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How to Free the Logjam of Your Ideas

December 2, 2011 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment
padlockSometimes the need to make only one decision creates a log jam that holds you firmly in place.  Once that necessary decision is identified and you make your choice, it will free up all the other ideas you have blocked up behind it and you’ll be on your way.
 

The logjam decision for me was around pricing

I finished my latest ebook several weeks before I offered it because I had to decide on a price.  It’s really hard after months of work to not see your completed project as having great value.  I know the benefits they will receive from using my ideas.  I know how valuable my work is, but do others? I knew the ball park figure I just had to make a choice. Then I could set up my landing page and send the book on its way. With that one decision made and I was good to go.
 

The log jam was slow to unfold

I had been procrastinating so long over making that one pricing decision that it took me a few days to overcome the next minor log jam, the technical steps I needed to take to put the book online. It’s not hard to put a new ebook up on my web site and blogs; it just takes time and concentration. I had already been sitting on my new book for days trying to make the pricing decision and then I was faced with the technical steps of interconnecting all the parts of the delivery and promotion of the book. Between the time I finished the book and finally faced up to taking the technical steps I took a put-it-off detour.  I wrote the outline for my next book and had a great idea for a brand new book totally off my regular topic. Creating something new was so much more exciting than the mundane task of putting a completed project out the door. However, in the end the satisfaction of finally making that book available to others overcame my putting off tactics.  Give your logjam time to unfold.
 

Make a choice, any choice

There are all sorts of variations on a decision and the “rightness” of each one depends on where you are at the moment.  I picked a price.  That was the major log jam. I can always change it.  I can always bundle that book with others.  After I broke up that log jam I was free to take my next steps.  The desire to reach the end promised such great fulfillment that I set about putting the book up on my sites.  Make a choice, any choice.  It will free up that log jam and get you going.
 

Making a decision is freeing

It takes but a heartbeat to make a decision.  It doesn’t take much longer than that to put it into play.  What decisions are you putting off?  Why are you putting them off?  You can’t possibly know the long term repercussions of your decision; all you can know is what you need to do right now in order to move forward.  When I write a new ebook I make the decisions surrounding it based on what I know at the moment and what my target community needs from me at the moment.  Those same choices may not hold true a year from now but by then I’ll have written and published my book. 
 

One decision will eliminate idea clutter

Every time we make a decision that idea clutter falls away and we are left with a clearer picture of what we want to create. I’m writing a series of 12 ebooks in my How to Craft series.  I also am interested in creating a new telecourse.  For a while I considered doing both.  It would mean a lot of work.  It would mean a delay in the completion of the series.  I had to make a choice.  I had to observe the difference between my personal priority and my business priority.  Since having fun and enjoying what I do is a high priority, I chose to let the teleclass show up when I’m ready to focus on it and I will continue to work on completing the ebook series.  It was a relief to let go of that second idea for awhile.  I’m still going to do it I just don’t have a date.  I will keep collecting ideas and resources, of course, and put them in a file so that when I am ready for that project I’ll have a great head start.  But meanwhile I’ll focus on the choice at hand.   Choose the project size that works for here and now and make it happen. 
 
Where is your logjam?  What decision do you need to make that will release those stuck ideas that will set you free to send those ideas off to market?
 
© 2011 Cara Lumen
 
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Write for Discovery

August 9, 2010 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment

by Cara Lumen

red-laptopTo really understand something you need to teach it in some form. You may explore an idea by writing a series of blog posts on the subject. You might learn to do something better by writing an ebook or home study course on how to do it. Or you may just write in order to figure out your own next steps. Writing down your ideas and thoughts is one of the best ways to deepen your understanding – of a topic – of yourself.

I love to write. And I particularly love to write to sort myself out. Sometimes I sit down with only a glimmer in my mind and begin to write what I think about it. Like now. I just finished writing a post on submitting articles and I organically used the phrase “writing for discovery.” I liked the phrase and wanted to explore what that meant to me. So I simply have started this post to see what shows up.

Talk to yourself

All of the answers to everything lie within you. You already know them. You just have to uncover them. Sometimes journaling is a way to talk to yourself – or actually listen to yourself. Sit down at your computer or with paper and pen and ask yourself a question like “What am I to do next?” or ‘Which one shall I choose…and why?” Then write whatever shows up.

