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July 24, 2008
Do you secretly worry that others will find out you’re not as intelligent and competent as they seem to think you are? Do you often dismiss your accomplishments as a “fluke” or “no big deal?” Do you sometimes shy away from or obsess about taking on greater challenges because of nagging self-doubt? Are you crushed by even constructive criticism, taking it as evidence of your ineptness? Are you waiting to be exposed as an impostor, fake, or fraud?
If so, join the club!
It’s estimated that 70 percent of people have experienced these feelings of intellectual fraudulence which are especially common among first generation professionals, creative types (Mike Myers says he’s always waiting for the “no talent police” to show up at his door), students, and others. Fearing that we have somehow managed to fool others “impostors” live in fear that sooner or later we are going to be “found out.”
In March I signed a *big* book deal with Crown Publishing Group to write a self-help book on the so-called Impostor Syndrome. And I am committed to including as many voices and experiences as I can. Simply said, I need your help.
For the next few months I’ll be posing a different question designed to help me better understand how impostor feelings manifest in the lives of my readers. I hope you will take a moment to share your thoughts, stories, fears, and solutions with me so that I may in turn, help more people to feel as smart and competent as they truly are.
Question of the Week
What does “competence” mean to you? For instance, what goes through your mind as you think about starting your own business or promoting yourself as an “expert,” going after a new job or a big promotion, or taking on a new and unfamiliar project, or perhaps writing a book of your own? In these situations or others, what do you think it takes to be competent? How do you define competence? How will you know when you are “there”? Is there a story that reflects an experience where you or someone you know struggled to feel competent?
Please include as much information as you feel comfortable sharing – first name, current occupation, age, race, state/province/country. Share as much or as little as you like. No matter what you share, I think just reading other people stories will be enlightening to all.
Thank you in advance for your input and support. I couldn’t do this without you!
Valerie Young
Recovering Impostor
ImpostorSyndrome.com
July 7, 2008
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts"
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By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 188 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
Most of the time my parents did get it right. But everything I learned about achieving career bliss I learned by actually ignoring my well-meaning but cautious parents. That’s because, if you aspire to find work that you truly love, some of what your parents taught you could actually work against you.
Here are three childhood lessons every adult career changer should ignore as well as some exercises to help you achieve your goal.
Old Advice: Grow up
New Advice: Don’t
If you were still throwing tantrums at 12, be thankful your parents told you to "grow up." But, if you want to recapture the experience of getting deliriously lost in a favorite pastime, growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Lots of people, director Steven Spielberg among them, knew from a young age what they wanted to do when they grew up. Your own childhood may well contain clues to a new career direction.
Make a list of all the things you were really into as a kid. Did you love to build forts? Sing? Compete in science fairs? Draw? Do magic tricks? Learn about dinosaurs? Tell jokes? Watch scary movies? Play sports? Play dress-up? Play video games? Play school?
What do your answers tell you? How might you build on these childhood interests today?
Old Advice: Follow the straight and narrow road
New Advice: Wind your way to happiness
You probably got the message growing up to always follow the straight and narrow road. Good advice for staying on the right side of authority, bad advice for coming up with "outside the box" career options. That’s because it is often the wide road with lots of detours that lead to the most interesting places. Say you wanted to turn your love of astronomy into your vocation, what career destination would you most likely wind up at, if, vocationally-speaking, you took the straight and narrow road? Astronomer. Right? A fine occupation, but it is just one of many options.
Here’s where what Patrick Combs calls his "Super-Simple, Unique & Weird Job Idea Jogger" can help. Even though his book, Major In Success, is aimed at college students, his idea jogging exercise can help anyone looking to chart a new course.
To start, fill in the blanks in the following sentence: A great job would be [verb] in the [your interest] field. The astronomy-lover who also enjoys reading would write: A great job would be reading in the astronomy field. This might lead to such off-the-beaten-path careers as: Editor of an astronomy magazine, NASA researcher or author of books about the latest astronomy developments. Change the verb to drawing, says Combs, and see what ideas get jogged. You could: Illustrate astronomy books. Design observatories. Map star systems. Create science fiction paintings, murals, or coloring books.
Old Advice: Never talk to strangers
New Advice: Talk to lots and lots of strangers
"Never talk to strangers" is good advice if you’re approached in a dark alley, bad advice if you need encouragement to quit your programming job to become a park ranger. In fact, if the choice is to seek out support from a group of total strangers or from your own family, go with the strangers. The reason, says career counselor Barbara Sher, is that "almost any stranger would respect your dreams more easily than our family does." To prove it, try this assignment from her book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was.
Tell a group of strangers the most offbeat dream you can think of – like raising Dalmatians in the Himalayas. Tell them, however, that you don’t yet have any contacts in Tibet. Not only will they be interested, says Sher, "they’ll even try to solve your problem."
Now, she says, try the same experiment with your family by announcing that you’re going to quit your corporate job and sign on as crew on a clam boat off Rhode Island [or the reverse]. Observe whether they "drop their forks before or after they scramble to talk you out of your ‘folly’."
