Here is something ELSE at which I excel:
I spend money. I am really really good at spending money.
Therefore I decided I could use this superb, and certainly unique quality, to assist YOU in making some extra cash today.
Not long ago I was chatting with an online superstar and he asked me ‘what are my 7 focused results?’. I could dedicate an entire blog post (or a product) to this discussion, but the outcome of that discussion, despite having names hurled at me (a focused result is a much harder concept than just the sum of those 2 words!), was something that should change the landscape of how I do business.
I felt compelled to just deposit some money in his paypal account.
I would like to do the same for YOU.
Can you share with me an:
- idea
- concept
- somehow to be more productive
- something your grandparents, mentor, etc. told you,
- something you read on a blog
- or heard in a speech
- etc., etc.
Please DO NOT think I am asking for your next million dollar idea. I have more than I can handle of amazing ‘money making’ ideas. I am seeking philosophies, thoughts, stories. I am seeking ways to add to my quality of working life, and see more fruits from my labors. I want a little piece of what makes YOU successful in my corner.
If you can comment here, I will be happy to be the judge of what it’s worth, and send it along to your paypal address.
Feel like sharing, or just getting off your chest, with no money added in the mix? ‘Freebies’ strongly encouraged as well.. just dont disappoint and leave without saying ANYTHING. Certainly you have something to share?
Bridget Pilloud (October 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 am )
Every morning, as I wake up, I spend 10 minutes thinking about my intentions for the day. This 10 minutes gives me focus for the rest of the day.
It’s so simple, and yet it works really well.
Andrea (October 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am )
Bridget,
Thank you so much for breaking the ice! What a great way to start the day. Running out now (commenting from my blackberry) but wanted to quickly thank you, and will respond more later!
Stephanie Bell the Spirit Coach (October 6th, 2008 at 5:28 pm )
Here’s one of my favorites that I use frequently to raise my energy and my good vibes: It’s called WHAT IF UP.
I first heard about this from @CoachEva and @JeannaGabellini. I also blogged about it a few weeks ago: http://growyourdivinespirit.com/blog/?p=62
Basically instead of playing the “What if DOWN game e.g. What if the sky falls in? What if I lose all my retirement in the stock market? What if I lose my job? etc.
Play the What If UP game — What if everything is working for my Highest Good now? What if it is not possible for me to make a mistake and everything is a “right” turn of the road? What if there is no such word as “failure” ? What if I receive an unexpected payment in my paypal account? (LOL!)
Blessings!
Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive (October 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm )
The 5-a-day Rule Rocks (see video at http://Barefoot-Executive.com) and also
FAIL FAST
FAIL OFTEN
and Success CANNOT elude you!Carrie Wilkerson
The Barefoot Executive
http://theBossMovie.com
Felicia Slattery (October 6th, 2008 at 6:45 pm )
My tip for success:
Write your top 1-3 BIG (yet realistic) goals to get done this week (the bigger/more involved the goal, the shorter the list). Post the list where you can easily see it from your work space. Then as you go through your day deciding what to do next, focus first on the tasks and activities that will get you to reaching one of your goals. Try not to get distracted working on “other” projects until you get those big 1-3 done.
I’ve seen this same tip in a number of places, but none have added this last point:
As you write your list for the week, visualize yourself having each item done. Focus on the feeling of productivity and success you will feel once you can check your projects off the list.
Cathy Stucker (October 6th, 2008 at 7:16 pm )
This is simple, but it works: Accomplish something every day. The focus on accomplishing something means that you will choose tasks that are results-oriented. Instead of thinking about, working on, etc., you will write, sell, finish, do.
Even if you only accomplish one thing today, the feeling you get from it will help you to do even more tomorrow.
One way I keep focused on accomplishments is that a friend and I email each other a list of what we accomplished that day, every week day. I never want to write, “I did not get anything done today,” and that is motivating in itself.
Kay Ballard (October 6th, 2008 at 8:31 pm )
Andrea, I had planned to respond with something completely different, something a little more general. But after our exchange on twitter, my comment is going to be my advice specifically for you.
On twitter, you said, “I really enjoy, gain, and prosper from adding to my wealth of knowledge. I am just a combo of e/o else’s ideas!”
In response, I said, “You may prosper from the ideas of others, but don’t sell yourself short. I find you to be highly original–smart, funny, fun.”
Andrea, my twitter response was more than an idle compliment. You have been on my radar screen for some time now. I first became aware of you when I saw some hilarious videos you did in support of some big conference. And, as I remember, I also saw a post-conference testimonial video—again funny and intelligent: killer combination.