Writing it down makes it solid

When you write your thoughts out they are no longer vague, whispy, unformed uncaptured flickers of insights. They become visible. So writing a list of article ideas or marketing plans for the coming year, or the outline of a new ebook or course, makes them begin to come to life. I liken it to having a baby – you know it’s there but you don’t know what it looks like till it is born. The same with your ideas, you have to birth them into words before you can help them grow up to be what they want to be.

What you learn may interest others

Not always, but often what you write will be of interest to others. For instance, my blog Passionately on Purpose http://www.passionatelyonpurpose.com is about inspiring others to believe they can. It’s a combination of practical and spiritual that offers both insights and action steps. So sometimes, my own sorting out process becomes a guideline for another person to begin similar steps. Be certain you are exploring something that interests your own community and gives them insights they can consider for themselves. Emerson had it figured out:

“For the instinct is sure, that prompts him to tell his brother what he thinks. He then learns that in going down into the secrets of his own mind he has descended into the secrets of all minds. He learns that he who has mastered any law in his private thoughts, is master to that extent of all men whose language he speaks, and of all into whose language his own can be translated. The poet, in utter solitude remembering his spontaneous thoughts and recording them, is found to have recorded that which men in crowded cities find true for them also.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Watch what shows up

Just like the phrase that inspired this article and became its title, keep an eye out for the clarity that shows up. It may come from something you read or something you heard. It may come from your own writing. I found a new focus for my business when I was writing about what I thought people were willing to pay money for in today’s economy. I believe they will buy education – the gift that continues to give, to grow, to enhance, to expand. And I thought of all the valuable things people know and decided I will help thoughtful leaders effectively organize their ideas so they can educate and inspire their chosen community. I can help people focus their ideas into signature information products that enhance their expert status and earn them passive income. So my exploration into the buying needs of my community led me to a new emphasis for my business. Watch what shows up as you begin to develop an idea.

What do you need to uncover?

Are you faced with a difficult decision or do you have to make peace with a necessary choice? Are you looking to make a change and seek insights? Watch for the signs and signals that surround you at every moment and you will find your answers. You might choose to journal every day. You might just stay on the lookout for a question you have or an idea you want to sort out. You might be inspired to write a post, or create a solution for a client that can benefit others. Take some time to sit quietly and listen to what the Universe would like to tell you. Then write it down and make your choices. Write for discovery. Your inner wisdom wants to be heard.

© 2010 Cara Lumen

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Can Anyone Be a Writer?

June 27, 2010 By Cara Lumen 2 Comments

by Cara Lumen

red-laptopQuestion: from a reader I was reading on your blog about how you teach people to write good content on their blog. Do you believe anyone can be a good writer? I write in my journal daily, but I am struggling with writing in my blog. I wonder if people are born creative writers or not. Just like some people can paint a beautiful painting where others cannot. What do you think?

My Answer: What a great question. Yes, I believe everyone can learn to express themselves through writing. It is a craft that you can develop. How to write strong headlines, subheads, lead paragraphs, and closing paragraphs can be learned. But what is most important is that you write from your heart. From your heart to another’s heart. So here’s what I think may be happening for you, you may not be clear about the purpose of your blog. Who are you writing to? What do they need from you that will make a difference in their lives? What can you offer them?

For me a blog is a place for people to get to know me before they do business with me – to see how much value I give and what I believe in and stand for. But a blog can be about supporting a cause, or educating people on a topic, or simply sharing ideas about your passion.

I’m in the process of redefining my blog a bit – and my business for that matter. And that will dictate what I write. For instance, on my blog www.magneticblogbuilders.com people what to know about building blogs and writing for blogs so I’ll write about that. On www.passionatelyonpurose.com my initial emphasis was on business building and internet marketing but I find that the philosophical posts about creating change from the inside out are being read more. So I’ll write more of those.

What is keeping your target community up at night?

For instance, I’m writing a series on allowing yourself to prosper since finances are a concern for everyone. Seth Godin’s blog www.sethgodin.com is a great example of a blog that keeps people thinking. He writes really short posts on one small piece from one of his books. People read them every day.

