easy to get overwhelmed, BUT
Just Keep Swimming! (Dory the Fish from Finding Nemo) That has been my mantra this week…and it’s been an up and down week. I wanted to post like 3 days ago, but I’ve been trying to further set up this blog and make it more interesting/user-friendly. I got bogged down in permalinks (long story) but thanks to one of many generous people I was able to get a solution and now I have ‘pretty links’ that the search engines will like.
Permalinks was way back in the first module of the Starting with Marketing coaching, and I just now got it all straightened out. My blog is on a windows host and that is what created the problem. If you have a windows host and are having problems customizing your permalinks, check out this solution regarding permalinks using custom 404 redirects. It’s the one that helped me and I hope it helps you: http://tech.einaregilsson.com/2007/07/30/pretty-wordpress-permalinks-on-iis/
After the all the permalinks problems, I started to feel overwhelmed and behind. Let me tell you I have so many great classmates in the Starting with Marketing. We have a forum that is just amazing, everyone taking every possible opportunity to help each other out and provide updates on progress. And seeing how much everyone else had accomplished made me wonder if I have what it takes to see this program through.
Now it’s not easy for me to be so candid about this subject because I’m getting very personal here so bear with me.
I know at one time or another (or if you’re me at least once a week ha!) anyone who is trying to take on a tough challenge is going to be faced with several emotions…doubt, anxiety, discouragement, etc.
I mean, even being apart of a great coaching program like this where the mentor has done so much to help you lay a groundwork and get you the best possible start, you can still get overwhelmed and discouraged and wonder if you’re taking the right path.
When that happens it is crucial to not let it rule the day in your business. You must make it a high priority to do the following:
1. step back
2. take a deep breath
3. focus on the positives, DO NOT let the negatives get a foothold
4. rededicate yourself to the goal
5. get back in and KEEP IT MOVING (even if the steps are small, keep taking them forward)
If you think about it what we’re trying to do here is similar to moving a giant boulder. It’s very difficult to get it moving, and once you do, IF you do, it is much easier to keep it going than it was to get it started. That’s just plain physics.
Well, for a lot of us, I think, we’re not only trying to start a new boulder moving, but we’re trying to keep the old one going too (until, after a lot of hard work and time we don’t need it anymore!)
My old boulder is my current job, which admittedly though I know I’m so blessed to have it, is a great source of resentment for me these days because I’d much rather be working on my new boulder!
So today I was working on #3 above and after reading Marcus Passey’s latest blog post, I decided to take his example and list here what I’ve accomplished this week. They are small steps, but I’m moving…or ’swimming’.
Permalinks problem: Fixed!
My husband’s new blog: Installed & Running!
Starting With Marketing Module 2 Training Videos: Watched!
Join Twitter: Tweeting!
Wordpress Plugins: Installed! (Thanks to That Sick Hippie Guy for the great tips!) Twitter Tools, Simple Tags, Google XML Sitemaps
Keyword Research: Moving!
Goal Setting: Moving!
and finally, my last goal for the night was to write this post.
Thanks for coming back to my blog and part of my goal setting is to find ways to bring more value to you through my experiences.
Next time I’ll talk about how infectious this is becoming for people around me. My husband Mark has been looking over my shoulder through this and asked me to set up a blog for him! So Dean was right again, the excitement just catches on and people want to be apart of what we’re trying to do here, just like he said.
August 9th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Wow Tammie!
Your blog looks very nice, and I like your blog post.
Keep ‘em coming and never, ever let up.
I really like the top part of your blog in the yellow where it says, “can I be home with my son AND earn an income?” I am so rooting for you, an I know you can do it.
Please let me know if I can help in any way.
All the best,
Ed
August 9th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Hi Tammie,
I too had run into some trouble not long ago with WP themes. It may have sounded easy and say to click this and that and voila….but it’s not as easy as I thought. It’s the same goes your windows hosting problem.
What a great learning curve for all of us newbie starting online huh??
As Dean said: Believe and Achieve…..just keep going!!