Your writing is the same way. Highly original. Self-deprecating in a way that shows that you can laugh at yourself while knowing you are pretty terrific.
My guess is that you already know a lot. You have troubled yourself to learn a lot. Now you just need to put it out there—a lot. Remember that you are quite funny (as if you could forget) and heavily exploit that very special and winning trait. Sure, you can continue to learn and to seek advice, but focus on doing all you have already learned.
As for me, I sincerely hope you will find this advice worth a dollar. If you deem it worthy, and send it to me, it will be the first dollar I make online. And only the first of many if I am smart enough myself to take the advice I have given you.
Fond good wishes!
Kay BallardPlus, Andrea, you should really follow me on twitter @KayBallard. My tweets are quite boring and always beside the point—any point—but they are well known as a solid cure for insomnia. Anytime you have trouble sleeping, simply read my last 17 tweets.
Jenna Lloyd (October 6th, 2008 at 9:11 pm )
Hi Andrea,
I have found that helping others achieve their goals is the fastest way to personal satisfaction. So, I try to give something useful to at least one person each day without expectation of any return on investment.
It isn’t always marketing or copywriting related (although those are often the easiest ones). May be a big goal or small goal, may or may not be business. I simply try to be aware whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Serving others has served me very well, so far.
Jeri Hemerlein, ApothecaryJeri (October 7th, 2008 at 1:36 am )
I begin my day in Gratitude practicing the 15 Minute Miracle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmFDlTpqZLQ
Always provide value, be grateful for the sweet little things in life, give more than you receive, leave things better than you found them, keep an open heart, an open mind and forgiveness should never be underestimated~it’s a cornerstone for miracles.
Blessings…In Peace,
Andrea (October 7th, 2008 at 4:14 am )
I am humbled by such awesome company! This is an extremely difficult ‘response’ comment, since I am not going to just say
‘Hey, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for your comments’
(particularly since I am usually forced to do so for the 50% + of my comments that I allow from those seeking out ‘do follow’ sites)
You all did me the service of responding, I will do you the service of not belittling your ideas by just browsing while I drink my morning liter of water.
I hope more people will add to this conversation, since everyday I become smarter, and my life is enhanced BECAUSE of YOU.
Kay, if what I send you is the first dollar you earn online, then perhaps you will learn something as well of your value and where it is best spent! I loved your comment.
Loretta (October 7th, 2008 at 10:14 am )
One of the things I had to do for myself to be successful was ignore the hype. There’s a lot going on in internet marketing and affiliate marketing at any given time.
At first I always found myself looking at what others were doing and feeling envious of what they had.
I had to take the time to focus on my own goals, wants, and needs to realize that what I had was better than anything they could ever have. I had myself, my family, and my free will. It was perfect already.
It’s been all forward moving from that point. I still listen to the chatter on the internet and find what others are doing interesting, but I still do my own thing and focus on the points I think are important at the moment.
Leslie (October 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am )
Andrea, I agree with Kay Ballard’s comments - you are a star and for all the reasons she outlined. You are a great combination of beauty, intelligence, fun, talent, and knowledge. The only place I disagree with her, is that you can stop learning. You are in a business where obsolescence occurs faster than you can figure out how to spell obsolescence. So continue to learn and continue to shine in the medium you have chosen.
Lisa Marie Mary (October 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm )
You know what’s really helping to push me forward lately? Those awesome words from Randy Pausch about BRICK WALLS. They’re not there to stop us. They are there to see who of us is going to push through them! (paraphrased, of course)
And my mother sent me the PERFECT demonstration of this in a video yesterday:
Sofia the Escape DogI was going to put a brick wall in my sidebar to remind me, but, who knows - I may just put this video! I love it!
Lately, when things are tough, I just say to myself, under my breath, “Brick walls, brick walls….”
To Think Is To Create (October 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm )
What a great post, and everyone who reads this will have added to their own “wealth”, which simply rocks.
My own contribution (yes, a freebie) comes from the concept of why I named my blog To Think Is To Create. I really believe that we can create what we are thinking about, good or bad. I live my life that way. So, what goes along with that is “don’t believe everything you think”. Some days when I’m in a funk, I really need to say that phrase to myself. It keeps me out of victim-hood and in the driver seat for what is happening.
`Arianne
(ToThink on Twitter)
Kay Ballard (October 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm )
Leslie, thank you for agreeing with me. I like that in a person.
