Mindset

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How Do You Know You’re Ready for Help?

In the last week, I’ve spoken to five authors about their books. They’re all in different phases of writing, editing, publishing, and launching, but they all have two things in common:

  1. They are passionate about their message – and the world needs this message Right Now.
  2. They need help, mentorship, guidance, and support to get to the next step in the process.

(Now, you KNOW I have my soapbox about the importance of your message so there is one thing I have to tell you:

No, not EVERY author I speak to is writing a message-driven book. A few are looking no further than “credibility” or “expertise”. There’s no passion there. And no, not someone I take on as a client!)

But these five authors – without exception – have a message that is ready to move out into the world.

The other thing these authors recognized is that they’ve gone as far as they can – by themselves. There are questions unanswered (What comes next? Am I being boring? Is this the right place for this story/this teaching? How do I publish? What will it take to be a best-seller?) that they’re seeking out help to find the answers.

There’s a deep strength in realizing that you aren’t infallible. That you don’t have all the answers. That no matter how much research you do on your own, nothing is a substitute for guidance from someone who not only has walked that path with her own books (20, to be exact) but who has also guided others through the same proven system.

Five Key Indicators that you're ready to hire a mentor. Click To Tweet
So how do you know if you [insert your name here] is ready for mentorship? Here are five key indicators.

1. You’re sick and tired of being stuck, frustrated, and searching for next steps.

As humans we KNOW that help is always available – once you ask for it. And we also have a stubbornness that keeps us from humbling ourselves and asking for it.

(Come on, you KNOW that’s true!)

At some point, you reach a point where you’re at the end of your rope – and you’re still 15 feet above the ground. The only options LEFT to you are A.) quit or B.) get help.

Please, please, don’t quit. You’re ready for mentorship when quitting isn’t an option.

2. You’re coachable and ready to listen – and do!

No one mentor has all the answers – not me and not any other coach, mentor, or expert. But I have MORE knowledge about books and all their steps than you do. So why on Earth would you ask for help and then not be ready to listen and take actions?

(Remember what I said about being stubborn?)

It’s humbling to ask for the help and then (sometimes this HURTS) to listen and accept the advice when it’s given. You’re ready for mentorship if you can listen with an open mind, ask questions for deeper understanding, and willing to do the work.

Keep Reading!

The 6th Mental Monster

If you’ve been around my little corner of the internet at all, you’ll have heard me talk about the 5 Mental Monsters that Keep You from Writing Your Book. (Find them here: 5MentalMonsters.com)

They can be big and scary and keep you stuck.

But today, I wanted to introduce you to the SIXTH mental monster.

This guy – as cute and adorable as he may appear – shows up when you least expect it… just as all your dreams are on the cusp of coming true.

Mental Monster #6 shows up at the very end.

And he whispers…

Don’t.

Don’t finish.
Don’t publish.
Don’t be seen.

Don’t.

Mental Monster #6 feels like you’re about to walk around naked – with your dreams and hopes and ideas hanging out for the world to see.

It wants to keep you from actually sharing your message with the world.

Keep Reading!

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Eat. You’ll feel better. – Kim’s Motto for 2018

Every January, I work my way through the Shining Year workbooks from Leonie Dawson. I love taking the time to dream up my year ahead. There’s one page in the Life workbook that asks me to create mottos for the year.

Gotta tell you, it’s always been a challenge for me to fill out that page. As message-focused as I am, and as message-focused as my clients are, this little motto usually has me beat.

This year, I found one – and I wanted to share it with you:

Eat. You’ll feel better.

(Hang with me, I’ve got a point!)

I’ve found that when I’m tired and the project Just.Isn’t.Working it’s usually because I’m hungry or thirsty – or both! (With a 4-month-old baby saying I’m tired is rather redundant and obvious!)

Keep Reading!

Ride the Wave of Inspiration: Write Your Book in 2018!

Are you feeling excited and inspired to write your book this year?

January (and all of 2018) is sparkly and new and you’ve made the resolution that yes, THIS is the year.

Maybe you’ve even put words on a page already – and you’re pleased as punch that you’ve taken a step toward your goal.

