I love it when I wake up and have realized something very cool in my sleep that I have to share with you. Today is one of those days ~ in fact, I haven’t even looked at my email yet because I wanted to get this out before pieces got lost in the vast cavern that is my head. 
What’s your goal?
Let me guess, it’s something like I wanna make $1500 a month or $5K a month or maybe you’ve got big expectations and your goal is to make $10k a month. (yeah that was my goal for the longest time).
Those are all goals for sure but let me ask you a question.
How ya gonna do that?
The thing about goals is this: you have to have a good idea how you can accomplish them or they become overwhelming weights simply pulling you down, making you feel like crap because you haven’t accomplished them yet and then eventually you’ll feel lame and just walk away from your computer.
Any of this ring slightly true?
So what if you tweaked your goals a little bit? What if you decided to make your goal
I wanna have 5 lenses on page 1 of google before the end of the month.
Hey ~ now there’s something you can figure out the steps to complete and they would be concrete enough to know if you were doing it or not.
You would know to get that done you would have to:
1. pick good keywords
2. create a lens
3. create backlinks
(and of course you could fill in this list with all the steps involved for each to make it even easier to stay on track)
If you’re lenses weren’t showing up on page one next week you would know you needed to build more links, and you would know exactly how to do that. If they weren’t showing up the next week you would know you had to build more links and you would know how to do that.
If you start at the beginning of a month with a goal of $5K a month and 2 weeks in you’ve only made $50 do you know what you need to do to get to 5K by the end of the month? You may have a million ideas on how to create that income ~ hey, just open your inbox and read any guru email for some ideas ~ but you won’t necessarily have the understanding/steps to get it done.
How do I stay focused?
I get this question a lot, in fact, someone asked just yesterday! The best way I know to stay focused and continue moving forward is to set these kind of goals. I find I have trouble sticking to something when I don’t know exactly what I need to be doing, and I don’t know WHY I’m doing it. (I don’t have a goal). I have also found the abstract $10K a month goal really doesn’t work to keep me focused and taking the actions I need to get there.
The really cool thing is if you accomplish these concrete goals ~ the money will show up. If you end up with 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 (because you can always increase your goal as you accomplish the first one) lenses on page one ~ you’re going to be making money. It’s just that simple.
I’ve heard a lot of goals of “I’m gonna get 1 lens done”. Here’s the thing, one finished lens doesn’t make you any money. It’s a great achievement, but a lens sitting on page 371 of google doesn’t make you any money. Creating a lens is only the very first step, and not necessarily the most important step. You’ve got to do the follow up of building the links and all that to make it work.
If your goal is “get one lens finished” you’re not creating goals that are going to move your toward your financial goals. Now if your goals is “get one lens to #1 on google” well ~ that’s a totally different goal. The steps to accomplish that goal are totally different than the steps to finish a lens. Getting a lens done will not make you money. Having a lens at #1 on google will. (in most cases)
Discouragement leads to quitting. It’s really hard stay focused, and committed when you’re not seeing results. However, it is often times the goals you have set for yourself that are keeping you from the results. It’s much easier to stay focused when you know I have to do this, this and this today, especially if you KNOW this, this and this are going to take you toward your goal.
My Challenge to You
Today I challenge you to look at your goals. Are you looking for money? Are you looking to finish something? Are those goals in and of themselves going to give you a concrete methodology to move you toward them, and are they really the goals you need to meet to make money? If so SWEET!!! If not, no biggie, better to figure this out early rather than 6 years from now 3 years after you’ve given up. You can always set new goals ~ I encourage you to do so.
~~ BONUS ~~
For those visual learners out there I’ve created a mindmap for the goal of getting your lens to #1. Enjoy.
Get my lens to #1 in Google Mindmap
(to make it bigger just click the + at the top of the page)
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Thanks Jackie for the Mind Map.Your Mind Map help me make the lens step by step. But I am still confused about RSS feeds Submit. Need more time to study it. Thank you for your support. This is one of my lens.
Thanks Jackie, I have been following you for a while and I really appreciate everything that you share. I am finally earning an income with IM but now I really need to get focused and organized. The mind map really shows the whole picture. It will definitely be helpful as I move forward.
