Force Yourself to Succeed

Having trouble committing to your goals? Maybe you start but don't finish. Here's a the best way to accomplish all of your goals: Put yourself in a position where your back is against the wall. Take some kind of committed step that you can't turn back on without discomfort.

Discomfort doesn't mean physical harm, but it can include: financial loss or social shame. The discomfort has to be real and significant or you won't execute. If you dont like the idea of discomfort,  call it an "earnest deposit". Something  that is non-refundable.

99% of my clients publish their books within 1 to 4 weeks of a major event. Their backs were against the wall, they overcame all their fears,  and finished-- within 30 days-- a book they had been working on for years. 

When your back is against the wall, you will shed all fear, all precaution, and trust in your inate ability to achieve.

Three ways to put your back against the wall:

1. Put Your Money where Your Mouth Is:
As an entrepreneur I'm committed to my professional growth. Therefore I invest in business coaching. Now, I MUST utilize and execute my training in order to make the money required to cover the commitment.

2. Get an Accountability Partner:
Make this person someone you trust and someone who is skilled at being candid and honest. When you are held accountable it becomes uncomfortable when you don't execute your goals.

3. Tell the World:
This doesn't mean you give out the detailed plans of your goal, but by putting your word out there, it will become more uncomfortable to not execute.

Put your back against the wall. When you can't take flight, you will fight!

Contact me for free consultation
615-44Books

You Can Make Money Daily!

If you have written a book, then you should be making money everyday.

This may seem impossible, but it isn't. "Making money" does not mean making thousands of dollars everyday. Sometimes you may only make $3.00.  What you do with that $3 is what makes the difference between the ultra successful and those still saying "I need some money."

Three tips on making daily money.

1. Start paying attention:
There are soooo many opportunities to make money with your books. Pay attention to the sources, resources, and opportunities. If  you sell an ebook, take the time to research who bought the book and why? Who else out there is like the person who just bought your book. Pay attention when you sell a book and you will begin to see your opportunities to make money, daily.

2. Don't take the small days for granted: When you learn to save and reinvest the $3.00 or even $0.60, you'll start earning more. Consider the small days to be drips of water in a bucket. Leave the bucket there. Don't touch it. Just let the drips continue to accumulate and look for more ways to turn the drip into a steady flow.

3. Maximize every moment: When you start paying attention, you will begin to see opportunities all around. If you work with other people and you have not told every person in the office about your book, then you are missing out on opportunities. Opportunities are not going to force themselves upon you. You have to step out of your comfort zone and make them happen.

Go As Far As You Can See

Last night as I was listening to my motivational audio, I heard an all-too-common phrase. But this time it really struck a chord.

Jim Rohn, the self-development guru, said it so simply: "Go as far as you can see."

Wow! It is such a simple concept but yet the majority of people, including myself don't get it. If you can honestly say that you don't execute, if you have a problem with procrastination, if you have any ideas in your head that you have not made movement on, it is because you are not going as far as you can see.

Maybe you're asking, "what if I don't see anything?" I have to disagree with you. If you have a desire to write a book and you think to yourself "This book is going to be a best seller. I'm going to be on television, radio; I'm going to speak to book clubs...", then you see your vision. But you have to realize that what you see is not going to come to you, you have to go to it.

There are 3 reasons people don't go as far as they can see.

1. Fear: Fear is the ultimate reason. Everything else is a tool of fear to keep you back. Start combatting your fear. Be afraid to fail, but not like normal people who do nothing. Be afraid to fail to the extent that you attack your ideas with a determination to make them succeed, because you're afraid to fail. And remember: Do it afraid!

2. Lack of belief: If you feel doubt about your plan, then you have a lack of belief. When you feel doubt about your plan, you need to STOP.. Reinforce your belief. Take some deep breaths, think about your potential gains, tell yourself that you're going to make it work.

3. Lack of focus: I have realized that I'm not a strong multitasker. I have to set my sights to get one thing done at a time. I have learned that my best focus comes when my back is against the wall. I pull all stops, I cancel all fears; I think of nothing but the goal. Find ways to put your back against the wall. Tell a few people your intended goals and give a date. Invest money into your goal that requires you to get a return on investment. When your back is against the wall, you will FOCUS, and find a way to survive.

