116: Becoming Like A Tree - How I am working through my content creation block

I feel like I have been censoring myself. Recently, when I got inspired to write a blog post or make video, I told myself that I already talk about it in my coaching program, so why post about it. When I got an idea on how web designers can raise their pricing, the thought arose, “I teach that within my coaching program”. Or when I came up with a perspective to share on how to handle the workflow of a design project, again my mind said, “Don’t you share that in-depth in the coaching program curriculum? Why give it away for free?”.

My Program Is Substantial. But That Shouldn’t Be A Reason Why I Don’t Blog On Those Same Topics

Yes, it’s true that I have laid out everything inside my group coaching program which is an exclusive program I created to help web designers build a thriving business - not just a six figure business but grow to a Million $ Net Worth. I share everything I know, share my emails, my processes, my strategies, and my game-plans. I show actual screenshots from within my business. It’s my way to pass on everything to other designers. It’s a fantastic program, my best work - if I may say so myself.

Because I have all my gems inside this program, when it comes to creating new blog and video content, I’ve censored myself. And this is exactly what I want to work through and break free from because I have been feeling suffocated. As if I can only talk about certain things and not others and my mind was not free to share and explore with my audience new ideas and perspectives.

My Wise Husband Speaks

So I asked my very wise husband for some guidance. Cristof, who is also the finance coach inside the program and an overall genius when it comes to finance, business and online marketing, shared an exercise with me. And I want to share it with you, in case, you too have some kind of a content creation block, or some kind of a block in your business.

He said, “Journal a response to this question, “Why is it worth blogging freely about what I know?” and then do this for a month every day.”

Why Is It Worth Doing …?

There are two key things to note about this exercise:
1. The question is very purposefully presented in a positive action oriented format. The question asks why is it worth blogging freely, instead of why is it worth letting go of this block. Both ways of posing this question will work for different people in different moods. For me, the former is easier to grasp because “blogging freely” is an action I can do, “letting go” is an action that feels abstract and intangible.

2. Cristof asked me to do this exercise every day. It can be a quick one minute journaling. And it’s okay if I come up with the same answers as the previous day. The key here is repetition. Clearly, this block is a result of some way of thinking, a belief that is deep in my subconscious. And just one time writing it may not be very effective (it can be sometimes, of course). We often need repetition for things to settle into the trenches of our brain and to replace old subconscious beliefs! So writing this out every day for a month will help me highlight the positive reasons and benefits of blogging freely and break free of the block.

So phrase the question in a way that it is tangible and action-oriented (blogging freely, in this case) and journal every day for a month.

Answers That Came Up For Me

I want to share some of the realizations of this simple exercise that are helping me breakthrough my content creation block:

Why is it worth blogging freely about what I know?

Because Nathan Barry (founder of ConvertKit) said to me, “Teach Everything You Know”. (He actually wrote this when he signed his book at his Craft & Commerce conference some years ago).
Because I have benefitted from others sharing freely.
Because I want to have a positive domino effect in the world.
Because knowledge is power only when it is shared and not when it goes to the grave with the knowledge-holder.
Because I can save years and years of time for a fellow web designer and that time saved is priceless for us as humanity.
Because I can help another designer be independent and stand on their feet and not have to kill their dreams before they had a chance to sprout and bloom fully.
Because I can show other designers how to earn $5-$10K monthly with web design services with ease and this kind of revenue can mean a world of difference for most web designers.
Because I believe that if an action can help even just 1 person in a small way, then it is an action worth taking.
Because there is no guarantee that I will have another day to share my experience meaningfully (because tomorrow is not guaranteed to any one of us.)
Because there are many avenues through which abundance finds its way to me, and the coaching program is just one of them.
Because sharing is what trees do; they share all that they have and in doing so they prosper naturally.
Because I am a creative being and restrictions on what I blog about is like putting a candle inside a vacuum.

Becoming like a Tree

The two key take aways from this exercise. One is that I must become like the tree. Trees share all they have. For example, they share their fruits which are eaten by birds who then pass those seeds in some other area and in this way new trees grow. That’s how they prosper. They let down hundreds and hundreds of acorns which the squirrels put away for their use but only use 20% of what they “plant" away! That’s wisdom! Share freely and simply in doing so we prosper and thrive. I just love trees!

Abundance Has Multiple Avenues

The other key realization for me is to remember that abundance has multiple channels to find me. I have been narrow-minded in thinking that just one program will be the main source of growing my business. But abundance has found so many different avenues to come into my life already and I know that there’s more than one channel that it uses to get to us. The ocean has rivers flowing into it from all directions. And as self-employed web designers, we are like the ocean; not dependent on any single source for our income. It is freeing to think this way and to remember the vast and infinite possibilities that exist.

Now, It’s Your Turn

So my dear, web designer, if you find yourself in a situation where something feels suffocated, or you are inadvertently stifling your creativity or sense of ease and peace, journal to receive some breakthroughs. Ask yourself a positive action-oriented question starting with, “Why is it worth doing …xyz?” And see what comes up as insights and inspirations. Share in the comments for us all, if you feel inspired!

