by Ann Evanston | May 8, 2017 | Business Strategy, Influence Factor
I love giving my talk about #influence and personal power. I love sharing how important visibility is. Too often we think if we “do great work” they will notice. Not so true if you want to attract your tribe and buyers to your business and work. You must choose to be visible. And in this era, it’s even more important than ever toward your credibility. And maybe not in the way you think!
Back in the old days, LOL, we had to go out and get in front of people to be visible. The Internet just wasn’t where it was happening! To that point speaking (which by the way is still a top ROI marketing strategy) was an important strategy to grow your business. Back then we even said that the father away from home you were asked to go, the more credible you were. “Oh….she flew all the way from California to speak to us….impressive!” Visible and influential…from distance. Credible because I was asked to come a distance to share.
I recall a session with a client. She’s done amazing work in truly defining her tribe and purpose, knowing why she’s here and what she wants to do to change the world! And she’s been stuck. In our session I said: “you’re not visible therefore you’re not influential.”
“But Ann, I am getting speaking gigs and talking to tons of administrators about my work.”
“Awesome! And when they go online to research you as an expert, what do they see?
“Well I have my website, I’ve worked hard on it!”
Your website is a small part of the puzzle when it comes to #influence. Today, anyone can build a website …there’s a gazillion free places to do it. Anyone can make professionally designed graphics ….there’s dozens of free places to do it! Anyone can have a Facebook business page, a podcast, a radio show…..anyone….expert or wanna be.
Ultimately though you are influential because you show up in places that aren’t designed by you. You go the “distance”, like my speaking story, in new ways. You comment in expert group discussions on different social media sites. You show up for tweet chats based on your subject matter. You are a guest on a fabulous summit! You submit guest posts to other websites as a contributor. You get interviewed on major radio shows, TV, podcasts!
[Tweet “Go the “distance” and get visible!”]
This is just like the old-school practice of speaking far away from home. You build what we call “social proof”. When someone goes to look you and your work up online, you want to be EVERYWHERE. Suddenly you are influential and seen as the credible expert of choice! (This is a common limiting belief my clients have to overcome to get to the next level of success…is it yours?)
This is why I have created my Media Monday program, it’s a fun way to be accountable to your visibility while growing with other entrepreneurs!
by Ann Evanston | Apr 3, 2017 | Business Strategy
Facebook memories are interesting recently. Three memories were about my visibility, three places where I was interviewed or wrote a guest post, or named on a list as one of the best…all three urls no longer active. Shut down.
All from 2010/11. All entrepreneurs. Most were coaches or had membership programs. All women with dreams. This career choice is not an easy one at all. Hopes and dreams gone for those women. Maybe they weren’t visible enough themselves. I can only speculate.
It also reminded me how grateful I am to have lasted so long! I am grateful to know wh
at it takes to be steady in my business versus the roller coaster many find themselves on. I am grateful to those that believe in me. I am grateful that my business has grown as I grow.
I am especially grateful to my clients. Those that love how I speak on stage and teach others how to grow. Those that trust me with their personal and professional lives, their secrets and fears. Thank you. I am a better woman every day because of you. Thank you for allowing me to be me and support you in stepping into your personal power, unlimited potential and finding your voice!
Even though the sites are gone…they created visibility for me back then, tactics I still use today.[Tweet “Do you see yourself as an expert? Someone worthy of being interviewed? Do you own your value and make sure what you do is VISIBLE?”]
by Ann Evanston | Sep 20, 2016 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts, Warrior Spirit
Is it possible to overcome writers block in just these simple steps! I have been discussing The Warriors Method™ and how to use it to overcome writers block. In this last article let’s talk about the third step: take new authentic action.
You might be thinking: “Action, really Ann? I take action all the time!”
See, there is a distinct difference between action and being “busy”. And this is key to being able to achieve things that you desire. Action is a discipline that is directed energetically towards achieving what needs to be done. Be car
eful of busy!
Action actually requires courage because you have to be able to put your ego, comfort zone, and routine in danger! True courage is the ability to do something despite what your “blabber brain” says. True courage is the ability to get into the habit of taking action even when you don’t want to. True courage is the ability to do it even when you feel fear.