If you’re ready for a big career change, maybe it’s time you actually do get bigger than your career confining britches. It can be as simple as re-igniting your childhood passions, exploring a more creative career search path, and seeking out the right people to encourage your dreams.
Oh, on the wearing clean underwear thing in case you’re ever in an accident – your mom was right.
If you’d like a little help developing your "opportunity muscles" join me for my monthly Teleclass, "Turning Interests into Income Opportunity Hour." Learn more at ChangingCourse.com/courses.htm
June 26, 2008
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts"
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By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 187 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
Has the school calendar of your youth hardwired you into seeing September as the time for new beginnings? If you yearn for a new job, a career change or maybe even a total life makeover – summertime is by far the best time to act.
Summer is synonymous with fun. It’s possible to make a change and still have time for recreation. In fact, the word recreation literally means to “re-create.” And what better way to spend your summer than recreating your life! Here are six ways you can use the rest of the summer to grow a dream:
1. Catch a falling star.
When my best friend, Elaine, and I weren’t building forts or skipping rope we could be found lying beneath a shady tree or a star-filled sky. These weren’t idle pursuits. We were flexing our imaginations. As the most carefree of the four seasons, summers are made for dreaming. It’s the perfect time to gaze upward, to look inward and to imagine what could be.
2. Grow a dream garden.
Look within and you may find the seeds of a dream planted long ago. Left untended though, dreams will fail to sprout. Summer is the ideal time to cultivate our dreams both old and new. Start with good soil. What is it you care deeply about? What makes you happy? What do you want your life to look like? Now get rid of the weeds – the lame excuses, apathy, self-doubt, and fear born from lack of information. Tend to your dreams and watch them grow.
3. Take advantage of the longer days.
Even though those so-called lazy days of summer have gotten a lot busier of late, the additional hours of daylight do seem to add a bit more time to our lives. Once you’ve engaged in some active reflection, use some of this “found time” to start working toward your goals. Even if it’s only 20 minutes a day, it’s all forward motion!
4. Read a real thriller.
As you’re packing for the beach leave the romance novel or who-done-it at home. Instead treat your life like the adventure that it is by picking up a real thriller like Paul and Sarah Edwards’ The Practical Dreamers Handbook or Create a Life That Tickles Your Soul by Suzanne Willis Zoglio. Maybe you already have a new direction in mind. Then take this time to read up on that exciting new career.
5. Invest in your dream.
Save both money and time by spending your vacation at home. Make it a real vacation by doing the kinds of things a tourist on a budget might do – go on a picnic, head to a museum, take a day trip. Stash the money you would have spent on a more costly vacation into a “dream fund.” Use your savings to take career-expanding classes, buy some snappy new interview outfit or even start your own business. If your dream includes relocating, do hit the road by using your vacation as an exciting research expedition.
6. Summer is the ideal time to ease into a new job.
With all the overlapping vacation schedules, many organizations operate in a somewhat more relaxed mode in July and August. As a new hire, that means the trial by fire period is apt to be a little less trying. If you’ve been putting off a job move until the fall, keep in mind the slower pace makes summer a great time to learn the new job ropes before the workplace once again launches into fall overdrive.
Recreating your life is about making choices. What choices are you willing to make to grow your dream? Whatever you decide to do, have a safe, relaxing, and inspired rest of the summer!
June 16, 2008
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts"
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By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 186 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
I’m all about finding ways to help people to "un-job." One obvious barrier to quitting the 9-to-5 grind to work on your own is the predictability that comes with a steady job.
Getting a regular paycheck is fabulous – that is if you love your job. But if your work is taking a toll on your health, your relationships, and your very soul, then that’s a pretty high price to pay for predictability.
So what if there was a way to do something you really enjoy, be your own boss, and still get a predictable flow of income coming in at regular intervals?
Better yet, what if you actually were taking something you already know and care about – fly fishing or knitting or antique toys or selling on eBay - and were somehow able to create a business that brought in a relatively predictable amount of money every month. I’m not talking about a few dollars here and there. I mean anywhere from a several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars a month? Would you want to learn more?
Well, you may recall that around this same time last year I told you about membership programs – sometimes referred to as continuity or subscriber programs. Before I get into the incredible income potential that can come from running your own membership/continuity program, let’s take the example of the online dating service Match.com. You may not think of this as a continuity program but I assure you their accountants do! Singles wishing to be listed or to contact singles listed on Match.com pay a monthly subscriber fee. Unless you cancel, your credit card is automatically billed every month.
Another example I’ve used before is Consumer Reports magazine. For $4.95 a month I get continued access to special reports and information not available on the free portion of their site. Unless I cancel, the subscription fee will automatically be billed to my credit card.
What makes a membership/subscriber/continuity program so popular comes down to this:
1) Recurring Monthly Income: In both examples, the businesses automatically bill the consumer’s credit card every month, resulting in a steady and relatively predictable stream of recurring income.
2) Access: Members or subscribers sign on because they are getting some kind of ongoing benefit dependent on accessing the content. With online dating services, it’s the ability to communicate with and potentially meet the love of your life. With Consumer Reports its’ access to a regular stream of desirable information.
