I
want.
I
expect.
I hope.
Do authors constantly state a feeling of desire as it relates to getting published, selling books, getting a message out to the masses?
Of course they do. The question is this: Do you dream or set goals? There’s a huge difference.
I would venture to say that anything worth doing starts out as a dream, some vision of a grand things happening. You don’t just get published- you have a global tour to promote your NYT best-seller. With the exception of a tiny few, this is a dream.
But, the author who sets goals, many that are obtainable with hard work, luck, and skill, is the one who succeeds. Setting and executing goals on a regular basis is the formula for turning wishes into realities.
So how do authors get and achieve goals?
- Make a list of what you want to accomplish. Don’t worry about the order of your list. Just free-write what you hope to see happen.
- Now, look at the list. Are some things still dreams or are they concrete things within your grasp? I don’t want to deny you the opportunity to dream, for you should dream and stretch the boundaries all the time. But, we also need to temper or balance the dream with our day-to-day needs. We may miss what’s possible by only pursuing what’s nearly impossible.
- Prioritize the list and create an order for getting things done. You may be on multiple tracks to achieve different goals simultaneously. Life isn’t it so neat that we achieve A, then go onto B, and then C. So often, we are chasing down several things at once.
- Set a timeline to achieve each goal. Leave room for errors, delays, sicknesses, injuries, and unforeseen derailments.
- Identify the resources needed for each task.
- Develop a strategy for each task. What will be needed to see these items through?
- Keep setting new goals to push yourself further. Never be content or rest on your accomplishments, but do pause to celebrate your achievements.
- Re-evaluate goals that you struggle to achieve. Do you need a new game plan or a new goal?
The key is not to let old patterns of failure to seep in and undermine your new process to achieve.
Neil Cortman once said; “People in distress will sometimes prefer a problem that is familiar to a solution that is not.” This means we need to be flexible, open to change and expect new ways will be needed to get us to the next level. Don’t just fall into your old ways.
Dream -- and set – and execute goals.
Dr. Rollan Roberts, author of 88 Days To Any Goal: How To Create Crazy Success Fast, writes “Winners are not often afraid of losing- losers are.” It means you need to take risks, do the things that’s not always a safe bet, and to be willing to take a loss in the pursuit of a great win.
He says: “It’s time you give yourself permission to be everything you were meant to be. Allow yourself to be transformed into your most powerful self.”
Dr. Roberts outlines his approach to goal-achieving by stating a number of things that must happen including:
- “Determine daily habits and schedule changes.”
- “Identify
the top two or three critical behaviors or activities that are required to
achieve your objective.”
- “Follow the plan, act, review, and adjust the formula.”
- “Confirm your schedule indicates focus on the critical few, not the trivial many.”
- “Remove all distractions from your objective.”
Interestingly, Dr. Roberts doesn’t believe one’s goal-setting should focus on outcome. Instead, he feels the process and behavior that you apply to pursue your goals is the focal point that’s needed. In other words, don’t think of the technique you will use that will safely and sincerely lift a weight up. Similarly, when on a tightrope, don’t think of NOT FALLING- just think about how your foot wraps around the wire step by step. Technique done right will get across any mountain.
Dr.Roberts
concludes: “When you’re dealing with transformation, people’s lives are at
stake. Their families, fortunes (or lack there of), health, self-worth, and
reputation are at stake. That’s why it’s so important that you are in a place
that you desperately want change and transformation in an area of your life.”
Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning
blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available
to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He
has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in
all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
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Will
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Ways Authors Can Promote Books
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/47-ways-authors-can-promote-books.html
Authors,
Pursue Your Dream Until Death
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/authors-pursue-your-dreams-until-death.html
19 Resolutions For Authors & Book Lovers
In 2023
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/12/19-resolutions-for-authors-book-lovers.html
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Book Marketing Tips For 2023
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/12/21-book-marketing-tips.html
Brian Feinblum should be followed on
Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born
and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids,
and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured
in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.
This award-winning blog has generated over 3.2 million pageviews. With 4,400+
posts over the past decade, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs
by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and
recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing
blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For
the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the
nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses,
Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres,
right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth,
Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey
Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne,
Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a
panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, IBPA,
Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers
Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, and Connecticut Authors
and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published
in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News,
Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The
Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun
Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information,
please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.
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