So today I want to talk about the 3 things I’ve done to make writing weekly essays an almost easy process. The three things are:

1) Starting with the Struggle

2) Perfecting the Process

3) Producing Consistently

Starting with the Struggle

GrowUp ezine started in 2008 and during that year I wrote 7 ezine essays.

Then in January 2009 I committed to two things:

1) Writing and sending two essays a month

2) Writing an entire year’s worth of essays – 24 of them – before the end of January 2009 so I’d have free time the rest of the year (I loved this idea, by the way.)

My loose goal was to send an ezine around the 15th and 30th of each month. I even wrote 24 essays before the end of January. Not the whole polished piece, but I had the guts of each idea and only needed to smooth them out for public viewing.

But as the months progressed a few problems started to surface:

1) By the time an ezine essay was due my reservoir of pre-written essays felt outdated. They were completely uninspiring to me and as a result, I wasn’t interested in editing them. Needless to say, many of those essays are still sitting unused on my hard drive.

2) So in March 2009 I realized I’d have to write 2 essays a month for the rest of the year, which was a bit unappealing to me.

In 2008, I struggled with the whole writing process. I never felt “in the writing groove” and writing was more frustrating than fun. The entire process became a chore. In 2009 I dreaded another year of this, but I didn’t know any way around it, and I didn’t want to stop sending my ezine.

So, by the end of 2009 not only had I wasted my time writing 24 “time saving” ezine essays that I never used, I was so stressed out by the writing process that I only emailed 1 essay a month. I think I even skipped two months!

Total number of essays written in 2009 – 15 (9 shy of my goal). This makes the combined essays for 2008 and 2009 22 essays.

But then something big shifted.

The entire process for 2010 has been easier, a lot less time consuming and much more fun than anything I did in 2008 or 2009.

So far this year I’ve written and emailed more ezine essays than I did in 2008 and 2009 combined. You are reading 2010′s 25th essay and it’s only June.

How did I stop the struggle?

First of all, there is still struggle. It’s just less intense and easily manageable.

Second, I stopped the BIG struggle by committing to writing more, not fewer, ezine essays.

(Almost) Perfecting the Process

In January 2010, I decided to send weekly ezine essays. Considering my experience in 2009 I thought I was nuts, but it turned out to be an excellent choice.

It’s important to note that the writing process would probably not be as easy for me today if I hadn’t gone through my experience in 2008 and 2009.

In other words, the struggle was part of my “success”, not independent from it.

The struggle was part of the “perfecting process.” The more I struggled, the more I realized what did and did not work. And, the more I wrote, the easier writing became.

Additionally, instead of pre-writing essays, I collect fresh ideas by observing everything that happens throughout the week. This practice helps me 1) conjure up relevant ezine essay topics on a weekly basis and 2) address my clients’ current needs.

Lastly, I don’t start writing my essays until Monday morning, hours before I email them to you. Today I started writing at 9:00 am. Sometimes I don’t start writing until 11:00 am. Regardless, there are no more month-long struggles to produce one little essay.

Producing Consistently

My process seems counter-intuitive to many people. When they hear I write weekly ezines they feel overwhelmed. But the process that started out overwhelming for me (in 2008 and 2009) is now much easier and it’s because I write more often, not less often.

For starters, I’ve learned to trust the writing process. I feel more easily “in the writing groove” which helps tremendously. I’ve developed short cuts to writing and they work.

I also have a predictable schedule and know that every Monday is for writing and nothing else. Before 2010, my schedule was too loosey-goosey. There was no structure and I waited until I was in the mood to write. Big mistake.

Having a schedule helps. I don’t make client appointments on Monday and I always keep the entire morning free. All I do is write.

The Sacred Struggle

The more you do something the easier it becomes. And when you stick with something to the point that you can (almost) perfect the process the accomplishment feels great! It’s so worth the struggle.

