Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

The attached ticket grants the holder Permission to Fail in 09!

Facsimiles, Copies, Torn, Wet and/or Counterfeit Versions of this ticket are acceptable for entrance into this Down Economy.  Watch CNN & FoxNews for tour updates.  This tour WILL be coming to your town.

It’s inevitable The Down Economy, The Recession and The Great Depression Revisited are coming to a town near you in 2009.  You have no options except to fail.  That is why 2009 is a great year to get started living your dreams.

Are you following me.  Since you are going to fail at everything else.  Everything is bleak.  The sun will never rise, you no longer need to worry about the risk of failure.  It is inevitable.  It is for sure. So, if you are doomed to fail and so is everybody else,  why not take a chance on living your dreams in 09.

It is a bit counter-intuitive but 2009 could be your best year ever to start living your dreams.  Here are 9 reasons 2009 might be the year for you.

1. Stocks are cheap.  Buy Low and Sell High. Warren Buffet is doing it.
2. Housing Bubble has busted.  Once Again Buy Low and Sell High.
3. Others have given up.  You might be surprised there are businesses that are thriving.
4. If you fail you can blame it on the economy.
5. Businesses are reassessing contracts in an effort to save money.  This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door.
6. A great time to scale down, get out of the rat race, reassess your lifestyle.  Even the “Joneses” are scaling back.
7. The world was supposed to end in 2000 so you have been granted at very least an extension.  Get moving.  Maybe it’s a 9 lives type of thing and 2009 really is the end of the world.
8. If you take the numbers 2009 and add them together you get eleven its a great Blackjack hand.  The experts, recommend that you “Double Down” on eleven.
9. George Bush’s last day on the job is January 20th.

Check back early next year for the “Pleasantly Surprised by your Success Tour. “

Recently I ran a contest on Twitter.  I offered 100 Word Promo to my 100th follower on Twitter.  I find it rather interesting that a Social Media Company ended up being my 100th follower.

For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it is basically summed up as a Micro-Blogging platform limited to 140 character length blog posts.  This seems like a ridiculous format but it has become the rage of the blogosphere.  The key feature of Twitter is the “Follow” feature.  You choose who you want to follow and therefore you get only the information you approve.

Twitter lends itself to Personal promotion and interaction but many Brands have jumped in setting up Twitter profiles.  The jumping in of Brands on Twitter often pisses people off since many of these brands forget Twitter is a personal platform.  They forget to talk to people versus broadcast at them.  Their manners often come off as a one way conversation.

I have not been following @HubSpot for very long on Twitter but I will give them a pass on setting a Twitter profile since they add value in a number of ways.

Hubspot’s tag line is “Inbound Internet Marketing System”

Hubspot is actually an evangelist for the new marketing model.  Instead of broadcasting at everybody they teach you to develop a web presence which attracts the people who want or need your product.  It’s the smell of home cooked cookies approach versus the megaphone approach to marketing.

I recommend 4 HubSpot Products:

HubSpot Internet Marketing Blog

Website Grader is a great tool for identifying what areas your blog/website is performing well and what areas your blog needs improvement.

Free Internet Marketing Kit, They might call you once but they have not bothered me since.

Twitter Grader is just another way to benchmark yourself against other websites and bloggers.

My Grades:
Website Grade: 89 (up from 59 in July)
Twitter Grade: 59 (My first reference)

Thanks HubSpot for following me @coachbriany

I think that was a bit more than 100 Words!

If it wasn’t for my Day Job!

Dirty Words

Lets face it.  You probably have a “Day Job” and yes I have one too. I bet you have dreamed about a new and better job.  You know one of those hip and fun jobs like:

Personal Coach, Massage Therapist, Blogger, Writer, Author, Secret Shopper, Travel Writer and Independent Business Owner (i.e. Multi Level Marketing) to name a few.

In fact you might not even call these “jobs” because “a job” is almost a dirty word these days.  Having “a job” is so “Industrial Revolution.”  I don’t have anything against these cool jobs…lets call them “Lifestyle Careers.”  In fact I claimed one of them in my resume and my taxes.  I was a personal coach for three years and it gives me great contrast for what I am about to share.  It was a great career but in the end.  I still needed a job.

