Posted on Leave a comment

If You Play Small, You Stay Small

February 4, 2021– Today is a very special day! I’d like to wish our dear friend, faithful supporter, and our animals’ godfather, Alan Stapleton a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Alan, we are so happy to know you and honoured to call you our friend. We hope you have an amazing birthday and wish you much happiness, health, and success now and always.

Where are my hockey fans? Have you ever noticed that when your team is playing and all they do is defend in their end rather than play the offensive, they end up losing? It’s like watching them chase their tails. It looks unorganized and like they’re playing scared. The reason why? Games aren’t won by playing small. Go after the goals on the scoreboard and keep driving toward the net. Shoot when you get the chance and don’t try anything fancy.

The same goes for your writing and business life. If you fail to get on the scoreboard and are constantly on the defensive, how will you reach your goals? You won’t. Plain and simple. Listen, everyone is afraid of losing and taking risks that don’t work out, but if you never try, you’ll never know. Plus, we never lose, we only learn.

I would like you to do the following exercise. Please list the ways that you’re playing small in your writing life. For example, maybe you’re not taking classes or investing in continuing education to better your skillset. Maybe you’ve stopped writing or have let your self-discipline slide. Maybe you’ve been making excuses for your lack of action and lack of success. Whatever ways you’re playing small, confront them, and then change them. It’s the only way to grow.

For more advice and techniques, check out my Children’s Book Writing Masterclass, here: Children’s Book Writing Master Class – Pandamonium Publishing House

 

Posted on Leave a comment

You Can’t? Or You Won’t?

November 20, 2019– Ok, let’s be honest here. It’s time to get real and answer the question…Is it that you can’t? Or that you won’t? Whoa, let’s back up for a second. Grab a pen and a piece of paper.

It’s important to change the voice in our head that says we can’t do something. Make a list of all the things that you think you can’t do…here are some examples:

  1. I can’t find time to finish my manuscript! Is it that you can’t find time or that you won’t make time to schedule an hour a day to work on it?
  2. I can’t get bookstores to stock my books! Is it that you can’t get them to stock your books or that you won’t keep asking and finding creative ways to get them to say yes?
  3. I can’t stop writer’s block! Is it that you can’t stop writer’s block or that you won’t stop finding any excuse to keep procrastinating?
  4. I can’t get organized! Is it that you can’t get organized or that you won’t put systems in place to help yourself?

You get the picture. As soon as we get real about the things that are holding us back, the sooner we can deal with them head on. Stop saying you can’t because YOU CAN. You just have to be willing to do what it takes.

cant-4505837_640