Cheers to you and your abundant creativity,
🦄🦄🦄 Sophia

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One needs an abundant mindset for creating content!

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025: The Power of Daily - What I learned from Sean McCabe

What I learned from Sean McCabe at the Craft + Commerce Conference?

The moment he showed a graph of his income, I knew that I had to start writing daily.  

Sean McCabe had one message and one message only during this speech at the 2017 Craft and Commerce Conference: start writing and start writing daily. On a graph showing his income, he circled the point where his revenue sky-rocketed. It was when he made it a daily habit to write that his revenue from his online business really broke the trajectory and took off!
 

His revenue increased dramatically when he began to write daily.

Sean shared that as he began to publish more and more content, his income shot through the roof. It was truly eye-opening!

The point at which his revenue increased - the moment he began writing consistently.

I think that this was all that I needed to see. I’ve been working to make a living online for several years and right now I am really grateful to have consistent, repeat clients in my service-based business. Working with my clients helping to build what they aspire to create fills me up with contentment. Everytime I can solve a tech problem for them or implement their ideas into their ConvertKit accounts, I receive a huge sense of contribution and self-worth. But I know that I want to do more for my clients and readers that is leveraged. I want to create a massive resource of information in the form of blogs, video tutorials and online programs that will have the useful resources that online entrepreneurs can use to implement email marketing strategies and grow their business. 

But I know that at the pace at which I am going, it is not sustainable. I am heading towards burnout. I know I need to change something.

And that change is the writing practice.

In the day-to-day busy schedule of serving various clients, writing a blog or creating a video tutorial gets pushed back on my schedule. But it is exactly this kind of an activity that can help my online presence become a resource for bloggers. My goal is to show bloggers how they can make a living and thrive using email marketing. So for that to happen, I’ve got to “Teach Everything I Know” (ConvertKit’s motto). And if I am to do that, I’ve got to make writing a daily habit. 

The logic is very clear and convincing:
Help Online Entrepreneurs -> Teach everything I know-> Write Everyday

Sean highlighted in his talk how writing is the basis of anything you want to create. You start with writing if you want to:

• write a blog post

• make a video script

• draft a speech

• create a proposal as a freelancer or agency

• apply for a job

• make a real estate offer

• write a birthday/anniversary/wedding wish

• communicate with clients

• ask for a raise

• write a book

• write a song

• create a movie screenplay

• journal your thoughts

• write gratitude

• draft a fundraising proposal

• write emails to your list

As you see in my list above, writing is the basis for all personal as well as professional communication and so many types of creative activities.

Why not, then, invest our time to hone this craft?

Let’s say with this blog post and Sean’s arguments, you are convinced that you too want to write everyday. But it’s not easy to say, okay from tomorrow I will begin writing.

You can certainly do it.

But it’s far easier to cross a narrow bridge when it has hand rails than it is to walk on a bare plank across a divide.

That’s why Sean offered everyone attending the conference free access to his course: 30 Days to Better Writing. (This is not an affiliate link). I signed up and have been writing daily for the last 7 days.

Including this article, I have written 4177 words in 7 days.

(And that’s in about 20 minutes daily - on some days I wrote for 40 minutes or more)

30 Days to Better Writing

His course is a real inspiration for building my writing habit. He asks us to write for 20 minutes everyday. He has an exercise and writing prompt in each lesson. And that makes it super easy to begin writing. What I love about his course is that each lesson builds upon the other and it is directed towards you as a blogger working to make writing a daily habit.

If you’d like to take advantage of this course, here’s where you can find more info: 30 Days to Better Writing.

Key Insights That I took away from his talk:

1. Building a writing habit is the best thing you can do for your career.

2. If you want to make a name for yourself write daily.

3. It all starts with writing

4. You write to find out what you want to say

5. Nothing you write is wrong. Write first. Edit later.

6. Leaders are seen as experts because they teach.

7. Get inside the weekly cycle (about posting weekly blogs).

8. Get a content buffer (6 weeks of buffer if you publish weekly and 2 weeks if you publish daily)

9. Repurpose your content. Replay your best hits.

This is me - very happy to be in the audience, getting inspired!

The conference held in Boise, Idaho was truly a success for me. I’ve come back with enormous treasures and gifts on my journey as a blogger and online entrepreneur. And one of them is the gift of how to make writing a daily habit.

Thank you Sean McCabe! Thank you Nathan Barry, the entire team at ConvertKit and all the participants who made the conference possible.
If you'd like to join next year's conference, here's the link to sign up to the list so you get updated on ticket sales: https://convertkit.com/conference/
I've already got my tickets!

Question for Reflection: How do you think building a daily writing habit could help you in your business and life? What are the two or three obstacles you’d need to overcome to write daily? And finally, will you choose to write daily today? 

Please share in the comments below as your sharing can inspire someone - (starting with me).