![30 Day Writing Challenge: part 7]()
by Ann Evanston | Aug 30, 2011 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts
Do you really know your voice?
I recently had the honor to meet a woman that took on the 30 day writing challenge in person. We have been “facebook friends”, not super close, but this challenge created a connection. When she signed up for the challenge I went to her profile, realized she was local and said “let’s meet”. I think the universe tells me things, and I always listen. Beautiful, smart and savvy, we shared our businesses with each other. She asked great questions. We talked a TON about the 30 Day Writing Challenge and what it has meant for each of us. As we spoke I realized that the reason I do what I do, the reason for my book, is even more important.
You cannot see your audience, your market, the people you lead differently than you see yourself. It’s your true voice that will attract them to you.
Since I created the Social Networking Coaching Club in 2008 I have told clients that doing that coaching online (versus a conversation on a call, or in person) is important because they have to learn to communicate in writing. Now I realize the depth of this importance. I realize how hard it is for many to shift their voice to the written word even when they feel they know it vocally. I realize that so many lose who they are as they write their blog posts or facebook marketing tips. I realize that knowing who you are isn’t JUST telling your story, or what happened to you today. It’s about energetically connecting.
And if you don’t learn how to write from that space your online marketing falls flat.
The hardest part is that you often don’t see it in you, but others do. Face it, I bet there are things online that you read and you think to yourself: “Interesting. But so dead.” Other things you read and think: “Interesting. And I’m inspired.” The latter is because the person truly knows who they are and writes in that voice.
I was already planning a major strategy upgrade for The Social Networking Coaching Club this fall; now it’s getting a deeper upgrade. See, SNCC isn’t just about “how to tweet”; it’s about finding your unique and compelling voice.
I am honored to have the hour with this amazing woman that joined the 30 day challenge. And for the gift she and the universe provided me. I know I am supposed to teach this to my clients. I always have. It’s just grown in depth over the years and continues to do so.
Will you join me in the next 30 day challenge? It starts Thursday Sept 1st!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
![30 Day Writing Challenge: part 7]()
by Ann Evanston | Aug 24, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
I recently started the 30 day writing challenge, and originally just asked people if they wanted to participate with me. I really did not think it would transform into an accountability group and a MONTHLY 30 day writing challenge!
Are you accountable?
Accountability is interesting. Originally I wrote about discipline and the commitment we make to ourselves. So many commented on how important the accountability to others is for them. I personally find accountability to self enough, so the comments were insightful to me. Most people want to feel accountable to something other than themselves, but do not want to be held accountable.
What does being in an accountability group or having an accountability partner mean to you?
For me it means someone who holds me accountable to a commitment I made. Simple enough. If I am asked to hold you accountable, that means that I am not there to rally behind when you fail. To sympathize with you when you did not make your commitment. I’m not there to support the excuse you have or the lie you tell yourself as to why you did not keep your commitment.
I am there to question why. To push you to get back on track. To challenge the excuses you might be telling yourself. I will be the accountability you will HATE at times.The accountability that calls you on your excuses and lies, and challenges you to get real with yourself. I will be the accountability that pisses you off, makes you mad, maybe even cry at times.
I will be accountability that you deserve. Because you are worth the commitment you made to yourself. To who you are. To the success you want to have. That is why I run the groups and do the work i do: told hold you accountable when you are not ready to hold yourself.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
by Ann Evanston | Aug 23, 2011 | Business Strategy
What discipline did you make to yourself?
Three weeks into this 30 day writing challenge and I noticed a huge shift in my writing from day 14. My focus has clarified into writing I need to do for my business. I have written presentation copy, sales copy, marketing copy, newsletter copy. I have always put this stuff off, telling myself lies (oh geez, loose a piece of me when I do that, remember what a wrote a few weeks ago!)that I had enough for now, or that other things I’m working on were more important.
But, this 30 minutes a day has carved out a sacred space that gives me permission to write. It gives me the space to add new copy into my business, to write things that have been on this list, but not getting done, because I could always make an excuse not to do it.
And yes, I have a successful business, the things I do and have done, work. Imagine though, having new gifts to give, new eBooks to sell, blog posts that don’t feel strained to write, fresh marketing content? I realized today why Dan Kennedy writes for one hour every day, even on the day of his mother’s funeral:
- Because writing feeds the business
- Because writing nurtures who you are
- Because writing comforts you
- Because writing cleanses you
- Because when your business is thriving, your family has the best of you.
