Let's Get Vulnerable!

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This topic contains 6 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by  James Schmidt 10 years, 10 months ago.

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  • June 21, 2014 at 5:27 pm #4299

    Ruthanne Reid
    Participant

    Well, I did it! I admitted something I’d honestly feared folks would label me “nuts” for… and to my amazement, it’s common. COMMON! I’d never have known if I hadn’t made it public. WHEW.

    http://ruthannereid.com/stuff/freak-myself-out/

  • June 21, 2014 at 6:51 pm #4300

    Angie Mroczka
    Participant

    Thanks for the feedback Margie!

    Way to go both of you!!

    Thanks!
    Angie

  • June 23, 2014 at 2:05 am #4303

    Lee Tyler
    Participant

    Angie,

    I thought you sounded very natural and authoritative; relaxed and wanting to help your readers understand the points (re: only seconds to make an impression). Nothing detracted from your subject. I would have loved to seen your lovely face. 🙂

    Does my first exercise count for being totally vulnerable? I didn’t even proofread it. Wrote it in evernote, of all places. It was “now or never” and except for a few edits, when I transferred it over to Word, I just did it.

    Margie, there is a hangout that Book Marketing Tools is putting on Tuesday 1pm Eastern. One of the panelists, Tim Grahl, talks about exactly what you did, selling your book with your book. I can’t wait to head over and take a look at your piece. Sales of your book are comment enough, aren’t they? ;p

    Great job everyone.

    • June 23, 2014 at 2:44 am #4305

      James Schmidt
      Participant

      Angie – I finally had a chance to catch your video. With the exception that the volume was a little low, I thought it was really good. I mean you scare the crap out of me with the 3 to 8 seconds to make an impression to potential buyers, but your instruction involving the elements of a great book cover was extremely helpful. Up until watching your video I don’t know if I had ever seen much on what comprises a catchy and purchase motivating cover (Although it was a book cover that led me to the author I talk about for exercise 2).

      I didn’t really notice the Um’s an Ah’s until you brought it up. Now it’s completely nerve racking (I’m kidding, just teasing you a little). I wasn’t going to add any videos on my blog because I wasn’t comfortable with making them, but you have inspired me to take the leap. I think that I will also follow your advice and spend some time watching TED talks before I jump in, just so I get get a feel for what good presentations should sound like.

      I just wanted to add something about putting yourself out there. Lee mentioned Tim Grahl in her post. I have taken his Instant Bestseller course and have gotten to know him a bit. He’s a really good dude. He had set himself a goal of selling 10,000 copies of his book Your First 1000 Copies in one year. Perhaps you have already heard this. Anyway, it appeared last week that he wasn’t going to achieve his goal, being about 1,500 copies short.

      He sent out a really excellent post about disappointment and about how he felt when he put himself out there and was now in danger of not reaching 10,000 copies. It was easy to identify with. I think that everyone struggles with opening themselves up. I mean I’m not sure I could ever have done what Lee did in her first story. And yet I see that is the only way you will be able to make lasting connection to people. I always say you never know what can happen if you try, but you definitely know what the outcome will be if you don’t.

      I think you did a great presentation. I know you have lead me to want to do the same and so from my point of view, you are already successful.

      Thanks again for the Book cover info.

      Sincerely,

      James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

      James Lee Schmidt

  • June 21, 2014 at 2:57 pm #4294

    Margie Deeb
    Participant

    Congratulations, Angie. I checked it out. Didn’t have time to watch the whole thing, just the first few minutes. I liked it and was not bothered by “umms.’ I realize you aren’t asking for feedback, but if I may suggest that you record with your input volume turned up. I had trouble hearing you consistently with my laptop output volume turned all the way up.

    Good job!

    http://www.MargieDeeb.com
    Blog: http://colorforbeadartists.com
    Amazon Author Page:
    http://amazon.com/author/margie_deeb

  • June 21, 2014 at 3:08 pm #4295

    Margie Deeb
    Participant

    I really liked the lesson on Thursday, too. I took the challenge and wrote a vulnerable blog post about my fear around creativity and how I manage it. I posted on my blog (which posts it on Facebook, too), sent it in my newsletter to my subscribers. I also posted a link to a PDF download of an excerpt from my latest book, the chapter that deals with creativity.

    I’ve received some feedback, not nearly as much as I thought I would receive. However, the feedback is exactly what I wanted: I emotionally connected with my readers. One on Facebook wrote: “Holy cow. I’m not alone!…(Seriously. If Margie can get “stuck” and still do what she does, then there has to be hope for the rest of us.)”

    A blog response reads: “I had not thought of my procrastination in thinking “if I just learn a bit more I will be able to create” as a fear but you nailed it in this blog. I have not gotten to chapter 8 yet because I am trying to study and learn everything you have written in the other chapters and am only on chapter 6 but I believe that I need to rethink waiting for perfection to be complete and “just go do it”…”

    Got two more book orders, too.

    If you’re curious, here’s the blog post, Fear and Creativity:

    http://colorforbeadartists.com

    Thank you for a great lesson, Joe.

    http://www.MargieDeeb.com
    Blog: http://colorforbeadartists.com
    Amazon Author Page:
    http://amazon.com/author/margie_deeb

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