Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

I'm A'Scared!

“Are you “A’scared?”

This is one of my favorite taunts and lessons from one of my bosses.

He usually presents it to me when I find myself all worked up making a mountain out of mole hill.  It usually revolves around things I have no control over and will run its course in due time but yes “Damn It” I am “A’scared.”

• I am scared of failing
• I am scared of confrontation
• I am scared of hurting somebodies feelings
• I am scared I don’t have what it takes
• I am scared I am not interesting
• I am scared I won’t ever be a huge success
• I am scared of a bunch of things

When you were a kid were you:

• Scared of the Dark
• Scared of Adults
• Scared of Heights
• Scared of Girls/Boys
• Scared of Big Dogs
• Scared of Spiders
• Scared of Riding the Bus

As an adult have you overcome most of these fears?

As a kid how did you overcome these fears?  Did an adult show you the truth?  Did repetition create comfort?  Did you face your fears head on and learn most of them are made up in your head?

What I am learning about myself and others is we often stall out in life because we are scared or as my boss taunts me “A’scared.”

What I love about the word “A’scared” is it’s so childish that it’s silly. Next time you feel a little stuck in life, ask yourself am I just “A-scared?”

You might find yourself feeling silly and moving on with your life.

One of my favorite TV shows is “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.” What is cool about his show is he brings on everyday people who are trying to make it big in business, doing what they love.

Donny uses his connections to bring high profile guests on the show to share their wisdom with these budding entrepreneurs and it’s obvious Donny has a great passion for helping others.

Donny himself is a successful author and business person but he has decided it’s important to give back.  I am sure he makes some great money hosting the show but if you get a chance to watch you will know he is genuine and loves what he does.

Two big secrets in life are:

Do what you love & teach what you love.

Do these two things and you will love life.

Who knows Donny might be calling you to be on the next episode of The Big Idea.

Have you ever given yourself permission to write a rough draft for your life?

Instead of creating goals, create drafts.  They are more flexible and allow for more creativity.

Drafts are guides which lead to goals and results.

Momentum Monday Assignment:

Write a rough draft of 10 things you could do in the next 6 months to spice up your life.

Don’t censor, just draft.  A draft is a place to dream.  Most of us quit dreaming when we graduate from High School or College.

Let me know if you feel less pressure when you call it a draft versus a plan?

Béla Károlyi is not only a fabulous gymnastic coach, he is also a great example of how to manage your “Expert” opinion.

Pete Blackshaw recently posted about how Béla Károlyi had nearly surpassed Bob Costas with media and blog mentions.  Now this may not seem significant but Costas easily has 10 times the exposure as Károlyi during the Olympics but people are interested in Károlyi.

Of course Béla Károlyi is a loved gymnastics hero and has trained the best of the best but I believe there is one reason and one reason alone for his popularity right now.  He is willing to speak his mind and be politically incorrect.  During this years Olympics there has been numerous gymnastic events where the Chinese competitors have won gold medals with questionable judging.

Many commentators are willing to allude to such scenarious but Béla Károlyi has been adamant and clear in his convictions.  He does not sugar coat his opinion he says it like it is.  His remarks about the Chinese being “half-people,” are a bit off color, but you must he adds some spice to an Olympics that otherwise feels over commercialized and hyped.

I suggest when it comes to your blog or your opinion you do as Béla Károlyi does and say it like it is.

No need for sugar coating in this world.  The internet and media is crowded.  Those who speak, write and communicate with conviction will stand out.

Don’t be a “Half-Blogger.”

Timothy Ferriss the author of “The 4-Hour Workweek” makes his case for and provides a blueprint for a luxury lifestyle with just 4 hours of work a week.

His book touts: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich.

Sounds good to me.

The Book also comes with a Warning:  DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO QUIT YOUR DAY JOB.

My goal for this article is not to share the “hows” of his book but to ask you to place a bet.

A bet to follow your dreams and live the unreasonable life you always wanted to live.