The Power of NOW

100% of success and accomplishment is not found in how perfect you do something. It is not found in an error-free process. Instead, success and accomplishment is solely based on your willingness to act NOW!

Some people are afraid to fail so they put off trying. Well, their theory is correct. They can rest assured that they will never fail anything they dont attempt. Unfortunately,  they will never accomplish anything either.

The Hebrew Proverb states: "In all labor there is profit." If you are concerned about your book failing, focus instead on the profits that will come as a result of your actions.

When I wrote my first book of poetry, I never had an idea that a company would be the profit--not a best-selling book. As a result, I have earned more money and helped more people than my book could have.

So get to work NOW. Don't concern yourself with the outcome. Only concern yourself with fulfilling the vision.

Happy selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

It's Valentines Day

It's Valentines Day. What "lovely" special are you offering for the occasion?  Holidays are great opportunities to offer your product to a world looking for gifts.

Happy selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

Try Podcasting!

If you are stuck and trying to find out how to reach a new audience you MUST try podcasting. Podcasting is a powerful form of marketing and platform building.

Many people shrink away from this media out of intimidation.  They feel they dont have a message or that no one will listen to their message, but the fact is there is an audience for every message.

The benefits of podcasting include:

1. It's very inexpensive: I suggest using the podcast server www.podbean.com. This site offers a FREE limited podcast and has very low reasonable prices to increase your download space. I paid less than $100 for the entire year and I get 100MB of download space per month which is enough space for two 30-minute shows per month. My show (www.ownyourlife.podbean.com)

2. It allows you to reach a global audience with little effort: Podbean and most other providers have their own podcast community.  So you have a ready-made audience when you start. This audience is worldwide. If you study what makes a great podcast, put some energy and creativity into your show, you can capture that audience easily. Podbean also very easily and freely connects to iTunes which is the top site for podcasts. Your accessibility has just blown through the roof!

3. Adds more value to your platform: If nothing else, this media adds more depth to what you offer your audience. Yes you wrote a book but what makes you an authority? This podcast not only helps establish you as an authority but also keeps your ax sharpened because you will have to stay abreast on your topic to have a good show.

4. Adds more convenient access to your target audience: We live busy lives. People can't read while driving to work or while at work. Your podcast allows you to be a regular part of your audiences life without any effort. Now they can jog with you, ride to work with you and work with you just by putting on their ear phones.

A few things you may need:
1. Some recording and audio editing equipment, or access to it.
2. Or you can use a conference line. I suggest www.freeconferencepro.com
3. A theme song, or permission to use a song.
4. A blog site (this blogger site is a great resource), Twitter and Facebook.

Start your podcast and expand your reach!

Happy selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

8 Marketing Tips

Let's keep it simple. Are you pondering what your marketing tip is? Here are 8 marketing strategies to consider.

1. Write articles for magazines or newspapers: This is not for pay. It is purely for exposure. You'll more than likely get a good response by offering your expertise on a given topic for free.
2. Business Cards: Consider your business cards to be seeds being planted in a garden. Ever card can produce a harvest.
3. Auto signs: A car door magnet with your book cover and contact information can be very effective. It's your own mobile billboard.
4. Conduct tele-seminar or online seminar: Again, don't look for money, look for exposure. The money will come.
5. Pass out fliers in though out the neighborhood: Honestly, the return on this may not be great, but the law of compensation guarantees that once you have done all you can, you will receive a reward for your effort.
6. Promotional Sales: There is a holiday every month of the year. In fact, almost every day of the year has some kind of significance. Find out when "Left handers day" is and offer a special to all lefties.
7. Send out complimentary copies: The goal is to send books to people who have the influence to push you to the next level. Focus your mind on finding "connectors" (people with connections).
8. PUBLIC SPEAKING: Look for or create public speaking opportunities.

Out Run Last Year's You!

I've waited for the first week of 2014 to end before I sent this challenge because I want you to look back to see if you have done what you said you would do in 2014. The new race for success has begun.




Your only competitor is yourself. You have to out-perform the you of 2013. If last year's you had a great idea for a book last year, then this year's you must write the book.




Here are 3 steps to winning this race against you.




1. List last year's accomplishments: This is extremely helpful in discovering where you have to go. Try to list 60 accomplishments from last year. This will be hard, but it will cause you to wring out every inch of ideas and thoughts from your mind. Some examples are "read 5 books", "lost 5 pounds" "sold 100 books" . 