[Tweet “Action, true disciplined action towards a goal, actually creates motivation and passion!”]
It allows you to emerge with greater confidence. Too many think you need motivation first. No, it’s the other way around.
So in The Warriors Method™ the step taking “new authentic action” requires that you act with persistence and deliberation. There are three ways I encourage my clients to start:
1. Implement an “action plan” that creates some discomfort.
See pain is good, if not permanent! We get better, stronger, and more confident in our abilities the more uncomfortable we get. This is powerful when you are so stuck in simply cannot get out of it. Do you have a morning routine that is not serving your ability to write more? Than stop having that coffee until you write for 20-30 minutes! Now that’s uncomfortable!
2. Act before doing something you love.
This one powerfully and simply changed one clients blogging forever. She would continuously say: “I have nothing to write about.” Her blabber brain was not allowing her to overcome writers block. She’s a creative who LOVES to paint. So what did she do? Wrote every day BEFORE she could paint. Painting became the reward. Now she writes amazing blog posts for her tribe!
3. Take action before doing any more research!
Many, many entrepreneurs I meet are research junkies. Rightfully so. In many ways you have to love to learn new things to be successful as an entrepreneur.
Too often we think we need to read one more article, or take one more webinar before we initiate the action.
This routine will help you change that. Tell yourself “I cannot read any more about overcoming writers block until I have written something today.”
“The Warriors Method™ is a simple powerful tool to help you achieve greater success in many areas of your life, including when you need to overcome writers block. Interestingly, I used this method to not just write this series of 4 blogs, but my contributor article as well! NICE! (Time for a glass of wine…something I love!
by Ann Evanston | Sep 13, 2016 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts, Warrior Spirit
I have been writing about how to overcome writers block using the Warriors Method™. The Warriors Method™ is a new way to look at achieving greater levels of success. While sharing how to overcome writers block and these steps, I’ve missed a couple weeks posting my blog. (Truth) Notice I practiced step one there! This article though is about step two of the Warriors Method™ and how it applies to overcome writers block.
The second step in the method is to practice conscious auto suggestion. Here is our reality: we all have a “blabber brain”, what some call monkey mind. Research shows that it’s trained to think in the negative from early on in our lives. And, by the time we’re well over our 30s (congratulations to you reading that are under 30, you can still change this!), it’s difficult to change subconscious mind thoughts. That means we have to override it consciously. The subconscious mind is ALWAYS talking….even if you are not listening. And it is powerful enough to set energy, and ability to achieve, or better yet, not achieve, that which you desire.
Your conscious mind is the ONLY way to shift that. Step two: conscious auto suggestion.
When I work with clients I teach them that they must become “conscious conduits of energy”. The Warriors Method™ can be used in all areas of your life, overcoming writers block is just an example that happened to me. You may recall from the first post I am now a contributing writer to Small Business Marketing Tools. And as soon as I was accepted, blabber brain kicked in!
Practicing conscious auto suggestion is a way of overriding the habit of your subconscious mind. It is a methodology that successful people use to consciously move energy in a positive direction. So instead of listening to my blabber brain say: “OMG, I have nothing to write about what the hell was I thinking?!”, I made a conscious shift.
I said to myself: “I am full of valuable ideas and content to offer many people. I have a unique style, and my approach will attract readers. I am full of ease and fun ideas on marketing. I am writing with grace and ease.”
I want you to notice the type of language I’m using there. The language isn’t about what I will do it’s about who I will be. That is a distinct difference in owning and changing so that you can overcome challenges you have. It’s the difference between will and have (or want). I will save that for another time.
by Ann Evanston | Aug 23, 2016 | Business Strategy
Last week I shared how to overcome writers block especially when you make a commitment to write for somebody else’s site. In addition, I shared with you how I use a three step method (The Warriors Method™) for getting out of my own way so that I can achieve success. This week I want to focus on step one of The Warriors Method™ and give a little more detail about the importance of this step and how it works to overcome writers block and achieve overall greater success in life and business.
