Build your platform

build your online platform

My husband is an audio engineer.

I could not be more proud of him – over the last 5-or-so-years since we moved back to Los Angeles he has hustled his little tail off getting recording clients, honing his mixing skills, networking at concerts (when he really would rather have been at home with the cats) and just getting his name out there in the music scene that he wants to work in. He’s recorded some great bands and is constantly getting great word-of-mouth referrals for new clients.

My cousin is a sports writer.

He may just be in high school, but he’s been writing about the Clippers on a major basketball website for years. He runs online discussions during games, and most other participants don’t know he doesn’t even have a driver’s license yet. He’s been interviewed by media in other parts of the country (not many writers specialize on the Clippers) and he has started building up a solid portfolio for his college application.

I’ve followed Elsie Larson’s blog for something like 8 years.

I’ve watched her evolve from a scrapbooker, to a scrapbook product designer, to an artist, to a vintage seller to a fashion designer to a media empire mogul. I’m sure I missed a couple other jobs in there. She has been able to pursue what she loves for years, and recently announced that she and her sister have a book coming out and will be turning their focus to their website.

What do these 3 people have in common?

Totally different industries. Totally different job descriptions. But none of the three work in an average, skill-less job.

And all 3 have (or are setting up) an online platform.

If you are a regular reader of Lemon and Raspberry, you are in no way average. You read this site because you believe you can do something special and have something GREAT to offer the world. You read this site because you recognize you have something to offer.

Which means you ALSO need an online platform.

Your platform can be just a site with your credits – we’re working on a redesign of my husband’s site which will prominently feature his past credits because we know that is what potential clients look at first.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, your platform could also be a frequently updated blog – A Beautiful Mess is a media powerhouse that works as the perfect leverage for Elsie and Emma’s upcoming books, showing publishers they can create fantastic content regularly, with a growing audience that wants to read it.

So what do you want to do? And how can an online platform help?

Maybe you want to work on the social media team for an animal-focused non-profit? Start a blog highlighting various animal-focused events, companies and non-profits, using your social media skills to bring attention to their causes.

Maybe you want to write a book about New England gardening? Write a blog on the topic, attracting readers and demonstrating your knowledge.

Maybe you want to be a reality TV star? Start a website and post regular video clips of your dramatic life, attracting viewers and demonstrating your on camera personality.

Assuming you want to do something with your life that is NOT average, you can definitely use an online platform.

P.S. I’ll be announcing details of my big big blogging ecourse next week! Be sure you’re subscribed to L&R posts or to the newsletter for the latest!

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What do I want?: Long-term goals

As inspired by Kam’s post about her long-term goals … I thought my birthday week would be the perfect time to post some of my LONG term goals.

headshot - eyesclosedI have to be honest …. this isn’t easy.

The first one on my list is my current goal – the goal that ALL my energies are currently focused on. I can’t really see beyond that goal. A lot goes into reaching that goal and I can’t even come close to imagining my life once that goal is accomplished.

But I did my best.

I tried to be both realistic/SMART …. AND still dreaming big.

It feels BRAVE and vulnerable to put some of these out there …. like, who am I to make $3000+/month on the internet??? That’s crazy. Yea, right, like I’m really going to publish a novel. Please.

That’s what I’m thinking right now.

But I’m going to hit PUBLISH on this post anyway.

Because this is the YEAR OF BRAVE…. even if being brave is just publicly declaring goals.

By April 2018 (36th birthday)

I have left my cubicle job long long ago

I have finished writing 2 novels and am working on a third.

One of those novels is published, selling well and I’ve been able to go on a solid book-tour visiting all 50 states.

I regularly have an income of at least $3000/month coming from my various online-offered products and services

Andrew and I have traveled to 3 or 4 different locales (undecided where at the moment) – I would like it to be more, but his job is demanding.

I have traveled alone to a few places around the U.S. working on a pet-project non-fiction book about the presidents.

Andrew and I have paid off his student loan and my student loan and have started paying extra toward our mortgage.

We’ve bought new-to-us cars (1 for each of us) in cash. No new debt.

I indulge in sugar a *tiny* bit to celebrate my birthday, but it feels so rich because I never eat sugar/gluten otherwise and feel so healthy for it.