2. Make Plans to Accomplish More: After you have written out your list, make plans to increase those accomplishments for this year and also add new accomplishments. So now you'll need to read 10 books. Figure out how much time that will take, and how many pages per day that will take. Plan to lose 10 pounds. Plan to sell 200 books by doubling what you did to sell 100 books.




3. Get to Work: Do something every day towards these goals. Will Smith the actor/rapper said it this way. "You don't set out to build a perfect wall. Instead you set out to lay one brick as perfectly as a brick has ever been laid. And the more you lay individual perfect bricks, you will eventually have a perfect wall."




Happy New Year, and Happy Selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

The Science of Influence

Book selling is the most important part of your book writing journey. Therefore it is critical that we understand what makes people say yes.

I wanted to share this link http://youtu.be/cFdCzN7RYbw on this topic. Don't try another marketing campaign until you have watched this!

Happy Selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

Don't Ask for Support

Never ask anyone to support you and buy your product. Support me no longer holds the weighty "guilt" factor anymore. Everyone is hurting or has some need so there are several reason why the "support me" campaign won't work.

Reason 1: People don't care about what benefits you. They only care about what benefits them. This is not pessimism,  I promise. This is marketing 101. 

Reason 2: Because people only care about what benefits them, they resent you asking them to support your benefits when they believe they have their own issues that need supporting. Thus you become a source of irritation.

Reason 3: People hate to be sold. This innate disdain immediately closes a mental door to cooperation with your campaign.

So. What do you do? Always, ALways, ALWAYS offer to your audience what your audience wants. Talk about what they want and offer them a piece of what you have that will meet their needs. If they like that chip, they'll buy the whole bag.

Happy selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

Execution is 99% of Success

Execution is everything. Some people feel that you shouldn't do anything if you can't do it right. I don't subscribe to that notion. I believe 99% of success is found in completing the task. It may not be perfect, but when you perform the task you will learn as you go. When you call your first radio station and ask the receptionist, "who should I speak to about being interviewed on one of your talk radio shows," he/she will tell you, "Oh, let me patch you over to our program manager." At that moment, you have learned the contact person for all radio stations. Now you know who to seek out, email, or call.

Don't procrastinate for fear of not doing things right or perfect. Don't fill your mind with the idea that you have to be able to know the jargon and sound like an expert. Be okay with the vulnerability of asking for direction. In most cases, those who know will be happy to redirect you if you're headed in the wrong direction. That is why they are working.

4 Things Successful Authors Know

1. I must make the time. It will not make room for me.
All humans, successful and unsuccessful have one thing in common. We all get 24 hours in a day. Successful authors are not blessed with extra time to write. In fact, the more successful they become, the less time they have to devote to writing. So how do they pump out more books? They make the time. They set a writing time with which no other person or circumstance can interfere. Unsuccessful writers say, "I don't have the time."

2. Success Depends on ME!
When interviewing an aspiring author, I ask a question to gauge the potential success of the author. I ask "Do you have a marketing plan or do you want the publisher to promote the book for you?" Sadly, most people say, "I would like the publisher to sell the book. I don't have time to market a book." I know immediately that author will not succeed, no matter how much they try to prime my interest by saying "this is going to be a best-seller." I want to tell them, "NO! It's not because YOU don't want to sell it." No one can promote a book like its writer. If you won't push it, who will?

3. Nothing is free
So many authors want everything for free, and I've even had an inordinate number of authors who want to give away their books for free. Successful authors understand there is a financial commitment to success. Authors must invest in their product, in the marketing and promotion of their product, in the furtherance of their learning by attending conferences and seminars. With the basic financial obligations for success, can you really afford to give away book? If you want to give away books, just write a blog. 

4.  I must have a plan
No one sets out on a road trip with no plan on where to go and how to get there. Yet, many authors write a book with no plan to sell it. Successful author research their market, they create inroads with groups and organizations, they study their audience's spending habits, hobbies, likes and dislikes. They study conferences where like-minded writers will be. They go to seminars and events where they can sell (and learn). The unsuccessful print books with no plan.

Do You Have a Media Kit?

