Building your Business is a lot like Working Out and Fitness

 

These days I'm reflecting on how much creating anything, be it a business, writing and promoting a book or learning to generate more visibility for your brand is like working out. Once the idea and the overall vision presents itself, it's exciting and that momentum has us off and running. But then something happens...the energy and momentum begin to ebb and flow. Somewhere along the way, you're going to run into obstacles. When working out, whether it's running, lifting weights, or doing a boot camp or Crossfit workout, there comes a point where you wonder why on Earth you decided to do this. And that is a very critical time. It's when things get real. It's called choice point.

Are you going to quit? Are you going to allow your body to rest because your mind says it's too hard, when it most likely doesn't need to rest yet? Are you going to distract yourself by posting on Facebook rather than getting that next chapter done? If you're promoting your book, do you start complaining that your publicist isn't getting enough coverage for you? Following our dreams isn't easy. It take persistence, hard work, and a willingness to fail. That's right. I said fail. In fact, when working out, success is taking your muscles to total failure. Failure = success. The ultimate paradox.

My trainer, Casey Mitzel and me

So my curiosity was piqued when my friend Ana Melikian shared with me about a new book called Go for No! Yes is the destination, No is how you get there, by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz. In it, the authors claim that you will have more success if you set failure goals rather than success goals. Sounds counter intuitive , doesn't it? Failure goals? Are you kidding me? But hang in there....The book centers around a salesman who learns to focus on getting lots of nos, rather than a few yeses. You see, what some refer to as failure is really feedback, and that allows us to make the necessary adjustments to go forward again. "OK, that didn't work, what now? I'll try this."

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Being OK with failure and seeing it as feedback is critical for your success. It allows you to try new things and try them quickly. If you know that for every 20 nos, you'll get a yes, then get through the nos. Make the calls. Send the emails. Set up the meetings. Go for it and remember to have some fun along the way. Just like an adventure run (The picture above is after a run in the Cascade Mountain range.), in the middle of it you might want to stop, but that's exactly when you keep on going! You can do it!

 

If you'd like to know more about my programs and the services I provide, get my newsletter. Sign up on the home page here, or you can find out about other book publicity webinars and teleseminars at www.joannemccall.net. 

How to Stand Up and Stand Out: Building your Business through Media

 Here's what I've been pondering lately...

Never before in the history of the world has it been so easy to stand up. The trick is, when it comes to your business, how are you going to stand out? Anyone can build a platform and create a business these days, providing he or she has a good idea and a market to tap into. But with all of these new competitors (or niche mates, as I like to call them), the question becomes, “How are you different? What is unique about you? How do you stand out?”

Knowing the answer to these questions is key.

Once you are clear on who you are and how you’re different, you can begin to successfully market yourself and generate visibility. Now it becomes essential that you understand media and how to tap into its power. 

For a long time, the terms “old media” and “new media” were used to describe the different types of media. “Old Media” referred to traditional media offline. New Media was used to describe media online. However, we have outgrown these distinctions now. They have become passé as I think you’d be very hard pressed to find a magazine that didn’t have an online component, or a television station that didn’t have a website showing clips from their news or daily talk shows.

The important distinction to understand now, which will guide you toward greater success, is to realize we’re now dealing with “Other Media” and “You Media”. “Other Media” is anytime someone else interviews you for a story or segment. It could be a journalist, writer, blogger, television producer or radio host.  “You Media” is all the media content generation that you do. It’s your video, audio podcasts, webinars, teleseminars, articles you write, blog posts you do. And here is the key: Before you even think of going after “Other Media” you need to have your “You Media” or platform in place. Once you pitch other media, they are going to come looking for you, and if they have trouble finding you, they will think you are dead. They will then move onto someone else. 

Here are a few of the important items to have in place for your platform:

·         Website or blog, with a page specifically for media

·         Active social media accounts, but only where you market is found (There is much you can ignore.)

·         Video. Many people are overwhelmed with all there is to read, but many, particularly visual types, will click on a video to watch and listen

·         Audio podcasts which talk about your business and the problems you solve. Auditory people love this option.

·         Email lists to market to

·         Opt in page to capture visitors  on your website or blog so that you can continue to market to them.

Beyond your platform, get media training (which is something I am very happy to say I provide). You don’t want to be the person who blows his or her brand in six seconds by posting a bad video on Facebook. If you’re going to use the multiple media platforms at our fingertips, use them well.

If you have questions on visibility, publicity, marketing, and media training, come to my complimentary Q&A calls every second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Click the link to opt in and I’ll send you all the juicy details. www.joannemccall.net. 

Looking forward to hearing about your business, project, book or event.

Warmly,

Joanne

New Year -- New You!

It's hard to believe we are coming to the end of 2012 and about to launch into 2013, isn't it? Time moves so quickly!

Often this time of year is spent reflecting on what went well during the waning year, and what we would like to manifest in our lives and our businesses in the next year. I'm doing that, and while I don't necessarily  create New Year Resolutions, I do create a list of goals and other things I would like to accomplish in the months ahead.

