The Fruitless Act of Beating Yourself Up.

Reader, have you ever begun the day by pouring over everything you forgot to do, failed to do, or failed at doing?
It’s so easy for us to focus on things left undone, or done poorly but the truth is, none of that mindset is helpful.

In psychology, they say you gravitate toward things that give you pleasure. For example, if you are really good at something, or if you really enjoy something, you will focus most of your attention there. I call it your sweet spot
…that place you go to for comfort whether it’s icecream or Facebook.

But your sweet spot isn’t always just a place that makes you feel good. Sometimes it’s a place of accomplishment…
an action that you can easily check off your list. Even if it’s not the most important thing on the list, at least it’s doable, and “done” feels so good. This is why so many people spend their life on easily completed tasks, or video games, because they get an immediate rush of accomplishment–eveb if it’s just scoring on “candy crush”.

And lot’s of time, your sweet spot is is just a place that gives you a sense of fulfillment. There’s nothing wrong with that. But here’s the deal…
if you don’t feel that sense of pleasure, fulfillment or accomplishment, you will most likely avoid that task or duty which is most important.

Most of our tasks fall within a certain heirarchy of importance. And while crushing it a candy crush might feel good right now, the truth is, we all feel of sense of emptiness, after the initial rush of check something off the list, if the things we checked off aren’t of the highest priority. That’s why it’s so important to rank things on your to do list, in order of importance.

But again, knowing something is important doesn’t mean we will prioritize it, even if we star it, highlight it, and put a post it note on our nose.

I call it the “ugh” factor. “ugh! I have to do these dishes. Ugh! I have to call my high maintenace uncle who’s in memory care (yea, that one….the one who wants to chew your ears off). Ugh! I have to cram for this test”. As you can see, a lot of things with the ugh factor are 12 times ughlier by putting them off, rather than pacing them, and planning ahead. But some tasks are so truly gnarly that even thinking about them causes brain cramp. Clearly, we need all of the good vibes we can get going on to even approach the topic in our minds.

This is why it’s so important to reward yourself, and to make that high priority task as stress free and enjoyable as possible.
So how is that done? Well the first step is in not focusing on the past. If you know you’ve blown it in some area,
stop ruminating about it and instead, plan how to be successful next time.

It’s hard to begin setting goals for the new year when you look at that goal list from last year and think, “Ugh!
I’ve been trying to get this task done for 15 years with zero follow through.” This is why most people don’t write new years resolutions.

But today is a new day, and while that might seem overly optimisitic and naive, the truth is, this is the exact mindset which all innovators took in their quest to succeed.

Edison, who invented the lightbulb, related that every time he made a mistake, he was encourged. He was one step closer to finding the right way. And in case you don’t know, Thomas Edison made thousands of attempts at creating the light bulb before he got it right.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”

Consider today a new day to try something a new way. Today is a new day to try a method that motivates,
relieves stress, and creates follow through. Today, how about writing down every single thing you need to do, and designating a time for it?

5:00
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8:00
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800
9:00
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1000

Blogging Basics

Have you ever been on a blog that seemed simply awesome, until you realized, it had no posts? Or maybe the post it did have, read, “This is a blog post. To edit me….” \My favorite is that cheezy tag line that WordPress puts on your title by default “this website is the bees knees”. I don’t know how many websites I’ve seen (including some older ones of mine that are unedited) which look fabulous, but have that “bees’ knees” tagline (howl). It’s so hysterical when you make a great blog with sidebars and java script, only to look at it..REALly look at it…two months later, and find something like this:

I imagine there may be a website that could make a tagline like that work. If you look closely, this clothing website has the tag line, “This Boutique is the Bees Knees”. When I browsed their site, it did actually seem to be the kind of store that worked with that style of tagline.  I thought it was adorable.

The original saying “That’s the bee’s knees” is actually a slang phrase way back when, so I would guess not many people use it any more. I also found out, it is the name of a mixed drink. Whether or not others know this without searching on Google, I have no idea. Still, if that’s not the image you want, you may want to replace it. Obviously, WordPress is hoping that when you see the tagline, you will cringe and change it. Sadly, most blog master don’t notice this when creating their blog.

I can not tell you how many blue chip quality blogs I have seen, with hundreds of viewers, that have this embarrassing gap, so if you just noticed your blog has this issue, take heart.

Perhaps you’re like me; youmay have burnt through blog tutorials that try to show you how to make your blog, dance, rock and shine.

But most of them don’t really show you how to get the basics down so that you have an attractive, organized, professional looking blog. So many of you have real promise in your blog. I can tell you are creative and intelligent, and have designed skills. But just like someone in a gorgeous outfit with their zipper open, you have….well, I have to whisper it because it’s embarrasing (gaps, okay)?   What are friends for, right?

In my e-course, “Blogging Basics” I take you back, back… back…. to the starting line where good blogs begin.  I’m talking about ground zero, from the tagline to the footers and everything in between.

In it, I show you step by step  how to make a blog you can really be proud of, without wondering what you left out.

When you finish this course, I want your mantra to be:

No  Ugly Blogs (and no boring ones either).

Having a blog that is complete, with no awkward gaps is not enough. Your blog needs substance and style. I show you how to create a blog that talks to your readers and speaks their language. Generous screen shots show you how to post great images and how to get your front page to look “just right” while following best practices for web design and navigation.

We do talk about themes and fonts, but the truth is, the fundamentals of a good blog are so much more than great blog design; of course you want to make sure that you have a menu that is easy to navigate, with no embarrassing gaps. And having a nicely designed blog is great as well. Still, even the jazziest interface and graphics on the planet can not compensate for the lack of this one thing

Content.