Again … I can’t really think beyond that. Maybe in a year or so I’ll revisit these and see if they are things I still want (obviously the paying off debt will be)

What are your long term goals?

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Making Things Happen (Lara Casey)

I realize it is February, but as Lara Casey says “there’s nothing magical about January 1st.”

If you are feeling like you’re in a rut, if you’re feeling like there’s something more to life than what you’ve got now, maybe you need to do some hard thinking and take steps to Making Things Happen.

Lara Casey works in the wedding industry – I’ve followed her online for 4+ years or so – and she happens to be an incredibly inspirational thought leader, cheerleader and honest woman.

I collected all of her recent Making Things Happen in 2013 posts for you to peruse. Figure out what it was about 2012 that’s still getting you down. Figure out the specific changes you’re going to make in this new year.

I worked through all of these the other night in an hour or so. Not the clearing the clutter. I didn’t actually get up. But the rest of it.

I really know what I want to accomplish this year, but these steps helped me clarify WHY and what are my intentions are behind the ideas and goals I have.

Note #1 : Lara doesn’t exactly adhere to the idea of S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Read Kam’s post here about making specific, attainable goals. Instead, Lara’s Making Things Happen steps are more about finding and establishing your INTENTIONS for the coming months and year. Totally great. Absolutely admirable and (I think) necessary. But they’re not “goals”.

Note #2: This is similar but not exactly the same as Susannah Conway’s Unravelling workbook. And someone else’s perspective can’t hurt.

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be open to possibility

So I had this grand plan. I was going to reserve the final several months of 2012 to build my email list and catch up on everything. All the projects that I started in a fit of passion and still haven’t completely followed up on.

I was adamant. Not going to start any new ebooks. Not going to start anything new. Just going to focus on what I already had on my plate.

And then I got an email inviting me to contribute to an ebook about Project Life. Um, ok. Twist my arm. (comes out *I think* next week. More details as I have them).

And then I got an email asking to hire me to edit a full book manuscript for a new author. Um, yes, please. Editing is one of those things that I am naturally good at and actually enjoy. I am more than happy to take on this new job.

And then September started and I was smack in the middle of all these projects plus Onward and Upward plus 30 Days of Lists.

There goes my grand plan.

But there is no way I would have traded these two opportunities for a few more quiet weekends at home.

In hindsight it seems positively providential. By forswearing beginning new projects for a few months, I opened myself up to the possibility of something better coming from someone else.

So this is my reminder to you to keep a weather eye out. You never know what might come along and laser-like focus on moving forward at any cost might blind you to some of the other chances you might get.

Be open to possibility. You may be pleasantly surprised.

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on being a late bloomer

I turned 30 this year.

I can’t believe it!

I really expected to have accomplished more in my life by now. I am always fascinated by those stories of child actors winning an Oscar at 10 or 11, or novelists whose debut book hits the best-selling list when they’re 24 (ahem, Jonathan Safran Foer).

Orson Welles made his masterpiece, “Citizen Kane,” at twenty-five. Herman Melville wrote a book a year through his late twenties, culminating, at age thirty-two, with “Moby-Dick.” Mozart wrote his breakthrough Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat-Major at the age of twenty-one. (source)

Clearly I am behind!

I’m sure a big chunk of this sense of expectation has to do with the fact that I skipped a grade, was put in the ‘gifted’ and ‘honors’ programs at school and have always had 110% support from my parents. I am definitely of the generation that has always been told we’re special.

Did I fail? Have I disappointed everyone?? Since I’ve only got a Masters degree that I’m not really using and have a healthy marriage instead of a punishing career? (No excuse, I know.)

It’s frustrating for me to feel like I am “behind” in my career .. in my life. ….. Especially as someone who still doesn’t really feel like an adult, but also has a driving need to DO THINGS (whether that means accomplishments or experiences). Contradictory forces in me, there.

But, really, maybe 3o isn’t too old? Cory Doctorow’s first novel came out when he was 32. Not all that old, but what about Ian Fleming, who had a successful career in other industries before creating James Bond when he was 45.

