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Hello,

What if you could get cashflow on command?

Sounds like the fabled money tree, right?

It’s the next best thing, and it’s not a fable or a myth.

And my friend, A-list copywriter Ray Edwards is a MASTER at this.

Time and time again, his students… myself included... have used what he taught during the free masterclass he recently held just for Goins Writer students to do just that, create cashflow on command.

I don’t want you to miss the chance to learn from the master himself!

The live masterclass already happened, but you can catch the replay by CLICKING HERE now.

Ray calls this class... “3 Simple Secrets to Becoming a Copywriter Who Make the BIG MONEY!”

Not only will he show you how to do this, but he’ll tell you how you can get his regular, monthly cashflow coaching too.

Here’s what one of his clients, Joe Barton, the founder and CEO of Barton Publishing, said about working with Ray and his “Cashflow on Command” system…

“Ray Edwards flat-out gets results. He has written many profitable pieces of copy for us, including our most profitable sales letter. That sales letter has brought us over $10,000,000 (million) in revenue… Ray’s copy remains the undisputed champion.”

If you want to learn the same formulas and systems Ray used to get these results for Joe so you can experience great results yourself…

CLICK HERE to watch the masterclass Ray recently held for Tribe Writers.

See you soon!

Jeff

P.S. This replay won't last long, so check it out now!

Dear ,

Quick announcement: Applications for the Portfolio People Mastermind] are due Dec. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This is a chance to work with me and a small group of creative difference-makers who want to launch something significant in 2020. Click here to apply.

Merry almost-Christmas. And happy all the other holidays, too. What I love about this time of year is that it reminds me of dying. Now, bear with me before you think I’m being a real downer.

All good stories involve death. And so do all great lives. Winter is a wonderful picture of life: when everything seems to be dying, as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, something is about to happen.

This is always the case with a good story. When all seems lost, and the bad guys have nearly won, a miracle must occur.

This time of year is about waiting. Anticipation. The longing for something more. And it seems to be an inevitable part of the human condition to want to hope for change, in spite of the odds and what appears to be happening.

So as the color of the world fades away, when all seems hopeless, know that something else is happening. Under the surface of a frozen earth, life is about to bloom. Spring is coming. Soon, very soon, your days will become brighter and longer.

But first comes the death. Everything must die before it can be reborn more beautifully.

So as the year winds down and the new year approaches, consider what thing in you is dying to make room for the new thing. And consider why you are here, in this life at this point.

What is your work, your true work, the reason you are on this planet right now?

What are you here to do?

Now is a good time to pay attention to these inner urges and intuitions, the still, small voice telling of some new thing about to be born in you.

For me, something that has recently reawakened is a love for poetry. I always loved reading and writing the work of poets but stopped doing it for many years because it seemed so impractical. But almost without noticing, I started writing my own poems again. Which is how change seems to happen, I think: almost imperceptibly until it can no longer be denied, like the buds on a flower tree just before it blossoms.

It seemed appropriate to share one of my poems with you. This one is aptly called “Your True Work” and I hope it speaks to you:

When you give yourself to your work
Your true work
When you finally settle into that place
Where what you do
And who you are
Coalesce
When you feel that familiar burn
And everything seems right
With the world
When the anxious desire to do everything you cannot
And be everything you are not
Finally subside,
When you give yourself to your work
Your true work
You will finally be
Free.

Best,
Jeff

P.S. If you have a creative project you want to launch in 2020, if you are ready to step into your true work, check out the Portfolio People Mastermind. All the details are here.

Hello,

Happy New Year!

Final quick reminder: Today is the LAST DAY to apply for the Portfolio People Mastermind before the price goes up. Learn more about this small community of creative thinkers we’re curating.

This time of year is teeming with possibility. As the days get longer and a new year approaches, I start to wonder: What new thing wants to be birthed in me?

Whether you look back on this past year with regret or celebration, you may find yourself looking forward to what’s to come. This is natural. Part of the thrill of being alive is the joy of remaking your life into something other than what it has been.

Click here to read my latest article on this topic.

Many of us take this sense of exciting possibility and turn to goal-setting. There is nothing necessarily wrong with goals, but I find that many of us approach this process the wrong way.

We often think of goals as answers to questions instead of considering the questions themselves. For example, instead of asking, “How can I make more money?” we might consider asking, “What does it take to be content?” Or instead of asking “how can I lose weight?” we might instead wonder, “What will it take to love myself as I am?”

I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive for personal change. By all means, improve yourself. All I’m saying is that nobody ever told me I could reconsider the questions. If we don’t do this, we run the risk of constantly chasing the wrong thing.

Have you ever gotten the very thing you thought you wanted only to realize it’s not what you wanted at all? Maybe it came too easily or you sacrificed too much and it wasn’t worth the cost. Or maybe you didn’t get it at all and now feel like a failure.

What is all this about? Why do some of us crush our goals and others do not? Why do some pursuits come more easily than others? And what do we with our disappointment and boredom with our own life? Do you double down on pursuing your failed attempts at success, trying even harder, or simply give up and move on with life?

There is, I believe, a better way to live, which is to exchange traditional goal-setting for treating your life as a story.

Every story has a hero who wants something and is willing to overcome conflict to get it. The mission is usually too big for one person, so the hero requires helpers and guides to come to her aid.

Why should it be any different with you?

Instead of merely jotting down a bunch of arbitrary goals for the sake of setting some New Year’s Resolutions, what if you thought of this next year as a new chapter in the story of your life? And if that were the case, you might consider some new questions, such as:

• “What do I want?” If life is a story and you are the hero, then wanting something is essential to moving the narrative forward. There is nothing wrong with wanting things. Your desires are clues to the next leg in your journey—embrace them.
• “What obstacles will I face?” Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and some prizes even require multiple battles. Expect resistance; it means what you want is important
• “How will I grow?” A character who gets exactly what he wants without struggle or complication makes for a boring story. Your journey will be filled with failures and disappointments, all meant to change you in some way. Whether you get what you want or not, the point is to learn and grow.
• “Who can help me?” Frodo had the Fellowship. Katniss had her friends. Luke Skywalker had his sister, a Muppet, and a bunch of ghosts. Who do you have? We all need community to help us complete our journeys.

Take a moment and answer those questions and start seeing your life as a story. See how reframing it like this helps you better understand things like failure and your own frustration with this thing you want to happen not happening sooner.

Maybe what’s happening is so much bigger than you scratching an item off your bucket list. Maybe some great story is being told here with your life, and it’s up to you to pay attention and learn the lesson that this experience is meant to teach you.

And if you need help finding someone to help you on this journey, consider joining Portfolio People, an online and in-person community of creative people I’m working with this next year to help them pursue what they want and learn along the way.

Click here to learn more about it.

Best,

Hey friends,

I just got back from an amazing trip to California where I spent four days in Hollywood with a new client, learning all about the process of making dreams come true. I’ll share more on that another time.

Speaking of dreams, I believe that one of the best ways for you to live a fulfilling life and do meaningful and creative work is to become what I call a portfolio person -- not a jack of all trades, but a master of some. Today on the podcast, my guest Chase Jarvis elucidates on that very topic, explaining that “we are all hyphens now.” Chase is a world-famous photographer, bestselling author, and founder of CreativeLive. He is also my friend.

Listen to our conversation on how to find your creative calling.

Lastly, I’ve kicked off the new year with a few speaking gigs back to back. Whenever I travel, I try to meet up with readers and friends and create meaningful experiences together. Next week, I’ll be in Lakeland, Florida, for a few of events that if you live in the area, you should come check out.

1. I’ll be speaking at a breakfast meetup, talking about art, business, and why creativity matters more than ever before. Details here.
2. I am keynoting a writing conference, talking about storytelling.
3. I’m hosting a small-ish afternoon group “Guac Talk,” where we will talk about whatever is on your mind... over guacamole, of course.

If you’re in the area, I hope to see you!

The first week of February I’ll also be in the Chicago area, speaking at a business event in Rockford. More details to come on that.

That’s all for now. Hope you’re having a great week. I hope to see you in person soon. Thanks for following along.

Best,

Hey friends,

I’m on my way to Florida right now for a week of speaking and client meetings. While preparing for this trip, I spoke with the client who booked me to speak at a business breakfast, and he said, “We need you to tell a group of local entrepreneurs why art matters to them.”

Unsure of what to say, I accepted the challenge then thought, “What have I gotten myself into?”

After some time of thinking about it, I came to realization that creativity can do certain things in the world that nothing else can. I believe that. We need art now more than we ever have before.

And over the next couple of weeks, I want to share you why that is.

This week, I’m sharing an essay and podcast on the three unique gifts creativity gives us.

Click here to listen or read along.

The way I see it, there are three messages creativity can communicate, and these messages are what make us human.

Which is to say, without the arts—without the ability to creatively express who we are and what we care about—we lose a bit of our humanity.

Most of my life, I’ve made things. Before I even knew why or how, creativity was the tool that helped me understand myself and the world around me. It was the way I processed difficult experiences and how I learned to express who I was and what I believed.

Through this process, I began to see the gifts we receive from art. There are three of them, each distinct ways art helps us understand who we are and why we are here.

Art helps us experience the following messages:

1. “I see you.” Art is about empathy. We all need to feel seen and understand and help others feel the same. We must also appreciate when we create anything that not everyone will “get” what we’re trying to do. The point is to make something for someone, not everyone.
2. “I’m still here.” Art is about perseverance. The very fact that you make things means you made it. You survived another day, another season; you endured another hardship or trauma. And the ability to make something out all that debris is a sign to both yourself and the world that you’re still here and they are, too. We all need to be reminded to keep going when times are tough.
3. “I can’t believe it.” Art is about transcendence. When you stand before a great work of art, it reminds you that you are a part of a richer narrative, that there is something greater going on than your temporary trials. We make things to help others transcend their own realities and believe in a bigger story.

Read more here: What Creativity Can Do That Nothing Else Can

Also, I’m in Lakeland, Florida this week for a few speaking gigs. If you’re in the area, click the links for more details. I hope to see you!

• Business Breakfast with Jeff Goins - Southeastern University College of Arts & Media
• Expressions Storytelling Institute and Writers Conference - Southeastern University College of Arts & Media
• Guac Talk with Jeff Goins

Or if you’d like me to come speak in your area, shoot me a message and let’s see if we can work something out!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Next week, I’ll be in Chicago speaking at this event, so if you’re in the area please come by!

P.P.S. What does art say to you? I’d love to hear! Shoot me a reply. Oh, and make sure to subscribe to the podcast for my weekly audio riffs on all this stuff.

Hope to see you soon!

Hey friend,

This newsletter is a way to stay in touch with readers, updating you on what I’m up to (and hearing about what’s going on in your world).

I recently got back from a series of gigs in Florida and Chicago, where I was able to connect with some of you who came out for the various events at which I was speaking. Thanks! Always great to see you. If I’m in your area for an upcoming trip, give me a shout, and let’s try to meet!

Speaking of travel, I tend to think of life as a journey these days far more than a destination. If I could summarize what I believe about almost everything in life, it would be this:

Clarity comes with action.

This is harder than it sounds. Do I quit my job or not? Do we make that big move or stay here another year? Do I take the risk, letting go of my fears of what I want, or is that selfish? How do you know what the next step is? The wisest people I’ve met have all said the same thing: You don’t. You may have an intuition, a sense of what should be. But there is no absolute clarity. Fear is always strongest before the first step.

As I wrote in a popular post on Medium, “When your calling seems vague and unclear, you’re on the right track.” We all want to be told “this is the way; go do this.” But life doesn’t work that way. If you’re feeling lost and directionless, the good news is that this means you are in the midst of an incredible story called your life.

