I have had the luxury of speaking before large groups of people lately. Seems people want to hear what I have to say, which is really funny because I generally prefer to read in the tub or walk in the mountains. I usually listen to what the universe tells me before sitting down to write, and the universe speaks to me when people email me, call me, talk to me after an event of ask me questions and tells me what to talk about.
“I don’t have any money. My book isn’t selling. I’m working three jobs. Nobody is…blah blah blah…”
I am known for being a straight-shooter, sometimes harsh and right to the point. So unless they are crying I fire back with “What are you doing to invest in yourself?” People stumble and fumble and tell me they went to college, they read a book or watched a Youtube video on improvement. I respond with, “I read a blog about hair product, but that’s not going to give me opportunities. Great hair, sure looks nice in photos and learning is great but you need to execute something.”
When I talked to my friend Geraldine Teggelove who is an international best-selling author and musician with a doctorate in metaphysics she said something very profound: To know and not to do is not to know at all! I am going to tell you something that will change your life if you do more than just know it: It’s not just enough to learn about it, you have to step forward and do it.
People who are successful, rich, happy and fulfilled invest in themselves. They take the time, or pay someone else, to put their thoughts, feelings, insights and ideas into action.They get the word out – they don’t sit on their ideas like a bench warmer. So if you are a dentist, or an author, or a mechanical engineer or a homemaker investing in yourself by creating an online entity will help you get choices in this world. You can blog, you can pin, you can post and you can shoot your way freely into a universe of connection and choices. Life gets a whole lot more interesting when you do this and you are too busy and excited to be bored, broke or blue.
I have clients who were homemakers who now have cookbook deals. They type in their name into Google and they show up with recipes, videos, articles and more. All because they took a step and invested in themselves. With WordPress, Youtube and Iphones with cameras and free computer internet access and MS Word in the library the only thing holding back you is you. Oh, and before you toss some BS at me about not having the time, guess what? You had time to read this.
In the time it took you to read this, you could execute one of my weekly strategies for success.
Homemakers get cookbook deals.
Teachers become best-selling authors.
Ho-hum I see this everyday in my work.
I’m here to tell you that the only difference between the people who have cool opportunities to do cool things and you is a little bit of direction and guidance. Of course I am here to help you, but at the end of the day doing one small thing each day to invest in yourself using free online services can make a big deal in a month, in a year and in your wallet – but more importantly in your satisfaction with your life.
I see smart, talented, funny, engaging people pour their heart into other people’s dreams and businesses with little glance at their own. It’s not that hard. I am here to hold your hand if you need it. I did it.
I spent ten years working on other people’s dreams. Now I build my own along with guiding people into being their best self. I’m going to tell you a little story. A really long time ago I wrote a blog post tying together Leadership and Old Flour. You can Google it and its still there right in the number one spot. The message of the blog was how can we expect to rise to the occasion when we are the same old stale self.
Since that time I have been quoted all over the world, interviewed by some of the best papers, written my own successful works yet that Leadership and Old Flour lives on to pop up regularly. I wasn’t anyone when I wrote that except a depressed, recently divorced mom with something to share. Now I’m considered “someone” and yet I look back at that message and thought “Hey old San- that was pretty clever.” I didn’t need all the fancy things I have around me today to be heard. I just had to say it. And say it in a way people can find it and hear and use it.
My point is to try. Invest in yourself. Take a whack at it. A funny thing happens when you put yourself out there – yes you can fall on your face as I did, but you can also pick yourself up and keeping going. One of my secrets to success is that I think successful people keep going when other people quit. It’s that simple. I don’t give up. Never have. Never will. Might advance in the other direction, but I am still aiming my ball at the basket.
If you are looking for direction. If you are feeling burned out, blue and broke, try this. Pin your casserole or heart project on Pinterest. Film your plants on Youtube. It only matters that you love it and you are willing to share it.
Want to change and improve your life, take a few minutes a day and invest in yourself. Create something you love and bring it to the world via the internet. I went from dreading the mailbox and my inbox every day, to waking up waiting to see what great new opportunity is in front of me. I did that. By doing a little each day in investing in myself. If I can – you can too…and when it gets hard, or boring or stupid or work-like- push through it like a runner because the good stuff is yet to come. I’m living proof.
