Over the past six years of working with speakers, authors and business owners I've learned a few things.  Successful people set goals and they drive themselves to reach them.  But, making a name for yourself does not happen overnight.

Often, my job is to remind these "driver-driver" types that it takes time to turn into a National expert.  At first you start with speeches to a small group, Rotary or Chamber.  Then you can evolve into a larger paid audience.  Then as you improve your fee goes up etc. etc.

The same is true of creating an online following. Many people forget to invite their network to support them on Linked In or in a quarterly newsletter.  This is how success happens.  If you haven't heard the story of how either Wayne Dyer or Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hanson, Chicken Soup For the Soul, reached success, google it.

I show a picture of a $7 cutting from my garden.  At first I stuffed it in the ground.  Then it grew all big and floppy after 3 years that my friend told me it looked funny in the front of our house.  Finally I plunked it in the back yard and it's found it's home.  That was four or five years ago and now I can share cuttings with my friends.  Let me know if you want one and if you know the name of the plant, please share.  Rock On!

Some days you have more energy than others. It's just the way the body works and sometimes the mind can push you through those moments and other moments you relinquish and stop pushing.

Throughout the years of working with people to expand their message, I've noticed that people with goals figure out how to push through.  Yes, they have days that they can't get traction on their task list, but they keep pushing.  They make one more phone call. They take one more risk. They breathe and keep going.

Selling books and becoming a National Speaker does not happen overnight.  I repeat. Selling more than 3,000 books and becoming a National Speaker does not happen without hard work.

It doesn't matter if you meet someone who makes it look easy, it takes planning, effort and pushing through the rejections, the difficult feedback and the long to-do list.  

The instructor at the gym today said, "Just focus on the form and you'll get a great workout."  It's the same for spreading your message, focus on your form.  What is one thing you can do to get to the other side of your goal. It could be hiring a great editor, asking for one more testimonial or really listening to audience feedback.  Keep going.

I recently wrote an article for the RockPaperStar monthly newsletter that got a lot of feedback called "What Do You Make."  

People asked me where my stories were about programs and products that we've built for speakers and authors.  I realized that I had spaced out the examples and the detail is the secret sauce to making a good product or speech.  Isn't it funny how you often don't take your own advice as well as someone else's.  

Follow along with me please.  When you make a product you want to personalize it. There are so many information products, training products and self-help products out there that it's overwhelming.  And if you just crank something out, it shows.  When we work with clients I always look for what is their unique or signature style.  This is the memorable touchpoint. For example, Joe Sweeney, who has built many successful businesses is a networking king.  He also loves sports and was Brett Favre's first agent, so we tied into the sports theme and called his program, The Winning Game Plan.

Harvey Mackay, is known for his #1 New York Times Bestselling book Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and his envelope company that produces 25 million envelopes a day.  As a result, he wears a shark tie and has shark pins.  He says more people know him as "The Shark Guy" or "The Envelope Guy" than by his first name.   When you make a product, be personal.  Not cheesy, but personal.  It's the difference between success and greatness.

I see it all the time.  The wanna-be author or speaker has a sheet of paper with an idea, or an idea that they have been kicking around for years, or in one case a full manuscript that they just don't think is good enough to be printed.  I'm always puzzled why they don't just go for it.  Publish. Get an editor. Get someone to work with you on your speech.  Pleasantly I ask, what are you waiting for?

Ok, I am simplifying the challenges of writing and publishing and marketing a book.  But really you have this idea, so let's get going. It's more fun when you're in the creative process than standing waiting for the process to start. When I wait, I get fearful.  I worry. I imagine the worst results. I make up excuses about time, money and other b.s. that slows me down from reaching my goal.

I've been told I'm gutsy.  Some days I believe it. Some days I don't.  But most days when people come to me with an idea or a fuzzy goal, I will saddle up a bunch of courage, help them see the path and guide them to get going.  Action feels so much better than waiting.  Keep on rocking!

P.S. Write an article if that's an easier place to start!

For as talkative as I am, I am very reflective.  I have been keeping a journal since I was a 3rd grader. (Not consistently) I run and then I write down thoughts and ideas. I write when I am mad or feeling extreme emotions.  And then, sometimes after I write or during the writing process, I have an AHA!.

You know the kind of thought where you go, "Wow, that was a great idea." or "This might be kind of good."  The kind of thought that makes you want to take action no matter how great the risk. Thoughts that make you shift what you've been doing.

Just yesterday I had the AHA that people make change when they really want it.  It's just that simple.  If you want your goal badly enough and believe that you can accomplish it you will seek out feedback and coaching to reach it.  You will listen to the advisors no matter how much what they say may make you uncomfortable or challenge your current plan of action. You want to make your situation change.  For example, you want more people to know about what you do.

At RockPaperStar we guide and coach people to launch bestselling books, connect to their most powerful speaking message and develop training products.  We can't make someone a bestseller if they don't want it badly enough.  It's not an easy task to launch a book or develop a 3 hour workshop, but if you want to reach your goal, you will ask for help to change.  Do you really want to change?

What do you want for your book or your speaking efforts?  How do you want your business to prosper as a result of your efforts?  Why are you spending time sharing your message?

These can be big thoughts to answer, but if you can get at the source of why you want to spread your ideas through a book, speaking or products you will be in a much stronger position to connect with your audience and have your audience hear you and benefit.  Those type of benefits result in stronger sales, more results and more buzz.

At RockPaperStar we've been using vision boards with our clients for more than ten years and they work.  You may recall making a fan poster of your favorite band when you were a kid or maybe posted up posters of a sports hero.  A vision board is not much different only take the time to really think about results that will stretch  you and fuel your journey.  

Do you want a New York Times bestseller?  Do you want to speak to a 4000 stage audience?  Post these types of visions on your board and put specific dates and words with them and then call us to help you make the details of the plan come to life.  We believe RockStars are created with hard work, inspiration and  purposeful action.   Let's do this thing!