3) Convenience: The consumer can sign up once without the hassle of check writing or otherwise having to remember to renew. As the business owner, you skip the hassle of sending out invoices because the money is automatically deposited into your bank account. (Sweet!)
4) Affordability: Far fewer people would shell out hundreds of dollars all at once. But if payments are small, then recurring billing makes what’s being offered more affordable to the consumer, resulting in increased sales for the business.
Okay, now that the model is starting to make sense, you’re probably thinking, "I’m not a big organization, I’m just one person – how can I possibly run my own membership site?" That’s the beauty of the Internet and membership site enabling technology. Today, there are thousands of very profitable membership/continuity programs that are one-or-two person operations.
And before you start moaning about how you don’t have anything to offer that anyone would want to buy – I met a guy who is making five figures a month running a member site all about crocheting – and he doesn’t even crochet!
That’s just the thing – whether you decide to go the membership route or just want to find a way to change course…
Turning Your Interests into Income is a Lot Easier Than You Think
The reality is, you don’t even have to have personal knowledge of or experience in a particular field or subject area to start any kind of business, including a member program. I’ll prove it.
Last summer I had the pleasure of meeting a guy named Todd Brown. Todd is the founder of MassageBusinessUniversity.com, a member site for massage therapists who want to grow their practice.
Before starting this particular member site (he runs several), Todd was in the fitness field. Here is the thing – he is not a massage therapist. Instead, Todd relies on a team of "faculty" with expertise in growing a massage practice to create value-added content for his members. Todd’s expertise lies in knowing how to find out what members want and making sure they get it.
What Todd and other successful entrepreneurs get is that competence isn’t about knowing how to do everything perfectly. Competence isn’t doing everything yourself. Competence does not mean needing to know 150% before you consider yourself remotely qualified to wear the label: "expert." Competence means knowing how to identify the resources it takes to get the job done.
All It Takes is A Little Creativity
Continuity programs always revolve around the delivery of some kind information, instruction, or even entertainment. However, the type of information, and even the delivery itself, can vary widely. For example, I’m a member of master Internet marketer Yanik Silver’s "Underground Secret Society." For $87.63 a month, I receive a big red envelope stuffed with marketing tips and templates and a CD with a new before-and-after Web site critique. If you want to get a better idea of how Yanik structured his member program, go to ChangingCourse.com/recommends/secretsociety.
Yanik’s program is unique in that he also puts on a big annual event on Internet marketing. In addition to saving on the registration fee, Secret Society members enjoy such perks as reserved seating and an upgraded break area and the chance to network with other members at exclusive cocktail and dinner functions.
At the event I attended, there were at least 200 other Secret Society members. That means from just these 200 members alone Yanik is raking in over $17,500 A MONTH! And these members represent just a small fraction of overall members.
My own member program, the Fast Track Your Dream Program, is set up a little differently. For one, the whole point is to speed up the process of going from having a boss to being your own boss. So the first thing members get is a "Fast Track Kit" full of books and CDs on a range of topics from finding your calling to how to create a step-by-step exit strategy. Members who are really in a hurry can go to a password-protected site to download much of the material immediately.
Fast Track members also get access to a live "Turning Interests into Income" Teleclass every month, three online resource guides, and daily "inspirational nudges." And, to help fight the isolation that Barbara Sher famously cites as THE dream killer, there’s also a members-only discussion forum.
If you want to "see" what a member site might look, like you can take a short video "tour" of the Fast Track Community here: ChangingCourse.com/fasttracktour-20.html
Learn From the Experts
You don’t need to know how to set up and run a membership program – or any business for that matter. All you need to do is figure out who does and then learn from them.
Last summer I introduced you to Tim Kerber and Ryan Lee. Tim and Ryan have established themselves as "the" experts on how to set up and run a highly profitable membership business. Ryan’s claim to fame is that he went from struggling to provide for his young family as a physical education teacher in the Bronx to earning over a million dollars a year running a dozen different membership sites on different aspects of fitness.
And Tim is the founder and president of a turnkey solution that handles all the technical aspects of a member program called MemberGate. Together Tim and Ryan run a very helpful program for membership site owners called MembershipSiteOwner.com, of which I am a member.
Last summer, Ryan and Tim created a Tele-training program which obviously hit a nerve because the program sold out in less than a week. Tim wrote to tell me that they’re going to open the program again sometime in the next few weeks. But before they do, they’ve put together a short video to give people a better idea of what it’s all about. You’ll see in the video some actual revenue figures from folks who went through the training last summer. The numbers range from $4,500 to a month to a whopping $193,000 a month!
These numbers are impressive. But don’t forget that starting a member site, or any reputable on- or off-line business, takes time and effort. And a member program certainly offers no fast, easy road to riches. But because of the recurring income that membership programs provide, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, it is entirely possible that by this time next year you could be earning enough from your member site to quit your job, or at the very least go part-time.