Truth be told, many of those who seriously altered the landscape of our lives—from Charles Darwin to Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin—were individuals who found their groove later in life. Many even started out delayed, only to end up successes beyond expectation. (from an article on Psychology Today)

But then there was Alfred Hitchcock, who made “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” “To Catch a Thief,” “The Trouble with Harry,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” and “Psycho”—one of the greatest runs by a director in history—between his fifty-fourth and sixty-first birthdays. Mark Twain published “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” at forty-nine. Daniel Defoe wrote “Robinson Crusoe” at fifty-eight. (from The New Yorker)

Of course, you can take examples from both extremes.

What matters most is that you’re doing the best you can FOR YOU. And all these other ‘late bloomers’ make me feel better about my own trajectory …. like it’s not too late for me to do something special*.

I feel like up until the last year or so, I was just *looking* … kind of treading water … trying to figure out what I’m really supposed to be doing. Trying to determine what I’m really good at. What my GREAT WORK could be. I tried music, I tried academia, I tried traditional ‘office/business’ work …. All while I finish things like degrees or putting my husband through school or working to save a house-down-payment.

Now I’ve finished all those things and am looking around at what the next part of my story is.  I love learning, and I love the research process …. both things that can identify a late bloomer. And I think I’m OK with that. At least, I’m learning to be OK with not fulfilling my initial expectation (genius! fame! success at a ridiculously young age!)

The Cézannes of the world bloom late not as a result of some defect in character, or distraction, or lack of ambition, but because the kind of creativity that proceeds through trial and error necessarily takes a long time to come to fruition. (source)

So right now … my husband is on his way to being crazy happy and successful in his chosen field, and I feel like I can take my turn to try again. To find what it is I should be doing …. And I think a big part of that is what I do here at Lemon and Raspberry.

What about you? Have you found your GREAT WORK? or are you late bloomer?

In Onward and Upward – my online workshop beginning September 4 – we’ll talk about finding our GREAT WORK, no matter what stage of life you’re in. I believe it’s never too late. I’d love if you could join us, so make sure you’re on the L&R email list to get pre-reg info and discount before it’s announced publicly!

*(yes, I realize this sounds ridiculous since I have potentially another 50+ years of life left!)

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I’ve been sitting here for the last week trying to figure out what I really want to accomplish in 2012.

I can think of things I know I want to do “someday” … Some indefinite space of time in the future when I feel like I’m “ready” …

But what of those things do I know I want to start working toward this year?

And beyond that …. what from 2011 do I want to carry over to 2012? Is there anything I want to drop? Anything that’s not working that I need to let go of?

In 2011 I:

  • released 2 paid and 1 free ebooks
  • helped run 2 sessions of 30 Days of Lists
  • ran my first online workshop – Onward and Upward
  • began offering consulting spots
  • worked full-time at my day job (around 50 hours/week away from home)

Looking back ….

30 Days of Lists was definitely a success! Kam and I are excited to get started on the next round ! All of our participants’ enthusiasm is so contagious and we are so grateful that we can offer something that so many people are passionate about.

It’s incredibly gratifying ….

My 2 ebooks also seemed to be a hit …. Less so, but that is to be expected. The subject matter of Tell Its Story in particular is very focused and not in any way as accessible as 30 Days of Lists.

I have to be honest. Tell Its Story is, I think, my favorite of all my ebooks. I genuinely love the subject matter.

My free ebook SHIFT helped me get a big boost (about 40%) in my newsletter sign-ups (another one of my mini-goals for 2011), so that’s always a plus.

Offering consulting has been interesting: I get emails often from readers asking questions about this or that, but as soon as I start trying to request that my time be valued by actual money the questions dry up.

I love love loved Onward and Upward. We had a very small group (slightly smaller than I would have liked), but personally I really enjoyed working with a small group in an intimate group and the subject matter of O&U is really close to my heart.

In 2011 I actually spent money on placing ads on other blogs. It was for sure a learning experience. Some blogs are just not worth the money no matter how big their audience. Some blogs are far underpriced for the traffic they generate to their sponsors.

Looking forward….

I think 2012 is going to be the year I actually work toward becoming a capital-A Author! I have some ideas – both fiction and non-fiction.