I can already see your arms folding, but do read on.

Ferris covers various concepts and strategies to creating a 4 hour work week which delivers his
results aforementioned.

All of his strategies have merit, most are eccentric and I will share my two favorite.

First you need to be unreasonable. Our entire economy is centered around trading time for money.   You would be silly to consider any other plan, but that is exactly why this book is so powerful.  So many of us have been misinformed about how to create wealth.  A job is not the only answer.  “Passive or Automated” income streams are ready and available.  The internet is the truly the golden egg.  FYI, the internet is just the vehicle, not the answer.

The second is start with the end in mind. If you build a business that revolves around trading time for money you are almost guaranteed you will not be able to convert it to a 4 hour work week model.  Don’t even start unless the model is created with 4 hours of work in mind.

Since I know most of the population is completely reasonable I have a reasonable challenge for you.

Most of you will not follow the concepts presented in the book and therefore will never get the opportunity
to experience true luxury lifestyle. 

Here is my request.

Buy Timothy Ferriss’ book.  Read it and embrace it.

Don’t quit your day job, don’t tell your boss you are going to work from home, don’t hire a virtual assistant for penny’s on the dollar american and don’t even think about taking any chances.

Now that I have made it completely safe for you, are you willing to wager 4 hours a week?

Do allocate 4 hours a week creating your 4-Hour Workweek business.  It’s only 4 hours give it a try.

Do you have the GUTS to take a 4 hour a week chance?

Oh wait, you are already taking a 40 hour plus chance, this will be easy!

Resources:

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

The Blog of Timothy Ferriss

If you want to make a great movie “Show Me The Money” is a good mantra, but if you are looking to start a business Guy Kawasaki, famed venture capitalist and former Apple Brand Evangelist will demand that you “Show Me (him) the Meaning.”

I was watching a Google Video of Guy Kawasaki over the weekend where he presented his Top Ten list for budding entrepreneurs.  Number one on his list was “What is the Meaning.”  Not how much money can I make or how will I make money, but the meaning, the benefits or how you will change the world.

While I was watching this video I realized, I don’t believe I have ever mentioned making money on my blog.

I just want to clarify a few things.  My belief is follow your heart, provide something of value and the money MIGHT follow.  Many people will tell you otherwise.  In fact Marsha Sinetar has a book titled “Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow.”

I think the books title is a slippery slope.  We all have the ability to have subconscious agendas and by tagging on to the end of affirmation such as “Do What You Love” you subconsciously are looking for a payout.

I say “Do What You Love” because you love it.

I believe that has Meaning!

Momentum Monday Assignment:

Make a Top Ten List of what you love.

Extra Credit: Be sure you have all ten items on your calendar in the next 30 days.

The world according to the movie Dumb and Dumber:

Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) wanting to date Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly)

Lloyd: The least you could do is level with me. What are my chances?

Mary: Not good.

Lloyd: You mean like one out of a hundred?

Mary: More like one out of a million.

Lloyd: So you’re tellin’ me there’s a chance.

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement when starting a new adventure.

Today I submitted my blog to be included in the branding section of Alltop an up and coming blog aggregater.   Alltop describes itself as the as a “digital magazine rack” for the Internet.  It categorizes popular blogs by topic.  The cool thing about Alltop is the listings are hand submitted by a real person.

A real person included my blog, I am so excited!  Of course I sent them an email and a bribe with an Alltop banner on my blog and asked for them to include me on Alltop.

Hence, not only do I have a chance but they like me.

You can see me at the bottom of the branding section on Alltop, which if you read about Alltop is actually the top.

Alltop Listing

Have you ever felt like a fraud?  If you are new to blogging or writing you may be experiencing what I like to call Fraud Factor.

I experienced my first case of Fraud Factor when I started my personal coaching business in 2001.  In 2001 blogs were a mere sparkle in your eye.  E-zines or E-newsletters were all the rage for marketing your coaching business or just about any business for that matter.