Learn more about how easy it is to start a membership site and to make it profitable by signing up to watch the first of a series of short videos from Tim and Ryan now:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
There are lots of ways to turn what you know into income. If you’ve already been thinking about writing a how-to book, designing and leading workshops, teaching Teleclasses or otherwise profiting from what you already know, you may want to consider adding a member program to the financial mix. No matter which path you choose, it all comes down to just taking that first small step!
P.S. Oh, and one other benefit to you as an entrepreneur is if you ever decide to sell your business, having a continuity program makes your business more desirable because prospective buyers can more easily project future sales.
June 10, 2008
How to Generate a Steady Cash Flow
Using What You Already Know
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts" |
By Valerie Young
“The number one money challenge for people who want to transition from a salaried job to being an entrepreneur is the unpredictability of their earnings.”
There are lots of different ways to “package” and sell what you know − teaching classes, writing a how-to manual, and so on. But there is another lesser-known way to turn your interests into income. And, it’s the only way I know that is actually designed to generate a steady and relatively predictable flow of income on a monthly basis.
If You Want a Predictable Stream of Income, Create a “Continuity” Program
From the book of the month club to the Netflix DVD rental model, member clubs (often referred to as “continuity” or “subscription” programs) have always been popular with consumers. It’s easy to see the appeal. Members like the idea that for a flat monthly fee they’re guaranteed exclusive access to a continuous flow of information, resources, entertainment, support, or products of interest.
The huge appeal to entrepreneurs is that membership programs provide a CONTINUOUS and relatively predictable flow of income. Take Consumer Reports magazine as an example. Instead of charging the full subscription price upfront, they will automatically bill the subscriber’s credit card in monthly installments of $4.95. Ongoing “membership” allows the subscriber to access password-protected areas of the website at any time.
You do the math. Even if you manage to attract only 1,000 members – at $4.95 a month that’s $4,950 in income a MONTH. Some continuity programs charge as much as several hundred dollars a month.
You don’t have to be a big company to start your own member program. Successful member programs can be found in such diverse niches as embroidery, jazz guitar… even sky diving!
Anyone Can Start a Member Program
Not too long ago Ryan Lee was struggling to support his young family as a physical education teacher in the Bronx. Ryan still loves the world of fitness. But today he runs 48 different membership sites − all in the health, fitness, and sports training field.
Here’s where it gets interesting…
You don’t even need to have personal knowledge or experience in a subject area to start a member program. It may surprise you to learn that the guy who founded
MassageBusinessUniversity.com has a background in fitness – but he himself is NOT a massage therapist. Instead, he relies on a team of “faculty” with expertise in growing a massage practice to create value-added content for his members.
Turn Your Interests into Income
As you’ve just seen, setting up a membership site can be as simple as figuring out what your audience needs and then finding the people who can provide it. But let’s take a hypothetical example of an untapped market.
Let’s say you love fresh lavender. Hop on the internet and you’ll find there are literally hundreds of viable farms and lavender related businesses all over the world – many in the U.S. and Canada.
Now what if one of these growers wanted to join the American, Canadian, or North American Lavender Growers Association? They could join the Australian Lavender Industry Association for $125 a year ($155 international) or the New Zealand Lavender Growers Association. It may be out there but I could not find a North American counterpart.
Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sound of opportunity knocking!
Think about it… even if you sign up a mere 200 lavender farm owners and charge them a modest $35 in monthly member fees. You’d be bringing in $7,000 a MONTH!
Don’t Know Where to Begin? Figure It Out!
I’ve been in this business long enough to know that you’re probably muttering, “But how am I supposed to start a member program for lavender farmers if I don’t know anything about out it?”
The answer comes down to three little words that every aspiring entrepreneur should memorize: Figure It Out!
Instead of trying to guess what your prospective members want, go to the source and ask them! Do lavender growers need help marketing their products? Making operations more efficient? Finding seasonal workers? Breaking into new markets? Understanding new and existing government regulations? Creating joint ventures like advertising campaigns or events with other growers? Learning about new state or provincial programs to support agri-tourism?
In my very limited search, I learned that as part of the planning phase prospective growers often travel to France for a first-hand look at the lavender industry in Provence. And yet, I could not find a single person running lavender farm tours to France. Now imagine if your member program sponsored tours to France and you got to go! How fun is that!
Once you understand your market’s needs, all you need to do is find authors, successful farmers, agricultural marketing experts, botanists, organic food store owners and others who you can interview or who you can get to write articles. You could set up Teleclasses, put on regional or national conferences, and otherwise seek out other resources that your members want. Like I always say, you may not know everything there is to know about a subject but you’re always smart enough to figure out who does!
As long as you make good on your promise to consistently deliver quality content, as a member program owner, you’ll receive a steady flow of revenue in the form of member fees.
Where Do You Begin?
Fortunately, when it comes to knowing exactly what it takes to set up and run a successful membership site, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Remember Ryan Lee – the former P.E. teacher turned millionaire fitness membership site owner? Well, last year Ryan teamed up with a really terrific guy named Tim Kerber. Tim is the co-creator of a turn-key membership software solution called MemberGate. Together they started (are you ready…) a membership site for membership site owners.