Find some blogs you like and start to read them. See what those people are doing. I ran across a blog recently that has given me some ideas of features to add to my blog. Sometimes I read a post that inspires me to take one point from it and expand on it. What’s happening in your life? Sometimes I find a personal challenge and write about it because others might be facing the same thing.

Your wonderful question has prompted this answer, which I will share with others on my blog because there are others like you with the same question. Thank you for opening up the dialogue. I could write a whole series of posts to help beginning writers get started. See how it works? Stay tuned to your community and answer their questions.

Develop your own writing style

I write like a talk – I just sit down and type like crazy. Some of the writing is better than others. Sometimes the ideas come out clearly and sometimes at the top of the draft I have to write things like “not clear”, “wanders” and other go-back-and-do-it-again notes to myself.

My most important writing tip was learned a long time ago when I was teaching in my church. The teacher’s manual had a section that said “Students leave with an understanding of…” and listed three or four major points. I could do whatever I wanted to in the class but everything I did had to help them leave with the understanding of those particular points. I have learned since that that is an advanced and key element of good curriculum design. Your post has a purpose. What is it? What do you want your readers to understand?

What do you want to tell people? 

What do they need that you can offer? What is your call to action? I have two choices for people to make on my blog – one to join the RSS feed to be notified of future posts and one to join my community which means they give me permission to market to them, to let them know what I am doing. I put out a bi-monthly emagazine with resources and recent posts and whatever I’m offering that month. So that harks back to why you are writing your blog. What do you want them to do? What is the purpose of your blog?

Although blogs started out as online journals, I believe they are most effective when they fulfill a purpose. They need to give great value to those who read them. I love to write and it sounds like you do to. Just focus your purpose more and see how that stimulates your ideas. And if you want some specific help give me a call.

I hope this helps.

Warmly,

Cara

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Why You Should Write Your Cornerstone Content First

April 18, 2010 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment

by Cara Lumen

build-business

Like laying any good foundation is important in any business endeavor. You identify your target audience, define your products and services, and make a myriad of decisions about what you are going to offer.

Cornerstone Content serves your blog in the same way. Writing a series of foundational posts will help you clarify what you are going to write about in your blog, what you need the people you serve to understand first. Just as you would do when teaching a course, you orient your readers to the focus of your blog. You set your ideas out in a form you can refer back to in future posts.

What is my Cornerstone Content?

What is the core information you need your clients or customers to know about your product or services? What do they need to know in order to make an informed decision? Write a series – yes, a series – of posts that elaborate on each core point. For instance, my cornerstone series for Passionately On Purpose  is about Build an Online Business. It starts with Should Your Start Your Own Internet Business and moves on into how to develop one in Build your Online Business on What You Already Know . I have even added a page titled Business Building Ideas  and I have put links to articles in several categories including creative and personal development.

For the Magnetic Blog Builders  I’m working on a different set: To Blog or not to Blog, that is the Question, How a Thesis Theme for WordPress can set you free, 
Scribe is a Built In SEO Optimizer that Effortlessly Uplevels Your Game!

I learned this concept of Cornerstone Content (sometimes called Pillar Content) from Brian Clark  His cornerstone content begins with a Copywriting 101 series.  In fact, he has a whole series of cornerstone topics including Content Marketing 101 Start thinking in terms of a series that covers detailed aspects of a larger picture. What ideas are you getting for your cornerstone content?

Glen, very successful a 20-year old who built a $1,000,000 web site in 12 months has a page on his www.viperchill.com blog that is simply called “Base” that lists his cornerstone content 

How Do I Use My Cornerstone Content?

You link back to your cornerstone content in future posts. It becomes the way for you to make a point in a post and link back to a another post that goes into greater detail on the topic or puts it in a greater perspective if the reader wants to explore that point further. Internal links help your SEO ranking but better still, they keep your reader reading. From now on, when I mention the concept of Cornerstone Posts I will link back to this article. Internal links add to your SEO. What better way than to link back to the core concepts in your Cornerstone Content.

Cornerstone Content Clarifies

Writing your cornerstone content anchors your blog. It clarifies your purpose, and will give you ideas for many more posts as you explore and expand on each topic. Think beginner’s mind here. What do you want them to know and in what order? Put that in your cornerstone content.