In case my personal reflections haven’t hit home, here’s an image from the garden that may help you make it through the tough times:

When things grow they struggle, even if only a little bit. The initial stages of growth are probably the hardest.

Picture a tiny poppy seed about this big ( . ) pushing roots into hard soil and growing shoots through the surface of the rocky earth. It’s easier for the flower to bloom after the seed has split and the stem has struggled to break free of the ground. After this happens, the bud can freely expand in open air.

Imagine the fragile petals trying to bloom in the earth! It wouldn’t work. The seed has to struggle first, then bloom later.

The roots and stem endure a difficult journey in order for the bud to bloom freely. They are not separate experiences but part of the same growing process.

We grow the same way.

Reflections

I doubt I would be able to write consistent, weekly essays if I hadn’t struggled through the first 2 years and “perfected” my process.

Considering this, I encourage you to think of your struggle as a sacred growing process. A little bit of struggle is normal and makes you stronger.

What to do if you are struggling

However, if you are struggling a lot and for long periods of time it may be that something isn’t working for you.

In order to lessen the struggle you may need to redirect your efforts and find another way to grow your work.

Sometimes this means sticking with the process and doing more of it in order to perfect the process. Other times it means letting go of what you’re doing and trying something else.

Getting help from someone who has been through the struggle before you can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Who do you know who can help you?

(This question isn’t a slick marketing ploy to get you to call me for help! It’s a sincere question.)

Who do you know who has gone through what you are going through? How might they be able to help you push through to the other side?

But in a culture where everything is supposed to happen fast, it’s easy to give up growing something new before it really gets started.

The 8-year-old cherry tree in my backyard perfectly illustrates this point. When I moved into my house 4 years ago, the tree hadn’t yet flowered or grown cherries.I thought something was wrong with it, but after doing some research I learned that sweet cherry trees typically bear fruit after their 6th or 7th year.

Sure enough, two years ago, when the tree was about 6, it finally flowered. There were white petals everywhere!

As spring progressed, the petals dropped to the ground and I could see the cherries start to emerge. I was certain the tree would yield hundreds of cherries.

Unfortunately, the weather dipped to near freezing, and the tiny cherries withered to nothing and fell off the tree.

Whether or not the cold was the reason for the cherries’ demise, I don’t know, but we only got one cherry that year.

Then last spring I watched with anticipation to see what would happen. Once again, flowers filled each twig, creating a visual feast. But just like the year before, each tiny fruit withered and dropped unceremoniously to the ground.

The squirrels found three cherries and ate them. I never got one. Deeply disappointed, I resigned myself for another year of waiting to see what would happen.

The same year, though, in a seemingly unrelated event, we pruned the imposing Yucca tree that stood on the eastern side of our property. The same week our neighbors pruned their Dawn Redwood which towered over the western side of our yard. For the first time in years our backyard had sunlight from dawn ’til dusk.

So this spring when our cherry tree bloomed again I was curious to see what would happen. The tree had more sunlight and it was at least 8 years old. I had high hopes as I watched, powerless, while the cherry buds took shape and grew.

We had mild days, a good amount of rain and more sun than ever.

And guess what? Lots of fruit!

The tree is currently covered in cherries. I had a whole bowl full and they are delicious. Most of the cherries are out of my reach, but I can see the little red orbs dotting the underside of each branch.

It took 8 years of growing, the pruning of trees, the right amount of water, mild weather, and voila, we had an abundance of sweet cherries.

Attracting clients requires the same type of experimentation: you need the right amount of passion, patience, commitment, and conditions to grow a solid practice.

Unfortunately, most people give up too soon. They may initially attract a few clients, but then suddenly have only one or two, or maybe even none. Even though this is common, when it happens many people lose hope. They think they’ve failed and then they give up.

But like the cherry tree, these people are really just getting started.

If or when this happens to you, instead of looking at your experience as a failure, use it as an opportunity to let go of what is holding you back and embrace what works.