When we embrace the mystery of life and start taking action, we will soon see others follow in our footsteps. This is all leadership is: the willingness to take the first step. You don’t need to be the best or the smartest or even the most unique. You just need to go first—like this random guy on a park bench who started belting out Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and got an entire park to sing along. All he did was start singing. Maybe you and I can do the same.

The truth is we don’t need a lot of people to pay attention. We don’t need the whole world to listen to our message. We just need to find a tribe of true fans, a group much smaller than we think it needs to be. In a recent interview with Brian Clark on his podcast “7-figure Small,” I shared how I thought I needed millions of fans to make an impact when it turns out, I only needed a hundred. When we get clear on what we really want, we realize we don’t need much to get there. This is the gift of intention.

Speaking of which, my “100-person project” is going great so far. I’m still looking for a few more people who want to go deeper, whether that’s helping grow an online audience, start a message-based business, or publish a book. Let me know if you have some idea brewing that you think might be a good fit. Meanwhile, I'll be sharing a few upcoming projects including registration for a writing program I’m teaching later this month.

Oh, and speaking of books, my first ghostwriting project (authored by Grant Baldwin) comes out next week. If you have aspirations of speaking for income or impact, you’re not going to want to miss this one. The Successful Speaker comes out February 18. Check it out here.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. If you do pre-order The Successful Speaker, Grant has a ton of free bonuses for you, including a free copy of the audiobook.

Hey friend!

Whenever I have question about book marketing and launching, the first person I call is Tim Grahl.

He is the founder of booklaunch.com and has been working with bestselling authors for over 10 years to help them build their platforms, connect with readers, and sell more books.

What I love about Tim is he’s never swayed by the latest fads or crazy bookselling tricks. He stays true to the stuff that works and makes sure he gives advice based on real-world experience.

Tim is also a generous guy.

Which is why he’s offered to give you a free copy of his bestselling book, Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book.

This book normally sells for $14.99, has 325 5-star Amazon reviews, and has sold 50,000 copies.

And you can click here to get your free copy.

I hope you’ll grab your copy and start reading it today. It will change the way you see book marketing!

Enjoy!

Jeff

Hey friend,

I just got back from a trip to Florida where I met with a ghostwriting client and spoke three different times. I had a blast! Thanks to those of you who came out; I had a lot of fun.

Today, I’m headed to northern Illinois for a local business event in Rockford hosted by my brilliant friend Lauren Davis. If you’re in the area, come check it out!

This week, I have a new essay and podcast that is a continuation of last week’s message where I attempted to answer the question, “Why do we need art?” In that post, I shared the three messages art offers us:

• “I see you.”
• “I’m still here.”
• “I can’t believe it.”

Art can help us feel known; it encourages us to persevere when times are tough; and it offers a way to transcend our current reality. Art speaks to a deeper story we are living.

This week, I want to take that message one step further and ask the question, “What can we all learn from artists?” I believe we all need to act more like artists in how we live and work and conduct ourselves on a daily basis.

What do artists do, and why are they so special?

In my book, Real Artists Don’t Starve, I list 12 strategies that allow artists to thrive in any creative work. But today, I’ll share only three creative disciplines we would all be wise to adopt:

1. An artist has a calling. We all should pay attention to the voice of vocation the wants to lead us in the direction of a more meaningful life.
2. An artist has a code. They hold themselves to a higher standard of conduct. They act like apprentices, constantly trying to get better at their craft.
3. An artist has an audience. They understand they are not just creating for themselves. They are practicing in public. Their work is not for everyone; it’s for someone specific who needs their work.

Read or listen to this week’s essay: Why We All Need to Act More Like Artists

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Are you working on a book right now or some great project? I’d love to hear about it and see if I can help you in some way, whatever that looks like. Shoot me a reply!

Happy New Year!

So… I’m doing something crazy.

I’m writing a book in 30 days.

Since launching my ghostwriting practice last year, I’ve now signed a dozen new clients to help them with their books.

And last month, I got a crazy, audacious request: “Can you write me a book in a month?!”

I said yes.

Why?

Because I love a good challenge.

And because I’m a little crazy.

Also, because I think it’s possible.

The truth is that you can write a book in a month by simply setting the right daily word count goal and getting it done.

I learned this years ago when I started my first book back in 2011 and realized that what it takes to get a book done is writing 500 words per day. Every book I’ve ever written I’ve done it by doing just that:

1. Set a goal.
2. Give yourself a deadline.
3. Write a little bit every day to make the outcome inevitable.

It’s really just that simple.

But why do most people never do this?

Because of accountability. When we set our goals in private and try to accomplish them in private, when we’ve never done them before, there’s a high potential for failure.

That’s why I created a writing group years ago called My 500 Words, a free community for writers to encourage each other and hold one another accountable. I did it to help me finish my book.

And as a result, over 10,000 have joined that group and been writing for years!

So I want to invite you to join me. Not to write a book in 30 days. That’s crazy!

But to join me in writing a little bit every day. 500 words. That’s how books get done. It’s how articles get written and emails get sent and blogs get built.

Will you join me?

Click the link below to read the article and find out more about the writing challenge: 500 Words a Day: The Secret to Developing a Regular Writing Habit.

Jeff

P.S. I’ll actually be writing a little bit more than 500 words a day to accommodate the book I’m working on for a client. So if you want to just tune in and watch me do this crazy thing, feel free to join the challenge!

Hey,

Today, I will:

• drop my kid off at school
• work on my 30-day book project (if you’re not following along in the My 500 Words challenge, what are you waiting for?!)
• write a new book proposal for a new ghostwriting client
• work on a teaching for my Portfolio People Mastermind group
• start writing a speech for a gig in Florida later this month
• be interviewed for a podcast
• eat lunch
• work out
• call a new coaching client about working together
• go home
• make dinner for my kids
• take a bath
• go to bed

This is just a normal day for me. I don’t know if it sounds exciting, stupid, or stressful; but I like it. It took me a long time to admit that, though, that I like a busy day, that I like to do a lot of different things.

We are told we should embrace mastery, that we should focus on just one area and do it really well and with excellence and dedication. But honestly, I find that boring.

It took quite the wake-up call for me to realize this, but when I stumbled across the concept of the portfolio life, everything changed.

On the podcast today, I redefine that term, explain why I think the future belongs to portfolio people, and offer a few reasons for why a portfolio life just might be the best way for you to organize a creative career while avoiding boredom and burnout.

Click here to read the essay or listen to it.

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast!

Enjoy,
Jeff

P.S. Are you living a portfolio life? Shoot me a reply and let me know.

Hey friend,

This week, my first ghostwriting project, The Successful Speaker, comes out. This was a collaboration with Grant Baldwin, the leading expert on what it takes to build a successful speaking business. It was a lot of fun, but what I didn’t expect was how much it would make me a better speaker.

I always wanted to speak for a living, but it wasn’t until I actually wrote a book on speaking that I accomplished it.

Funny, isn’t it? It took writing a book on speaking to become a successful speaker.

While writing this book, I began to understand a few key lessons on what success as a speaker actually looks like. I guess what they say is true: teaching is the best way to learn something.

To learn those lessons, click here to read and listen to this week’s post.

Here’s a summary:

1. If you want someone to care about you, you first have to care about them. The best way to get booked or paid for anything is to find a way to solve their problem.
2. You have not because you ask not. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask people if you can help them. With speaking, this meant I had to be bold and offer to speak all kinds of events even when I wasn’t sure if I was a good fit. This resulted in over two dozen gigs.
3. The best marketing is people seeing at work. This past year, I spoke a lot and posted on social media and on my blog about it. I talked about it on my podcast. And the result of my talking about it was that people asked me to do more of it. Most people are unaware of the work that you do, because you don’t talk about it nearly enough. This is called practicing in publish and just might be the most effective marketing strategy a creative has in his or her tool belt.

In other news, I’ve been hitting up the podcast circuit. Here are a few places I’ve recently done an interview:

• Artists don’t have to starve - Idea to Value: This was a fun chat just on the idea of the starving artist myth and how to get your work out into the world and get rewarded for it.
• Managing Leadership Anxiety: Jeff Goins: This was a very interesting and deep conversation the delved into creativity, psychology, and spirituality. We talked about self awareness, trauma, and all kinds of “fun” things.
• On the Path of Self-Discovery with Jeff Goins: This was one of the most esoteric interviews I’ve ever done, a fact of which I am quite proud. If you like the “woo,” you are going to love this.

I also recently published this article on Medium: 8 Steps You Must Take to Write a Book - Better Marketing - Medium.

That’s it for now!

Hope you have a great week. If you have any questions about writing or creative work, if you’re feeling stuck, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know how I can help!

And be sure to pick up a copy of The Successful Speaker (you can get a free copy of the audiobook when you order here!)

Best,

Hey friend,

This week has been amazing, with the launch of my first ghostwriting project, The Successful Speaker, hitting the Amazon bestseller lists! This book was a collaboration with my friend Grant Baldwin, the leading expert on what it takes to build a successful speaking business.

I've always wanted to speak for a living, and now I’m actually doing it. We want to help you become a successful speaker as well, and Grant has some awesome bonuses you can get free when you buy the book this week.

When you order a copy of The Successful Speaker, you’ll get:

• Speaker’s Toolkit Gear List ($47 value)
• Live Group Q&A Session with Grant ($100 value)
• Free Copy of The Successful Speaker Audiobook ($25 value)
• The Art of Speaking Course ($297 value)

Grab your copy of The Successful Speaker and then click here to grab those bonuses before they’re gone.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. You can purchase The Successful Speaker from any retailer, either online or in person. Just be sure to save your receipt and go here to get your bonuses.

Hello,

Thank you for all the responses I received to Monday's newsletter. I ended up unexpectedly turning that into a longer essay and podcast episode, so if you'd like to check it out, you can read/listen here: The 3 Stages of an Artist's Work: Transaction, Compromise, Gift

Also, I'm grateful for those who responded to my comments on race, justice, and inequality. I have a lot to learn and am committed to doing so. Thank you for your love and grace as I grow and share that with you.

Lastly, there was such a great response to my mentioning of Danny Iny's book Teach Your Gift, which lays out how to create and sell online courses, that I wanted to let you know about a special, free event Danny is running.

Starting this Thursday, Danny will be running a live online course business bootcamp for any author, speaker, or expert who wants to take their knowledge and share it with the world and get paid for it.

Danny is my friend. He is honest, good, and smart. I always learn a lot from him, so don't miss this chance to gain free insight and knowledge from him. I've been teaching online courses for the past decade, and I can tell you: Now is the best time to share your knowledge with the world, and this bootcamp will be a tremendous help.

Get the full bootcamp details from Danny and sign up.

I think you'll be glad you did.

Best

Jeff

P.S. The Online Course Business Bootcamp will happen over three days, starting May 15, with a live online training session each day. You can attend the bootcamp sessions live online with Danny, or watch each day's video recording within 24 hours to catch up if you miss anything. Find out more and sign up here.

P.P.S. I'd love your thoughts on my most recent essay: The 3 Stages of An Artist's Work. If podcasts are your thing, be sure to listen in to the audio on that page or subscribe to The Portfolio Life wherever you listen to shows. And if you're a regular listener, I'd love for you to leave a quick review. Thanks!

Hello,

Last week, I taught a live workshop on what I'm calling "The Paid Creator Path," which is a new teaching I'm rolling out about the ten steps it takes to make a living doing creative work.

