Nice article! I’m my other life, in monitoring and evaluation, we’d call the six figure book deal (“success”) an impact indicator. It takes a long time to manifest, and is the culmination of both internal and external forces. It’s the internal ones you can control and influence. For new writers, it’s often the external ones (like social media influence) that is hard not to focus on. The more we focus on shifting and tracking progress on our internal forces over which we have control, the better for impact long term. Like, track how often you set aside time to write. How often do you celebrate your writing for yourself. How much time do you allocate to learning something new - how many c adjustments have you made to how you write?
Much better indicators than counting followers and subscribers.
But it’s so hard when we are on platforms not to get distracted and to compare our success with others apparent success.
That is definitely the work! It’s hard! Shiny things can be quite bright and alluring, even for the best of us 😊
I am slowly figuring out ways to keep my focus. I am getting better about keeping a calendar, writing schedule, and tracking a few meaningful metrics to keep me focused.
Russell, this comment comes from reading your book, On Being Happy and a Successful Author at the Same Time. Specifically the chapter on Finding Your Brand.
You mentioning spotting the difference between Abercrombie &Fitch kids and Hot Topic kids at school.
I wasn’t a brand kid at all. For all of my elementary years my clothes were either hand made or hand me downs. I wonder if this lack of personal familiarity with brand identity will hinder me building a personal brand.
Even now in my life, in my 50’s, I am loath to buying branded merchandise.
That’s a brand my dear. Look up cottage core. It’s all the rage. Also up cycling. People are all about making their own clothes more. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you got a brand.
I like the cottage core look, however, I feel like my childhood brand was single mother poverty, not the cute images I see with cottage core. But it’s something to think about!
That is also a brand. You are resisting calling yourself a brand, but whatever thing you are, is a brand. It doesn't have to be hot topic of abercrombie and fitch. You are not getting the crux of the matter, which is that you already have a brand. Everyone does. There's a lot more about this inside Hapitalist, which I see you have not joined, and lots of other people to help you, but right now that's what I got.
Nice article! I’m my other life, in monitoring and evaluation, we’d call the six figure book deal (“success”) an impact indicator. It takes a long time to manifest, and is the culmination of both internal and external forces. It’s the internal ones you can control and influence. For new writers, it’s often the external ones (like social media influence) that is hard not to focus on. The more we focus on shifting and tracking progress on our internal forces over which we have control, the better for impact long term. Like, track how often you set aside time to write. How often do you celebrate your writing for yourself. How much time do you allocate to learning something new - how many c adjustments have you made to how you write?
Much better indicators than counting followers and subscribers.
But it’s so hard when we are on platforms not to get distracted and to compare our success with others apparent success.
Yup. 100% true, but that's the work, right? LIke, not to get distracted by shiny things, outside metrics, do the work that actually works.
That is definitely the work! It’s hard! Shiny things can be quite bright and alluring, even for the best of us 😊
I am slowly figuring out ways to keep my focus. I am getting better about keeping a calendar, writing schedule, and tracking a few meaningful metrics to keep me focused.
Amazing . That’s what Hapitalist is all about
Russell, this comment comes from reading your book, On Being Happy and a Successful Author at the Same Time. Specifically the chapter on Finding Your Brand.
You mentioning spotting the difference between Abercrombie &Fitch kids and Hot Topic kids at school.
I wasn’t a brand kid at all. For all of my elementary years my clothes were either hand made or hand me downs. I wonder if this lack of personal familiarity with brand identity will hinder me building a personal brand.
Even now in my life, in my 50’s, I am loath to buying branded merchandise.
Wondering what you think?
That’s a brand my dear. Look up cottage core. It’s all the rage. Also up cycling. People are all about making their own clothes more. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you got a brand.
I like the cottage core look, however, I feel like my childhood brand was single mother poverty, not the cute images I see with cottage core. But it’s something to think about!
That is also a brand. You are resisting calling yourself a brand, but whatever thing you are, is a brand. It doesn't have to be hot topic of abercrombie and fitch. You are not getting the crux of the matter, which is that you already have a brand. Everyone does. There's a lot more about this inside Hapitalist, which I see you have not joined, and lots of other people to help you, but right now that's what I got.