One thing I have heard a lot about over 2012 is how much people want to learn to create good video, audio podcasts, and all things media for their websites, youtube channels, blogs, etc. And that's why I am launching a new beta training program on media training. I'm still tweaking the perfect name, so suggestions are welcome. The Secrets to Harnessing your Own Media Polish, or something like that is the direction I'm going in.

This training is for those who want to be more visible but they aren't sure where to start. Or they're nervous about putting themselves out there on video or on television. This program will help you to embrace media and learn how to shine.It's all about getting your message out there in a way that will attract your perfect clients and customers. 

The good news is that because this is in beta mode, I am offering it at a huge discount. In exchange, I'll be asking for your feedback and a testimonial. You will get my best stuff having worked with hundreds of authors, speakers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and small business owners over the years, including Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Kay Allenbaugh, Tammy Kling and many others.

If you're interested, you can contact me via email at the following: joanne(at)joannemccall(dot)net.

Looking forward to creating inspiring magic in 2013 and beyond!

Warmly,
Joanne

Stay out of Overwhelm and in Flow with Your Book Marketing & Publicity

It's funny, but I thought I was going to retire this blog and begin another one that focused on other subject matter, but I just can't do it. I think it's simply because I love books and authors, and wannbe authors so much, and most really need and want help when it comes to publicizing and marketing their books so I am staying put and will be contributing more helpful information. I will potentially add another blog, but this one will stay live. Yay!

So here we are again....

I'm excited to say that a great deal has happened in the last few months. Much of my work is virtual now with various programs and an amazing online community where we help and support one another with the goals associated with our books, our businesses, and our work in general. I can't tell you how inspiring, helpful, and hopeful this process is--particularly the Masterminds that have been created. 

There is one curious thing though....What I've noticed is that no matter what, there is one topic that comes up over, and over, and over again....

It's a subject that I have worked on my entire career, and maybe even before that. In fact, it's been so close to me that I only just realized last week that I can share this  information with others and really help them! It's the subject of overwhelm--specifically, how to say OUT of it. 

If you ever hear yourself saying, "I'm so busy. I have too much to do. I can't take that project on because I am overwhelmed," then this is for you.

But here's the crazy catch: The experience of overwhelm often stops people from doing much of anything. They just get to feel bad, which is so unpleasant. 

It doesn't have to be that way.

First let's change the languaging. Rather than saying "staying out of overwhelm", a better description is to learn "how to be in FLOW". You know when you're in flow. When you're in flow, you feel great. You feel like you're creating and producing in a way that feels amazing. You're getting your work done and out there and the process is a joy. 

Let me share a little secret. When it comes to being in flow, it's an inside job. This is all about being motivated on the inside to want to move forward. When you get the inside in order, the stuff on the outside falls into place. Yes, it's that simple. Not easy until you have some techniques for doing it, but it is simple, and sometimes the simplest of things are the most powerful.  

Does that mean you get everything you want? Not necessarily, but often you will. It means taking every result you get as feedback, joyfully, and then making the adjustments that need to be made. This is so much more productive and helpful than going into the old, "Oh, I'll never get anything right." Or "If only I were older, younger, smarter, thinner, quicker...." or whatever that old tape is playing back to you. 

So how do we harness the flow state? Well, that's what much of my work has been about. What if we could harness technology and marketing (two things that stop many people in their tracks) and use it toward reaching our goals of publicizing our books? And what if we could do this in a way that feels good, not like we're trying to make ourselves take action. No, it needs to come naturally and happen easily. This is totally doable!

Here are a couple of tips you can begin with today:

1. Ask yourself some questions: When in my life have I been in flow? Then take a few minutes and really remember a particular time. Close your eyes and feel it in your body. Feel what you were feeling then. See what you were seeing then. Hear what you were hearing then.  Allow the feelings to really fill you up. Enjoy that. Relish it! Make it bigger and more intense.

2. Next, when you are feeling those feelings, think about what it is you are wanting to do now. What is the project or task that you would like to feel in flow about. See yourself doing it, feeling great about it, and being successful. Imagine this fully. What are you telling yourself? Make sure your words are positive and helpful.


The fact that you've been in flow before means you can be in flow again. You have to remember how you got there before and then duplicate that process. We all have to learn new things. That is simply the way life is and the good news is that we are basically learning machines. We learn every day, all the time. Make sure you are learning the things that are going to take you closer to your goals rather than further away from them. (For example, learning how to go into overwhelm quickly and easily is not a very helpful technique to learn; yet the more often you allow yourself to go into it, the better you get at it. Let's change this...now!)

And remember, you can always come to my complimentary Q&A calls. This is where we discuss these ideas, plus how to increase your visibility, market and publicize your books, how to get into flow, and make things happen. If you want to know when the next call is, or the next webinar or other opportunity, go here and get my gift to you. It may answer some of the questions you currently have. 

And remember, you can do this! I'd love to help.