MembershipSiteOwner.com was created to help new and seasoned membership site owners to continue to grow and learn.
Next, Tim and Ryan teamed up to conduct a program to teach people how to start and run their own membership programs. Not surprisingly, the program sold out in a week.
Tim emailed me this week to tell me that he and Ryan are going to once again open up their Membership Site Bootcamp to new members.
To help people decide whether running a membership site is right for you they’ve put together a short video to show you:
§ How membership sites work
§ What makes membership sites the ultimate portable business (as long as you have a laptop and an internet connection you can run your business from anywhere)
§ The income potential including how recurring income increases the value of the business for future resale
You also get to see some pretty amazing case studies of actual people who, in literally a matter of months, are generating a steady monthly income stream from their new membership sites. I happen to know a few of these people behind these success stories personally, so I can assure you they are very real.
If the thought of generating thousands to possibly tens of thousand of dollars a month in steady, recurring income appeals to you I encourage you to watch the video at http://ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
“The Way to Get Unstuck is to Get Informed”
My guess is the first thing you feel when you hear about the income-generating potential of membership sites is excitement. After all, with a steady income you really CAN quit your job!
After the excitement though comes fear. Am I right?
If that sounds like you, then repeat after me: "I don’t have enough information right now to be afraid OR excited."
When it comes to changing course, information really will set you free, because the greater your knowledge, the greater your options and the less risky change becomes.
As you watch the video, I’d like you to do two things. One, jot down any questions and/or ideas you have about member programs. Two, pay attention to any inner dialogue that is self-enabling or self-defeating. Then fill in these blanks…
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The biggest question I have about starting and running a member program is….
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The first idea that springs to mind is….
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I know I can do this because…
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The reason I know I could never do this is…
To learn more about how to start a member site and how to make it profitable, watch this short video now and be sure to sign up for the follow up case studies:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
Whether your passion is salsa, gardening, art, or wrestling, there are a myriad of ways to turn what you already know into your livelihood. If you are drawn to the idea of a more regular, predictable income stream that has the potential to be extremely profitable, then running your own member site may be something worth exploring.
Dale Carnegie once said, “We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” “
Whenever you find yourself thinking that your dream is not possible, find someone who is successfully doing the thing you want to do and follow them. I guarantee that this road will lead you to a lifetime of satisfaction, well-being, and even greater possibilities than you could ever imagine.
To your dreams,
Valerie Young
Dreamer in Residence
Turning Interests into Income Expert
ChangingCourse.com
P.S. Get Rich Slow
When you watch the video you’ll see some revenue figures from actual member sites that range from $4,500 to a whopping $193,000. Again, because it’s a continuity program, these figures are per MONTH.
These numbers are impressive.
Yet, if you’ve been following Changing Course for any time now, then you know that I do not advocate anything that even remotely smacks of “get-rich-quick.” Starting a member site, or any reputable on- or off-line business, takes time and effort. And a member program certainly offers no fast, easy road to riches. But I figure if you’re going to work hard to grow someone else’s business, you might as well work hard to build your own.
I would not suggest you go into the membership site business necessarily expecting to be a millionaire like Ryan. And certainly not right away.
But I do believe that if you are willing to put in the time and effort, that it is entirely possible that by this time next year you could be earning enough from your member site to quit your job or at the very least go part-time.
The key is to begin. Here is the link again:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
June 3, 2008
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts"
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By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 185 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
You’ve already made up your mind that there has to be more to life than careers, cubicles, and commuting. Yet, the prospect of making a major life change when you’re already feeling caught between a “clock and a hard place,” feels overwhelming.
Here are five simple steps even the busiest person seeking a major career change can take to get the process rolling:
1. Turn griping time into planning time.
How much time do you spend every week blowing off steam about your lousy job? Instead of wasting precious time complaining about what you DON’T want, use the time to create a clear mental picture of what you DO want. Then make a plan for getting from here to there. Five minutes a day spent working your plan will move you far closer to your goal than 15 minutes of griping.
2. Keep your goal front and center.
Get out your calendar and set a target date for when you want your new life to begin. Besides being a great source of motivation, knowing how much time you have until "D-Day" lets you create a realistic plan for hitting it. Next, find creative ways to keep your dream, literally, in your face. As you come across images or quotes that reflect your dream, place them around your workspace, in your daily planner, on the refrigerator – any place you’re sure to regularly "see" your destination.
3. Buy with an eye to the future.
If your dream involves working from the comfort of home, you probably won’t need all those business suits overrunning your closet. Resolve now to make do with the work wardrobe you already have. When you do take the leap, you can donate your business attire to an organization like Dress for Success that assists men and women just entering the job market. Spend the money you’ve saved instead on things you’ll need for your new career or venture – like courses, buying or upgrading a home office computer, purchasing equipment, inventory, and so on.
4. Avoid the nay-seers.
Erma Bombeck once said, “It takes a lot of courage to show someone else your dreams.” Erma knew that most people – especially those closest to you – tend to discourage change of any kind. Unfortunately, other people’s skepticism, like the flu, can be contagious. And, unless you’ve built up your immune system, these dream killers can knock you for a loop. Don’t look for support from pessimistic family or friends. Instead seek out people who can give your dream the support it deserves.