Thanks again so much!
Candice@bestfoodforpuppies´s last [type] ..Best Large Breed Puppy Food…………Tips For Finding the Best
Jackie – FABULOUS MIND MAP!!! I’ve forwarded this off to my husband who is just getting started. Thanks!!
Julie@First Birthday Party Supplies´s last [type] ..Dinosaur Birthday Party Supplies
Hi Jackie,
This is an awesome and inspiring post I think we all need that encouragement from time to time and as one prime minister said when an election was won a few years ago.He said ”How sweet it is” those are the words I wan’t to be saying when my goals are acomplished after following you.
Thankyou for your encouragement
Regards
Chris Perth Australia.
I don’t know why my husband’s picture is
showing up, I will have to try and fix that.
Sorry,
Becky
.-= Becky@leanology weight loss´s last blog ..Leanology Weight Loss =-.
Jackie,
I can’t believe all of the info you give away for
free. I am really starting to believe I can
make money from home now.
I just have to do the steps that actually
make money, get to google #1, etc.
Reading e-mail and learning doesn’t
make any money. I need to “just do it”
Thanks again.
.-= Becky@leanology weight loss´s last blog ..Leanology Weight Loss =-.
Hi Jackie,
Thank you for this post on staying focus and i really need this kind of post.
Once again you have done it Jackie. You have answer my request in my mind.
As they say ” Good people think alike”…that’s true.
I really happy to read it and i am going to bookmark it … Will read it everyday to
remind myself on what to do.
Nice knowing you
Have a nice and wonderful day
I do not put my author feed on lenses ~ the purpose of lenses is to move people to my affiliate product so I can make a sale, don’t want to run them in circles.
I do submit my eza author feed to as many RSS directories as I can find. This builds links to my articles and helps give them a little more power ~ which gives the links in them (pointing to my lens) more power.
Jackie
Great post Jackie! One question – how do you submit your RSS feed to your Ezine author feed? Or does that mean to submit your Ezine author feed to your lenses?
Thanks!
I’m so happy to see other people talking about the timer! I really think that the timer has played a big part in my ability to make money. It helps me stay productive and on track and causes me to work quickly and efficiently.
I like this article, you know what you have said is basic to any business. That is why the bankers and other investors ask for a business plan before they invest in any business. They if the business plan is well thought of you will succeed if you stick to it, they also make sure you stick to it. In short what they are trying to do is to keep focused on your goal. A business plan is all about focus, about doing one thing consistently until it works. Without focus, then a plan would not work. Focus is also the strategy, we think strategy is big word, but strategy is having to focus on what you want and how to get it and if I am not wrong that is focus. Thanks Jackie for this article, help us keep focused, sometimes we loose it.
FreeMind
Thanks Jackie for the Mind Map – excellent way to keep all tasks in front of you!
Btw – what program do you use to create your Mind Maps?
You’re the best!
Frank
I personally just submit my lensmaster RSS feed ~ that way each new lens I publish will automatically show up at all the directories ~ just because that’s what RSS does ~ automatically updates.
but yes, you should also submit the feed for your blog as well ~ to build some links back to it. You want to build this blog into a decent piece of real estate ~ so links to it are always good. (but don’t be obsessive lol)
Hey Jackie – I just have a quick question for clarification on the mind map. When we are submitting RSS feeds, you say we only have to do this once. We are submitting RSS feeds for our ChristmasCash blog and our individual lenses or are we submitting the RSS feed from our main Squidoo Dashboard? Just checking to make sure I did that correctly.
Hiya Jackie,
Thank you so very much for answering my question from yesterday, I really didn’t expect a whole blog post on it though!
I think your idea of setting “reasonable” goals will definitely help me to get my butt in gear and make me stay at it. Thank you for that!
But I really want to thank you for the mind map! This will most definitely help me because it is like having your very own step by step action plan right in front of you.
So, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Cindy
Jackie
First, many thanks form your extremely prompt and complete help last week when my computer hard-drive packed it in and I lost a lot data.