In my cornerstone content I first addressed the question whether the reader even wanted to have an online business./ I can write more posts about the entrepreneurial spirit and our characteristics  and refer back to that post. I can write about decision making, and building your business from the inside out and being flexible in your business.  But deciding whether you want and are suited for starting your own online business is the first step. Therefore, it is the first post in my cornerstone content. See how this works?

It’s Never Too Late to Write Your Cornerstone Content

I wrote my cornerstone content after my blog was up. I had written all sorts of post and of course they are in categories on my blog. But when I wrote my Cornerstone Content (and I’m still adding to it) I created the separate Business Building Ideas page to hold it and added links to some of my other guidance-giving posts. I may create a series of cornerstone posts off of my original posts. For instance, I will write one major one on how information products add to your income and expert status. And then I will write separate posts on ebooks, radio shows, telecourses and what they do for your business and link back to that cornerstone piece.

Cornerstone copy anchors your reader to your topic. It helps clarify your vision and keep your reader reading. Start blogging with your cornerstone content.

 

© 2010 Cara Lumen  

 

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How Are You Spending Your Attention Budget?

March 15, 2010 By Cara Lumen 1 Comment

 by Cara Lumen 

which-way What we focus on is what shows up in our world.  So it makes a lot of sense to notice where we are placing our attention.  Chris Brogan looks at attention as currency and that got me thinking about how I spend that most valuable asset.

Do you hang out in the past, present or future?

Do I spend my time remember the past and wishing I had made a different choice? Do I sit around making lists and dreaming up things for the future? That has its place but what is the proportion of time spent on “what if’s.”  Or can I be in the now, the present, the moment at hand, and savor it and absorb all the moment has to offer. 

What are your moment to moment choices?

Seth Godin had a great blog post listing all the things you could do if you didn’t watch TV. It includes things like starting an online store, or writing a book, or hey, something really life changing like proposing to someone (that’s mine, not his)

I often go back to work on my computer in the evening.  Sometimes I do small organizational things and sometimes I tackle something big like write a new radio script, or work on another draft of my ebook.  I do watch the rhythm of my body during the day – I get up and move around when it hollers loud enough at me.  I’m usually willing to sit in the afternoon sun and read awhile and I’m not adverse to a short doze while there. 

And when my young cats Sebastian or Sabrina come to sit on my lap I actually take time to not only pet them but to focus on how much I love and appreciate them.  Sometimes they interrupt me and I don’t want to stop for them but maybe they sense the need for me to pause and are actually taking care of me when they ask me to take a break.  Do you focus on the moment? Every moment? Each moment? Do you appreciate its richness?  Its texture?  Its gift?

Where is your attention in your business?

I’m spending a lot of time on my blog because I love doing it and it helps me build community.  I also love my radio shows  because there is more time to develop an idea and talk about it.  And it helps me reach people who prefer to listen rather than read.  I also spend time creating more information products.  I’m a teacher at heart and helping people learn new things is very special to me.

And I volunteer.  Right now I am adding content ideas to the revision of Michael Port’s “Book Yourself Solid.”  I’m adding information on blogging and radio that were not in the original book and adding more how to the information product section.  Other Book Yourself Solid Coaches are adding information on social media. We will be given credit in the book but meanwhile we are helping create the very program we teach. 

I write copy for others.  Sharon Sayler’s new book “What Your Body Says and How to Master it” will be out in June and I’m writing landing pages and reports for her. 

And I coach.  My focus is on helping people build an internet presence – a profitable internet presence. 

What I get to do with my attention is continually figure out how to add more value in these areas, how to draw more people into my community and serve them better, how to write that eye-opening, insight-giving book that will change some lives, and how to inspire others to believe they can!

What is your attention focused on?  What are you attracting because of it?  Change your focus, change your life.





© 2010 Cara Lumen


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The Creativity of Conserving – How to Spend Less Money and Get More Value

February 20, 2010 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment

There is something very creative about trying to figure out how to get what you want without investing any money.  You look at a situation and think “Here’s the problem, how I can solve it in an unusual way.”  I’m not saying you have to do something cheaply, just cleverly, with innovation, and out of the box thinking. Here are some ways to spend less and get more

One of the things I do every quarter is examine my business and see what I can leave behind.  Like lightening the load so you can go faster.  I look at my services, information products, clients, and partners and the more I toss out the more I have room for something new to come in.