The Day Job as defined by Miriam Websters: one’s regular employment as contrasted with an occasional, secondary, or coveted job.

The Day Job as Defined by Brian Monahan: the economic, professional and spiritual endowment from which you will draw upon during the journey to your dreams.

Do you see some contrast between the two definitions.  I know you might think I am going all Norman Vincent Peale on you but yes there is some Power in Positive Thinking.  Maybe your Day Job is not all that bad.  So far my Day Job is paying for 2 cars, my home, my education, my clothes on my back, the food in my mouth and the web hosting for this blog.

I want to make something clear.  I do have dreams for a lifestyle career.  My dream is to be a best selling author & keynote speaker with a huge blog readership.  I bet you have dreams too.  The truth is most of you need a “Day Job” to finance your dreams but the financing might just be the tip of the iceberg.  Your day job has many other resources that can be mined or drawn upon.

The question you need to ask yourself, “Will I curse my “Day Job” or maximize it’s Return on Investment?

If your chose “curse” I recommend the movie “Ground Hogs Day” which is a great representation of the traditional view of a “Day Job.”

Otherwise, choice two is the only real option for dreamers.  Maximize your Return on Investment.

Return on Investment brings us back to the word endowment.  An endowment defined in terms of gifted funds which are invested for a charitable organization to operate and fulfill its mission.  You can equate an organizations mission as being the same thing as you fulfilling your dreams.

If you have not gotten it yet.  Your “Day Job” is a great thing.  It’s a Gift. It is your buddy.  It is your friend.  You want it.  You need it.  It has tremendous value.  It is the vehicle for your dreams.  Embrace it. Hug it.  Buy it flowers.

10 Strategies for Maximizing your R.O.I. at your Day Job.

1. Live vicariously through your day job.  Find the common ground between work and your dreams.
2. Network & Connect your connections you take with you.
3. Save Capital for your dreams.  Create a slush fund for your side business or personal interests.
4. Build Your Resume.  You’re putting in the time anyway, you might as well build your list of accomplishments on the job.
5. Create your ideal job where you work now.  You are already on the payroll.
6. Maximize your retirement savings.
7. Request a vested interest in your company.  Ownership has it privileges.
8. Enjoy it.
9. Mentor others.  When I am helping others it is hard for me to have ill will and be disgruntled.
10. Prepare for the Departure.

The biggest reason people feel trapped in their day job is no departure plan.  Create your plan, do the work, make the best of it.

When the timing is right make the change.  Instead of jumping off the disgruntled cliff of your Day Job your new career might find you.

Nothing fancy here.  Just a shift in thinking.

A “Blog Recession” is when you do not post to your blog on consecutive days equal to your average weekly posts minus seven times two.

Blog Recession Formula:

My blog is 19 Weeks old and I have 48 posts.

Average weekly posts equal 2.53 posts per week.

7 - 2.53 = 4.47

4.47 x 2 = 8.94 days.

Therefore, if I do not post for 8.94 days my blog is in a recession.

In fact I did not post to my blog from September 11 until September 20th.

My blog was clearly in a recession.

So is your blog in a recession?

Here are 9 Tips to overcome a blog recession.

1. Update post.  Instead of telling your readers you are sorry you have not been able to post, tell them about what you been up to.  This is far more interesting than “Sorry I have not posted.”
2. Do a book review.
3. Share a link with commentary.
4. Drop a bomb, announce something controversial or private.
5. Share a picture or a graph that inspires or touches you.
6. Share a quote
7. Request a guest post from another blogger.
8. Write something totally unique, such as your own metric, as I have done with the Blog Recession Formula.
9. Use the Nike technique, Just Post!

I just learned of Blog Day from one of the blogs I follow Awake @ the Wheel, By Jonathan Fields. Blog Day comes with an assignment to share five new blogs which I find interesting. You are in luck since I read over 50 regularly.

If you think in terms Blog Day being a birthday, Expert in the Rough is merely a fetus at this point with less than 4 months since conception. Thankfully I have been reading a number of blogs for some time now and can share with you five that I truly enjoy and anticipate each new post.

I must admit this feels a little cheesy and “manufactured viral” but isn’t that what blogging is all about anyway?