Good job!

(What?! You thought I was going to say something else?)

Hey, I get it:

January 1 is a rather arbitrary date – but one that we hang so many hopes and dreams on. Wishes for a new start. A few days or weeks of actions moving us in the direction of our dreams.

And that’s a good thing!

The logic part of our brain says that we could draw that line anywhere – and make a fresh start no matter what the calendar says. But the emotional side loves the Big Fresh Start that happens on 1/1. (And the fact that January 1 was a Monday… swoon!)

I’m excited for you! I want you to ride that wave of inspiration. I’m setting an audacious goal – with you – that 2018 WILL BE YOUR YEAR. It’ll be the year that you finally get your book written. For real.

Setting an audacious goal: 2018 is the year you FINALLY write your book. Click To Tweet

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Is Now a Good Time to Write Your Book?

Tomorrow…

It’s a word that’s ripe with promise. It feels shiny and new. There’s so much that can be accomplished… tomorrow.

Now, I’m not an expert on overcoming procrastination. In fact, I’m just as good at procrastinating as you are (and maybe even better!). And I’m all too familiar with the seduction that tomorrow holds.

  • Or this weekend.
  • Or next week.
  • Or in the spring.

And we’re in this limbo period on the calendar. When one year is winding down and the next looms on the horizon, fresh with promise of a new beginning.

It’s all too easy to put your dreams on hold – waiting for the New Year. It’s all too easy to write off the rest of 2017 – and forget about a more powerful word:

Now.

More immediate than even today, NOW is a word of power.

NOW is a word of power. What can you do NOW to bring you closer to your dreams? Click To Tweet

Keep Reading!

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5 Ways to Stay Inspired for Your Book (no matter what!)

For me, there’s a big difference between being inspired to write and having the motivation to write. One is about fun and ideas and flow and the other is about working towards a goal and keeping the end in mind.

I think that most books START with inspiration. You get that great idea, have that little voice whispering in your ear, or just get flat-out excited. It’s perfect to take those great feelings and get started! It’s that serendipitous moment that kick-starts the creativity.

Motivation is what keeps you going after the initial inspiration fades.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t believe in writer’s block. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a LOT easier to write when inspiration is knocking.

Inspiration fades. 5 ways to keep writing anyway. Click To Tweet

And inspiration probably WILL fade over time. Work ethic and the “I’m not going to let anything get in my way” need to take over so eventually, the writing gets completed. Motivation is a needed ingredient in your writing. But inspiration, ah, inspiration! Without it, nothing would get started.

Don’t for one second think that inspiration is limited to writing fiction! All writing is creative. You have to find the right order of words to express your thoughts. (If you’ve ever struggled to convey your thoughts you know what I mean!)

5 Ways to Stay Inspired

1. When inspiration hits: WRITE
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, drop everything and get words on paper. Period. No excuses. Inspiration doesn’t come around every day so make the most of it when it’s around. I’ve scribbled article drafts on napkins and done character sketches on the back of envelopes. And yes, I’m THAT WOMAN who’s pulled over to jot a note in the dust of the hood of my truck.

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Are You Writing a Book You Love?

Let’s talk about love…

At the risk of sounding overly sappy or 80’s movie corny…

Are you in love with your book?

Do you get the warm fuzzy feelings when you think of it?

Let me pause here:

I get it that you might feel overwhelmed with the amount of work ahead of you or the unknowns you’re facing. Especially around publishing… I’m talking about the topic you’re writing about, divorced from the work.

Do you get choked up imagining that person pulling your book off a shelf in a bookstore, curling up with it at home, and realizing that THIS was the book they needed?

Do you feel like you’re writing a love letter to the person who needs your message?

Do you?

Or are you writing the book you feel you should write? Writing it because:

… you want to be seen as an expert, so you’re pouring everything you know into one book.
… will do anything for more clients, and you’ve heard a book is the way to do that.
… it’s ‘time’ for you to write a book – you’ve done as much as you can in your business so this is the next step.
… feel like the book you’d love to write isn’t the one that you should write right now.

Keep Reading!

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