So what is content? Well, it could be articles, but it could also be eye candy. Like graphics, diagrams, and even videos.  Content doesn’t just have to inform. It can also entertain. And inspire. Content is just anything that your site “contains”.  It’s the content of your website. Which is not to say that you shouldn’t have a lot of meaty articles on your blog. If you dread writing, love writing, or want to know more about the mechanics of great writing, I break it all down for you step by step so you aren’t shooting in the dark when you write. You’ll learn all about connecting with your reader and keeping them engaged, and how to write fresh, meaty content EVERY DAY (really!) without getting burnt out.  Even if you detest writing, or don’t think you can, I’ve got you covered

In “Blogging Basics”, I show you how to prevent embarrassing gaps, design your website head to toe, and yes, even how to write compelling, sharp content.

But this is not some offer where you whip out your credit card, copy my download, and cancel your order. Nope, we’re not doing that game. This is good, good stuff, and I now it.

So how can you access it? I send you a link once you’re money order is processed.

The cost? $150.

Send money order to:

Susan Melin

PO Box 295

Independence, MO. 64050

How to get off the wheel of internet marketing

“When you’re done with your next product launch, can we have a nibble together?”

Reader, do you ever get the feeling that you are doing the same thing, but not seeing results? There’s  a story of a man who was in a prison camp, and he kept turning a crank that was attached to the wall. His captors told him that it was his job to grind wheat, and that if he did it long enough and hard enough, he’d eventually earn his release. After the war, his emancipation came. His rescuers took him to the other side of the cell and there he saw it….the crank had NOTHING attached to it. His whole time in captivity, all of his labor was for nothing. Nothing! The man was very disheartened to realize that all of his labor had been in vain. But had it? Do you think that having something to do helped him to cope? I do. And a lot of you are like that too. You spend hours working on dead end tasks, checking likes, and gaining followers, and it feels good. But at the end of the day, you need to ask yourself: What’s on the other side? All internet marketers need to ask themselves this question: Is what I’m doing making me any money. Will it eventually be making money And if so, when. You desperately need the answers to these question. Otherwise, you are turning a dead crank.

Writing for “likes”, and why it doesn’t work

Reader, did you ever post on article on your blog, and get a gazillion likes, but no sales? Or maybe you got some followers on Facebook, but none of them were your target market, meaning, no moolah came from your fame.

One of the hardest things to let go of in internet marketing is the dynamic of being a slave to “the rules”.

Here they are:

“If I just get enough likes, people will like my product”

The truth: people may be “liking” your post, because they are your competition, and they are hoping others will click on their thumbnail.

“If enough people comment on my article, it will show my readers that I’m legit”

Well, it might, unless your readers are primarily your competition, scoping out your site to see what is different from theirs before they leave a comment with a link to their site.

See, a lot (read: most) of thes suppossed rules are outdated or over-rated. They may work at getting you noticed, but not necessarily from customers.

Okay, we’ve talked about what doesn’t work, but what does work…as in, attracting buying customers.

Well, the first thing to do is to detox completely from everything, and I do mean ever y thing that you’ve been doing.

like, posting on facebook everyday and building back links.

The truth is, most of you are working WAY to hard at what you’re doing, essentially pushing rocks uphill all day.

When you do that, it’s no longer being an innovator, and entrepreneur or a thought leader. See, when you follow these cookie cutter templates, roadmaps to success and supposed rules, your just working a job, punching a time clock of mindless tasks—which may be what your were actually getting out of when you began this insternet marketing deal.

If you are tired of being a slave to your computer, then listen to some fresh wisdom on Internet marketing.

1. Identify your goal. It should be, making money.
2. Be clear on exactly HOW you are going to make money. This is your internet marketing strategy and it should be concise, like, ” I plan on making money by selling items online” or “My goal is to make money by being an affiliate” or ” I’m going to sell ad space on my content blog” Okay, now once you identify the WAY your are going to make money, you need to super, super super define the exact steps you are taking. For example, if you are going to be an affiliate, then you need to know how you are going to present your affiliate offer. Is it through links? Off your own website? Off your Facebook page? And then, pick just one avenue and give it all you’ve got. If you don’t get any results at all in a month, go on to another strategy.
3. Be real with yourself….if you’ve been online for months and have sold nothing, you may need a new product, a new strategy or a new platform altogether. It doesn’t do you any good to live in denial if something isn’t working
4. Finally, get a second set of eyes on your strategy. Mentorship is priceless, but be sure that the person who is giving you advice isn’t profiting from the “resources” that they refer you to. Find a mentor who will give you unbiased advice without profiting from referrals.

Blogging with Passion

The first most important thing for a blog

Passion

The second most important thing for a blog to be successful

Passion

The third most important thing for a blog to get noticed, read, and adored:

Passion

What is your blog probably lacking?

Well, probably passion. Unless,  you love what you blog about.

Reader, tell me something…do you love what you blog about?

Do you wake up in the morning excited about blogging, or do you dread it?

Do you blog  because you want to…I mean, you really really want to? Or do you blog because everyone else is, and someone told you that you, or your business, need to?

It’s time to get the passion back into your blog.

Listen, I know what it’s like to wake up in the morning and feel “bleck” when it comes to blogging. But it doesn’t need to be that way.

You just need a support system. An ally. Someone in the trenches with you.

Grab my daily inspiration and get some creative juices flowing.

Theres no charge, only feel good, hi five vibes in your inbox everysingle day.

Pitch-free. Nag free (okay, usually nag free, but hey, sometimes we all need a forceful nudge to keep blogging.

And I promise to keep it relevant and spam free.

Are you tired of surface scum in your inbox?

Get some blogging meat here:

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