We have no disagreement concerning the importance of continuing education and following the example of others who you admire. And if you read my comment carefully you will see that I didn’t advise Andrea or anyone else to stop learning.
My point to Andrea, and I am happy to make it again, is that as you have noted, she has it all. The only thing missing is massive visibility. She has a good bit of visibility and has been rather strategic in gaining it. But she is worthy of massive visibility and, with it, can become one of the most successful women on the web!
Having said that, clearly she’s not perfect. Evidently she has something of a stubborn streak since despite my direct requests that she follow me on twitter, I remain a mere unfollowed follower.
admin (October 8th, 2008 at 2:54 am )
I like how this is turned into how you improve YOUR life, to improving my life. I didn’t even have to ask for it
![]()
As Arianne mentioned at Stumble Upon
“Great post, but incredible comments. Really a wealth of knowledge here for inspiration and motivation.”As I twitted back to her - “The guest gives more to the host, than the host gives to the guest”.
As usual a theme is ‘Massive Action’, but yesterday I took Massive Action on several projects implementing many of your above thoughts:
*I thought long and hard about my intentions for the day. (You don’t have to give me a good reason to stay in bed longer!)
*Action creates clarity. I am downsizing a major project to minor in order to have a chance to fail fast!
*I saw the success of the final vision of my projects. I really SEE them.
*I accomplished at LEAST something (a lot of somethings)
*I created more goal setting to continue these projects in a timely manner
*I spent time exploiting my humor to gain more visibility (including this post!)
*I offered constructive critiscm to people I want to see succeed.
*I forgave someone. This is crazy timing, since I cannot recall a time in my life that I have been in a position of needing to be asked forgiveness, and needing to grant it. I avoid conflict at all costs, and internalize the pain in order to do so. People usually don’t even realize what they have done to me. However, a situation occured several months ago that was so wrong, and I was on the receiving end. Just yesterday I was begged forgiveness, and I felt the power of saying YES. I still have a long way to get over the apathy. I intellectually acknowledged what I was doing, but there still remains a strong separation from my head to my heart. Not being a drama queen works for me. I don’t have a problem with it. But others do.
*I was reminded of the gentle and sharp Randy Pausch. I saw his lecture last Sept. and followed (along with thousands of others) until the end. My favorite part as well was about the brick walls. Who is to decide what I can or cannot accomplish?
*And continuing that thought. To think is to create! If you think I lack the confidence now, my dreams have the confidence, and enough positive thought will bring them closer to reality!
What I didnt do! I didnt follow @kayballard yesterday. But now I am. Yes, I am extremely stubborn
![]()
Kay Ballard (October 8th, 2008 at 4:03 am )
Andrea, your post and the comments are full of lessons big and small.
Stubborn was easy to recognize since all of the important people in my life are that way. And when I say “important people in my life”, I include myself.
One lesson I learned or re-learned from this public conversation is that sometimes you only think you know what you want. When I saw that you had finally given in to the follow, initially I was actually disappointed. I had begun to envision and create a sort of virtual smackdown between the two of us–some kind of traffic driving internet mud wrestling event to settle the issue. People taking sides; people placing bets. Team Andrea. Team Kay Kay.
However, having read that you are no drama queen, I suppose that would have never happened. Given that, thank you for relenting. As promised, I will reward you as my follower with a relentless stream of dependably boring tweets.
admin (October 8th, 2008 at 6:17 am )
Kay,
There is more irony in your response than I can get into. Hahaha. You will just have to wonder forever.
I can always block you if you want, but you deserve a fair chance to excite me. Or work for me.. why dont you get us some more inspiration! Pronto. Today is another day and there is much to learn!
background checks blog (October 8th, 2008 at 8:31 am )
I am still big on the list of things to do each week being written on paper. There is something to gratifying about getting to scratch off each task as it is done. It helps me keep focused on what has to be done.
Andrew Green (October 12th, 2008 at 12:40 am )
I feel No one can judge or order better than u ..So i feel its good to use a personal dairy that helps to write the things that happen in a day so when ever you check u can know things to do and things not to do …
It changes our life when u started writing dairy
Andrew
Ofir S (November 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am )
* Life is what you create out of it.
* Whenever a door gets closed you can always get in from the window.
* “In the end, It’s not the years you had in your life that count, But the life you had in your years.”
![]()
Daren Long (January 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am )
hi
8hvcmmntu4aefgk2
good luck
Add Your Own Comment Fields marked * are required.