Having a smaller clientele gives you the freedom to readjust yourself and find the “just right” amount of everything you need to make your business grow deep roots and tall branches so you can eventually have a practice overflowing with clients.

So, the next time you want to grow something new, or the next time there is a lull in your work, think of the cherry tree and the 8 years it took it to bear fruit.

But especially remember this: the tree didn’t fail the first 7 years and succeed the 8th. It just took 7 years to get started.

Here’s to 8 years of growing somewhere great!

Here are two true stories to illustrate how color can send a message and how important it is to know how and when to use color:

How to Tell When the Bananas are Ripe

One day I was shopping for groceries in the produce section. A man turned to me and said, “Can you help me pick out some bananas?”

I must have had a curious look on my face because he said, “I’m serious. I’m colorblind and I can’t tell which ones are ripe.”

Most of them were green or greenish yellow. I could see why he was having a difficult time.

Imagine, just for a moment, what life would be like without color. Maybe you have firsthand experience or know someone who does. 10 million American men cannot distinguish red from green.* www.hhmi.org/senses/b130.html

Just think of the implications of red-green color blindness, or complete color blindness. The image on the left is what people with “normal” color vision see. The image on the right is an approximation of what red-green colorblind people see.

In most states the red light is on top, and green is on the bottom. It’s relatively easy for colorblind people to figure out whether they need to stop or go.

But what happens on the rare occasion when a city uses a horizontal traffic light?

Years ago I was on a cross-country road trip with a friend who is red-green colorblind. As we drove through an unfamiliar city we came to a busy intersection with a horizontal traffic light. Suddenly the driver shouted in a panic, “Is it red or green?”

He had no idea if he should stop or go.

The traffic light sent a message, but to him it was an indecipherable one that could easily have caused major problems.

Design rules exist for a reason.

Used well, the placement of colors, images and design elements create a rhythm to help communicate a message. Red means something. Green means something.

Your first goal in design should be to enhance your message and make it easy to understand. Your second goal is to make it attractive.

But if you don’t have training in design, and if you don’t know the fundamental “rules”, you may be accidentally confusing or frustrating your reader.

Is that your ultimate goal? Of course not.

Below is an example of an email announcement I received about 4 years ago. There is so much color involved that when I read it I feel like I’m at a 3-ring circus. I don’t know where to look first and I can’t find the important information quickly. This email breaks every rule of design, and not in a good way.

The second image is a revised draft, but it lacks interest and color. Still, it’s easier to find the relevant information.

The third image uses a colorful photo to add interest and attract attention, but uses a limited color palette for the content. The colors are identical to the original email.

Headlines and important information are highlighed in bright red (you can use any color as long as it is dark enough to read).

Main content is in black with a white background, which is the best combination for online reading. As the reader, you can easily scan the email and quickly find the important information you need.

The fourth email uses a different color palette, but the same format as example 3:

Color is not used in design simply for beauty’s sake. It is used primarily to communicate a message.

If you can communicate with color effectively, you can connect more with current and prospective clients by sending a beautiful message that people love to read.

Today I’m going to tell you how “day dreaming” can achieve similar results. I don’t have a fancy financial figure to impress you with, but I can tell you that this method of gathering ideas is priceless.

How can you day dream your way to great ideas?

To begin with, let’s imagine you want to have your own ezine, but you’re concerned you’ll never have enough ideas to create consistent content. This is a challenge most writers face, and unfortunately, it prevents a lot of people from committing to a regular writing schedule.

But there are many ways you can generate valuable content ideas, and today I’m going to show you one of my tricks. Believe it or not, it is a simple process that involves relaxing and enjoying myself while going for a walk.

Step One: Experience Nature and Be Present

The key to gathering ideas is to observe everything around you. You have to look at your surroundings and be fully present with your senses.