I'm still word-smithing these, so I'd love your feedback, but those attended the live workshop said these concepts were really helpful, so I thought I'd share them here in written in form.

Of course, you're welcome to watch the video replay on Facebook (click here to check it out). And if you don't have Facebook, I'll be rolling out the video on other platforms later this week, so stay tuned.

For now, here's the overview:

1. Identify the problem. All creation is problem solving, and problems are always based on people's feelings. They are not rational; they are not needs-they are unmet desires. To completely understand a problem, you have to first understand the person with the problem. You need to hear them communicate the problem in their own words.
2. Know what has come before. Research what other people are doing to solve this problem. Study your competitors as well as the greats from previous generations so that you know what you're up against and how you can build on what others have done. Don't just reinvent the wheel; make it better.
3. Decide how you will be different. Now that you know what others have done, what do you disagree with? How can you be different? Remember that when you are playing the "infinite game" of creativity, it's better to be different than it is to be better.
4. Teach your process. Teaching makes the best marketing. It also helps you prove your authority. When you teach what you know, this is practicing in public and proving your expertise. It'll help you build your audience and earn their trust over time.
5. Capture attention. What this means is you need a list-whether that's a list of email addresses, phone numbers, or some other way of getting in touch with the people who want to hear from you. This is the essence of modern marketing: You have to ask permission to communicate with people and share with them how you are going to help them solve their problem. Maybe their problem is they're bored and you're going to entertain them; maybe it's deeper than that. But before you ask them to buy or make any serious commitment, you first must ask for the conversation.
6. Ask for a commitment. What we often call "sales" or "selling"-two terms that many creatives tend to wince at-is really just finding out what people want and helping them discover the right path to get it. This is often a verbal agreement along with some sort of value exchange; in other words, you say, "I'll give you a copy of my book when you buy me." There's nothing to be afraid of here; you can't sell to someone who doesn't want to buy. If you remain curious, listen to people's problems, and genuinely want to help them, then sales cease to be scary. Ask good questions, listen, and offer the best solution-even if that means they go somewhere else and give someone else money. Do this and when it's time for them to pay you, they'll trust that you're leading them in the right direction. At this point, you''ll ask for the commitment, the money, or the signature on the contract so it's official.
7. Communicate what to expect. It's not enough to "sell" something; you have to tell people very clearly what they are going to get, as well as when and how. Help people understand exactly what they're going to get from you so they don't have any incorrect assumptions. Unmet expectations is the fastest way to lose the trust you just worked so hard to earn. Spell it out, preferably in writing so there's a record, exactly what people will get from you.
8. Exceed expectations. Find small ways to "wow" your customer. This is marketing, too, as it turns out. Once you've set expectations, find little ways to go above and beyond them, so that people are delighted. Delighted customers and clients are eager to share what they're learning and receiving. And as you probably already know, word-of-mouth marketing just might be the most powerful form of promotion. It may cost a little more to go the extra mile, but in the end, it'll pay off for you.
9. Encourage sharing. This is pretty simple, but many individuals and companies neglect doing it. Ask for the testimonial. Encourage referrals. Reward those who talk about you: thank them, give them gifts, maybe even share some of the revenue they helped you generate (if appropriate). This is how you find other people like those whom you're already helping. You can call this customer service or whatever, but really it's just good business, and it's the best way to grow.
10. Repeat the process. What other problems can you solve? What does solving this one make possible? Once you've established one solution to a product-be it a physical product, an online offering, or a service-you can now follow this process to create other solutions.

Let me know which of these was most helpful to you. And don't forget to watch the video!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. I'm going to be opening an elite, small-group coaching group to walk individuals through this process. If you're curious, fill out the application this week.

Hey friend,

I don't know what to say. But it feels wrong to not say anything, so here it goes: The world is. a lot right now, isn't it?

This past week, I went on my first business trip in three months, and it was, well, weird. The airports were not quite vacant, but security took mere minutes, my TSA pre-check status now a joke; and over half the gift shops and restaurants were closed. It was strange to rent a car and wait in line as one attendant representing three different companies ran my credit card and walked me to my car for the week.

From the safety of the suburbs, I heard news of George Floyd's death and then started receiving all kinds of words and feelings from friends all over the country and world.

Then, I came home to see news of riots and protests and the national guard being called in to Nashville. Now, we are currently under curfew, as is the case for other American cities. Meanwhile, there is a global pandemic, economic recession, and many people are just trying to figure out how to be.

So, yeah. It's a lot. And I'm saying that as white man who runs an online business from the comfort of my own home, so I recognize my own privilege there. By the way, I used to think of privilege as something to feel guilty about or apologize for, but now I see it as a responsibility to use.

What I want to say this week is, well, not much. Sometimes, I assume that what the world needs is my voice; but not now, at least not in the advice-giving, I-have-all-the-answers kind of way. Because I don't. And I shouldn't. Sometimes, the best voice is one that says, "I'm here and I'm listening."

The best voices in my life say that to me: my friends and my loved ones, my therapist, the people who have enough space to let me be who I am. And I want to follow their example and say the same to you, to anyone who may be struggling or afraid or downright confused:

I'm here. I'm listening.

And to my friends of color: I am for you. I am learning to address the systemic racism that has made you feel unsafe and unwelcome. I am growing and trying to use my voice when needed-without assuming the answer to that is "always."

Please feel free to let me know how I can be there for you.

Also, it feels odd to share this, but last week, I promised you a free workshop on email lists. But now, I wonder if that's not a terrible idea-because my email list is not just a place to share and sell things but it's also the best point of connection I have with readers.

And I'd love to help you build or grow your email list not just so you can say things but so you can listen. Perhaps, that's what we need right now more than anything.

So, here it is. This Thursday, I'm hosting a webinar called, "How to Get Your First (or Next) 100 Email Subscribers In Only 2 Hours".

If you're struggling to grow your email list, this workshop will teach you a simple way and effective way to get new subscribers fast (and no, this isn't some kind of trick or hack. It's a technique I've learned and used for years.)

Click here to register for the workshop which won't cost you a thing. (You'll be automatically registered.)

It'll be 90 minutes of live teaching from me, so clear your calendar and come ready to take notes.

See you soon!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Tell me how you are. How is all THIS affecting you? Shoot a quick reply. I promise to read them all.

Quick reminder - I'm hosting a free workshop called "How to Write A Bestseller" today at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.

It's a free 90-minute workshop where I'm going to walk you through what I did to successfully write and publish multiple bestselling books.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

If you're struggling to write or publish your book, I know how you feel. I've been there.

I remember sitting on my couch, working on a book that I'd been working on for years, and never finishing it.

Each year, I'd set a goal for myself that this year would be the year I wrote a book, but it never happened. I kept doing the same thing over and over, working so hard to make it happen, but it wasn't working.

It was an endless, vicious cycle.

I nearly gave up but I'm so grateful I didn't because soon after I made the decision to keep going, everything changed: I went from having no audience, no book, no steady income, no traffic, to gaining 10,000 fans in a matter of months, publishing two books, and making more than $150,000 in a year for the first time ever.

And in this free 90-minute workshop, "How to Write A Bestseller", I'm going to show you how I did it.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

You'll learn how to:

• Nail your big idea before you start writing.
• Finish your book, edit, and publish it.
• Launch your book and turn it into a bestseller.

This isn't some secret writing hack, or shortcut to success. This is practical insight based on real-life lessons that I had to learn the hard way.

It's a roadmap to overcome confusion and exhaustion, finish your book, and publish a bestseller. It worked for me, it's worked for thousands of other writers I've worked with, and it'll work for you too.

We're in the final part of a crazy year. This is your last chance to write a book in 2020 (and yes, if you start now you can finish your book this year).

But don't just write a book. Write a bestseller. Join me for this free workshop to learn how.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

Cheers,

Jeff

P.S. Can't make today's workshop? You're in luck, I'm doing another one this Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Central. Click here to automatically register for it.

P.S. Not interested in writing a bestseller right now? You can click here to be removed from promotional emails this week, without being unsubscribed from the rest of my emails in the future. No worries at all.

Hello,

Happy Thanksgiving Week. I hope you and yours are well.

I am enjoying this season outfitting my apartment after some time of living like a monk, and I'm enjoying filling my place with beautiful things. There's something about surrounding yourself with beauty that helps you create, isn't there?

Along with physical objects of beauty, I'm investing in experiences as a means of continuing to grow and develop as a person. One of my favorite ways to do this is to find courses, seminars, and other educational opportunities that allow me to learn a new skill and apply it.

We really do live in a revolutionary age when it comes to learning. Never before have we had such unrestricted access to information as we do now. I hope that we try to not take that for granted.

Typically, I don't do discounts and sales for my products. except when it comes to Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

So this coming weekend, I'll be offering any one of my four writing courses for 50% off, or you can get the whole bundle for 60% off.

To see the whole "Writing Habit Bundle," click here.

To look at each course and see which ones are right for you, click on each course to view a description.

Make sure you use the promo code HABIT2020 at checkout if you''re buying one or more of the courses individually. No coupon code needed to purchase the bundle.

Enjoy!

Best,

Jeff

Quick reminder - I'm hosting a free workshop called "How to Write a Bestseller" today at 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

It's a free 90-minute workshop where I'm going to walk you through what I did to successfully write and publish multiple bestselling books.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

If you're struggling to write or publish your book, I know how you feel. I've been there.

I remember sitting on my couch, working on a book that I'd been working on for years, and never finishing it.

Each year, I'd set a goal for myself that this year would be the year I wrote a book, but it never happened. I kept doing the same thing over and over, working so hard to make it happen, but it wasn't working.

I was stuck in this cycle of saying I was going to do something, working really hard at it, failing, and then starting all over again.

I nearly gave up but I'm so grateful I didn't because soon after I made the decision to keep going, everything changed: I went from having no audience, no book, no steady income, no traffic, to gaining 10,000 fans in a matter of months, publishing two books, and making more than $150,000 in a year for the first time ever.

And in my free 90-minute workshop, "How to Write a Bestseller", I'm going to show you how I did it.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

You'll learn how to:

• Nail your big idea before you start writing.
• Finish your book, edit, and publish it.
• Launch your book and turn it into a bestseller.

This isn't some secret writing hack, or shortcut to success. This is practical insight based on real-life lessons that I had to learn the hard way.

It's a roadmap to overcome confusion and exhaustion, finish your book, and publish a bestseller. It worked for me, it's worked for thousands of other writers I've worked with, and it'll work for you too.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

We're in the final part of a crazy year. This is your last chance to write a book in 2020 (and yes, if you start now you can finish your book this year).

But don't just write a book. Write a bestseller. Join me for this free workshop to learn how.

Cheers,

Jeff

P.S. Not interested in writing a bestseller right now? You can click here to be removed from promotional emails this week, without being unsubscribed from the rest of my emails in the future. No worries at all.

Quick reminder: I'm hosting a free workshop on "How to Start a Daily Writing Habit" today at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.

It's a free 90-minute training in which I'm going to show you how to develop a daily writing practice with the ultimate goal of writing a book.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

If you're struggling to write a book, I know how you feel. I've been there.

For nine years, I dreamed about writing a book and never accomplished that goal. And then when I discovered that simple discipline, I wrote two books in one year, quit my job, became a full-time writer, and have been doing it ever since.

What I learned from this experience is you don't write a whole book. You write a sentence. You write a paragraph. Maybe a page. And those pages turn into chapters. And then if you're consistent enough, you get a whole book.

Writing happens in small bites, step by step, chunk by chunk, all built on the foundation of a daily writing practice.

After five bestsellers, millions of dollars in sales, and over four million readers reached every year, I've created a process for writing. Every. Single. Day. And I want to share with you how I did that and how you can develop the same daily writing habit that got me there.