There are a lot of things we put in place when we started our business that we need to periodically question.  I recently adjusted the level of my shopping cart to reflect the reality of what my business was doing and saved some money. I had subscribed to a “what if” level more than a “what is” level.  I look at the statistics on sales and decide what courses should be given live this year and what can stay as home study courses.  I had a demand for my early metaphysical books  so I made them available again.  I decided to turn a course I gave into the extremely useful Magnetic Marketing Plan workbook rather than a home study and give it live once a year.

If I see something I want to add, I first look to see if I have some version of it already that I just need to bring out and spruce up.  I found a half started marketing book when preparing for that class.  And another book on masterminds that is inches away from completion.  At the top of my list will be “Go finish some of the great ideas you have started.” Does this sound familiar?

How can I do more marketing without spending more money?  My radio show  is free to do.  I just have time invested. My article campaign  is free to do, again it’s a time investment but those articles often end up as radio shows, and blog posts and even courses.  And then there is my blog which allow me the flexibility to write about a variety of things, cast my thoughts on broader waters, so to speak, and see what ripples back in the form of interest.  The blog continues to attract new people and writing for it is one of my favorite things to do.

Yes, I invested in a blog course. Yes, I invested in a course about building your platform which can be translated into building your market share.  But the rest of my investment is my time.  Time to get better at some software that will open up some new opportunities for me.  Time to create some videos.  Time to read some business books. (Do check out Seth Godin’s Lynchpin)  Time to think up new ways to be in service.

How can I take an idea and turn it into something of value to my target audience?  And better still, how can I make that so affordable by my clever version of it, that everyone can easily afford it.  It’s fun and challenging to be creative about conserving my resources and those of my clients.  

© 2010 Cara Lumen

 

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Five Easy Steps to Revitalize Your Business

February 18, 2010 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment

by Cara Lumen

A long time ago, I used to temp and every time I did not have an assignment I taught myself another software program.  It felt like I was “working” even if there was no immediate pay for what I was doing.  The “pay” was that I was increasing my skill set and making myself more valuable to others.  So if by any chance you’re in a “down time” right now, here are five easy ways to revitalize your business starting right now.

1- Get clear on who you serve

I know, this is a Marketing 101 concept but lest we forget who we serve, give your target audience some serious thought this week.  Times change; life changes. What has changed for them, what is keeping them awake at night and what can you do for them?  It may be that you keep doing what you’ve been doing.  But it also may be that you can see something new to add, or some way to bundle what you already do.  For instance, I know how vital signature products are to establishing your expert status so I created targeted Signature Product Development coaching packages that focus on one information product at a time – an ebook, teleclass, or article and blog posting campaign, plus a special coaching package for writing magnetic landing pages.    And besides these coaching packages the templates I use in these coaching sessions are turning into a book! What can offer your target market that you are not offering right now?

2-Increase your skill set

I just pulled two business books off the shelf that I have started but not finished.  And I know there are two more by my reading chair. And I just ordered Seth Godin’s Lynchpin and Mike Dooley’s infinite Possibilities both of which I’m eager to read. And I’ve subscribed to some great new blogs and every day I learn something new from them. Brian Clark’s fabulous copy writing advice on CopyBlogger, Icon Seth Godin, Chris Brogin, Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger, 20-year old Glen on viral marketing at ViperChill and I always read Mike Dooley’s Notes from the Universe for inspiration. 

Consciously schedule time to read for business. I spend a half hour every morning reading these new blogs and often taking action on their suggestion right then and there. Read one new business book or trade magazine a week.  I get so excited every time I read Entrepreneur Magazine that I come away with a whole fistful of ideas either to write about or do.

There is so much information on the internet- blogs, free calls, groups to join like Third Tribe Marketing.  Decide what resources you want to use to keep up with trends and current events so you can keep your business flexible and responsive.  Check out Mashable for updates on new things coming through in social media or The Daily Beast for current events Find the places that give you the information you need to better understand your target audience. Learn a new skill set for your business or get a better handle on how to get the most benefit from FaceBook or Twitter or Linkedin.  