• See the details, the subtle weave of branches, how people or animals interact.
• Hear the many layers of sounds, like the birds, bees, and airplanes high overhead.
• Feel the texture of the plants as you walk by. Notice if they are soft, slippery, or rough.
• Breathe in the aromas as you pass by various trees and flowers.

Let it all sink in and connect with what you are doing.

This is exactly what I do every time I go for a walk. Not only does it clear my mind and help me relax, the process also generates a goldmine of ideas for articles.

Step Two: Listen and Record Your Ideas

So last week I went for a walk and took photos of every plant that inspired an idea. When I got home I looked through my photos and recorded the following observations:

As a mind, body and soul practitioner you are like a camera for your clients:

• You help expose patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed
• You help them focus on the abundance in their lives
• You help them see situations from a new angle so they can find depth and a fresh perspective

Don’t grow weeds in your life garden. Just because they’re beautiful doesn’t mean they won’t take over and leave you exhausted from weeding.

Sometimes things look dead but in reality they are full of life.

How you create a beautiful photograph is how you create a beautiful business, both include color, depth and texture.

• With the right color you can convey the appropriate mood.
• Getting too close to a situation can make you stop seeing the situation. Sometimes you have to back up in order to find clarity.
• Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal. People like knowing you.

Using humor in articles can be a mistake because not all people have the same sense of humor.

(See the live snails on Mary’s ears? Some people find this image funny, others frightening.)

We all bloom at different times in life. There is no “right” time to bloom.

Step Three: Look Beyond the Obvious and Make Connections to Other Areas of Life

After recording your observations, reflect on ways you can relate them to your clients’ lives.

For instance, I saw a seed pod that looked withered and dead, but when I turned it over it had red, juicy seeds inside. It wasn’t dead at all.

I had this thought:

Sometimes things look dead, but in reality they are full of life.

Immediately I thought of all the times in life when “things” seem dead, but are really holding the potential for new life. These “things” could be projects, relationships, ideas, or any other experience.

Step Four: Turn your observation into article ideas

All of my notes above can easily be turned into articles. Many lines can even be turned into a variety of articles. For instance, from the example sentence Things sometimes look dead but in reality they are full of life I can create three articles with headlines that read like this:

1. 7 ways to determine if your spiritual practice is dead or ready for resurrection
2. What if your “useless” ideas are really the “useful” ideas people have been waiting for?
3. How can you breathe new life into your worn out projects so you don’t have to start over again?

Step Five: Write

After you’ve generated some ideas, record them in a journal specifically for article ideas. Record one idea per page, write the potential headline(s) at the top and below it add some points you’d like to make about that topic.

Later, if you feel uninspired, turn to your journal and look for an idea.

Summary:

Collecting ideas for articles can be fun and enjoyable. It involves:

• Paying attention with all of your senses
• Letting your surroundings speak to you
• Keeping an idea journal

When you approach your waking experiences like a dream it’s easier to gather ideas. Look at the obvious images, like birds, flowes and trees, and then look deeper. See objects as symbols of other things. Or experiences as metaphors.

Make your own meaning. Let your mind wander and wonder, and soon you’ll have a journal filled with ideas worth writing about.

*all photos are by me and are copyright protected.

I love strategic planning, but my preferred working style is to go with the flow and let my mood dictate what I do. I am motivated by comfort. Setting goals and deadlines makes me feel anxious.

One of the reasons I dislike setting goals is because I suffer from “indecision syndrome.” This stems from having a highly imaginative mind that loves to drop exciting new ideas into my life on a regular basis. My creative inspirations often overwhelms me. As a result, I have a hard time making up my mind and deciding what to pursue, and since I can’t do everything at once I must eventually choose.

Unfortunately, these habits get me nowhere, so I’ve learned to make decisions, set goals, give it my all and do my best to stick with what works. If one or several of my goals don’t work out, I change them.

Despite my reluctance to setting and sticking with goals, the process works wonders!

It is with this in mind that I share with you my 2009 Lifework Review. I hope it inspires you to do the same.