I don’t want to give too much away…. But I think I will be investing in Your Big Beautiful Book Plan. I’ve got a very specific book idea, and even a couple publishers I think would be perfect for it. What has held me back? Oh, you know. I have no idea what I’m doing in that industry … and no real idea who to ask for help.

In 2012 I want to do far less work at the last second. You don’t want to know exactly when I wrote this post, or finished writing SELF LOVE before making it available. I want to finish writing an ebook or online course and actually take a a week or 2 to gather reviews and proofread and craft my marketing launch before putting it out in the world. It’s kind of amazing I have accomplished anything at all working as haphazardly as I do.

As far as products to release, I have about 400 million ideas. Which is helpful but also a pain, of course, as it necessitates prioritizing and culling which I would rather not do. There’s one idea in particular that I’ve had for nearly 2 years now and can’t really get beyond the initial outline. Is that because it’s too much work for me right now or because it’s not a good idea? I don’t know.

I need to decide if I want L&R to focus more on helping small businesses (a la marketing, etc), or more with helping individuals (a la self-confidence, etc). I think so far L&R has been a blend of both. Do you think that’s working? Would you rather see more of one or the other?

I loved Onward and Upward, but I am not certain there’s an audience for another round. If I do run it again it won’t be til the fall, so I have some time to think about it.

In 2012 I want to be much more deliberate in the blogs that I sponsor. Specifically, in the last couple months I’ve created a Welcome landing page that I think is helping KEEP more first time readers than just sending them to the main URL (although, I need to look more carefully at my stats). P.S. If you’re wondering which blogs I’ve sponsored that give the most bang for the buck? I highly recommend sponsoring Campfire Chic, Wild Olive and One Pearl Button.

I spent most of 2011 assuming I would be quitting my ‘day job’ any time …. I fully intend to spend 2012 the same way. I don’t ever want to feel like I’m stuck in that day job. I don’t ever want that to be my long-term career. Instead, I will be spending 2012 slowly building the blocks to allow me to quit that job entirely (whether I’ll find another day job or not, I don’t know). But just the mental state of thinking I could only have a few more months there genuinely helps my motivation.

I think I’ll spend the next day or 2 really brainstorming and laying out a workable plan and specifics for 2012….

What about you!? Have you settled on any goals or intentions for the new year?

More resources for goal setting and planning for the new year:

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Ashland Balloon Fest

Hi L&R readers!

It’s Allie, from Alexandra Rae Design here to share some ideas of how to make your goals and resolutions for the new year the best that they can be!

Most of us make resolutions each year, but if you’re anything like me, they usually don’t make it past January!

Here are some tips that I’m using to get my goals and resolutions to go all the way to next December:

1. Make the goals/resolutions SMART.

What does SMART stand for? Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Timely. Kam from Campfire Chic has a great post on making your goals SMART.

2. Set up a reward system for reaching your goals.

Don’t be all work and no play– you deserve a reward for reaching your goals! I know people who have rewarded themselves with new cameras, vacations, new clothes… all for reaching their goals! It makes working toward those goals so much more fun!

3. Keep track of your progress and failures.

Use something like a journal or Project Life to keep track of your work on your goals– think of how much fun it will be to look back and see where you came from next December– or to look at points where it was hard for you, and be proud of how you overcame those hardships.

4. Don’t try too much all at once.

Don’t set too many goals or make too many resolutions– you’ll get overwhelmed and upset if you fail. Its’ more effective to set a few goals (and reach them!) than to set 12 and get overwhelmed and give up early!

So what are my goals this year?

Well, like so many others, I want to be healthier– but I’m not just going to say “I want to lose weight.” No, I’m going to make my goal of being healthier (ok, and maybe a little bit “lighter”)

SMART: Specific (I want to cut out all soda pop, eat more vegetables, and exercise more)
Measurable: (I want to cut out pop by March, eat at least 5 servings of vegetables a day, and channel Elise Blaha and run a mile a day.)
Actionable: All of these are things I can ACTIVELY do.
Relevant: All of these things are contributing factors to losing weight and getting healthier.
Timely: Cut pop out by MARCH. Run a mile A DAY (for the whole YEAR). Eat 5 servings of vegetables A DAY. All timely. All “time focused.”

What are your resolutions this year? What are you doing to “get there”?