I started by giving my E-zine a title “What’s Up With That!?” it later morphed in to “What’s the Big Idea?” and that is about where the  fun ended.

I figured it would be an easy venture but as I sat down to write my first article I started to experience this weird feeling that I was a fraud.  There was no reason for me to feel this way.  I was not trying to mislead or rip off anybody but inside I felt like I was misleading or better yet, maybe I was not up to the task.  Maybe I really did not know what I was writing about.

How could that be true?  I was merely sharing my idea or opinion.  How could I be a fraud? It was my opinion or idea…right?

You might be experiencing something similar.  In many writing books they call it the inner or self critic.  Whatever you call it, it can be a crippling experience.  Sometimes when I feel this critic creep up in my mind, I can’t even write a draft.  I start and stop, rethink and judge my work.  Over the years I have created some strategies to overcome the critic or Fraud Factor.


Here are 5 Strategies to Overcome the Fraud Factor:

1.  Write frequently and request feedback from friends and family.

2.  Set a time limit for writing an article or post make no edits until after the time limit has elapsed.

3.  Write about what you know like the back of your hand, put away being clever write about the obvious.

4.  Forgive yourself for being less than perfect. You will probably never feel 100% confident about all that you write.

5.  Take a class, a seminar or read a book; continued education is the key to becoming an expert.  The more you know the greater your confidence.

As you grow the Fraud Factor will creep up from time to time.  It can mean one of two things.  You are trying to share what you don’t really know or you are actually growing and claiming new territory.

So the next time you feel like a fraud it might actually be a good thing.

Today Seth Godin blogged on the idea of old world marketing versus the new tools available online.  This ties in well with my post yesterday about 7 Offline Ideas for Marketing your Business.

Email and internet tools can create the illusion of reaching a greater audience but often times these tools act as a shield or a shortcut to connecting with your customers or audience.

This week I was faced with a similiar challenge.  I started this blog in May and had a personal goal of 30 posts before I would launch it to my personal network.

I crafted a very personal email and was ready to send it out but sat on it for a day.  I shared it with a trusted friend and mentor and he mentioned it lacked the classic “WIFM” information.  Which is the eternal question we all ask,  “What’s in it For Me?”

I spent a little time thinking about what I was offering my audience and came to an epiphany.  My email would never be as effective as calling each and every person in my trusted network and sharing my new passion Expert in the Rough. I would never be able to recreate the personal connection I could create by phone or in person.

It’s going to take me a few weeks to make the calls so don’t be offended if you reading this post and have not heard from me.

Phone calls start today.

Offline is still a great way to market your online ventures.  Here are seven “sarcastic’ tips on how to promote your online presence or business.

1.  Attend a networking event.  Examples of networking events include parties, parks, restaurants and of course the ever famous “Business Breakfast Meeting.”  My favorite one is called “Eggs and Issues.”  Makes me feel kind of sick.  Don’t forget “The coffee is for closers.”  (Utilize tips 3, 4 and 7 while you are there.)

2.  Post a flyer on a community board about a your blog or newsletter.

3.  Speak at one of those aforementioned “Business Breakfast” meetings.

4.  Business cards, have people forgotten about marketing 101.  VistaPrint is a great value.

5.  Make a phone call, I am not sure if this counts as “offline” but at least involves a real time discussion.  Instead of emailing a request, use your tool of influence and persuasion learned by most as a baby, its called a voice.

6.  Write an article for a paper, trade publication or magazine.  I must admit this could be a crossover idea and your article might appear online but magazine and newspaper access are still viable options when Wi-Fi is not an option.

7.  Shameless Self Promotion, next time somebody asks you what have you been up to, have a story about latest project ready and waiting.  After a few minutes of puking on the unsuspecting person about your latest venture, follow up with, “What have you been up to?”

What have I been up to?

Check out my blog:  Expert in the Rough