5. Do what you can – but DO SOMETHING.
As one Chinese proverb reminds us, moving a mountain begins by lifting one stone. To keep from being overwhelmed – while still making headway – break your larger goal down into more manageable steps. Then, no matter how hectic your day, pledge to take at least one small step. Before you know it you’ll have turned your dreams into your life.
May 20, 2008
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Valerie and her wonder dog,
"Cokie Roberts"
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By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 184 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
You’ve always been drawn to writing – and to the freedom and flexibility of a freelance writer – but you don’t know where to begin to turn a long-held interest into income. Fortunately I do.
When the developers of a course Breaking Into Print asked me to review their writing course, I was unprepared for the quality and depth of what they had to offer. First off, I have a background in marketing. They not only shipped me a huge box of course materials but samples of their marketing and informational packets as well.
Maybe it’s my marketing background. Or maybe, like most people, I’ve become cynical about advertisers with their grand promises and with the number of scams preying on people who desperately want to work for themselves from the comfort of their own home.
So you can imagine how impressed I was to read a sales letter that not only encouraged me to check the organization out with the Better Business Bureau, but actually provides step-by-step details on how to do it. More on that in a moment.
Far more impressive though is Long Ridge’s promise to students who pass the mandatory pre-registration writing test: “You will complete at least two manuscripts suitable for submission to an editor by the time you finish the program.”
How can they make such a bold promise? Simple, while most writing schools do not require any type of pre-qualification, Long Ridge is selective. Do you have to be a polished writer? No. But then people who want to go the next step to become paid writers tend to have a gift and an enjoyment for writing. They just need the guiding hand of a good teacher and editor to help them get to the next level. Because they aim higher, Long Ridge graduates superior students.
In this age of internet and other self-employment type scams, it’s wise to be skeptical. Chuck Mayer of Clatonia, Nebraska was. Chuck writes:
“Thanks for renewing my faith in the great American way. When I received your writing test, I figured it was just another scam and that no matter what I wrote, you would come back with a high-class sales pitch. So I tried to ‘flunk.’ (I have edited a weekly newspaper for over 20 years and thought I would test your test.)
“I must admit I was more than just a little surprised when I received your letter telling me that I did not qualify. I will long remember Long Ridge Writers Group as a school that can be trusted.”
This kind of don’t waste people’s money who don’t have a basic aptitude for writing is just one of the reasons I recommend this writing course to anyone who wants to break into writing – whether it’s a published book author or freelance magazine writer or both.
10 Reasons I Recommend the
Breaking Into Print Self-Study Writing Program
1) Credentials.
Long Ridge Writers Group out of West Redding, Connecticut has been teaching people how to write and sell what they’ve written to editors and publishers for over 15 years. (Per their sales letter’s advice, to receive a free Better Business Bureau report, you can call or fax the Connecticut Better Business Bureau at (203)269-2700, ext. 2.)
2) One-on-One Personal, Individual Instruction.
If you’re a fan of best-selling author Barbara Sher then you’ve no doubt heard her mantra: “Isolation is the dream killer.” If you love to write but find you just can’t seem to find the time or motivation to sit down and do it – you’re not alone. Even when we love to do something, it can be tough to get and stay on track!
You can take a college or other writing class, but then you’re often on your own to stay motivated enough to write on a regular basis. But, when you’re accepted into the Long Ridge program, you’ll be paired with a highly professional, published writer or editor who will give you personalized, specific, and immediately useable feedback and encouragement to help you achieve your goal of becoming a paid writer. Your instructor reads every word you submit, edits your manuscript line-for-line, and writes a detailed critique of your performance with specific advice on how to improve.
Of her experience, published writer Theresa Blesi Altmann of Roberts, Wisconsin writes:
“The most precious and priceless part of the course was my instructor. Her words of encouragement were like leaning on the shoulder of a trusted friend. Within days of finishing my course work, I earned my first published article. How do you thank someone who helps you turn a lifelong dream into a completed goal!”
Theresa is not alone in her praise of her instructor or the course:
Paul Lagasse of Silver Spring MD writes, "From a nervous neophyte to a full-time writer in just two years! So much of this I owe to your help. Your editorial criticism, and your encouragement and empathy helped me to find the courage and confidence I needed to take that leap to becoming a writer. I have literally never been happier."
"It is exciting to see your name in print,” says Paul Smeltzer from Bossier City, LA. “Having an article published in this particular magazine was especially gratifying because many of the readers are potential clients. Your writing course was helpful in two ways: First, by sharpening writing skills and building confidence. Second, by providing ‘inside’ information on how the system works, how to get in, and what to do once you get there."
Together, the instructors have written more than 20,000 stories and articles that have appeared in a wide range of magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet. And they have published more than 900 books.
Help is a phone call away. In addition to your personal writing mentor, counselors are available by phone five days a week to answer your questions about any aspect of the program including text and course materials, and your assignments.
3) Outstanding Training Materials.