Still need more advice? Check out this post from Kam about productivity killers, or Amy’s e-book “The Finishing Manifesto.” Both are great reads that are really helpful for setting and reaching goals!

Allie from Alexandra Rae Design is a recently married, recently graduated, and recently “relocated” graphic designer and photographer. She’s slowly trying to figure her way through married life, creative careers, and living as an “adult” in her hometown. She teaches online classes such as Design 101 and blogs about her creative life at Alexandra Rae Design.

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Note from Amy: I am a little bit crazy-dedicated when it comes to budgeting and saving money, so I am so thrilled that Justine is willing to be honest and show us what she is committed to saving in this coming year!

Hello Lemon and Raspberry readers!

Justine here from A New Beginning. How are you today?! It is January 1st 2012! Can you believe it?! I remember sitting at home last year reading everyones posts on January 1st 2011. I love today. Everyone is full of tons of goals, and I love nothing more than reading peoples goals and lists and plans. Seriously, its my favorite thing ever.

For Amy’s blog party I wanted to share one of my new goals!

These past 6 months for me have been filled with paying off my Credit Card debt. I had 2600$ to pay and I did it! I cut back on everything. I lived very frugally. I stopped going to the movies, stopped buying books, stopped sponsoring blogs and stopped drinking Starbucks (a lot). Of course, life does not always go perfect, especially for someone like me it says. So, naturally, I received terrible news that my old car didn’t go through my parents bankruptcy as planned and I owe $12,000 dollars or they will start garnishing my checks.

Yikes right?

So, now we are back to the drawing board with my debt.

It is hard, to budget at my age (21), because, one, I go to school full time, and I have such an urge to cut my hours and not work! I work 30 hours a week, and I want nothing less to just work for 15!

What do I do for a job you ask? I work at Pizza Hut! I manage 2 days, and I’m a delivery driver 3 days!

I have come up with a plan though and after much brainstorming.

I am going to start Envelope Budgeting!

This idea has been around for years, and there is a lot of material online to read if you want to know more about it. But after all my research I can say I am very excited to start!

Envelope budgeting starts with of course, envelopes. Each envelope has a category. For mine, I have only 3 categories. They are:

  • Gas: $210 a month. 
  • Food: $200 a month.
  • Miscellaneous: $150 a month.

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Now, you might notice that this does not include my bills. Which are my rent, phone bill, insurance, money I give to missionaries, tithe, and my gym membership. And the reason I don’t add these to my envelopes is because they already come straight from my bank, and I  never have a problem paying these things, but overspending in my categories above is a big problem for me!

So, back to the $12,000 dollars, I need to pay $250 dollars a month to pay it off. So, thats why I need such a strict budget for my gas, food and miscellaneous categories.

Why does this system work? Well its the same way any budget works.

Managed money just works harder! 

It is harder to spend when you are spending cash, and when you see the money leaving instead of just swiping your card through.

I do not have the kind of brain that can keep track of everything I have spent. I need to actually see it. So, thats why I am so excited about this new plan!

Every time I have extra money left over in my envelopes I will put that into a savings account!

Now, I am doing that because it was my goal before I found out about my $12,000 debt. I needed to save for my future schooling, and I still need to do that, even if its going to go way slower now then before.I hope this was something new for you, and maybe you like this idea, so…
here are two of my favorite resources on envelope budgeting: one, and two.

Have a great day everyone :)

Enjoy the Blog Party!
-Justine blogs over at A New Beginning which is filled blogger tutorials like 5 tips to a better blog or even how to create a navigation bar. You can also follow her on Tumblr or Twitter.


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What are your 2012 blogging goals?

It’s getting to be that time of year again ….

That time of year when all the ‘Best of 2011′ lists start popping up. That time of year when everyone is searching for the perfect 2012 calendar and really weighing which New Year’s Resolutions they *might actually* be able to stick with.

Many of you have a blog just-for-fun. Just for documenting your weekend or sharing recipes, etc. But a lot of us are starting to get more serious with our blog-projects. Including accepting sponsors or using the blog as a marketing arm of a small business.

If you are at all serious about actually moving forward with your blog, I encourage you to take the last few weeks of this year to think about your blogging goals for 2012.