Practical useful information is essential to success. So today let's talk about:

Creating Your Media Kit

Your media kit is your resume to radio stations, television stations, newspapers and magazines. It is an all-in-one package of everything the media needs and wants to know about you. Your media kits should be professional from top to bottom. Don't send media kits in plain folders as they can easily be lost in the pile.

The content in your media kit should support your bid for exposure. In fact, your kit should have enough information for the reporter to write a story on you without asking you a question.

To make your Media kit shine, invest in custom designed folders that display your book cover. Your folder should have pockets for your literature and your book, and slits for your business card.  Again, this is an investment, but it will pay off in the long run.  You may also want to use a glossy paper to print your bios, cover letters, etc.

A good media kit must contain the bare minimum of:

ü    Cover letter:

ü    Professional Headshot (B/W  or Color)

ü    Copy of the book (autographed)

ü    Business Card

ü    Ad Copy or Press Release

ü    Interview Questions:

ü    News Angles

One Yes is worth a Bucket of No's

One of the greatest fears of man is the fear of rejection.  I have clients who are professional speakers able and willing to speak to an auditorium of people, but intimidated by the notion of asking one person to buy a book. 

To overcome this fear we must embrace two new philosophies:

1. "GO FOR NO! No is the new yes.
Change your perspective on the word no. For the next 30 days condition yourself to hear no by asking any and everyone for what you want with a goal to get as many NOs as you can. This is not to reject yes. TAKE THE YES! That's icing on the cake. By going for no, you take the power and sting from it; thereby making you stronger and more resistant to it.

2. One Yes is worth a bucket of NOs. Adrian Davis,  my closest friend and confidant set out to create the Christmas with Crown Davis Charity Event. He planned to provide 20 Families with Christmas gifts and dinner who could not other wise afford it. He used the "Go for No philosophy".

Although he sent out 50 sponsorship requests, he got 10 yeses, and essentially 40 NOs. Yet, of the 10 yeses, he raised $2500 to provide Chrismas food and gifts to OVER 20 under-priviledged families. Let's do the math. Every 1 YES he got was worth 50 NOs.

1 Yes is worth a bucket of NOs

Learn more about the Christmas with CDM event at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-with-crown-davis-tickets-8602740027?aff=efblike

How To Make Money as an Author

If there was one thing I want to get into the minds of aspiring authors it is this: Most likely, you are not going to get rich from selling books. Your book is your platform, not your income maker. Book producing was the platform that I developed from my book. What door does your book open for you that pays more money in less time?

Platforms are built on 5 Pillars:

1. Books: People want to read your knowledge. The written word can be retained forever. Unlike verbal, where people only remember 10% of what they hear, your audience can always go back and re-read your words of instruction, inspiration, and knowledge. However, once people read your words, they then want to hear them.

2.  Audio: Tele-seminars and CDs are very lucrative platform builders. People want to hear the inspiration behind your words. By hosting tele-seminars, you can engage a massive audience from the comfort of your home. Successful speakers generate more income from audio products. Whereas no one would spend $100 for a book, they will spend $100 on a 7-disc audio set. I know from whence I speak.

3. Video: After your audience reads and hears you, they'll want to see you. People want to look into the eyes of the person they have come to admire. They want to see your humaness, see your personality. Videos allow you to provide this connection. Youtube videos, Social media clips live Vine, Socialcam, Instagram, all provide a platform for you to connect with your audience and build a relationship.

4. Public Speaking: Your audience not only wants to read, hear, and see you, they want to witness you. Motivational speaker, Les Brown told how he made $400,000 for a 1 hour speech... How many books would you have to sell to reach that pay check and how long would it take you?

5. Personal Coaching: Lastly, once people have read you, heard you, seen you, and witnessed you, they want to be coached by you...Most coaches charge $135- $150 per hour to coach. I once read the book of a Professional Coach who said he was in such demand that he began charging what he thought was an astronomical price of $5,000 an hour to get people to leave him alone. To his surprise, people paid without the blink of an eye.

Your book is NOT the money maker. It's your platform to greater opportunities.

(excerpted from the Author's Success Manual copyright (c) 2013 by Timothy O. Bond)

Happy Selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

Be An Authority

"What gives you the right?" This is the question people are thinking when you decide to become an AUTHORity on a subject. As I have always said, "people buy you, not the book."