Click here to automatically register for the free workshop

I hope you'll join me for this free presentation. I can promise you that when you and I look back on this year, we will either be grateful for the habits we formed during this time or sad about the opportunities we missed. It's not too late to begin.

And I can promise you that creating a daily writing habit won't be one you regret.

Cheers,

Jeff

P.S. Not interested in writing a bestseller right now? You can click here to be removed from promotional emails this week, without being unsubscribed from the rest of my emails in the future. No worries at all.

Hello,

"I am afraid," I said, "that if I start feeling sad. I won't ever stop."

And then, I burst into tears and cried for two minutes straight while a dozen of my peers watched in silence. Joseph Campbell said every feeling fully felt is bliss, but I'm pretty sure he never had group trauma therapy.

Lately, I've been writing a lot about life and creativity and how the two seem to influence each other. Art imitates life, they say-and vice versa. What keeps me captivated, though, is this exchange of energy between how we make a living and how we make a life.

I love filling my life with deep and meaningful experiences, whether that is a great cup of coffee or a delicious conversation with a friend. One such experience recently was with a group of men I've been connected with for the greater part of this year. I can't recommend the power of masterminds enough; it has been the single greatest contributor to my sanity and so-called success in this silly little writing career of mine.

Something I learned from this group when we met for a recent weekend retreat is how often I hold back from speaking up. I am afraid of saying too much, of even being too much. But something I kept hearing over and over from this group was: "Jeff, we love it when you share."

I'm trying to listen to my life these days, paying close attention to the messages that keep coming up through my experiences. What wants to be revealed? What is my life is saying to me? What comes up is this:

Speak up. Your voice is a privilege, and each privilege comes with a duty. You not only have a right to share but a responsibility to do so. Tell your stories. Show up in ways that require courage.

The retreat concluded with an ice bath and a Wim Hof instructor saying, "It's just a little discomfort, that's all. Just a little discomfort." As pain shot like needles through my legs and I sank deeper into the cold, cold water, my instinct was panic. Letting the water rise to my neck, I wanted to squirm, wanted to leave, wanted to scream. But instead I settled in, and I. relaxed. It wasn't bad, not bad at all at all. Just a little sensation in my body, some fleeting thoughts. In fact, part of me imagined it would have been colder.

After thirty seconds, I started to actually enjoy the ice bath that was quickly cooling my blood, causing me to lose some sensation in my fingers and toes. And just like the crying before, it didn't last forever-in fact, only about four minutes. And then, I felt better. Much better. What was initially uncomfortable became a form of healing.

What I am trying to say is this: you have a story to tell, a message to share, something to say. And for those of us who can speak up, we must. Yes, it will be uncomfortable. Yes, we may fear discomfort, sadness, or pain-or even the water lasting forever-but as Rilke wrote: "no feeling is final."

"Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror. Just keep going."

This is what it means to be alive. This is what it means to be a writer. This is what it means to be human. Not everyone gets to do this, you know. Not everyone gets to tell their stories and share their truths or even jump in an ice bath.

It is a privilege and a duty to have a voice. I hope you use it.

Best,

Jeff

Over the last several days a lot of questions have come up, so I want to take a minute here and answer some of the most popular ones I've been getting around my Write a Bestseller program, which is open for registration this week. Here's some of them I've been getting:

"How do I know if I''m supposed to write a book? And is Write a Bestseller the course for me?"

You know you''re supposed to write a book when you''ve got a big idea. Nobody finishes a book just because they want to write any old book. It takes more than that: a burning sense to put something significant out into the world. Without that kind of energy, you'll usually lose steam before you finish.

Maybe it's an idea you've had for years, or a story you want to tell, or maybe even an experience you''ve lived through that resonates with others.

In Write a Bestseller, we can help you find that message and turn it into something readers will find compelling. Something they won't be able to put down. Something they'll have to tell their friends about.

"Jeff, what if I buy the course and don't like it?"

If you get into the course and realize it isn't what you're looking for, I completely understand.

I offer a 60-day money back guarantee. If at any point within 60 days you decide you want a refund, I'll give it to you. It's how I would want to be treated if I were in your shoes.

If, however, you decide to stick with it, you won't be disappointed.

"What's covered in the course?"

Write a Bestseller is a journey that will take you from big idea all the way to a solid first draft by teaching you the process of writing and publishing a bestselling book. The course is broken up into five modules:

Pre-work: Bestseller Bootcamp
The live workshop will be taught live for all students, starting on September 9, 10, and 11.

Module 1: Research
Prepare to write your book by coming up with a killer idea.

Module 2: Writing
Write the first draft of the book in 90 days or less. This is an ugly first draft, not your final work. The goal is to get words down on paper.

Module 3: Editing
Edit your work like a pro and get it ready to publish.

Module 4: Publishing
Decide your path to publishing on your own or with a traditional publisher.

Module 5: Launching
Release your book into the world following the three launch phases.

I walk you through my process for producing bestseller after bestseller and how you can use it to create a book that sells. This course will help you:

• Nail your big idea before you begin writing
• Do the research to make your book stand out
• Write the first draft in 90 days
• Edit your book like a pro
• Pick a path to publishing
• Launch your book into the world
• Sell your first 1000 copies
• And more!

But you need to hurry. Registration closes TOMORROW NIGHT, so get in now before the doors close.

Click here to register now for Write a Bestseller

See you inside.

Best,
Jeff

P.S. Not interested in hearing about this promotion any more? You can click here to be removed from promotional emails this week, without being unsubscribed from the rest of my emails in the future. No worries at all.

This is a quick reminder that I'm going live tomorrow with a free workshop called, How to Make a Living Blogging at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.

In this live training, I'll show you:

• How to make your message clear and attractive to new readers
• My process for starting a blog and growing it to a 1000 readers
• A simple way to make your first $1000 online
• The most powerful platform personalities and how you can use them to attract the right readers

This is not some special secret reserved for gurus and geniuses. With the right tools and direction, anyone can do this. Let me show you how with practical steps you can start taking today.

Click here to register for the FREE workshop. (You'll be automatically registered)

See you soon,

Jeff

Hello,

This is a quick reminder that I'm going live TOMORROW with my free workshop, "How to Get Your First (or Next) 100 Email Subscribers In Only 2 Hours."

If you're struggling to grow your email list, this workshop will teach you a simple way and effective way to get new subscribers fast (and no, this isn't some kind of trick or hack. It's a technique I've learned and used for years.)

Click here to register for the FREE workshop. (You''ll be automatically registered.)

All the best,

Jeff

Hello,

It's late morning, my second cup of coffee finished, and I stare out the window at pumpkins my kids decorated for Halloween. I see people wearing light jackets and notice the leaves turning yellow, gold, and brown. This is my favorite time of year.

I'm not just thinking about the end of a year and what's to come in January but also the end of a season of life and the passing of the kind I've person I've been.

It has officially been a decade since I started the blog goinswriter.com and the business that followed it. The next ten years will be vastly different from the previous ten.

Why? Because I have changed.

Not long ago, a friend drove several hours across state lines to see me. He told me the reason he made the trek was, "I wanted to see if you were still you."

I don't know that I am.

A biographer of Ernest Hemingway once remarked about his subject: "The greatest character [he] ever created was himself." The first time I read that, it made me sad. What a depressing notion, I thought. This man who'd written so many great works did not even know who he was. What a perfect example of losing your soul to gain the whole world.

But now, I understand it differently. We all play multiple characters in our lives, each one of us, every single day:

Today, I called one of my colleagues to talk about work. We made a few decisions, and I asked her to do a few things.

Then, I texted a friend to see how she was doing after having a hard time the other night.

Later in the day, I will pick up my son from school, and we will have some friends over.

Which of these is the real me? All of them, of course. And maybe none.

I have always loved the quote by Anne Lamott: "I am all the ages I have ever been." These roles are all me, or rather they are aspects of me-like facets of a diamond, each catching the light in a unique way. But at the same time, they are just the pieces others see. So who am I, really?

Perhaps a better question is: What am I?

There are, I think, two ways to answer:

1. You are the sum of all your roles. If you add up everything you do and have done, that is what you are. And if you take all that away, you cease to be you.
2. You are the one playing the roles. You are not just a character in a story-you are the author, the one making it happen. You are not just a parent, friend, boss, lover, or neighbor. You are the one behind all that.

Philosophers and psychologists have a name for this awareness beneath all this activity. They call it the Self. Some of us spend our whole lives playing roles while never coming into contact with our Selves.

So when a role gets threatened-maybe we lose a job or get a few gray hairs or go through a divorce-we freak out. We have identified so much with this aspect of ourselves that is now fading, the experience can feel like dying.

And in a way, it is.

But as we lose these parts of what we think we are, the true Self starts to be seen. This act of finding the deeper part of you that never fades may be the most important task of your life. It is certainly the best place from which to create.

Our most brilliant work, I believe, comes from a curiosity about life and the universe and who we are. The more curious you are about yourself, the more creative you can be. And when we hold on to these fixed notions of identity, we kill our capacity for what could be.

This thing called the Self, which the Greeks named "genius," has a tremendous power to build worlds, construct cities, change jobs, play with kids, tie shoelaces, and do so much more. It can take on innumerable roles throughout life and solve almost any problem it comes up against-so long as we don't get attached to any single expression of it. When we let go of what we think we are, we can create far more than we ever thought possible.

Why share this now?

At the very beginning of the pandemic, my friend Michael Port posed a question: "What role is being required of you right now?"

As an actor, Michael understands these roles we play are but costumes donned over a deeper identity. And when we understand this, we can serve in ways where our egos don't interfere as much.

We are also free to play.

If I am not actually "Jeff Goins, bestselling author," then I don't have to take myself so damn seriously all the time. I can be a better friend and dad, a better coach, boss, and teacher. I can be a better writer, as well, allowing myself to take risks and try new things. Because there's nothing to protect, rejection, criticism, and misunderstanding start to feel a little silly. After all, I was only playing.

When you realize "you" are just a character you have played, then you can start enjoying yourself. You can play the role well and have a little fun with it. When others see you doing that, they can't help but be drawn into your orbit.

And if you find the costume you're wearing no longer fits, you are free to change the character. You can create a whole new you, if you'd like. When the story you want to write with your life no longer fits into the one you're living, it's time to change it. Just remember: whatever new identity you assume is simply another role to play.

So to answer my friend: No, I am not the me I was a year ago. But I am becoming more of my Self than I have ever been. And a year from now, I hope to be unrecognizable yet again-to you and to me. Because that can mean only one thing: I'm growing.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. If you missed my free teaching on the "Paid Creator Path," click here to watch/listen. And be sure to check out the app for a new program I'm working on!

Hi friend,

We've had an amazing response from speakers like yourself who want to know how to find and book virtual speaking gigs.

My friend, professional speaker Grant Baldwin, has been having conversations almost every day with speakers and event organizers about this ever-changing climate we find ourselves in. He's shared some of what he's learned with me and it''s not at all what I expected.

We can''t wait to share Grant''s findings with you during tomorrow''s live event.

On Thursday, July 9, at 10:00 a.m. Central time, Grant and I are co-hosting a FREE online workshop together called "How Speakers Can Pivot To Virtual Speaking Gigs (Even If You're A Brand New Speaker)." You'll learn:

• Why the speaking industry isn't going anywhere.
• How to pivot your business to include virtual presentations.
• How to pitch existing clients on virtual speaking solutions.
• Why now is a great time to start your speaking career.
• Where to spend and save your money when it comes to setup.
• How one of Grant's coaches booked six figures in virtual talks.
• Plus we''ll have a live Q&A to answer all your questions.

