Yesterday while I was preparing a Black Forest cake for our hosts I put on chill out music because I find it’s relaxing. I hate loud noise, crowds, and traffic. Leave me in the middle of the woods with my creepy critters and animals, and I’ll be fine. I tried to block out my thoughts about marketing and my list, but I couldn’t shut my brain off.
I always think BIG, why not? It’s what keeps me going; it gives me something to work and look forward to — it ’a challenge. I love challenges especially when I’m told I can’t do something I do it out of spite to show whoever has doubts about my endeavors that I CAN DO IT.
Life happens, and we must face reality as our parents often reminded us when we had big dreams of becoming an artist or writer or what they thought were unachievable dreams or do we? NOPE, not in my books.
Let’s talk about determination, dreams, and defining our goals.
Before I became an author, I helped run various family businesses, and I still do. I realized that being an author is the same thing as being an entrepreneur.
I’ve seen businesses open and close in a year. What I’ve often heard from the business owners was that it was time-consuming, no return on investment, no family life, there weren’t enough resources and so many other excuses in my opinion.
I figured that the biggest excuse or obstacle of all was the fear of not making it in the long run.
If one had enough courage, he/she would find the time, resources and whatever else to stand up to their commitment.
I’m trying to stand up to my commitments for my debut picture book ‘Jurassic Rat.’ It’s tough, but I’m determined to reach my goals. Marketing is not one of my best subjects. If I could do without I would but I can’t. Not in this competitive world.
Remember that no one else is going to do it if you don’t. You are the boss; you are the marketing chief officer, you take responsibility for your own success.
Lou Holtz as a young man wrote down his personal and professional goals. Even though one might think they were impossible to achieve, he made his dreams come true.
I love this quote from Lou Holtz
‘Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.
It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it’.
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Here’s a list of the goals I have achieved or yet to achieve.
- Find a loving companion – Done, I married a beautiful Italian, and we’re still married after 38 years.
- Finish my University studies – Done, I received my BS in Environmental Sciences and Territorial Mangement at the age of 44. It was quite the cruise with teenagers around the house.
- Get Published – Done – After ten years of honing my craft by attending various writing and illustration classes I signed a publishing contract with Clear Fork Publishing- Spork Imprint for my debut picture book’ Jurassic Rat.’
- Learn how to market my book – Work in progress, I have a platform set up, I still have to figure out how Mailchimp works, but I’m slowly getting there, with a little help from my friends.
- Create a Wow website – I think I’ll need some help here sooner or later, but I do have one. If you’re reading this right now you know I have to tweak it a bit.
- Engage my audience – I’m taking a smartphone video class hoping it will engage more people and get them to know me better.
- Create promotional products as giveaways for my debut picture book coming spring 2019. – I’ll try to show the work in progress shortly, hopefully with videos.
- Finish a book dummy – I’m attending an illustration course to further my knowledge about illustrating children’s books.
- A movie contract for Jurassic Rat – I know, but I think BIG.
- A sequel for Jurassic Rat where he may find a mate – think Scrat and the female Scratte – Ice Age does it ring a bell? Think BIG!
…and the list goes on and on.
Creating a list will motivate you and help you overcome resistance. So focus on your goals.
When you’ve reached one goal on your list celebrate. Go out to dinner, eat ice cream or whatever makes you feel good. Then go to the next one on the list and do it.
Share your list of professional or personal goals in life with me. I’d love to hear from you.
