I’ve been jabbering on a lot lately on the topic of success. I have done this through the lens of my wanting to take the China Virus crisis as an opportunity to expand my reach, my voice, my influence with this here little blog.
To Explain Success
Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
To have success I suggest you:
- break it into small pieces
- give yourself a win by completing one small piece
- don’t overdo it by doing too much too fast (avoid burnout)
- keep your desire hungry (don’t satiate the beast) so you’ll want more
In this little endeavour of mine success requires writing more and writing better. We’re up to day 6 now, and I continue to publish every day. I’m regaining my ability to write quickly and clearly while editing on the fly.
So far, so good.
I’m coming to my next step, which is to get into the Ray Edwards copy writing course I’ve got lined up, but I’m not quite there yet. So what’s stopping me?
Routine.
One of the key factors in making your success routine, is…routine. Some time ago I wrote that one of the keys to getting in shape is to just show up. How do you make sure that you show up? Schedule your workouts so you don’t give yourself any excuse not to go.
This principle applies to any endeavour where you wish to succeed. My desire is to succeed with my writing/blogging. One of Ray Edwards’ keys to being a copywriter is to write every day and the best way to write every day? Schedule it.
Once I’ve got my writing scheduled, I can begin to add in my copy writing studies. Approach your goal step by step, don’t set yourself up to fail by going too big, too soon.
Back before the Lung Pao Sicken locked me in with my boys, I had a writing schedule. Every day on my lunch break I would write for 30 to 45 minutes. Now my lunch break is a 30 minute walk to keep the boys healthy, happy and focused their school work. Obviously, I’ve lost that schedule and I need a new one.
Problem; inspiration
Wait, am I really claiming inspiration is a problem? No. I’m claiming waiting for inspiration is a problem.
I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning
Raymond Chandler
When you write as a hobby, waiting for inspiration is no problem. Want to write professionally? Waiting for inspiration is stupid. So set yourself a routine, just like you would for exercise, eating, working and sleeping.
That is my next step; scheduling my writing so I don’t fall into the waiting for inspiration trap.
I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again, what is your goal for turning the crisis into an opportunity? Haven’t got one? Shame on you, sit down and brainstorm.
- Come up with an idea for improvement
- Find the smallest step you can take
- Do it every day
- Schedule it into your routine
We’re starting to see the light at the end of the Winnie The Flu tunnel. The sun is out, spring is finally coming to Southern Ontario, find your inspiration, turn it into a goal, and create a system to achieve success.
Do you want to make having success routine? Then make a routine to have success.
