Well, I have done it again. I have allowed myself to get so busy that I am running around chasing my tail. You would think after taking the HB 90 Bootcamp and following Sarra Cannon’s Heartbreathing YouTube channel that I would understand the perils of burning myself out, but I guess for me it seems to be feast or famine. For a few months I lollygag around taking my time doing everything by the book or procrastinating (which is probably closer to the truth). Then I decide I want to do this NOW! So, I leap in with both feet or way too often, headfirst and before you know it, I’m drowning in all the things I have to do. On top of that, I’m a control freak. I’m trying to be better about delegating. I know I don’t have to do everything myself. I have other people willing to do what I ask (if I’ll ask), and I just have to trust them to do their part.
As an indie author or small businessowner, many of you understand being hands on. When we are first starting out, we know we are the only ones who can do the jobs because we can’t afford to pay anyone else. So, we write the books and find the Beta readers, find the editors, design our covers or seek those who can design them for us, find proofreaders, publish to all the sites, keep up with sales, market the books, social media, and write more books. And all of those little things that crop up that we don’t expect or know about until they demand our attention.
As an indie author and the chairperson of the Pamlico Writers’ Group and VP of Communications for the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers I often feel like I’m juggling puppies. I can’t let one fall but maybe I just need someone to hold this one for a minute. This is where Sarra’s HB 90 Bootcamp has helped me the most. There are only 24 hours in a day, and only 7 days in a week. If I have goals that need to be met within each month, and overall goals for each quarter, I can divide them up into tasks. Breaking these goals into manageable tasks that can be completed to help me reach that bigger goal doesn’t seem as overwhelming as I’ve got to do THIS!
We can’t always plan for obstacles that derail our plans. Life happens. This month was supposed to be a very busy month but because my part-time helper and work-husband has to have surgery plans had to be changed. A little scrambling and we found a way to make most of what was on my schedule for September work and the rest just has to fall by the wayside. It cannot be helped.
I think one of the hardest things for an indie author or an entrepreneur who is still working a “real” job is we have to carve out time for our passion. We have to use our precious little time for everything from writing the stories (or crafting the beer or painting or whatever you’re doing) to publishing to marketing to making ourselves known on social media. All of this when all we really want to do is that thing that gives us joy, our passion. But to turn that passion into a dream of success and that dream into reality, we have to do the other work. Yuk. But we still only have 24 hours and 7 days. We still have to sleep, spend time with family and friends, take care of bills, run errands, go to the doctor, etc. and if we work 8 hours, how much time do we really have to pursue our dream? That is what Sarra’s HB 90 Bootcamp has helped me see. We have to take a realistic look at how much time we really have to work with and how to make the most of it.
Join us September 11th through 17th for this round of bootcamp. Sarra will have a live kick off on September 11th at 3 pm via Facebook or YouTube. Enrollment will close at noon on September 11th.
Sarra has broken the payment plan down into three choices: Pay in full (best deal) $199, a 3-month plan of $75 per month over 3 months, or a 6-month plan at $38 a month for 6 months.
As an alumnus, I get to take the course again for free. Pay once, and then take a refresher anytime she offers it, but you’ll also have your notebook and lessons you’ve learned to help you when, like me, you fall back into bad habits.
Sarra Cannon
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