Huddson
August 9th, 2009 at 9:31 am
And she swam and she swam all over the dam people trying to get in her way. Blog looks great, I’m so proud of you. And I would say that even if I wasn’t married to you.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am
@Huddson thanks for stopping by and you’re right, we’re Failing Forward Fast as Dean says. And it’s true, it sounds easy but isn’t always, but it’s good to know that nothing ever worth doing is always gonna be easy! Talk soon.
@Ed I appreciate the encouragement, it keeps me going Ed! My next step, or at least the next few steps is going to have to be video, just like you’ve done!
@Mark Thank you Honey and you and our son are my motivation and inspiration. Thanks for always being there for me and putting up with my doubts and MOODS! :0)
August 9th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Hello Tammie,
Great Job!
I like the way your blog is coming together. Very personable, like your writing style.
I also got hung up on the permalink thing….thanks to the forum it also got fixed.
Take care,
Alan
August 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
My goodness Tammie!! Looks great! You have inspired me to get back to the goal and get in the pool!(figuratively) I have been on info overload all day!Great post! I WILL be back to see how y’all are coming along.
Take care and God bless!
Lisa~
August 9th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Tammie:
Great post–really appreciate the emotional inflections in your blogging. See you over at the SWMA forums!
Ralph
August 10th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Look at your blogging self!! Im impressed. Im proud of you girl!
August 11th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
You are so sweet! Thanks for stopping by! Hey, I’m in good company…WE ROCK!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Hi There Ralph,
Thanks for your comment about my writing. Sometimes I wonder if I get too personal, but that’s just who I am. I’m really hoping to communicate my experiences with this venture in a relatable manner. Maybe it will help someone to at least not feel alone if they’re trying to be successful on the internet just like we are. I’m off to go visit your blog!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Hey Lisa~
Girl I know what you mean about info overload. There’s SO MUCH to learn isn’t there? I can’t believe I used to try to learn all this on my own. It is so much better having a great mentor like Dean AND a supportive group like we have. Thanks for the comment on my post. I want you to know that you inspire me! I don’t know how you get it all done!
Talk Soon,
Tammie
August 15th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Hi Tammie
Great looking blog! I found you on Dean Hollands website. I am not a student of his just a follower. It must be good to have a mentor. Just keep swimming you can do this thing. I hope I can too
August 16th, 2009 at 8:42 am
@ Jim ~ Hey Jim, thanks for visiting and reading my blog. I will return the favor and visit yours too…so far I love your headline about when you can call yourself an internet marketer. Looks good! YES it is very good to have a mentor, at least in my experience, I can only do so much on my own. I’m not one for recreating the wheel, I like to shorten that learning curve, you know? So the task is to find someone you can trust, who walks the walk and delivers value. I found that in Dean for sure. I’m cheering you on Jim, talk soon.
@ Teddy ~ I agree! I’ve learned more by failing, or at least I should say the lesson was learned FASTER and more SURE. Failure sometimes hurts though so I think that’s why people try to avoid it. But you really do appreciate something you’ve accomplished if you’ve failed along the way! Thanks for visiting Teddy!
August 16th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Tammie – this is absolutely awesome!! And you are truly amazing – we may be a bit prejudiced however,in that we’ve always thought you amazing. I’d say your old boulder is soon to be a faded memory.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
MOM! I’m so happy you wrote, thanks for visiting my blog and for always supporting me, no matter what direction I head off in (and there have been lots!) But I always know you’re there cheering me on and that helps keep me going.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
Hello Tammie,
I understand exactly how you feel, especially when there is a new project in the limelight. I think with everything, and like your steps we do need to take it easy with it, and see it for what it actually is, rather than get too ahead of ourselfs. I think that is why sometimes, we tend to jump ahead to the next thing, as we are so excited by it. This defracts ourselfs from the current project, or even experience. I think us humans are ever so driven, and enthusiastic in our passions, that it is evident in the way we race towards them. I find that the key, much like you is to step back and breathe, feel the life of our own experiences, our current ones and see them through no matter what direction. That is the real value of the project – our journey in them.
So lovely to be back once again, and thank you for visiting my site.
I appreciate your time, and connection and I am glad that I have touched you also.
Kind regards