Whether you''re just getting started or are a speaking veteran, you don't want to miss this workshop.

Click here to register for tomorrow''s webinar.

See you there!

Jeff

P.S. Remember that the workshop is free but space is limited, so register now to reserve your spot. Even if you can''t make it, go ahead and register and we''ll send out a replay of the workshop.

Hey friend,

I woke up this morning after sleeping ten hours straight and feel like I could sleep another ten.

These are strange times, aren't they? I keep wondering when I'm going to wake up from this dream called reality.

How do we as creative individuals respond to something like a pandemic, a crisis that causes the whole world to shut down?

When this whole pandemic began-or at least when things seem to get real-I shared why now is the time to give away our greatest gift.

But what if our greatest gifts are no longer needed?

What do you do then?

Do you double down on what you've always done when your work may now seem irrelevant?

Do you pivot in the direction of new opportunities?

Or do you do something else?

There is one question I have discovered that reframes the whole situation:

"What role is being required of me right now?"

We all play different roles at different times, and new situations require us to use our skills in unique and creative ways.

In this week's episode of The Portfolio Life, I interview my longtime friend and mentor, Michael Port, and he shares his perspective as a trained actor and public speaking coach.

Michael is a best-selling author, fantastic speaker, and co-founder, along with his wife of an organization called Heroic Public Speaking, where they train communicators on how to change the world one great speech at a time.

What I loved about this conversation was Michael's response to the question of what do you do when you feel like your work isn't necessary.

Sometimes a crisis reveals your true values, and in many ways, forces you to focus on the things that have always been most important to you.

What happens when you ask yourself the question, "how can I share these gifts and skills, in a way, right now, where they're actually needed?"

Michael and I talked about public speaking and communication, and how to respond both as an artist and as an entrepreneur when the world seems to be changing. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Click here to tune in and let me know what you think.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. I'd love to hear your answer. What role is being required of you right now? Shoot me a reply.

Hello,

We're friends, right? Good. I think that's an important place to start, because friends tell each other the truth, and I want to be honest with you: I've been lying to you.

The truth is I've been lying to myself, playing a role I thought I was, only to realize there is something deeper beneath the facade I've shared with the world for the past ten years.

Today on Instagram, I made the following confession:

Most people spend their whole lives never becoming themselves. They settle for a role or a routine, a facsimile of a life they dare to call real. I know I did.

So afraid of being seen, I settled for "special," performing and acting my way into your approval-and never once believing the ruse myself. Some of you bought it, and this only made me sadder. Because all I ever wanted was to be me.

All I'm saying now is: I'm learning. Letting go of the layers that are not me, the ones that were meant to protect me, I am finding something so much better than goodness or rightness: at the core of me is an unexpected wholeness. And the only words that want to leave my lips are, "More."

If this resonates with you, you might enjoy my latest podcast and essay called, "When I Became Me."

It is my story of becoming a writer and learning through the process what I really wanted for my life, what I had to let go of, and what this means for all of us pursuing creative work.

These days, I am becoming more of myself than I have ever been, sharing parts of me I used to hide. The surprising part is people seem to not only accept these parts but welcome them. I am learning that some of the things I used to conceal are, in fact, my greatest gifts to the world.

Maybe the same is true for you, too. I want to invite you on a journey of vulnerability with me where we both bravely become ourselves and share some of those hidden parts with the world. But first, you will have to understand something: Your life is a story, and you are the main character. I believe you are here to do important work, and now it is time for you act like the hero that you are.

Click here to listen/read to my latest podcast and essay.

Lastly, I want to encourage you to check out my friend Danny Iny's masterclass that will help you tackle the world of online courses and share your knowledge with the world. To learn more, click here.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Do you experience your life as a story? What part are you currently in? Reply to this email to share or leave me a comment on today's post.

Recently, I was on a run and stumbled across a day planner someone had left in the grass, lying open to a random date. Picking it up, I thumbed through the book and came across a week in June, filled with plans for parties and trips and other events that likely did not happen.

That made me sad.

Suffice to say that 2020 did not look like any of us anticipated. What we planned for did not happen-at least, not in the way most of us expected. Personally, this has been the most transformative year of my life, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

But it's been hard.

Did you have plans for this year that did not happen? Plans to change your life, perhaps? To do something you always wanted but never had the time for?

If you are like most people, at some point in your life, maybe even this year, you probably said to yourself, "I'd like to write a book someday."

I hear this all the time when I tell people that I'm a writer.

"Oh, I have this great idea for a book," they say, and then proceed to tell me what it is.

And they're right. It usually is a good idea. But do you know what I never hear them say?

"I'd like to write a book someday, and I hope that never happens."

Or: "If I do end up writing a book, I hope it ends up selling zero copies."

That would be ridiculous. But that''s just what happens. Most people who want to write a book never do, and of those few who do become authors never sell more than a handful of copies.

I want to help change that.

These days, there is no shortage of "experts" dishing out advice on what it takes to write and sell a book: Hack the media. Build a platform. Chase this new fad. You've heard it all before. But what if what you really needed wasn't another marketing trick but a great book?

Last week, I taught a series of live trainings on developing a writing habit and how to turn that into a published book. And now, for the final time this year, I'm opening registration for my signature course Write a Bestseller, which teaches a simple framework to identify a big idea for a book, get it written, and launch it into the world.

As the bestselling author of five books and writing teacher to over 20,000 students in the past 10 years, I've learned that to be a successful author, you can't just write any old book. You have to write one worth buying. Which is why I created Write a Bestseller.

In this online course, I walk you through my process for producing bestseller after bestseller and how you can use it to create a book of your own. This course will help you:

• Nail your big idea before you begin writing
• Do the research to make your book stand out
• Write the first draft in 90 days
• Edit your book like a pro
• Pick a path to publishing
• Launch your book into the world
• Sell your first 1000 copies
• And more!

As a special bonus, you'll also get access to my "Bestseller Bootcamp." This live, three-day virtual workshop will help you craft your big idea, the structure for your book, and a plan to finish writing it in 90 days.

Registration for this program, including the workshop bonus, closes on September 3rd at 8:00 p.m. Central, so get in now before it's too late. This will be the last time of this year that I'll be teaching this program.

Click here to learn more about Write a Bestseller

Here's to your writing success!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Not interested in hearing about this promotion any more? You can click here to be removed from promotional emails this week, without being unsubscribed from the rest of my emails in the future. No worries at all.

Hello friend,

Over the past two weeks, I've been asking myself, "What am I going to do with this crisis?"

And I have to be honest with you: my answers vary from day to day.

When I take a moment to reflect on the opportunities and challenges ahead, I find myself falling somewhere in between despair and excitement.

It's all a bit disorienting, isn't it?

In this season, there has been one practice that has helped me stay grounded when everything else seems to be in state of constant change:

Writing.

When I don't know what I think about something, I write. When I don't understand what I'm feeling, I write. When I need to get clear on my next step, I write.

Times like this force us to see what's really important. And writing is the best way I know to facilitate that clarity.

But most people struggle to find the time to write or don't know what to say. Developing a daily writing discipline has been the greatest gift I could give myself. And I'd love to share that gift with you.

Next Wednesday, April 1st, I am teaching a free webinar on how to create a daily writing practice with the ultimate goal of writing a book.

For nine years, I dreamed about writing a book and never accomplished that goal. And then when I discovered that simple discipline, I wrote two books in one year, quit my job, became a full-time writer, and have been doing it ever since.

What I learned from this experience is that you don't write a whole book. You write a sentence. You write a paragraph. Maybe a page. And those pages turn into chapters. Eventually, if you're lucky, you get a whole book.

It happens in small bites is what I'm saying-step by step, chunk by chunk-all built on the foundation of a daily writing practice.

After five bestsellers, millions of dollars in book sales, and over four million readers reached each year, I've created a process for writing. Every. Single. Day.

And I want to share with you exactly how you can develop that same daily writing habit.

To register for this free webinar, click this link (you will be automatically registered when you click).

Here are some more details about the webinar:

Date: April 1, 2020
Time: 12:00 p.m. Central Time
Duration: 90 minutes

I hope you'll join me for this free presentation. I can promise you that when you and I look back on this time, we will either be grateful for the habits we formed or sad about the opportunities we missed. And I can promise you that creating a daily writing habit won't be one you will regret.

Just imagine, ninety days from now, looking back on this moment when you decided to start writing every day. It may mean the difference between having a book in your hands that you wrote or continuing to say, "I'll write a book some day."

Click here to register for the free webinar now (you will be automatically registered when you click).

Talk soon,

Jeff

P.S. Spaces are limited for the webinar, so it's first come, first served. Make sure you register to save your seat and show up on time!

Dear friend,

It feels good to call you "friend" these days, doesn't it? When the world seems to be facing so much confusion and division, it's nice to have a friend. I hope you feel the same.

I have two articles I'm working on right now for you, but neither seems right to share at this exact moment. I'm feeling a bit.frazzled these days. Can you relate? Everything just feels a bit hazy over here in Tennessee, and that's not just because of the Saharan dust storm hitting Nashville this week (yes, for real).

These days, I seem to be going through a personal renaissance, re-thinking who I am, what I do, and my contribution to the world. I tend to do this every so often-my friend Casey calls it "cocooning" and says creatives tend to do it more regularly than "normal people." So take that for what it's worth.

During this time, however, I still have work to do, bills to pay, mouths to feed, and my own health to consider. And I keep running into other writers, artists, and creative professionals who seem to be struggling with the same thing:

How do you take care of yourself when the world seems to, in some ways, be standing still and, in other ways, changing so much? What does nurturing your creative life in a pandemic actually look like?

Well, I put together a list. Here are the habits and practices that have helped me during this time with a few links and references to resources that you might find helpful as well:

1. Reading books from different authors. With all that's happening in America regarding race relations, I've been reading from a more diverse set of authors, because I'm embarrassed to say that my book shelf has not typically consisted of many non-white authors. I'm changing that. Currently, I'm finishing up Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, which is a beautifully written letter from a father to his son. After that I'm going to start The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. In addition to that, I just started The Hidden Life of Trees, which is just a fun and fascinating look at the woods. Reading always nourishes me, but listening to voices who share experiences and perspectives unlike my own challenges my creativity.
2. Walking. I could call this a lot of things: running, hiking, moving your body. But the truth is that this simple practice of moving my legs back and forth has been the single most important habit for my mental and creative health lately. Every morning, almost without exception, I go for a walk for an hour or two or three. Yes, it takes time, but it's an easy way to exercise, process stuff I'm going through, and think about creative work. I always come back from my walks, bursting with ideas. If you're looking for a short but challenging read on why walking is so important, check out Thoreau's essay on the topic; it was the last thing he wrote before he died, and in it, he claims to have walked four to six hours per day. It made me feel not so guilty for my hour or two spent at the park each morning.
3. Cooking for fun. Yes, we all have to eat to live; but I love preparing an elaborate meal even just for myself or sometimes a friend who's visiting. Cooking is an art form to me, and I've enjoyed spending hours in the kitchen, sometimes after the kids have gone to bed-not to eat it but to just experience the act of making something. I also like figuring things out in the kitchen; it's a form of problem-solving for me and one that challenges another side of my creativity. That said, if you feel lost in the kitchen and want a simple, science-based approach to cooking (because you're a nerd like me), check out the The Food Lab cookbook. It's taught me a ton and challenged a lot of my assumptions about how to make simple everyday foods like eggs and grilled cheese. Oh! And if you missed it, I had a cooking show on Instagram for a whole week; I'm considering bring it back.
4. Listening to friends. I'm ashamed to admit that most of my life, I've not been a very good listener. I still probably would rather talk at someone than listen to them. Probably comes from being a shy kid who felt like he had to perform his way into people loving and accepting him. Anyway, I digress. When was the last time you called a friend and just listened to what was going on in their life? And what if you just held space for them and didn't try to offer advice or fix things? Well, you might be thinking: "Jeff, that's called being a good friend." Yes, yes. I know. Or at least, I'm learning. I don't always have to have something to say; I can listen, too.
5. Reading and writing poetry. I have fallen back in love with the art of poetry since quarantine began, and I've grown so much through this creative expression. It's been really fun. Two books I love reading over and over are called Every Word You Cannot Say and Essential Poems from the Staying Alive Trilogy. Also, I've been writing and sharing a lot of poetry on my Instagram account.
6. Getting a good night's sleep. This is so important, and I've been terrible at it for most of my life since college. But I'm no spring chicken anymore and if I get a few bad nights of sleep, I start to get sick. If you've struggled with this yourself, may I suggest two books: Why We Sleep and Shawn Stevenson's Sleep Smarter.
7. Working on what matters. With all this sharing about self-care and reading and cooking and other tomfoolery, you may be wondering: What about work? What I've focused on in this season of work is the essentials. What needs to get done to move my business forward? I do that first, then focus on my family and myself, and if there's still space left over, I spend time working on a new creative project. But this, for me, really feels like a season of persisting and persevering, not so much hyper growth. I know that's not true for everyone, but it feels right for me. Focus on the essentials for now, as the cocoon starts to grow; change is coming.
8. Feeling all the feelings. Another word for this is therapy, but really therapy in itself is not that helpful in my experience if you can't learn how to process your emotions. This has been invaluable for me this year: learning to just let my body express the emotions it wants to express. Some resources that have been helpful on this are The Body Keeps the Score, which is about trauma recovery, and seeing a therapist who practices EMDR. Also, just movement and music helps a lot with letting the emotions out.
9. Meditating. I'm not very good at this one, but I actually hired a meditation coach for a few sessions to tell me how to do it, and she basically said, "Stop trying, start noticing." So, literally, my practice is to sit on a park bench and look around without forcing it or looking at my phone every five seconds. Sitting in meditation for a few minutes per day has been really helpful, and I've enjoyed the app Insight Timer which has some great guided meditations.
10. Loving someone else. Viktor Frankl said the key to a meaningful life is to have work to do, a redemptive view of your pain, and someone to love. Whether that's a dog or kids or a partner, you've got to be able to focus your loving energy on someone else. This is the most enriching part of being a human being, and for me, my greatest experience in loving another is as a dad: taking care of my kids, creating new and meaningful memories for them, and just doing fun, silly things together. It keeps me sane and reminds me that it is possible to love someone more than yourself without condition. At least, I think it is. ;)

So. That's what's keeping me sane. How are you holding up? What's helping? Shoot me a reply.

Thanks,

Jeff

Hey friend,

I have a new podcast and post and some other goodies for you later this week, but for now, I felt the need to share this:

I don't know who you are. I don't know where you are right now or how you're feeling or if you're worried about the economy or a virus or just what you're going to eat for dinner tonight.

Maybe you're feeling confused. Maybe you're a little restless. Maybe none of this makes any sense and each day blurs into the next, and you're wondering what to make of all this.

Maybe you're just tired. I don't know.

But I do know that sometimes you lie awake at night and wonder if anyone really cares. I know that you do things even you don't understand, like spend too much time thinking about what others think or wander into the pantry for another snack or keep scrolling long after you remember why you came here in the first place.

I know that sometimes you're afraid and think you must be doing this wrong or that you are an answer to a question nobody has even asked. I know you worry that maybe you've wasted your life and even now that you're being a little melodramatic. Aren't we all, though?

I know I think those thoughts and feel those feelings, and if you do too, then I want you to know: I see you. These days, there's a lot to feel and so little to know.

So here's what I believe:

I believe I am more than my feelings and silly-but-often-far-too-serious thoughts about, well, everything. I believe I am more than what I do and my hair in weird places and body odor and awkward poses that I have no control over.

I believe that I don't just have soul that I am a soul.

And I believe that all truth can be found in the eyes of a child. Like last night, when I saw my son chase a kite around the park, running into the wind. The sun began to set, and it was the happiest moment of my life-until a moment later when my daughter dared me to race her up stairs she swore were covered in lava. I have never run so fast or loved life so much.

The evening went on like that until dusk, one wonderful moment after another until I realized that everything, EVERYTHING, is going to be all right.

And in that moment I felt free: from fear, from worry, from the pressure to do or be anything other than what I am right now. Whatever that might be. I don't know much, but I do know this:

We all long for freedom.

These days, we may feel confined to a life we didn't sign up for, struggling with the sense that we were made for than this. Our souls may very well be screaming by now. And if that's you, then my humble advice is: Let it out.

Whatever wants to come, listen to it, honor it, and release it. That's freedom. That's art. That's what it means to be alive: to express what's already inside you.

Creativity is the unleashing of you, in all that you are, onto the earth. From the constraints of all our "should"s comes the expressions of our souls. The art we make, the words we write, the conversations we have are all an outpouring of that something inside us.

So let the soul seek, and maybe even find, the freedom it longs for.

Towards the end of of the Second Great War, Ernest Hemingway joined a battalion of soldiers who invaded Paris and helped them re-take the city. For weeks, he lived at the Ritz and drank champagne for breakfast every morning.

In the afternoons, he would walk the vacant city streets with the woman he loved. Showing her his old haunts from twenty years before, he said, "This is it, our one and only life."

Forget everything else I said. All I know is this:

This is it. Our one and only life.

I hope you live it. And I hope I do, too.

Best,

Jeff

Hey friend,

Hey. It's me. These are weird times, huh? Last week was a strange one for me. I was worried about money, confused about the election, lonely, sad, happy, and grateful all at once.

Earlier in the week, my son was having a hard time with his emotions, and I asked him what was going on. He said, "I don't know what I'm feeling!"

I've been there.

Last week, I shared some thoughts on change and growth and how we are all, in a sense, playing a character in life. I think this lesson came to me most powerfully through the experience of building a personal brand and realizing this meant some people thought they knew me when in reality all they "knew" was what I wanted to show them.

And it was a strange thing to me to feel so protective of this character named "Jeff Goins, Writer" and to feel quite afraid when people would occasionally attack him.

But what I have learned is this: As soon as you create something and release it to the world, it ceases to be yours.

This is the very difficult work of parenting in that each day we are training our kids not to need us-that is, if we're really doing our job. And so, eventually, at a certain point, this person is no longer "my son" or "my daughter." Rather, they are this person whom I helped bring into the world but who is this complete and wonderful individual entirely separate from me. And as I see them for who they are, not who I wanted them to do or wish they could be, but simply as they are, I am able to love them.

Because, of course, we cannot love that which we are trying to control.

It seems to me that the great lesson I'm learning through this wonderful and sometimes-scary rollercoaster ride of a year is that control is an illusion. The only change is constant, and that can only be exciting or interesting when we relinquish the power we think we have.

I am also noticing how we all, in a way, create the world we inhabit. "Thoughts are things," according to Napoleon Hill. And these things have the potential to change our lives and our world.

Have you experienced this-how the thought or belief or feeling about a thing can influence your experience of it? We do not see things as they are, as the writer Anais Nin once pointed out, but rather as we are.

These times, for me, are an invitation to go inward, to assess what I can and can't control, and notice what's going on in this little world of me that I've created.

If I am not this character I've created, if I am more than the story I tell the world, then there is nothing to fear and no smaller self to defend. And as I let go of what I can't control, I am free to create what I want.

How is focusing on what you can't control keeping you from what you can create?

You only have so much energy to expend. Try to use it wisely.

Jeff

P.S. What do you want to create? Send me your thoughts with a reply.

We just wrapped up an awesome workshop where I showed people how they can make money from their writing. You can catch the replay using the link below.

Here''s what we covered on the webinar:

• How to make your message clear and attractive
• My process for starting a blog and growing it to a 1000 readers
• A simple way to make your first $1000 online
• The most powerful ways to build a platform online (and why it's not one size fits all)

Click here to watch the replay

I also announced a special promotion for my Intentional Blog course, with an exclusive offer that I wanted to make sure you knew about.

You have something to say and the world needs to hear it. But we know how much harder it is today to rise above the noise and digital clutter in the world today to get heard. You may have even questioned if it's even possible.

That's why I created my Intentional Blog course. This course is all about teaching you how to build your brand so you can find your audience and build a following of readers who are hungry to find out what you have to say next.

But you can't just throw up some words on a website and call it a day.

You have to be strategic. You have to be focused. You have to be intentional.

My Intentional Blog course gives you unlimited access to 30+ video lessons where I'll show you:

• How to build a brand people want to talk about.
• How to create helpful and resourceful content that delivers real value.
• How to stay connected to your audience through building your email list.

I've seen people go from making $0 a month with little to no traffic to hitting their first 1000 subscribers and continuing to grow from there, making thousands of dollars a month now.

As a special bonus when you sign up for the Intentional Blog course, I'm also including a 3-day Blogging Bootcamp if you sign up by Friday, July 24 at 2PM CST.

This intensive, blogging bootcamp will be three, 60 minute sessions, LIVE with me on the 29th, 30th and 31st at 12PM CST, where I'll show you how to pick a topic, set-up your blog and create your content calendar.

(I'll even be picking people from the audience for some live coaching during the sessions.)

There is a very short window to get access to both the course and the bootcamp, so be sure to register by Friday, July 24 at 2PM CST. I'm super excited about this.

Click here to register for the course and the bootcamp

Hope to see you there,

Jeff

Hello,

Why do we create? To share a thought: an idea, a story, a paradigm. To help another person, perhaps, simply by saying something others are unwilling to say. We may even create to feel a little more understood, a little less crazy.

I also like what Steven Pressfield says about the work of an artist: "The artist doesn't create to express herself; she creates to discover herself." That's true for me, at least. I am always trying through my work to figure out who I am. Or as Flannery O'Connor once said: "I don't know what I think until I read what I write."

One thing is for sure: when you ask a creative person why they do what they do, their first response is almost never, "I do it for the money."

That would be absurd. Why? Because that's not how art works. It is, in the words of Lewis Hyde, a gift. Something special and generous you share with the collective meant to be passed on to others. And gifts, as we all know, aren't given with an expectation of reciprocity.

Nonetheless, we all have to eat. And who wouldn't like to be paid to do what they love, to share their work with the world? It would certainly make some things easier.

I've been doing my own creative work of writing, speaking, and creating online courses for ten years now; and for ten years, I've been paid to do it. And from my own experience of working with over 20,000 creators (writers, artists, musicians, and more), I can tell you two things:

First, the most successful creative people don't do their work to get paid. As Walt Disney once said, "We don't make films to make money. We make money so that we can make more films." Money, I wrote in my book Real Artists Don't Starve, makes a better means than it does a master.

Second, the most successful creative people have found a predictable way to get paid to create. For some, it's a considerable income, even a substantial business. For others, it's a decent living wage. But for most who have made a career of making things, they have found a consistent way to make money off their work.

I hope the same for you. Because it's no fun to eke out a creative existence wondering when or from where your next meal is going to come. It's not very fulfilling to constantly question if there's any value in what you're doing. You deserve better. Or better put, your work deserves better.

I'll paraphrase that Disney quote to drive this home: We don't make art to make money. We make money to make more art.

