ARTICLES & NEWS

“Anyone who’s ever made anything — whether that’s impact or a material thing of significance — has failed massive amounts of times.”

-Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini became a household name in 2002 as the runner-up in Season 1 of American Idol. From there, he's starred in multiple Broadway shows and, in 2015, began appearing in Diet Dr. Pepper commercials as "Lil' Sweet."

But the road to success has not always been an easy one.

Through the ups, down, and complete direction reversals that the public is often not made aware of, Justin ended up in unexpected territory, fascinated with the ins and outs of what allows entertainers, influencers, and entrepreneurs to be confident in moments when they're feeling anything but.

It's been a journey that led to the creation of his Core Confidence program and his soon-to-be-released book, Unshakeable Confidence.

In this incredible conversation, Justin and I discussed confidence -- that...

"Just edit as you go," they say. "It will keep everything clean and save you tons of time on the back end."

I don't know who "they" are in this scenario, but they're wrong! 

Have you declared (with lukewarm confidence) any of the following?

"As soon as I iron out the details of this chapter, I'll move on to the next."

"I'm just stuck on whether or not this metaphor makes sense."

"I'm trying to decide whether the content in chapter 2 makes sense; then I'll move on."

"Chapter 4 should perhaps be chapter 2 and chapter 3 should perhaps disappear altogether. As soon as I figure that out, I'll continue on."

While your intentions may be the best of the best, if you are editing (or strategizing chapter order, or debating content, or researching proper comma use) as you write, you are doing yourself a disservice. Here's why:

1. In 99.978% of cases, editing as you go (or telling yourself that you are) is a form of procrastination. 

2. In the other .022% of cases, editing as you...

Cory Goodrich is an actor, songwriter, singer, painter, and (most recently) author. Her memoir, Folksong: A Ballad of Death, Discovery, and DNA launches on January 11, 2021.

In her first appearance on the Authors, Creators, and Visionaries podcast, we discussed the undeniably divine chain of events that led to our meeting, to me having the privilege of editing her manuscript, and ultimately, to Finn-Phyllis Press (my publishing house) acquiring her memoir for publication.

This story is truly an example of the way that the universe works in our favor when we are able to take action and then surrender, be patient, and see what unfolds. If you are even a bit skeptical this principle (and I have been!), I invite you to listen to this episode with an open mind and a curiosity about what might be waiting for you to slow down long enough that it can catch up to you.

YOUR STORY IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO SHARE!

Despite what you may think, you don't need...

Did ANYTHING good happen in 2020?

It's the question that seemingly everyone is asking right now, and I had the unique opportunity to chat with business strategist Mike Young about our unexpected (but greatly appreciated) lessons learned this year.

Among these lessons:

>> What you say to yourself matters - how you describe or qualify your “failures” or missteps is crucial. 

>> When starting a new offer, you’ll always have an imposter-syndrome feeling because you don’t know how it’s all going to play out. The solution: DO NOT over-promise on your offer. 

>> It’s difficult to OVER-communicate with people you are close to.

>> You have to know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there (plus my newest secret weapon in this area)

>> The value of monitoring your energy as you determine what you DO like at any given point in time. 

>> Continue to explore your passion in order to...

The 7-Minute Setup by Frank Lopes has truly changed the way that I organize and prioritize my life--professionally and personally.

I've tried more than my fair share of planners and prioritization tools. Most of them work well for a few months (while a few barely made it until end of week). But they were all missing one critical component --- the ability to evolve WITH me as my goals and priorities changed. 

If yearly, monthly, and weekly planning sometimes feels like the bane of your existence (*cautiously raises hand), this approach is absolutely one to consider. 

In this episode of Authors, Creators, and Visionaries, Frank and I dive into:

• The (until now) missing piece when it comes to a time management system that evolves with you
• The level of true power and influence you can have over your own life, no matter what else is going on in your world or the world at large
• The long-term effect of peeling back your 7-year goals in order to be completely clear on what...

In episode 43 of the Authors, Creators and Visionaries podcast, Drew Linsalata and I talk about audiobook creation.

People often ask, "What about an audiobook? Should I create one? HOW do I create one?" But we've learned that there are a few more important questions to ask first.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What's more important than actually creating the audiobook?
• Should you narrate your own book or hire that out?
• What are indicators that you are not the best narrator for your audiobook?
• Common mistakes in the area of mic selection and other equipment used
• How audiobooks are far different from podcasts or YouTube content
• The actual profit margin on audiobooks (it's not what you've likely been told)
• How to use audio content most beneficially (even without creating a full-length audiobook)
• The newest trend in audiobook creation -- supplemental (bonus) content

...

"No one can deny you your truth"

-Eileen Robertson Hamra

Eileen Robertson Hamra is the author of the newly released Time to Fly: Life and Love After Loss, which immediately captivated me. Her honest vulnerability about the journey through a tragedy the likes of which I am blessed to not be able to imagine kept me riveted. Even though I've not experienced this degree of loss, I was able to incorporate her lessons of strength into my journey, and for that, I know I will be a better person. This is the magic of stories.

In Episode 42 of the Authors, Creators and Visionaries podcast, we discussed not only her story but also her journey writing and publishing her remarkable book. 

Key Takeaways

 Her why, and how it morphed over the course of writing the book 

The realization that took the pressure off of "imposter syndrome" and needing to write the "perfect" book

How to write without pressuring yourself to be a spokesperson or grief...

A great way to connect with your readers is to communicate with them about a product or service they will genuinely be thrilled to learn about (that relates to your book topic!).

For example, if you've written about managing anxiety, is there a meditation app you recommend? 

If you've written a book about changing your lifestyle and nutrition habits, is there a meal prep service or mean planning product you recommend?

If you've written fiction, what hobbies does your main character engage in? Is there an online course related to learning that skill?

As promised in the last post, here is an actual email template from the Email Vault you get access to when you enroll in From Manuscript to Market (my 12-day, step-by-step book launch system). 

Email for Non-Fiction/Memoir Authors

Email Subject Line: A Resource You Will Love Knowing About!

Hi there, [FIRST NAME],

I so hope that [YOUR BOOK TITLE] has been helpful to you and has provided insights and tools that you can use to...

In the last post, I told you about my realization that a lawn mower is, in fact, worth the investment when you have a large yard full of grass.

Let me give you another example of doing things the hard way--one that's likely a bit more relatable: getting a duvet cover onto a duvet without ending up like this:

You're with me, right? The struggle is real.

I mean, it was, until someone told me to search "duvet burrito" on YouTube. 

I didn't feel like I had the time to watch a video on exactly how to get the duvet in its cozy covering without losing my mind plus another 42 minutes week after week. 

But at some point, we each have to say, "Enough is enough" and accept that if someone can put a wrinkle in time for us that costs us a fraction of the time we've been investing (with less-than-stellar results).

Moving past the duvet debacle (which I'm all too happy to do), communicating with my list of readers and knowing how to help partners who are more than willing to...