At 464 pages, the course manual is worth its weight in gold. In keeping with their one-step-at-a-time approach, the manual arrives in three parts. Here’s how the folks at Long Ridge Writers Group describe what you can expect:
"Part 1 includes four assignments including worksheets to help you sketch out your story line. This is where you learn the basics of characterization, point of view, and dialogue. You’ll also learn how to find ideas, choose a slant, and write a dynamic lead. And you’ll understand how to build frameworks for your stories and articles and learn to put your work into proper assignment format, a skill that will give you a competitive edge when you begin to submit your work to busy magazine editors, who demand proper manuscript form.
"Part 2 is where you continue to put your new-found knowledge and discipline to use as you further sharpen your writing skills. You’ll delve deeper into techniques that you can use in fiction (such as developing a plot, creating secondary characters, and adding details of time and place) and non-fiction (conducting research and interviews, testing your ideas of marketability, and writing attention-getting, professional query letters). You’ll also learn how to revise the first draft of your story or article.
"Perhaps most importantly, you’ll expand your knowledge of the magazine market. Part 2 reviews the market for both fiction and non-fiction in great detail, and guides you in zeroing in on the magazines most likely to publish your work. You’ll learn why market research is the key to becoming a professional published writer.
"Part 3 is appropriately titled Launching Your Freelance Career.” The assignments in this section will show you how to look at your early work for new ideas and how to strike out in new areas if you want to. Armed with your instructor’s advice, your own knowledge of techniques, and market information, you’re ready to prepare your final assignment – and launch your freelance career!"
4) You Learn How to Market and Sell What You Write.
If you knew how to get your writing published, you would have done it by now. They don’t call it Breaking Into Print for nothing. The whole purpose of this program is to get you published. When you succeed, Long Ridge succeeds. As early as possible in the program you’ll get actual editorial assignments so that the manuscripts you write are “on target” and aimed directly at a sale.
Plus, along with your comprehensive training materials, you’ll receive a hefty (think large city phone book size here) directory of 1,694 publications that buy freelance material. Each listing describes the publication and the freelance potential. For example 75% of the articles in Western Horseman are written by freelancers with 100 such articles published yearly. You’ll also find out how to submit submissions, how to get a sample issue, and how much each pays.
The directory also contains feature articles like:
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Insider tips on breaking into the red-hot science fiction and fantasy markets.
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How writing about pets can offer a wealth of publishing opportunities.
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Your personal experiences may be wanted in the nostalgia market
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And more…
5) Everything You Need to Break Into Print.
When I agreed to review Breaking Into Print, I was taken aback by the depth and number of the materials. In addition to the huge course binder and the directory of magazine markets, you also get not one, not two, but five books essential to writing success.
You get books like:
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William Zinsser’s On Writing Well (more than one million copies sold)
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Jon Franklins,
Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction by a Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner, and
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Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King
6) Write What You Like.
You don’t have to choose between fiction and non-fiction. Breaking Into Print combines the two basic and most marketable forms of contemporary writing – fiction and non-fiction – to prepare you for virtually any kind of writing.
7) High Satisfaction Ratings.
Every year U.S. News & World Report magazine surveys 1,400 colleges and universities. The highest-ranking institution in terms of student satisfaction received a score of 73%. By comparison, 89.7% those completing Breaking Into Print report being “very satisfied”; a whopping 98% “would do it all over again”; and 97.7% would recommend it to a good friend. It doesn’t get much better than that!
8 ) Approved for College Credit.
The Connecticut Board for State Academic Awards recommends that students who complete the program be awarded seven college credits. No matter where you live, these credits may be obtained from Charter Oak State College, which functions under the degree-granting authority of the Connecticut Board. For a nominal fee, you can have these credits submitted on a Charter Oak transcript to any college or university. (If you are a teacher, your transcript will be sent to your school board at your request.)
9) Money Back Guarantee.
The Long Ridge Writing Program guarantee is simple. If you are not satisfied that you’ve become a better writer and learned how to market your writing to publishers by the time you’ve completed this program, you can obtain a full refund.
10) Affordable.
Because you can pay in low convenient monthly installments this course is affordable to anyone who aspires to become a paid writer.
I recommend this course wholeheartedly!
Learn more and to receive your free writing test at ChangingCourse.com/recommends/longridge
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| Sophfronia Scott |
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How would you like to go to one place and find your every book publishing question answered, from how to find an agent to how to get money for your project? Well, I found the place that can answer all of these questions.
Sophfronia Scott, “The Book Sistah,” has created a huge library of products and teleseminars featuring top notch experts spilling all the beans about the publishing world. She has used these materials to teach thousands of writers the ins and outs of the business and now she’s making them all available to you!
You’ll find everything from her groundbreaking system, “The 21-Step Guide to Writing, Publishing & Marketing Your Book” to her writer’s block program for novelists, "Unleash the Bestseller Within". You’ll also find seminars with high-profile New York City agents, editors and authors.
Visit her web site today at ChangingCourse.com/recommends/booksistah and be sure to sign up for her report, “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published."