This week, I''m hosting a free, 5-day challenge to get you to take action. My goal for you is to go from zero to one. To get unstuck in a significant way that will allow you to create momentum in your work so that you can finally get paid to create.

What does that look like? Well, we will be focusing on:

• Figuring out what you want to sell
• Who will buy it
• How to sell it
• What tools and resources you need to sell it
• And what to do next

So let's get on with it. Today is all about getting set up. It's about getting positioned so that you can take action. I want you to do two things today:

1. Create a free account on Thinkific (or a comparable site that allows you to sell digital products). If you're already set up on one of these sites, great. I recommend Thinkific, because it's easy and versatile and the people who run it are super nice. But you just need to be ready to accept payments for your product. If you need help doing this, check out this tutorial from Thinkific.
2. Once you're set up, create a new product and name it whatever you want. You can always change the name later. But we want to be ready to go once it's time to sell.
3. Join our Facebook group and say hi. You'll be using this group to check in every day once you've completed your assignment.

Ready to do this? Click here to let me know you''re joining me in this challenge.

Best,

Jeff

Hello,

As Amelia began building her fort, she asked if I would help her, and of course, I was happy to oblige. Then her older, eight year-old brother came along, and asked if he could join in. She said okay.

Then a few minutes later, another girl-a stranger-just joined in without even asking. Not long after that, a small group of boys walked by and said, "That's a good idea!" Minutes later, I saw them building their own foam-cube forts.

Amelia's fort grew to enormous heights and spanned the length of the play area so broadly that the pool of foam cubes began to be a safety hazard as there were no more soft places to land. In fact, there were three fort iterations in total, each one either collapsing or being destroyed by someone walking by; and each time, my daughter started over.

The afternoon was not without its tears and learning lessons, of course, but I was struck by beauty of this moment. At one point, there were three completely independent forts being constructed by three different groups of people, all inspired by Amelia.

This, I thought as I sat back and took in the whole scene with my eyes, is why we make things.

We don't make things to be done with them (although that can certainly be a tempting reason until you've finished a creative project or two or ten and realized that the creation is never as fulfilling as the creating).

We don't make things to make money off of them (although it's nice to be rewarded for your hard work, and certainly remuneration helps the physical world go round).

We don't even make things so that other people will notice (but that can feel good too).

No, we make things, because we can't help it. It's in our being. Almost every faith tradition and mythology has a story about us humans being fashioned from the dirt or clay or from the imagination of some deity or another. Often, the very life force that animates us is the power of breath, which is appropriate considering it is the first thing we do when we come into this world and the last thing that happens before we leave it. We are created beings that are at once a part of the earth and filled with the same creative spirit that made us. We are breathed-in-that is, inspired-beings.

I believe we make things, because that's what we were made to do. Not even to make things, but to be making things. We are the little creators of our lives and the world as we know it. And as we endeavor to make something beautiful of, say, a pile of multicolored foamed blocks, that are worn and old and falling apart in some places; we invite the rest of the world to follow our example. So we create not just to make something out of nothing, but we also create to inspire others to be creative.

And this, I think, is how we make the world something other than what it has always been. Maybe you, like me, are a little tired of the increasing animosities one finds on the evening news or on your favorite social media channel. Maybe you are lucky enough to not even notice it. Regardless, I can't help but wonder if what our world needs more of right now is a little less consumption or contention and a little more creativity.

May we all look around and see the Amelias in our lives getting on with it. And may we be brave enough to join them.

Last week, I hosted a free, five-day challenge on how to get "paid to create." This included daily written lessons (and I've now updated each article with audio), and if you missed any of them, I've included links to all of them here:

• Lesson 1: Get Paid to Create: Day 1 of a Free 5-Day Challenge
• Lesson 2: 3 Kinds of Creators (Which One Are You?)
• Lesson 3: More Than Passion: Getting Clear on a Business Idea
• Lesson 4: Sell Them What They Want, Give Them What They Need
• Lesson 5: Before You Build Your First Product, Do This

Next Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 1:00 p.m. Central, I'll be hosting a live training and Q&A on how you can get paid to create and what that looks like for each of us (because it will be different for everybody). You can register for that free training here.

Before we get into all that, though, I'd love to know what questions you might have about this kind of work. I've been making a living for the past decade as a writer and creative entrepreneur, and my work has personally touched over 20,000 people in that time (these are people that I've worked with one-on-one or via one of my online courses or teaching programs). I'd love to help you get unstuck or even just take the first step if I can.

How can I help? What question do you have? Reply to this email to let me know.

Best,

Jeff

Hello,

Last week, someone pointed a gun at me in a dive bar in Wisconsin.

That's how this newsletter begins. But before we get into that, here are a couple things you should know:

1. My friend Grant Baldwin and I did a webinar last week on how you can still book speaking gigs in the time of Covid. Watch the replay here, and check out his program here (registration ends tonight).

2. I'll be doing a live workshop later this month on how to make money online. My hope is this will help many who are struggling to make ends meet. I've been making a living via the Internet for ten years, and I want to help however I can. This training is completely free and will be July 23 at noon Central. I'll share more soon, but go ahead and mark that time on your calendar.

Okay, now back to the story.

My friend Jake and I were on a road trip, and he had a hankering for his favorite beer, so we drove across the Illinois-Wisconsin border to get it.

As we sipped our Spotted Cows, we noticed a young man taking shots with a handful of other men, who were all taking a break from playing pool. Then, that same young man walked behind the bar and started serving a couple of other patrons. Oh, I thought, he's the bartender.

As he started to talk to the two men he'd just served, his speech slurred and he made grandiose gestures with his hands while talking loudly. Oh, I thought, he's drunk. Then, as he spoke with these men, while clearing empty pints off the bar, he reached in his waistband and pulled out a pistol.

As he did this, he grinned and angled the firearm sideways, inadvertently pointing it in the direction of where I was sitting. I saw this, glanced at my friend, and both of our eyes widened.

"Excuse me," Jake said to the bartender, "did you realize you just pointed a gun at my friend?"

The bartender, still smiling, walked over and said calmly, "Do we have a problem here?"

"Yeah, we do. You pointed a gun at my friend."

"Oh, no. You don''t understand. You see, we've had a lot of problems in this place lately, and this is for your protection. I'm here for your safety. I'm one of the good guys."

My friend said he didn't feel very safe with a man pointing a gun at his clientele. The bartender continued to repeat that he was, in fact, a servant of the people and we owed him our lives for protecting us from the riff-raff.

Now, to be fair, he assured us the gun didn't have a live round in the chamber but plenty in the clip. I grew up around guns, so it didn't feel like a life-threatening situation. Nonetheless, a drunk bartender waving around a gun at midnight does not necessarily provide the greatest comfort.

"I'm here for your protection," he kept saying. "I''m one of the good guys. You''re safe here."

My friend never backed down from his position that maybe you shouldn't pull out a gun in public when there is no visible threat. Eventually, seeing the situation was not going to be resolved, we left, as the bartender hurled insults and obscenities at us, telling us to never come back.

The next day, I thought about what he said: I'm one of the good guys.

Isn't that interesting? He kept talking about how crazy things were in America right now and how we needed protection from the "bad guys." But where were these purported villains? I didn''t see any. And isn't that what the bad guy often says in the movies: "I'm doing this for your own good, it''ll be worth it in the end, just trust me"?

We all do this, of course. We assume we are the ones on the right side of history, those protecting the innocent, the heroes of the story. It is hard, if not impossible, for our egos to conceive that we may, in fact, be the villain-or that reality may be a little more complex than that.

The truth is it wasn''t that man''s job to be "one of the good guys," to assume the position of hero. We were his patrons, his customers, and he was there to serve us. Not. well, shoot us in the face.

Yes, I''m being a little melodramatic here, but hopefully you see my point. We didn't need a cowboy. We needed a bartender.

So here''s my challenge to you and me:

When we think about the work we do and the influence we want, let''s consider how we might be taking the wrong position here. We don''t need you to wave a gun around and protest that we''re all safe here. That doesn''t work. Nor do we need you to be the hero in our story. That''s our job. You are the helper, the guide, the one who helps others feel safe.

This is how you create trust, how you get people to follow you and pay attention to your message. You take care of them, help them feel understood and accepted. You make sure their drinks are full. It''s not that hard. You just have to let go of the story in your head that says you need to be saving someone right now. Try it, and see how hard that actually is and how much people love you for it. You can do it, promise. Be the bartender. Put away the gun.

Let me know how it goes.

Best,
Jeff

Hello,

You need an email list. Plain and simple.

If you want to make a living as a creative, online or not, you need people paying attention to your work.

You need an audience that wants to hear from you and has given you permission to do so.

Email is the perfect platform for a writer, or any creative, to build that audience.

But why? What makes email more important than social media or traffic to your website?

With every other platform, you don't own your audience. You're at the mercy of algorithms. You can't reach out to them directly.

With email, you can talk directly to your audience. You just send them an email.

Because of this, email marketing is the most powerful tool you have to sell your work and make a living.

My friend Tim Grahl, the book launch expert, tested this in his book marketing agency and found that email was nearly 100 times more effective than social media in selling an author's book.

That's the power of a direct connection with your audience, which means growing your email list is critically important.

It's perhaps the single most important thing you can do to grow your business, especially during the pandemic we currently face.

But how do you grow your list?

Where do you start?

The first step is to simply start getting people on your list, and to show you how to do that I'm teaching a 90-minute workshop next week called "How to Get Your First (or Next) 100 Subscribers In Only 2 Hours".

It's completely free and you'll learn a technique I've consistently used over the years to grow my email list and help others do the same.

Click here to register for the FREE list building workshop

Anybody can do this, even if they're brand new to email marketing.

It isn't anything fancy - just a simple method that works.

I hope you'll join me. Here's the link again to register.

See you next week.

Best,

Jeff

Last week, I taught a free workshop on how to build your email list quickly, and we had over 500 people show up. It was fun! You could feel the excitement and energy on the call and attendees even got a look at my quarantine "beard." :)

But in case you missed it, here's another chance: You can now watch the replay of the workshop, completely for free.

Click here to watch the replay.

Here''s what we covered on the webinar:

• How important an email list is to creative professionals
• What separates email from other marketing channels (and why it works so well)
• A simple, repeatable process you can use to authentically grow your list
• Some lessons from my signature course Email Marketing for Creative People
• And plenty more (seriously, I taught for about an hour and answered questions for another hour.)

Email is the perfect platform for any creative person to build an audience. What, exactly, makes email more important than social media or any other traffic source to your website? With every other channel, you don't own your audience. You're at the mercy of the algorithms. You can't reach out to your people directly.

With email, you can.

Email marketing is the most powerful tool you have to sell your work online and make a living doing what you love. It is the single-most important way to grow your business, especially during a pandemic.

But how do you grow your list? Where do you start?

The first step is to start getting people on your list, and that's exactly what I show you how to do in this workshop, "How to Get Your First (or Next) 100 Subscribers In Only 2 Hours."

It's completely free and you'll learn a technique I've consistently used over the years to grow my email list and help others do the same.

Anybody can do this, even if they're brand new to email marketing. It isn't anything fancy, just a simple method that works. I hope you'll watch it.

Here's the link again.

Best,

Jeff

Hey friend,

Happy March!

I hope you are a well. I have a few updates for you this week:

First, did you download my latest manifesto? Click the link below to read it for free:

No, We Actually Don't Need You to Write a Book (A Better Book Manifesto.