Warmly,
Joanne

Believe in Yourself

One thing I know about life is this:





You have to believe in what you are doing...and most importantly...you have to believe in yourself. If you do, others will get it. This is especially true when it comes to developing your own media content. It comes across in your presence. No one else can give you that. You have to find it within.





I've been thinking a lot about how each of us presents ourselves to the world. As I help small business people, authors, writers, and other experts create their own video, audio and print content, there is a lot we can do to polish and enhance their performance. However, there is more to it than that and that's what I'm trying to get to here.





When it comes to your dream, that idea inside you that you want to create--whether it's a new business, or an article you want to write, or any new project you want to develop and create, you have to be its biggest cheerleader.





Yes, we all have doubts at times. Sometimes in the middle of the night when we've been struggling to create something and it just isn't coming together, we may have some doubts. Sometimes we need to look to someone else close to us who believes in us for some support, but for the most part, you must have that deep, deep, strong conviction inside that this is your path and nothing is going to rock you off of that.





That is conviction. That is believing in yourself. Even if you aren't sure how it's all going to come together, whenever others hear you talk about your idea or project, they will feel your conviction. They will believe in you too. But it starts with you.





When it's time for you to do video and audio recordings, this essence needs to be present. My work is often about helping someone with the mechanics of communicating well, and sometimes it involves learning to embrace that belief in himself or herself. When you believe in yourself, all things are possible.





What is your dream? Is your belief in yourself and your ability to reach that dream strong? If not yet, what can you do to help make it so? What can you do today to believe in yourself and in your dreams?

Warmly,
Joanne





Joanne

Media Polisher Helps Media Train Entrepreneurs and Small Business owners

This is a very big weekend for me, and I am so excited that after a full year of planning and development, it is finally here. One year ago it became abundantly clear to me that I needed to add additional services to my business in order to help my clients. In addition, I needed to develop and conduct numerous workshops which would allow me to understand the kinds of offerings I could make with the Media Polisher. And now, finally, after all of that work, we have hit the road. I'm in San Francisco with a team of people conducting a Media Polisher weekend. It's so much fun to have people fly in from all over the country, such as Houston, Seattle, Sacramento, Boston, and Denver to get polished. These are mostly entrepreneurs who are building out their businesses and need a little help in getting their messages out there. The weekend includes coaching, developing key messages, and training on camera to get them ready for media interviews, in addition to preparing them to do their own media. On the agenda today is getting all those home page videos shot. There are "experts" out there who boldly tell entrepreneurs and small business owners to just flip open aflip camera and spew forth, but I don't agree with that strategy. I think it's a much better idea to figure out who your market is (if you're not sure), develop key messages that speak directly to your audience, and then practice the "gozinta" (the intro) and the "goesouta" (the outro), in addtion to all the meat in the middle. Then fine tuning one's actual on-camera presence will help to create an image that shines online....something that is so needed. The results of this weekend have been spectacular. Everyone who attended was fully engaged in the process and ended up with an excellent, professional shot video for their Web site. Many did a home page video in addition to the video on the sales page. What I love about the Media Polisher is that it brings forth all the skills I have developed over the years from my life in broadcasting, to my PR firm, and now training individuals. It truly is a gift to do what I love to do. And how about you? Are you engaged in doing the work you were meant to be doing on this planet? If not, are you taking some steps to make that happen? Warmly, Joanne

Living your dream...Teaching Social Media

So what have you always wanted to do with you life in terms of work and career? Are you living that dream you once had, or are you still working your way toward it?


Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to teach. First I had my publicity and marketing classes in which I helped authors, writers, and other small business professionals learn how to promote themselves to media. Then, as things changed over the last few years, I've helped movers and shakers create a shining online presence through video, audio, and the written word. I still do this work and consider myself very lucky to be doing what I love, and making a living at it. Let's face it: We are living in challenging times.


But the greatest teaching opportunity for me is teaching at my alma mater, Marylhurst University. This week, another class filled with students who want to learn about social media has begun and the challenge of helping them to understand the power of this medium and how it may enhance their lives is underway. We also explore the challenges it presents in terms of privacy and other important issues.


They don't know this yet, but I know that by the end of this class we will have developed a very close-knit group of individuals who really care about one another. For all the discussion that social media is impersonal (and it can be), and that it's a time suck (and it can be), and that it serves no real purpose (depends on the individual), we will have gotten past many of these objections to see what truly wonderful opportunities these communication channels offer us. We will have many discussions about the effect on our culture and in each of our lives.


Will social media replace face-to-face contact? No, but it can be a great alternative when you are away from family, friends, or those you work with because they're scattered in other parts of the world.


It's also a wonderful medium for small business people, entrepreneurs, writers, authors, coaches, consultants, etc., to share with their audience what they do and how they can help them.


I believe living your dreams is a big part of why we are here. What are you doing that is a part of your dream? For me, it's teaching. Always has been. Always will be.

Joanne

P.S. I offer tips and suggestions on how you can develop and polish your own online presence at www.facebook.com/themediapolisher. Would love to see you there.