HIRE ME TO SPEAK
HIRE ME TO SPEAK

There are no shortcuts

I write about strategies to turn fans into customers and customers into fans. I also share ways to use real-time strategies to spread ideas, influence minds, and build business.

Personal branding  |  writing  |  Best Practices

IMG_2130I'll tell you up front, it's not easy.

If you want to do something worthwhile, you need to work at it.

Many people ask me about writing a book. I've written 8 books and each one was a tough slog. If you want to write nonfiction, you’ve got to research your topic, find an angle nobody else has, do a bunch of drafts, get feedback, do several rounds of edits, and more.

Fiction is even tougher because your writing has to work on so many levels including conflict, characterization, dialog, setting, and much more.

And that's only half of it. The other half is promoting your work so people find you and get interested in what you do. It's about building a platform years before your book's publication date by blogging, doing videos, speaking at conferences, reviewing books similar to the one you wrote, being social.

There are no shortcuts.

"Diet and exercise." That’s what I tell people when they ask me how I dropped 50 pounds in a year.

Most people stop there.

Some probe for details and I usually say something like: "I eat very little starch and exercise every single morning." For most people that's enough.

Unless someone is serious about getting fit themselves (or is already fit and interested in swapping stories) they really don't want to hear that there are no shortcuts. There is no magic pill, special machine, or secret diet. It is a lifestyle change.

Very few people want to hear what it really takes. Paying attention to every single little thing that goes into your mouth and an average of 90 minutes of tough exercise every day with no excuses for things like being in a hotel room.

What are you doing now?

Are you looking for a new job? Starting a business? Beginning a blog or YouTube channel? Learning to paint? Preparing a TEDx talk?

It's not easy. Nothing worthwhile is.

But if you work hard you will be rewarded.

One of the most difficult things I've ever done is learn to surf. I took it up with my daughter and she was a natural. But I wasn't. My balance stinks. I fell a thousand times before I felt even remotely comfortable. I'm not very good but I love it. It was totally worth the effort over several years.

Your effort will be worth it too. Don't try for shortcuts.

Welcome to Seth Godin readers who found this blog from Seth's shout-out this week. I typically post twice a week.