Here are my favorites:

1. Seth’s Blog - Seth Godin is the master I have not read a better blog.  Seth has a laser clear vision of intersection of life and marketing.  No nuance is missed by this man.
2. Awake @ The Wheel - Jonathan Fields covers career, entrepreneurship and life in a manner which makes me feel comfortable.  You can tell he is comfortable with himself and his message.
3. join me on the path - Patty Craft is a dear friend.  She is a cancer survivor and a wonderful writer.  Patty is a big part of my writing since she was editor for my e-newsletter What’s Up With That.  Her expertise as a writer and editor gave me the confidence to share my voice.  Her personal stories and insights on her blog carry great meaning to me, knowing her battle with cancer gives great perspective to life’s simple pleasures.
4. Insights for Consciously Creating a Very Cool Life - Drew Rozell is a fabulous writer.  I have known Drew for over 8 years.  I can honestly say the man is perfectly aligned with his desires.  He writes with truth from experience and is the “Biggest Secret” in the personal development industry.  Drew teaches a practical approach to the Laws of Attraction.
5. Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni has great insights into new media and the conversation.  Old media is one way and new media is all about the conversation.  She even takes it a step further and asks the question what are the results of the conversation.

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

I am voting for Barack Obama.  With that out the way, I can now waste a bunch of time confirming my decision.  John McCain is surely going to say something I don’t agree with and he will surely make a mistake in his campaign I can exploit.  That is why I am voting for Obama.

But, so will Barack Obama but I won’t notice.  I have already made my decision so I look
to confirm he is right via John McCain’s missteps and old school opinions.  It really doesn’t make much sense to use this as evidence but that is how I will proceed.

You might find it interesting that I am admitting this but I am getting the feeling this is a pretty common
practice.  With the presidential election drawing closer, I am dipping on more and more restaurant conversations.

The election is a hot topic outside of gas prices.

It is very interesting when a table full of people are in agreement and talk freely about their candidate or should I say their candidate’s opponent?  What I have noticed is much of the talk is about what is wrong with the other candidate versus what is right about their candidate.

Now, this is not a political post.  I consider myself very a-political.  I think politics are a bit of a bore.  However, I do think it is something to be aware of in your life and business.

First start to take notice.  When faced with a decision, do you already have your mind made up?  Do you
engage in arguments or discussions with an openness that there might actually be a valid opposing opinion or do you already know the answer?

Second, when sharing an idea, concept or opinion, have you taken into account the other person either agrees or disagrees with you already?  What is your plan to overcome this scenario?  What do you focus on in presenting your case?  Do you focus on what is right about your idea or what is wrong about others?  By the way, why are politics and religion off limits?  It is just your opinion.  Don’t you want to share it?

Just something to think about.

Do you agree?

Donny Deutsch is on the line and he wants you to be on his show “The Big Idea.” You start rifling through your pile of napkins and scrap paper, but your “Big Idea” is nowhere to be found.  Donny hangs up.  You have just missed an opportunity to work with the “Oprah of Entrepeneurs.” You start to cry, but you’re a serial idea junky and you pull out a napkin, note to self, “Create a better way to take notes.”

You  missed the boat again because Jott.com found your napkin.

Jott is a very powerful and free internet application that allows you to  combine the powers of phone, email and text messaging.  I recommend it for the Expert in the Rough crowd to document their ideas.  This does not replace the “Super Cool Journal” but compliments it.

My favorite way to use Jott is to email myself ideas or notes when I am driving.  (Please don’t hate, I will be careful.)  Often times when I am driving I have an idea and I am not able to write it down.  I simply have Jott.com’s phone number stored into my cell phone.  When you call Jott it will ask who you want to Jott.  You say myself or whoever you want to Jott and speak your message.  It will confirm it recieved your message.  You hang up and it will email or text you the message.

You also have the ability to text or email others, create lists, text groups, set reminders and other powerful features.

I don’t want to spend a lot of time on tutorial which you can get at Jott. com but I did have a few tips.

Set yourself up with multiple personal boxes.  If you load your cell phone number and email address into Jott it will send you both.  To save on text messaging, I created another contact for myself with an email address only.  I also like to use Jott to send text messages to people who I know are in meetings and can’t answer their phone but can view a text message.  You can also set up reminders if you are a person who loses track of time.

The opportunities and ideas are endless.  Just be sure to Jott them down.