May 8, 2008
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Valerie and her wonder dog,
"Cokie Roberts" |
By Valerie Young
This article originally appeared in Issue 183 of the Changing Course Newsletter.
The so-called safe path is always “easier.” Just ask Ursula Clay. Ursula tried to take the secure career path her immigrant parents had chosen for her. In fact, she worked incredibly hard to achieve a level of financial success and security her parents, both high school dropouts, never had. Says Ursula:
“I worked very hard to get through law school at night, all the while working full time and struggling financially. When I finally achieved what I thought was the brass ring - i.e., good salary, fancy title, etc. - it was a thoroughly disappointing revelation that this was the end result of all the hard work. It felt very empty and meaningless, further made so by the birth of my two beautiful children. I just felt as though I could not possibly have been put on this earth to toil way for 12 hour days at a job that kept me away from my family, and which I dreaded going to every day.”
“Unless you walk out into the unknown,” says Tom Peters, “the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low.” After two years of executing her escape plan which included many moments of fear and uncertainty, Ursula is embracing the unknown. “It’s like getting out of college again, and having a clean slate. I do not know where I am going to end up, or what might come my way. In fact, staying home with my kids right now may be the next calling, and after that, who knows!”
Laugh in the Face of Fear
Anyone who has ever ventured out of their safe little world will tell you they had doubts. When it comes to making a major life change, not only is a certain amount of fear perfectly normal, it’s actually helpful. For example, it’s our healthy fears that keep us from jumping off cliffs. And the great thing about fear is that there are always ways to get around it.
So try laughing in the face of fear. Am I kidding? No. Ridiculing your fears is actually a very effective technique for banishing them. Let me show you what I mean.
If I told you the U.S. Senate had just voted to relocate the capital from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas, your response would probably be something like, “No way!” That’s because the mind rejects that which it considers absurd. It’s the same with fear. The trick is to turn your fears into a ridiculous event in your mind. That way, you allow your natural human reaction to absurdity to take over and dismiss them.
Try it yourself. Take your biggest fear and take it to extremes. Really exaggerate it. Let’s say you’re paralyzed by the fear of failure. Try picturing your entire family, all of your friends, your neighbors, everyone you went to high school with, even your boss, standing outside your cardboard-box home holding up signs that read: We Told You So!
Pretty ridiculous, right? When you realize that your worst-case fantasy is just that – a fantasy – what felt overwhelming will now feel much more manageable.
Change Is Easy – When You Take It One Step at a Time
Another way to manage the fear of venturing out on your own is to start small. If the thought of just up and quitting your day job frightens you, start building your freelance career on the side. Begin with low-risk steps and gradually work your way up to the harder stuff.
You never know what is going to move you to action. It can be a book, something you saw on television, a chance conversation, a workshop… I was flattered to learn that for Ursula that chance encounter happened when in 2003 she “stumbled upon” the Changing Course website. That was enough to move Ursula to start “formulating an escape plan.” She writes, “My plan consisted of figuring what I wanted to do after I quit my job, and putting myself in a financial position that would allow me to walk away from a well-paying, but unsatisfying career.”
Receiving a consistent message that change was possible says Ursula, “had the effect of pulling me back to my escape plan whenever I started fearing the unknown again, or just got lazy.” For Ursula that message came in the form of this newsletter. For you it might be a support group, a coach, or even a buddy who can check in to see how your plan is progressing.
Even though Ursula has taken the leap, she’s now working on the second part of her goal – coming up with ideas for multiple income streams. The good news is that having faced down her fears once means Ursula can approach her new goal from a far more desirable vantage point. “Now,” she says, “I can read the newsletter on my home computer in my sweatpants while my daughter naps, instead of on my Blackberry while riding the 8:02 pm train back to the suburbs from work.” And to just to underscore how excited she is to be embarking on this new chapter in her life, Ursula signed off with, “Regards from the other side.”
Remember, courage is not a matter of losing your fear so you can take action; courage comes from taking action. And that, in turn, helps you overcome your fear. When you can act despite your fears, you will be rewarded many times over. That’s because, as Anais Nin once observed, “Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” Once I found the courage to escape job jail my life expanded in ways I never imagined possible. Life really is better over here on the “other side.” I encourage you to take one small step today to join those of us are enjoying the view from the other side.
The reason I ask is that it’s estimated that over 175,000 NEW blogs are launched every day! For many people, blogs are an easier, more natural way to create a presence online as they don’t require a designer or HTML skills.
For some though, they just don’t know where to begin! Anik Singal and Rosalind Gardner have come up with the perfect solution for all of us “non-techies” out there.
Not only do they promise that you can have your blog installed in 10 minutes, they recently ran a COMPLETELY free pre-course that had over 1,000 comments on it from students who were amazed at how easily they were getting their business started on a blog. Now they’re releasing over 1000 videos and a 4 week Webinar coaching group to reveal every detail on how they run their blog business.
If you have a blog or are interested in creating one, check out the newly launched “Blog Classroom” at http://ChangingCourse.com/recommends/blogclassroom and have your blog be one of the many that over 1.5 million posts are made every day. |
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