3-Increase your value

I’ve got eight blog posts sitting here that I’ve written in the past two days.  Posting them would be a good move.  I posted an article in a new place for me www.selfgrowth.com and did all the backend profile page stuff that included listing my web page and my blog.  I took four of those un-posted posts and put them into the idea bank for a radio show “How to Stay True To Yourself in the face of Negative Feedback” on Blog Talk Radio 

And I created a new Magnetic Idea Tracking System to track my blogs, article posts and radio show topics so I can leverage my ideas from one to another.  And I have an idea for a new information product that in one sense already exists but just not in one place yet.

And I’m still sitting in my home office making my business more attractive for the people I am meant to serve.

4-Reach out to others

Here’s where the majority of us need help – we need to find ways to consistently reach out to others to build a relationship of trust – to build a community if you will.  I just joined FriendFeed www.friendfeed.com and connected with someone I haven’t talked to in a long time.  I will take time today to write her in greater depth.  I joined The Third Tribe and it has such great information and support in there all ready that I have literally scheduled specific times every week to go on and meet people.  I also want to go find blogs I like and post on them.  My list of opportunities grows longer.

5- Leverage Your Ideas

One idea can wear many costumes.  This blog post sprang up from my response to something Chris Brogan wrote on his blog that I subscribe to. Let the news trigger ideas, let your own personal experiences and insights trigger ideas.  Then offer those ideas in different packages.  Forward a link to something you’ve read to a person you want to reach out to, add it to your next emagazine, and include it in a blog post. Write your version of an existing idea. Write a book review of the book you just read and post it and send it to the author.  That’s why my Magnetic Idea Tracking Worksheet came into being so I can track and leverage ideas as well as the shape those ideas took.

The wonderful thing about blogging is that within each post you get to link to other articles and posts you have written or products and services you have to offer.  One blog becomes a much greater resource as you add links to references and opportunities.  

To take advantage of these five easy ways to attract more people to my business my week could include

  • Write and post one blog post every day (you can schedule these to go out on specific dates you know)
  • Read the blogs of the people I have chosen to follow every time a post arrives. And allow myself time to cultivate any ideas that may spring from them. (That’s important – act on what you learn)
  •  Read one business book of my choice every day for at least a half hour
  • Write one personal note to someone somewhere to strengthen our relationship every day
  • Spend one hour every day developing a new information product.  This could include my radio show concepts, my article and blog ideas, my overall Magnetic Idea Tracking Worksheet
  • Submit at least one article a week to a major submission site. Start with www.ezinearticle.com

You need to work ON your business as well as IN your business.  Pick one of these ideas that appeals to you and work it till you own it.  Then pick another one. You don’t have to do them all at once.  One step at a time will do nicely.  But do take that one step – today.  There are people out there who need what you have to offer. Help them find you!

©2010 Cara Lumen

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5 Ways to Help Your Home Office Keep the Ideas Flowing

February 13, 2010 By Cara Lumen Leave a Comment

by Cara Lumen

I love working at home. I get to set my own rhythm.  I take a break when I need one, go for a walk or read a bit whenever I need a change.  It’s my call.  And it’s also my call about how well I arrange for my office space to support my creativity, my concentration, and my effectiveness.  

1 – Organize your clutter

It is way too easy to put off putting something away.  I even have a basket that I put things in that I want for reference as I write.  It would probably be a good idea for me to put that in some order and maybe next time I go searching for something in it I will, but it is in one place – a basket.  Order is good.  I have a great shelf to put things on at my desk but my cats Sebastian and Sabrina like to lie there, so I’ve made another plan.  Their company is supportive and nurturing and they are an integral part of my home office.  I have labeled folders within reach to place the paid bills.  I bank on line and set up my bill payments the minute I receive a bill.  I have the papers I use during the day handy – all my passwords, a calendar, phone numbers I use a lot.  They are in a pretty napkin holder on my desk and don’t take up much space while staying within easy reach.

 But here’s a trick I learned a long time ago when I worked in a regular business office.  Each day before you leave spend the last five minutes organizing yourself for the next day, putting things away, making a short list of what you need to do next. That way when you come in you know exactly where to start and you have a tidy space to get started right away.

