...like anything you want to succeed in, you have to be committed, focused, find a topic you're passionate about, and be patient. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about blogging to make some money, reaching your fitness or weight goals, or building a life with a spouse, work is involved. In our instant gratification culture and Perfect Girl screaming down our necks, no one wants to hear "work" or "it will take time, maybe years."
If you look at every single person who has ever achieved their dreams, have become successful in their fields, or are just blissful people doing what they love, every single one of them had an "overnight success" that took them years and immense dedication to achieve. Here's some examples:
- Michael Phelps didn't just jump in a pool and win 8 gold medals. When he was a kid, and everyone else was watching cartoons or playing in the playground, he was swimming at the crack of dawn and after school for years. His single mother had to sacrifice and take multiple jobs to pay for his training.
- It took Oprah nearly two decades to become the most highly paid woman on TV, and she had to get fired from her first anchor job in order to become a TV show host which the station considered a secondary role.
- Steve Jobs was kicked out of the company he founded, by the man he hired to be CEO and considered a mentor figure. Steve spent nearly 10 years with fledgling businesses and people calling him a has-been. He came back because Apple bought his company NEXT.
Greatness is not created on Easy Street
And when I say greatness, I don't mean that you have to try and achieve Phelps, Winfrey, of Jobs levels. Greatness means living your most authentic life, being who you truly are, doing what truly has meaning to you, and loving yourself for all of who you are.
Some of you expressed some dismay when I spoke last week in Part I and Part II of Blogging for Bucks about how I expressed my financial challenges. One reader said to me, "Well, if you are having a hard time and can't make it, and you're the authority and most popular in the fit niche, what chance do I have? It doesn't look good." Others shared the sentiment, so respectfully, here is another way to look at things:
- Perhaps, Stephanie just threw a gold mine right into your lap. You could be the one who figures out the monetization problem that I (top blogger Stephanie) could not. I do have something new I'll be talking more about later, but who knows, you might come up with something better. This is one way for you to become one of the leading authoritative bloggers in our niche.
- Perhaps, this is your opportunity to start talking and networking with other bloggers in your niche and see if you could partner with them or help each other out. This is one way to become an influencer of influencers.
- Perhaps, this is a lesson for you to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on figuring out what works best for you, and with what you want to achieve. Even if you do view me as a role model or someone you aspire to be like, you may have ideas and solutions that I could never have thought of. Role models are not perfect super humans, they are just people who have spent more time dedicated to their craft, and their growth.
- Perhaps, the universe is delivering to you exactly what you keep focusing on, "I can't. It's hard. Everyone is better than me. Good only happens to other people." In order to improve your situation, you are going to have to start focusing on different thoughts like, "I'm worthy. I am the best at {insert your skill}. I have value to offer that others will want." And then take action on those thoughts. The Secret only works if you take action along with positive thinking.
People ask me all the time what professional blogging is like and I give a wide perspective both the green grass and the weeds. Metaphorically, your lawn does not stay green and lush every day of the year. There are seasons, and days & nights.
Sometimes there are bugs, and some of those insects are beneficial and some are not. There is also maintenance and care. Your lawn is as good and prosperous as you take care of it. The only grass that stays perfect all the time is astro turf, and that is fake. Do not be astro turf. Be the real thing, you!