Step one of The Warriors Method™ is to speak the truth, rather than be honest.
I know what you’re thinking! “Ann, isn’t honesty the truth? It seems like those two things are the same damn thing!” Actually, they are distinctly different when it comes to wanting to change behaviors and have greater success.
Honesty is a different dialogue than the truth. We use honesty ALL the time, with family, friends, co-works, clients…and especially OURSELVES! Honesty is where we put a “little lies” around the truth of the situation. In my book, “The Influence Factor” I discuss the key element of knowing the truth versus the lies we tell ourselves.
How does this impact writers block? When it comes to a situation like how to overcome writers block, honestly goes something like this: “yeah, I did I agree to publish and I’m planning to do that I’m just not finding the right thing to write about. I’m sure it will come to me eventually and then I’ll publish my article.”
Or:
“I write so much better under pressure. The deadline isn’t for two weeks; I don’t really have writers block…I will get it done closer to the deadline.”
Of course this can be said to a family member or colleague, or ever better? You say it to YOUSELF. These fell like truths, but they are not. Honesty is embellished with excuses, blame, or judgments. Whereas the truth is simply the statement of fact. “I did not write the article.” “I am not writing every day.”
That’s the truth.
Honesty keeps our “blabber brain” happy and satisfied. Honesty does not help us achieve what we want to achieve. When our brain thinks we are “ok”, it will stay stuck. We will repeat patterns of failure…over and over.
Right now, tell yourself the truth. Write it down. Say it out loud. Listen to how quickly you want to shift to honesty. This is what I had to do first- get TRUTHFUL about writing articles. (and look two for my site already, and the FIRST ONE for Small Business Marketing Tools is almost dome and due the first week of the month!
by Ann Evanston | Aug 16, 2016 | Business Strategy, Warrior Spirit
OMG! I need to write! Have you ever felt this before? I’m sure as a service-based entrepreneur you probably have. In 2007, I started saying: “if you do one thing….BLOG!” now it’s “if you do one thing publish! Writing is powerful. I have my clients do it for so many reasons. Publishing what you write online is critical these days. Publishing:
- Establishes is your expertise;
- Drives (organic) traffic;
- Improves visibility;
- Increases exposure to new potential leads and prospects;
- Influences the “know, like and trust factor “in a positive way
Recently, I told my accountability partner that I needed to be more visible. I have been focused on “my work” and not my marketing. Right on the call she made me set some goals to hold me accountable to! (Great accountability partner!) Of course I have been achieving those goals, and one of them was to become a guest contributor on a popular site. This week I heard that I have been excepted and now that means I need to write a minimum of one article for the website every other month! BOOM!
“OK, one 600-word article every other month. No. Big. Deal.”
And then, my mind fades to black.
I’ve. Got. Nothing!
And then “blabber brain” starts. You know blabber brain, also known as monkey mind or negative self-talk? I can hear it in the background: “I have nothing to write about! What was I thinking signing up for something like this? I must be out of my mind! I have nothing that people want to read!”
Blabber brain is so destructive. I spend a lot of time talking with my clients about how to deal with the mindsets that can shut down your success. Here’s the first thing you need to know: You cannot make that voice stop. It is ingrained in you and you have trained it for a long time to be there. The “blabber brain” the self-talk will never, ever go away.
DAMMIT!!
I teach a method I developed while earning my graduate degree in psychology about how you “train your mind to change your life and business.” This is a conscious connection. If blabber brain will never go away, we have to have a conscious process to overcome what it does to us. You can OVERRIDE blabber brain with conscious autosuggestion. Temporarily, in situations like I share here, and in creating long term “success” habit.
I am going to use this story to teach you what I call “The Warriors Method™” to do this. Right now I’m just going to give you the three basic steps and over the next few weeks in this series of blogs I will show you how this overwhelming situation became a success because I am using this method to get there.
The Warriors method in three simple steps is:
- Speak the truth…..not be honest
- Practice powerful conscious autosuggestion
- Take new authentic action
Stop by next week as we look at the first step and why honesty and truth are different. And what I did to get the article written!
I would love if you would share this post or leave a comment!