2 – Acknowledge your successes

I created an acknowledgement/tracking system for myself in which I write the things I feel good about accomplishing.  I don’t necessarily do it every day but I like to do it at the end of the week and if something really great gets done I’ll write in it at the time.  This Magnetic Momentum Builder is my version of the 5:15 report  also lets me track and acknowledge my forward progress

3 – Bless your work

I used to do temp work so I’d go into a company where I knew no one.  And I would bless the pieces of paper I was preparing. It was fun to wonder how many people would handle that piece of paper and unknowingly receive the positive energy I sent along.  

When I am waiting for my radio show Passionately On Purpose to begin, I look out my window and the great nature view I have and bless the words I am about to speak and the intention behind what I am about to present.  I fill my thoughts with loving energy to go with what I offer.

I hadn’t thought to do that with these posts, but I will starting right now.  As you post an article or a blog post or begin to give a telecourse, center yourself and align your thoughts with the people you hope are touched by what you offer.  And they will be.

4 – Listen to your inner wisdom

The beautiful thing about working at home is that when a creative idea shows up you can simply make it happen.  I was thinking up ideas for my radio show when I realized that particular topic would make a good post so I started writing and here it is in post format.  And elements of it will be a future radio show.  Now that I’ve begun to do interviews on my show all sorts of related ideas are showing up and I’m hard pressed to keep track of them all. But the trick is to put your ideas all in one place. I now have a folder called “Idea Bank” in which I keep all those things I think up to do or create. Those ideas you get – they may or may not be  yours to do but if you choose to act on them then you definitely are the chosen one for that idea.  

Watch for signs.  Whether it’s an email from a friend with something in that sparks an idea, or you read a phrase in a book that would be translated into what you do, or you’re just sitting there and the idea comes in – those are yours to at least capture and think about doing.  

5 – Create meaningful scenarios

Can you look up from your computer and see something you like?  I can look up and see a plant I love doing it’s thing in a corner or a lithograph of an old typewriter I’ve had in my office for years as a symbol of my being a writer, a Treasure Map I made of my intentions years ago that still holds true, and my cats curled up in a nearby chair. Surround yourself with things you like to look at and be with. That’s another reason to keep your working space organized so you have space for your treasures.  Stop and admire the small scenarios of meaningful items you have created.  

They don’t call it “home” office for nothing – you spend a lot of time there.  Honor yourself by making it visually pleasing and organized in support of what you do.  Periodically schedule a put-away morning and tidy up every corner of your space.  Love your office.  It reflects who you are and what you are thinking.  It should be nourishing and welcoming.  Fill your home office with inspiration and it will support your creativity, your concentration, and your effectiveness

© 2010 Cara Lumen

Filed Under: Creativity Tagged With: , , ,

10 Ways for You to Start Earning More Income

February 11, 2010 By Cara Lumen 2 Comments

by Cara Lumen

I think a lot of us are looking around to see how we might increase our income, including me, so I’ll share with you some of the ways I am looking at new ways to be in service. What we have to do is start creating more opportunities – opportunities for us to make new products, offer new services, and reach new people.

1- What is needed now?

What has changed for your Target Audience?  I’ll bet for everyone there is more caution around how they spend their money.  So that’s a major consideration in how you can rearrange your services and products for their current needs.  Let’s simply start with that premise and see where it takes it.  Define the problem of your Target Audience.  The problem is: people are being more conservative and selective with their spending.

2 – Chunk down what you have

So what does that mean to you?  Well, it may mean that you have to create smaller purchasing opportunities so they can still interact with you but for a lower price.  I just created a new coaching program for  Magnetic Signature Product Development  Program  Rather than teach this information in a class, which I have done, I decided to individualize a series of three or four coaching session that are meant to produce a specific and individualized information product like an ebook or teleclass, book proposal or a powerful opt in offer.  

How can you chunk down what you offer into shorter, results oriented offerings?

3 – What do you have you can leverage?

I had a great time teaching my “How to Create a Magnetic Marketing Plan” course and I realized the valuable exercises in there needed to be a standalone workbook.  So I created a new Magnetic Marketing Plan Workbook.  People can interact with me on a more economical scale and still get great results.  