Second, this is a great post and just what I needed at this time when I’ve feeling somewhat “down” and needed a shot in the arm.
Simply put, I think your posts are just the best ever and I eagerly look forward to each one.
Many thanks, and regards
Russell
Hi Jackie.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I have been following your Christmas Cash tutorials for some time and I like all the great tips you give.
You are a big inspiration to me. I keep telling myself: “If a busy mom with kids can do this, what’s my excuse?”
You are a genius!! Thanks so much Jackie for all of your help last week with my first lens. I was so confused and you held my hand the entire way even when I knew you must be getting frustrated with me. This mind map is EXACTLY what I needed to see the big picture. I am definitely one of those people who needs to know the “why” of what I am doing to fully understand what I need to do.
Folks, Jackie knows what she is doing. I have read and reread OWM and even started going through the Learn it Step by Step program, but I was so confused. With her help – I can now reread those sources of info and actually understand what I’m reading!! Thanks!!
Hey Kay,
Glad you liked the post and it helped clear things up for you. The thing about these tools ~ whether it’s EZA, a lens or a blog ~ they can all be used for tons of different things. How you use them just depends on what you’re trying to do. If you get the basics of how to use the tools down, you can use them to make just about anything happen. Glad I could help.
Jackie,
Great post! I really like the way you explain everything, so down to earth. I was going to ask the same question about the kw in the EZ article title. Your answer told me something I had not thought or heard about, don’t want my article to rank higher than my lens.
Also your tidbit about “purpose” is good, too. None of the other folks I’ve been learning this stuff from said anything about purpose other than backlinks drive people to your site.
All your efforts are really appreciated! Thanks.
Hey MK ~
Well you can get the annual at learnit and have all the information you need at once. The monthly just wasn’t working out. LearnItStepbyStep.com
For this stuff ~ just follow along with the posts and you’ve got the step by steps you need ~ ask questions on the posts you have questions on and I’ll answer them.
If you have specific questions or need specific help don’t forget I can do coaching with you. 
http://www.SquidooChristmasCash.com
Hey MK ~
I do have a membership site that walks through each of the steps of OWM. If that will help you you can find it here: LearnItStepbyStep.com
For this stuff ~ just follow along with the posts and you’ve got the step by steps you need ~ ask questions on the posts you have questions on and I’ll answer them.
This is an excellent post. I love your map. Makes it so much easier to follow these steps. Thank you Jackie.
Love your site and information. Sort of struggling…it’s been 17mos now but I just know I’ll get there. About 5mos ago joined Amy @ The Niche Blogger and I recently got OWM…big help. But still, not there yet. I so wish you had a monthly paid membership to your learn it step by step. Any chance of that ever happening?
Thanks for all you’re doing here. People like you, PPG and Amy are a truly an inspiration:=)
The first two things are for people using micro niche finder.
Since you are working on such low competition keywords you do NOT want your ezine article to rank higher than your lens and then you’re competing with your lens for traffic.
It goes back to purpose. If the purpose of your EZA is to lead people directly to a sales page ~ I’d use the main keyword ~ if it’s to drive traffic to your lens then I wouldn’t use your main keyword or you may end up with it ranking higher than your lens.
Thanks a lot for the mind map its really what i needed to keep me focuse.
But i did not understand the the following;
-(MNF SOC under 20) and how i can achieve that.
-buying kw-over 95%OCI on MNF
then under submitting articles to EZA it says we should “not use Kw in title “.I thought using Kw in title is very important?
Thanks for your hard work to help dummies like me
remember you don’t have to write specifically about your product ~ think about why people would want it ~ why people would use it, the benefits of using it ~ related topics ~
remember you can always write a 3 great gift ideas post ~ then do general topics and then provide a specific product in your resource box leading to your lens.
you only need your keywords in the resource box ~ you don’t need to write your article about your keywords.
Jackie,
This was a great post. It was the kick in the pants I needed. I sure am resisting writing article that support my products though. I think it’s the lack of topics that are relevant to the products. I love the mindmap. I am one of those visual learners.
You are Awesome, Thanks!