Jealousy or Inspiration?
Hey Friend,
Weirdly, when I reflect on this week nothing jumps out. I don't have pictures. I didn't travel. I felt the pressure for deadlines & upcoming events that required my attention. I got up and ran at 4am by myself, which I haven't done in ages. I texted Joe who I used to run with twice a week at 4:30am. We both miss our time together.
Believe it or not, there were still more details required to finish up the book. We officially uploaded it to the printer/distributor. It turns out it's expensive to produce a book and there's not much margin. When it's sold through Amazon, at $24.95, I'll make less than $4. I didn't do the math before I started, because I didn't expect it to be a revenue generator. But shoot, I thought there'd be a little more meat on the bone.
I've spoken with numerous speaker/author friends about their process and costs. Most have gone the Hybrid route where they make an initial investment of anywhere from $25-40k to get their book published. It's like a recording contract. All the initial proceeds are simply to recoup what it took to create it. 😳
The big news this week is that I did sign a contract with a PR firm to partner with me to spread the news. It's a pricey investment that I hope will greatly expand my reach. I've never done anything like this before and am not sure exactly what to expect. Have you believed in yourself so much you spent loads of cash, with no idea how it will play out?
OH JEALOUSY
I'm deficient in many areas of business. Being around world-class speakers the last two years (in the now defunct ImpactEleven) has exposed me to much smarter humans. I'm not one for comparison, but I am able to observe and recognize others decisions and approaches that are different than mine. And I see the results.
Have you ever felt like everyone seems to have it figured out but you? I love that sensation. It's frustrating and can be disappointing, but it also means there's hope. I've never understood why so many choose jealousy when inspiration is a better option. When it seems like we're failing or not making the smartest decisions, discovering how others succeed gives us new ideas. Let's use em!
MINDSHIFT
What if this week when you feel a tinge of jealousy or self-disappointment, you look to someone doing better than you and implement something their doing?
WORTH IT?
The business I'm in, people are continually betting on themselves. You can't be the product and not have a healthy dose of confidence. Yet simultaneously I've witnessed plenty of insecurities, self-doubt and uncertainty about the value provided. I've tempered investment in myself because at some point I believed I wasn't worth "that much."
It's a curious realization. It's two-fold: Is the thing I'm investing in worth it and am I myself worth it? Over the years I've decided the thing hasn't been worth it. But in hindsight, that may have been a cover up, for me not thinking I'm worth it. I know a woman who took a $100K home-equity loan to publish and promote her book. She went all in on herself. She recouped it and more. Would I risk that on me?
MINDSHIFT
What would it take for you to be willing to double the amount you are currently willing to invest in yourself - whether money, time, education, or people?
COST vs. PRICE
Have you ever been satisfied with something and then after awhile, it's no longer satisfying? Ha. I probably should ask the reverse. Human nature never remains appeased. The challenge we face is are we willing to pay the price to move from discontent or do we remain and it costs us? That's where I'm at with this investment in my business. Where are you at with your life?
The variables matter. We might want to make the investment, but don't have the resources. Or maybe we have in the past - and it didn't go as hoped - and we're still paying for it. This quote reminds that regardless of past choices, today's decisions matter.
"The cost of a big dream or a small dream is the same: Your Life!"
- Peter Daniels
SHIFTING
I hope this week you are filled with inspiration by others who are succeeding and determine to invest big in yourself. #ShiftAway