I feel that Dan knows that not writing can create a cycle back to things we don’t want in life. So there is never an excuse for him not to do it. It only takes one day. I am also confident his mother was proud that he did write that day.
So I have decided that the30 day challenge will continue for me, EVERY30 days. I have even (through my writing every day!) created a “30 days writing challenge newsletter.” 30 days of inspiration sent to you if you join me. Official challenges will start the first of every month, but you are welcome to join any day that fits for YOU.
Sign up is on my facebook pages, under “The Challenge” tab.
Will you be a part of the challenge?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
![30 Day Writing Challenge: part 7]()
by Ann Evanston | Aug 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
Yesterday I started my 5 week “Blogging for Better Business” workshop. I was inspired to teach this intensive as I read and enjoyed many posts on Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston. Blogger Monday was started to help bloggers find a community that would comment. Let’s face it, you write a blog, you want comments right? RIGHT!
But wait, blogging for business may actually be less about the comments, and more about making sure potential customers find you, correct? That is why I started this intensive; I wanted people to see there are ways for them to get visibility to their blogs doing some very simple things technically that will make a difference.
1- Link to other blogs. Linking is one of the most simple strategies to increase blog visibility. Be sure to link to blogs:
- That inspired you to write your blog (First that is just good social media etiquette!)
- Where you did your research- give credit, again
- That are in your keyword niche and out rank you in search engines
2-Use keyword titles and be sure the permalink is keyword rich
- It’s not just the title; it’s the url (the permalink) that is created from the title that help search engine crawlers
- It’s best to set the permalink prior to publishing, because if you change it later you break the link anywhere you posted it (404 error)
3-Make sure you have categories that you will write relevant content to regularly
- unless you have a “niche blog” you are best to pick five, maybe seven categories and stick to them
- Don’t be clever with your categories; think like your customer
- The more you post to a category, the more “street cred” you get with search engines
These are just a few tips taught in week one of my blogging intensive. I bet participants are already making changes to their blogs! What changes do you need to make?
Ann’s next Blogging for Better Business Intensive starts Sept 7, 2011.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
by Ann Evanston | Aug 11, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
Fear or scared?
I was overwhelmed this week by the writing of many of the amazing people that took me up on this 30 day writing challenge. Honestly, that has taken on a “mind” of its own! I guess I thought on some level people would just check in and say they are on it and how it’s going. But many have decided to share what they are writing with the group. Many of them are fun or even special moments. Recently, there have been so many stories of despair, loss, grief, abuse, neglect and fear. I walked away from the group over whelmed with sadness, tears streaming down my face, wanting to heal their hearts and souls, to comfort their minds.
So many times I read: “remember FEAR is just False Evidence Appearing Real.” Well, not so much! If you are living the fear of loss, abuse, neglect, lies, secrets, finances- it is REAL. If you are living it by playing it in your mind, recreating the emotions you felt at the time, your body knows no different, it is REAL. No one could tell me that when we almost lost this house a SECOND time (once to a fire) that the fear I had wasn’t real. When I went through overcoming my abuse, I can remember waking up sweaty with fear. If someone had told me that was false evidence appearing real I would have felt even more confused and lost trying to heal myself and find who I am. That FEAR is REAL.
FEAR is real, but as I have said before, are you scared? That to me is the difference between a person that knows their voice and a person that does not. Being scared is a state of “not doing”. Scared comes from lack of movement. Scared is a place where you are paralyzed to make a change about what is happening.
See ,when working though my abuse, I wasn’t scared because I was healing. I felt fear, though. While busting my ass to save this house from foreclosure while my husband has been out of work, I felt a ton of fear. But never scared. I knew I was doing the things I needed to do. I had a plan, I was in movement.
Many people who feel fear then get scared. Next comes stuck. They are doing the things they have always done, over and over. No, that isn’t movement, that is activity. And when you are stuck you question so many parts of who you are. Somehow you start thinking it’s you that is the problem, and lose site of the core part of YOU that will help you through the situation. Each time you are stuck it happens again, more questioning and self-doubt. More loss of who you are.
I am so excited to write more for my book!
Want to read the 30 day challenge series?
Part one
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
