Don’t just say yes

You want to set yourself up for success June 6, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals, and I try to ignore the rest." — Venus Williams I'm what you call a "yes" person, {NAME} … I love to say yes. To everything. Take on that project? Yes! Write up a new headline and lead for that sales letter? Sure! Launch a new website? Yep! Review copy that's needed today? No problem. I hate to say no! I find everything so interesting … I enjoy learning and doing … and if I'm REALLY being honest, I don't like letting people down. #peoplepleaser But, fellow writer, I speak from experience when I say a "habit" of saying yes will set you up for failure. And I'm not talking about the exhaustion or stress of trying to do it all. I'm talking about where all the "extra activities" will take you in relation to your goals. It sounds counterintuitive, I know … How could taking action slow you down!? Or worse, cause you not to reach your goals? Our chief success officer, Ted Capshaw, touched on this theme in a past [Monday Morning Jumpstart]( … It's one of the first lessons he taught the AWAI team to gain clarity on our goals. And I come back to it every single time I start to feel "busy" again (old habits die hard!). Here's how it works … Imagine I give you a jar. And then I hand you three rocks, a pile of pebbles, and a bag of sand, and say, "Put all of these in the jar." Everything I gave you CAN fit … You just have to add it all in the right order. If you start with the sand, and then layer on the pebbles, the rocks will not fit. They'll stick out of the top. But if you put the rocks in first … and then the pebbles (giving it a little shake to help them settle) … and then the sand … Everything fits. The sand and pebbles represent all the "stuff" that comes up each week … All that stuff we say "yes" to without even thinking about whether the time would be well spent. It can't all be ignored … We have jobs to do, responsibilities at home, and lives to live. But when you focus on the small stuff and completely ignore the BIG things that will make you truly happy (aka the "rocks") … Then the sand will always fill up your time before you can get to good stuff that will truly move you forward toward your goals. So, try to identify your three big rocks for the year. Write them on a sticky note or a whiteboard by your desk … somewhere you'll see them every single day. Each day, revisit them as you decide how to spend your time. Put them in your jar FIRST … so that each day you're keeping "the main thing the main thing," as Ted likes to say. 😁 Katie and I use this idea at AWAI, and we always see results … Together, we choose three rocks for the year to keep us focused and grounded (and able to avoid all the bright shiny objects). This year, we took it a step further and got the whole team on board. And every day, we all keep our three big rocks in sight. If we finish one, we'll add a new rock … But our rocks are the three things we'll feel proud to have accomplished when 2024 comes to an end. So, what do you want to accomplish this year? What are three (and only three) things that you can identify on your path to your writer's life that you want to tackle? Maybe you'd like to … - get certified in a particular project … - land three retainer clients … - quit your job and go all in on freelancing … Whatever they are, write them down and keep them front and center. And before adding something else to your to-do list, ask yourself … "Does this help me achieve a rock? "Or is this a distraction that I need to put aside for now?" I guarantee you'll be happier with how the year shapes up. Remember, you can eventually do it all … Just not all at once! 😉 Just a quick reminder that today is your absolute LAST CHANCE to get into our [4 Days to $400 Writing Challenge](. We've created it specifically for newbies who need a little push forward … so you can get into the writing-for-money game in a matter of days, armed with some skills, experience, and confidence. THIS will get you moving forward … making money with your writing. [So make sure you sign up before midnight tonight!]( To your success, Rebecca Matter President AWAI Inside this issue: - [How to Have an Endless Supply of Blog Post Ideas]( - [7 Tips for Writing a Blog Post Your Reader Can't Put Down]( - [Catherine Catozzi's Meteoric Rise to Writing Success and $3K in One Month]( How to Have an Endless Supply of Blog Post Ideas Do you ever worry about running out of blog post ideas? Any successful blog needs to publish new posts on a regular basis. But consistently coming up with fresh and new blog post ideas can be a challenge for even the most experienced bloggers. Luckily, it doesn't have to be this way. You're actually surrounded by potential blog post ideas every day — it's simply a matter of tuning in to them. [Continue reading here.]( Midnight Deadline: $400 Writing Challenge (NEW writers ONLY!) If You Dream of Being a Well-Paid, Work-From-Anywhere Writer, BUT … - You've NEVER written a word of copy … - You've not done ANY training … - You have ZERO samples, no portfolio … THEN WE'VE CREATED SOMETHING EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU! A BRAND-NEW training program with ONE SOLITARY GOAL … to get you paid! Today's your last chance to get in … [Go here now!]( 7 Tips for Writing a Blog Post Your Reader Can't Put Down Whether you're a freelancer working with clients, or you publish your own blog, writing an effective blog post is an acquired skill. But, it's a skill that can be learned fairly easily with some basic knowledge and practice. That's why we're here to share our best tips for writing a blog post to help make the process as quick and easy as possible. Use the following steps to craft a high-quality blog post that engages readers and makes them eager for more. [Continue reading here.]( TODAY! Get all this for $1 … The Professional Writers' Alliance (PWA) takes the stress out of running your writing business. With ready-to-use business forms, templates, and checklists … VIP job board access … networking opportunities … and a mountain of tips, tactics, and "been there, done that" advice from working freelance writers … You'll minimize the "unbillable" hours you spend working on your business and maximize your time writing — and getting paid. [Claim Your $1 Access Here]( Living the Writer's Life: Catherine Catozzi's Meteoric Rise to Writing Success and $3K in One Month If you need a dose of inspiration to carry you through as the weather is warming up, look no further than Catherine Catozzi's story. Just a few months ago, she made up her mind to be a Barefoot Writer. And then she did one simple thing that landed her a string of clients — and a four-figure month. Read on to find out how she did it. [Read the rest of her story here.]( Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day! One day … that's all the time it will take for YOU to become a professional writer … And proud owner of your very own thriving, client-rich writing business that will keep rewarding you month after month, year after year. We've pulled out every stop — including bringing in the big guns — to make it happen! [Go Here to Learn More]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Content Writer – Zeta Contract, Remote As a Freelance Content Writer, you will work with our content team to develop and refine Zeta's messaging, thought leadership, and campaigns. Depending on the nature of the assignment, you will develop long-form content, such as white papers, blog posts, case studies, presentations, and awards submissions, as well as short-form content such as emails and advertisements. --------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Content Editor – Phyton Talent Advisors Contract, Remote Maintain knowledge of the in-house style guide and article formats to create articles that conform to global publishing standards. Edit and publish reports that are accurate and clear on tight deadlines. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Dynamite Jobs Full-time, Remote (UK) Your mission is to empower customers by creating copy for our product pages, landing pages, website, email newsletters, sales campaigns, etc. Your work will have a direct impact on our sales conversion and revenue. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. 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