As I continue to do my Passionately On Purpose Radio  show I am beginning  to collect an interesting audio series that I could bundle as a series on a specific topic.  

And speaking of series, as part of my blog post planning I’m going to start writing in series so there are automatic links to the next or previous post on the topic.  It’s a great way to keep people interested as you give greater value than you can with a single piece.

What parts and pieces can you lift from something that exists and turn it into a valuable and less expensive offering so you can keep supplying your client base with great value.

4 – What talent can you develop more?

I bet there are some things you have wanted to do and that people keep asking you for that you could put into service.  It may be as simple as emphasizing one facet of your business more. For instance, I can start promoting my curriculum development and copy writing more.  That may mean different, stronger landing pages, or more blog posts and articles about curriculum development with a strong resource box that indicates that’s what I do.  Look at what people ask you for that you are not giving and see if it’s something you want to do.

5 – Learn something new

I’m really expanding my use of blogging and keep learning new things.  For instance, I’m taking my knowledge of SEO to another level and consciously applying what I have learned.  I’m reading more about writing posts and articles. Even though I know a lot, there is always more to learn.

I would like to learn more about video so I can help my coaching clients know when/how to use it as well as see what it will do for me.  Perhaps it is time for me to learn at least the rudiments of that. And there is a new WordPress membership site plugin that I want to master and use. I joined the Third Tribe  to go hang out with people who are really working their business well.

What do you need to learn that will make you more valuable?

6 -What can you create that’s new?

Again, I’m looking at less expensive items that bring value and keep you connected.  I realized I have a lot of really good templates for ebooks and teleclasses as well as systems for tracking ideas, and brainstorming new ones.  I’m going to put them into one workbook offering.  Great value, easy-to-handle price.

Look around and see what you have organically collected while serving your clients and customers and see what new product you can offer by combining and repurposing them.  

7-New Outreach

I now make enough from my affiliate marketing of products I recommend all the time, to cover my cost of doing business. It’s taken some years, but there it is.  If you have not thought about becoming an affiliate of a product or service you use that your Target Audience would also use, it’s certainly worth some exploration.  For me it’s not about selling anything it’s about having an affiliate link to what I organically recommend to my coaching clients particularly in the area of web site development.  

8-New Collaborative Partnerships

Who can you join up with to create something bigger than what either of you do together?  I’m planning to teach again with Sharon Sayler, the Communication Coach.  We do a “How to Develop and Deliver a Magnetic Teleclass” course.  I teach about the curriculum development and she teaches delivery techniques.  If it’s a course you give together you can make a home study course from it and you both have a new product to offer.

9-Adjust Your Prices

I’d rather add more bonuses than lower my prices but you might want to look at both possibilities.  Have a promotion and lower your prices for a specific period and see what happens.  You might find people who have been waiting to come to you suddenly decide they will.

Be sure your sales cycle has a variety of price points.  Fill in the blanks.  Combine and bundle two or three ebooks into one value package.  Make a series of coaching packages that make it more valuable to sign up for longer periods of time.

10– Make a 25 ways list

Now sit down and start a “25 Ways for Me to Start Earning More Income” list.  Think of some of the things we’ve talked about in this post.  Let your mind go exploring.  Write down everything, don’t censor, just let the ideas come.  Then make your choices and put yourself in a position to make more money today.

c 2010 Cara Lumen

Filed Under: Creativity, Product Development Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to Keep Learning Even if You Think You’re Too Old

February 8, 2010 By Cara Lumen 2 Comments

Passionately On Purpose Radio with Cara Lumen, Your Idea Optimizer, who keeps you passionately on purpose while you make a difference in your world. As a Business Coach, Content Developer and Educator she talks about how to uncover your passion, define your purpose, identify your path, make money from what you already know and attract the people you are meant to serve. But most of all, she’ll help you believe you can!!!  Join her Mondays on www.blogtalkradio.com/passionatelyonpurpose

The Show

Sometimes, in order to move ahead, we really do have to master a new skill.  Let’s talk about how to tackle what you don’t know and have a great time learning it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:12 — 6.5MB)

Filed Under: Business Development, Creativity, Personal Development, Podcasts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,