zone.
Most of us get way too comfortable hiding behind the computer screen.
But the biggest growth in your business lies OUTSIDE of your comfort zone.
.-= Kim Roach´s last blog ..Being Comfortable Is Not an Option! =-.