2009 Review

My “Observations” journal page.

In December 2008 I created the following plan for 2009:

• Start six new GEM groups with twenty people each. (GEM is my 12-month marketing program.)

• Write two ezine essays a month and email them around the 15th and 30th of each month

• Have three website clients throughout the year

• Have ten spiritual direction and/or supervision clients a month

I created a timeline for each category, deciding when to launch various GEM start dates, but almost nothing happened the way I planned.

Here’s what actually transpired:

• I started two new GEM programs

• I wrote two ezine essays a month through April then realized I needed to refocus my brand (identity), so I cut back to one essay a month through December (and my website traffic plummeted as a result of sending fewer ezine…)

• I had more website clients than anticipated, although I haven’t actually counted how many

• As the year progressed, I started a completely new field of work called Lifework Direction which is like spiritual direction with the specific focus of discerning where Spirit is leading you in terms of your lifework. This new service changed my goal, so instead of having ten spiritual direction clients a month I ended up with a combination of spiritual direction, spiritual direction supervision and lifework direction clients (and I love it!)

Despite the fact that my goals didn’t match my reality, 2009 turned out to be a year full of successes. For awhile, though, I was a bit upset that I didn’t even try to launch the other 4 GEM programs, but unexpected circumstances changed my plan mid-year and I consciously decided to shift directions.

Expect the Unexpected

One reason my goals differed from reality is because I spent most of 2009 creating original content for my GEM program. I forgot to take that into consideration when I planned my goals, and creating the content took far more time and energy than I thought it would.

In December, feeling like I hadn’t accomplished much, I decided to “take inventory” by recording everything I did work-wise in 2009. I discovered that I:

• wrote 180 articles (including curriculum content, ezine essays and blog posts)

• created 30 video tutorials

• designed a 7-day ecourse

• hosted several teleseminars

• wrote a few short ebooks

(I would have been overwhelmed by this list if I’d put everything on my goal sheet in January 2009!)

As an aside, it’s really easy for people to feel like they haven’t accomplished much, especially if they don’t review their work and lives every once in awhile. At least that’s how I felt until I ”took inventory.” After I sorted through everything, though, I was actually quite proud of myself for accomplishing so much!

Divine Caroline

Another unexpected event occurred in June when Divine Caroline, an online women’s blog, contacted me to be one of their writing “partners.”

At first I hesitated to commit and sign their contract because I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of adding more writing to my schedule, but they encouraged me to use articles I’d already written, specifically What Animal Dreams Mean and 7 Actions to Grow Your Lifework. They also told me I don’t need to create original content for their site and can re-use my blog posts.

Note: Writing for other blogs and websites is a great way to accomplish two tasks simultaneously: 1) It can enhance your reputation in a particular field and 2) it can generate traffic for your own webiste. Every time I submit an article to Divine Caroline they post my website address in my byline (I think this is one of the “perks” partners get versus others who submit articles, but I’m not sure.)

Anyway, visits to my site have increased as a result of partnering with Divine Caroline and I’ve only submitted two articles so far!

Why Have Goals if They Aren’t Met?

Being self-employed means I have to rely on myself to generate an income. Without a plan this is very difficult to do. With goals I have structure and something for which I am accountable, even if I change my plan halfway through the year.

From what I’ve observed, people who don’t do well in self-employment often don’t have a plan (or don’t stick to it if they do have one). Many are like me and prefer to “go with the flow” and some even feel that planning takes away from being in the present moment…but if this is your modus operandi, and if things aren’t going well for you, then I suggest getting out some paper, colorful markers and start brain storming (it’s much more fun that way!)

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you haven’t already reviewed 2009 and you’d like to:

• What did you intend to create, do, offer, etc. in 2009?

• What did you actually create, do, offer, etc.?

• If you didn’t accomplish something, why? Were your goals too high? Off track?

• What might you change for 2010?

That’s it for now. Stay tuned for Part II.