I say all of this to emphasize the importance of you becoming a recognized authority of your topic. A few tips to help you start establishing your authority:

1. Blogging:
It surprises me how many people know they need to do this, know how free and easy it is, and still don't do it. Becoming a daily source of FREE information establishes your claim that you know of what you speak. I emphasize free, because if you are charging for everything, then people see that you are just looking for their money, and that you don't have a true passion for the topic.

2. Speaking:
Hosting or presenting at workshop, meet up groups and seminars is invaluable to your career. In particular, teleseminars. Most writers are timid when it comes to public speaking. Teleseminars would be a great way to engage an audience and develop your speaking persona. Also, if you don't have a platform yet, this would save you the money and time. I have written more about creating your teleseminar in "The Author's Success Manual" including the best programs to use.

3. Newsletters:
Create a monthly newsletter on your topic or platform. Along with branding yourself as an authority, this will also help you build a database of contacts which will serve you very well in building your audience.

Happy Selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

How to Get Media Attention

 

There are probably a plethora of ways to get the attention of media concerning your book but I'll give four.

1. Do the work for the editor or producer and create a story:
Print media Editors and radio/tv producers want to do one thing: fill pages and time slots. So they actually don't have the time to be creative. They need to be fed the idea. So you sending a random, non-specific press release is useless. However, if you send a story idea about the increase in drug addiction in your city and how you overcame the problem, you're more likely to get that producer's attention.

2. Be prepared to email, fax, or call at the drop of a dime:
Keep a contact list of reporter and editor contacts in your phone, in your email data base, and by your fax machine. Be prepared to reach out to them regularly. When news happens that is the slightest bit related to your topic, you need to move quick and get a release to your list of editors and producers. If your book is about dogs and a story comes out about a local animal abuse arrest, you need to have your release in the hands of the media showing them that you are an expert on the topics of animals and (go back to tip #1) how you would be able to do an interview on what makes people abuse animals.

3. Be brief:
Remember, editors and producers don't have time to read a 2-page letter. You have 30 seconds (if that) to highlight how you can make their day successful. So GET TO THE POINT! Use caps and bold letters for the power points. I suggest you Google how to write a brief but effective ad copy.

4. Add pictures. Images draw attention.
Add a poignant image. If there is an animal abuse story, adding a heart-wrenching image of an abused animal like we see in those animal abuse commercials won't hurt your chances of getting attention.

Happy selling!
www.TrueVinePublishing.org

You are Designed for Success

"Every human being is literally engineered for success by his Creator" -Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics. 

GET THIS IN YOUR SPIRIT!!!! 

How else can I say this??.... You are designed in such a fashion that you can do anything you set your mind to. Just like a car is designed to transport and is equipped with all of the acessories to do just that.

This is worth meditating on all night.

Once you learn how to use your equipment you will succeed at ALL things.

Libraries

Quick tip for you authors who are looking for more exposure and more potential sales. Get your book in the library distribution. With the damaged economy, more people are getting books from libraries instead of purchasing them. Getting your book in the library distribution may prove to be a great benefit.

However, there are a few things you need to know about getting your book in the library distribution:

1. Most libraries are looking for local books. So you may not have luck getting your book in libraries around the country initially. Start locally with the plan to build your reputation.

2. Because library books get heavy use, libraries are usually looking for a very sturdy, hard back, glued or sewn book. If you have paperback, I've seen covers heavily laminated to insure they hold up.

3. The best way to bring your book to a libraries attention is through reviews. A positive review in review journals, such as Library Journal, School Library Journal (for children's books), Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, or any others, will give your book an excellent chance of being bought by PCPL (and other public libraries as well). A list of contact information for
these publications is listed below.

Booklist

Kirkus Reviews

Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

4. The next best method is  to send a flyer mailed to the Collection Development Office. The Collection Development librarians generally only have a few seconds to look at a flyer, so your best bet is to emphasize the essentials.

• WHAT the book is about. This should be brief.
• WHY the book is appropriate for our collection. (attach a copy of your review)
• WHO the intended audience is for the book.
• WHO the author is. (include qualifications and be sure to mention that you are a local author or publisher.)
• WHEN and WHERE the book was published. provide complete bibliographic data, including date of publication, price (including discount if multiple copies are purchased), ISBN (very important), edition statement, type of binding. If the book is self published. Give some indication of its physical appearance, including how it is bound.
• HOW the library can purchase your book.