As we talked about previously – what constitutes blogging success – this is of course a very personal project. You may really value page rank while another blogger equally values number of comments.

Some examples of goals to set:

  1. Website rank positions
  2. Number of subscribers
  3. Number of comments per post
  4. Number of posts per week
  5. Consistency and sticking to your blog schedule
  6. Number of unique visitors and page-views per month
  7. Monthly revenue earned from your blog
  8. Adding contributing writers
  9. Offering products/services using your blog as a platform
  10. Creating/growing your email list

My goal is to build Lemon and Raspberry into a full-time job. Which means I measure income, I keep track of my return on investment, and I don’t freak out about my Google Friend Connect number.

I’ve linked to it before and I will link to it again – Kam’s detailed and well-written post on Setting SMART Goals. This is basically my starting point and structuring device for all the brainstorming and planning I have in front of me.

So these next 3 or so weeks before January 1 I will be focusing on EXACTLY what I want to accomplish with L&R next year, and EXACTLY what steps I need to take to reach those.

For me: My primary goal for 2012 is to grow my online income with L&R so over the next few weeks I will be

  • brainstorming and creating a rough release schedule for future products
  • brainstorming and setting tasks for specific marketing strategies
  • brainstorming and connecting with companies I can act as affiliates for

But, as I know from Kam, it’s not really a goal to “grow my online income.” It’s a GOAL to grow my income from something specific like $5/month to something else specific like $1,000/month (or pick-your-own numbers for your situation).

Of course, I won’t bore you with the details, but I’ve got a fresh yellow legal pad all set and ready for pages and pages of notes and ideas and brainstorming and structuring. I will be building in another 30 Days of Lists event. I will be scheduling the next Onward and Upward workshop. I may even start collecting blog post ideas for the beginning of the year.

I’m really SO excited to start working on this!! I’ve been thinking about new L&R projects for months and I can’t wait to actually schedule in time to put them out in the world!

So, what are your blogging goals for 2012?

P.S. Don’t forget to ALSO take steps to EXECUTE your tasks toward your goals. For help building your blog content for the readers you want, check out my Better Blog Content workbook – complete with nearly 100 pages of resources, actionable steps and easy ideas for improving the content you post day after day.

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What constitutes blogging success?

So I’ve been blogging for almost 6 years now….. (the first big chunk at my personal site Those Crazy Schuberts).

At what point have I ‘made it’? Sure, I have more readers now, I have a stronger blogging schedule and I even have some products to sell now….

… but what really constitutes blogging success?

Are y’all bloggers? If you’re not a blogger – imagine the word ‘business’ or ‘big craft project’ instead of blog throughout this post. Same principles apply for any creative work you have.

I guess what we really have to focus on is WHY.

Why are you blogging? Why do you make the time every week? Why do you want people to read your blog?

What is the goal? Is it building an income? Is it simply influence and popularity? Or is it something distinctly tangible like a book deal?

Traffic is nice, but what does it do for you? Is it more important for you to have thousands of eyeballs every day on your just-for-fun blog, or to have only a few hundred that help you pay the bills?

What is the MINIMUM that needs to be done to make you feel like you’ve accomplished something?

And finally, what metric are you using to measure that?

I don’t have the answer for you.

I have the answer for ME.

My goal is to build Lemon and Raspberry into a full-time job. Which means I measure income, I keep track of my return on investment, and I don’t freak out about my Google Friend Connect number.

If we’re talking about your etsy shop – maybe your goal is to get to 30 sales each month. If that is the case you would of course keep track of how many sales you’re at now, maybe keep track of your best customers and learn how to write better sales copy for your listings.

These are of course just examples, but I encourage you to take a look at your blog, your business or your other on-going creative project and really focus on the ONE goal, the WHY you are doing all that creative work.

You’ll never know if you’re succeeding if you don’t know what success looks like.

So, what about you? What are you working on and what makes you feel like you’re making progress on it?

P.S. For another example of how to measure success, have you seen Moneyball yet?

P.P.S. For help building your blog content for the readers you want, check out my Better Blog Content workbook – complete with nearly 100 pages of resources, actionable steps and easy ideas for improving the content you post day after day.

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