Second, if you haven't shared your thoughts with me on that, I'd love to hear them. My goal in writing that manifesto was to encourage anyone who's ever thought about writing a book to endeavor to write a great book, not just any old thing. That said, I'll soon be teaching a free workshop on how to hone your big idea for your book and turn it into something worth reading. More on that soon!

Third, I'm traveling to Canada next week for a couple of events:

• Next Friday (Mar. 20), I'll be hosting a meet up for writers, creatives, and artists, talking about my latest book Real Artists Don't Starve. Get all the details here.
• On Saturday (Mar. 21), I'll be leading a workshop for writers on how to write a bestselling book. In this workshop, we'll break down what makes a book a bestseller, what it takes to create a truly remarkable idea for a book (for fiction and nonfiction alike), and how to structure a book around that big idea. Check it out here.

If you live in the Edmonton area, shoot me a message. I'd love to see you!

Lastly, my friend Joseph Michael is hosting a free workshop tomorrow on how to use Scrivener, my favorite tool for writing. Click here to register if you're wanting to write a book this year but needing help using the right tools to get started.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. What are you working on these days? I'd love to hear about it. And if I can help in any way, let me know.

Hello,

This fall, I will have been blogging on Goinswriter.com for ten years. That's a long time. Before that, I had been writing on the Internet on and off for about five years. But this latest blog has allowed me to earn an income while working from home and supporting my family for nearly a decade now.

I recently taught a live webinar on how to build a powerful blog (you can still watch the replay here), but I thought it'd be fun to share a handful of key lessons I've learned over the years on blogging.

1. Show up. The best way to build trust is to be consistent by practicing in public. Do your best work not because people are paying attention, but because it is work worth doing. This is how you attract attention: by showing up when no one is noticing. Eventually, people will.
2. Write what you're curious about. It's okay to explore what you don't know and learn through the writing process. To paraphrase Flannery O'Connor, I never know what I think until I read what I write.
3. Be relentlessly helpful. Always ask "what's in it for the reader?" And when in doubt, be generous. Give, give, give-it has a way of coming back to you. I have never regretted being too generous, but I have often regretted holding back.
4. Don't be afraid to evolve. Start with a topic that people are interested in, but let your interests broad over time. Worldview trumps topic. People will be more attracted to how you think than what you know.
5. Be stubborn on vision but flexible on details. Say yes until you have to say no. Have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with your blog, but be open to how you get there. On my journey, I agreed to all kinds of unusual opportunities, all of which created the winding path that brought me here. You just never know.
6. Use your platform to elevate others. Whenever possible, find ways to help your peers. Be another blogger's cheerleader, sidekick, fan. A rising tide raises all ships and all that-plus, it's just way more fun than being selfish.
7. Write from scars, not from wounds. Writing can be cathartic, but pain needs to be processed before it's narrated. Try to write from a place of tender wholeness, not bloody gashes.
8. Listen to your audience but trust your gut. Pay attention to what people want from you, but don't just give them what they ask for. If they knew what they needed, they probably wouldn't be listening to you. What's obvious to you is amazing to others, as Derek Sivers says. Have a pulse on where people are at, but trust your intuition on where you want to lead them.
9. To grow your audience, go where people are. Partner with other bloggers in sharing your work with their audience (through guest posting, webinars, or even exchanging lead magnets with each other). The best way to get more readers is to share your writing in places where people already are.
10. Don't quit. This is, perhaps, the most obvious but least-practiced piece of advice on writing and blogging there is. Before Goinswriter.com, I had nine other blogs-all of which I quit at some point, usually within a matter of months after starting. What made this blog different was the simple but intentional choice to not quit. A decade later, that decision has served me well. There have been ups and downs, setbacks and breakthroughs, but the commitment to continue, to outlast almost everyone else, has been a good one.

If you'd like to learn more about starting a blog and making a part-time or full-time income off of your ideas, stories, and words, check out my course Intentional Blog (registration closes tonight!).

Best,

Jeff

Hello,

Quick heads-up: I'm hosting a live training this week with my friend Chelsea from Lulu, who will be sharing with us the easiest, most profitable way to publish your work: whether that's a novel, comic book, or calendar. Click here to save your spot. (It's free!)

And now, for this week's thought:

Last night, as I was lying on a mat, breathing deeply in and out to the sounds of some shamanic chant in the background, I had the thought: "What in the world am I doing?"

As I came out of an oxygen-induced trance state, I glanced around the room and noticed butterflies. Everywhere. On the walls in glass cases, preserved for an audience of a dozen or so people committed to their own growth and healing.

And it occurred to me in that moment: Everything is changing. Everything is change. The other day, I posted a video on Instagram in which I shared a recent revelation: "You don't have to become anything. You are becoming."

To be a person is to be involved in the process of constant change. Every gray hair and wrinkle is here to remind us of that. Constancy is a myth, and perhaps the only thing we can rely on is change.

And I wonder what would our lives-and our work-look like if we embraced this?

I have always been a fan of change but at the same time resisted it in myself. I like the thrill of a good old-fashioned emergency and what it requires of me. Maybe it's the result of growing up in an environment where I never knew what was going to happen next or just how I'm wired. Maybe it's both.

I do know that I'm tired of seeing the way I am as a liability. I want to embrace who and what I am and learn how to see it all as a gift. Which is kind of the point of this season, isn't it?

So much of my life has changed this year, and so much of that change has brought about radical inner transformation. This has inarguably been the best year of my life. It has also been the hardest. It''s an interesting correlation, isn't it?

After all, growth and comfort do not often dwell in the same place. We must become uncomfortable if we want to grow. And if life is truly a journey of constant change, then we might be wise to expect discomfort.

That's what I'm taking into this New Year: that if I want to grow, I ought to expect to be made uncomfortable. Maybe I can even try to plan for it or at least be ready for it when it comes. Then again, maybe not.

I want to tell you that everything I have done is, in some way, going to change. Next year, you're going to see a whole new me: new website, new words, new work. You may be thinking "oh I saw this coming" or it might come as a total surprise. Whatever the reaction, the goal of my work is to inspire you to live a more creative life and to maybe create more of the life you want.

This is the message that keeps coming up for me: You and I are the creators of our lives. We are the ones living the stories that our children will tell their grandkids. We are the storytellers making meaning out of our experiences.

And so, what is your life about? What is your work about? What, exactly, are you creating?

If you're like me, maybe you've been on autopilot for a while. Maybe the story you've been telling has been smaller than it could be. Maybe the dreams and desires you've had your whole life have been kept at a distance because, well, you're afraid.

I'm with you. I'm also tired of that old way of being and ready to live something a little larger, that requires me to grow. And yeah, I know. That probably means I'll be a little uncomfortable.

I'm ready (I think). And I can't wait to share with you what's next.

Are you with me? What new thing do you want to create with your life? Shoot me a reply - I find this is a wonderful time of year to reflect.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the free training this week on self-publishing with Lulu!

Remember that email marketing workshop I mentioned last week? If you didn''t watch it, that''s okay, but you missed a major announcement I made at the end.

I opened registration for my course, Email Marketing for Creative People.

It''s a signature course I created specifically for creative professionals who want to reach more people and get the attention their work deserves.

Registration is still open, but I''m emailing you now because it closes TONIGHT at 8 p.m. Central.

After that, registration won't open again until later this year and the price will increase.

If you feel like your work isn''t getting the attention it deserves, or you can''t seem to gain any traction online, this course is for you.

The key to online marketing success is to get and keep the attention of your audience. And there's no better way to do that than with email marketing.

It''s the most effective way to communicate with your people, share your work, and sell your stuff. But like any platform, there's a method to how it works.

I've spent the last 10 years using email marketing to build my audience and share my message with millions of people. Over this time, I've learned a lot about what works and doesn't for creative professionals.

Which is why I created this program, Email Marketing for Creative People.

It''s a 30-day bootcamp and course for creative professionals who want to use email marketing to share and sell their work. It''s perfect for beginners and intermediates.

You''ll learn the fundamental principles of email marketing and how to leverage them at any stage.

Each week for the next month, I'll host a live call (four calls total) in which I''ll teach and answer your questions. You'll also get lifetime access to the video training we'll use during the bootcamp.

We'll cover:

• The principles of effective email marketing
• Why email marketing is so powerful for creatives
• How to set up your email list
• Getting your first 1000 subscribers
• Creating engaging content
• Growing your list to 10,000 and beyond
• Keeping readers engaged
• How to make money from your list

Registration closes TONIGHT at 8 p.m., so if you're ready to transform your creative work and build an audience of engaged fans, register today.

Because this program is new, you'll get the discounted price of $297. Once we officially launch, the price will increase to $497, so be sure to get in now.

Click here to register for Email Marketing for Creative People.

As an author, my email list has sold more than ten times as many books as any other channel I've used.

Email marketing is 100 times more effective than social media in selling anything, from a book to a course to a live event.

If you're ready to grow your email list, spread your message, and sell more of your work, then you need this course.

I'll teach you the fundamentals of setting up a list the right way, creating engaging content, growing your audience, and selling more of your work, all using email marketing.

The same principles I'm going to teach you changed my life, and I know it can do the same for you. But you need to register before the doors close and the price goes up.

Click here to register now before enrollment closes.

The program is about to start, so join now before you miss.

See you inside,

Jeff

Hello,

Well, it's officially fall here in Tennessee, and I'm loving the changing colors of the leaves and the sweater weather we've been experiencing. This is my favorite season of the year, as it always reminds me of change.

I once heard someone say the only living thing that grows without any constraint is cancer. If you, like me, are in a trying season, and I imagine many of us are (2020, amirite?), then let this be an encouragement to you:

Sometimes, what looks like decline is just another form of growth. Caterpillars go into their chrysalises before becoming something altogether new. This transformation, though, looks a lot like death at the beginning. And that's how it works: before we can become something else-before we can create some great, new innovation-we must first fully let go of the old.

I just got back from a quick trip to Ohio to meet with a client, and it was a wonderful lesson for me in what it looks like to step into this next season of work. For the past ten years, I've written books and helped other writers get their words out into the world. And though I've loved that work, it's time for change.

Just as the leaves changing are a sign to us that a new season is coming, so it can be with those feelings of angst we sometimes experience with our work and with our lives. Do you ever feel like you're missing out on something or that the way you've done things are no longer working? You can trust that feeling, I've found. In fact, if you are going to live a wholehearted, authentic life, you must.

The good news is that you don't have to walk this road alone. Many brave souls have gone ahead of you and charted a course that you can, in some ways, follow. Granted, their path cannot be yours, but as you observe the way others have done it, you may be able to glean what works for you.

This week, I'm teaching a live webinar on the "Paid Creator Path," which is a brand-new teaching I've never shared before but is a process I've been refining for the past ten years. And now, it's time to share it.

If you've ever wondered how this all works-what it takes to make an actual living as a creative professional-don't miss this.

Click here to register.

Also, last week, I posted all the lessons (including new audio content for each part!) from the "Paid to Create" challenge from the previous week. You can click here to read last week's article entitled "Why We Create" and get links to all the previous lessons from the free challenge.

And if you haven't joined our free Facebook group for creators, please join us here.

I hope you can make the live event this week! It'll be full of new teaching and an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Shoot for 90 minutes, and we'll make sure you get a lot out of it.

See you soon!

Jeff

Hey friend,

How are you? This week is... a lot, isn''t it? I''ve been hearing all kinds of reports, from friends in Spain experiencing total lockdown to a friend in Canada who was grateful to be laid off so she can do what she really wants to others who are scared and excited and confused and all the things. What a time.

I don''t know about you, but I can relate to all those emotions and most days find myself falling somewhere in between the extremes of despair and excitement at the new opportunities.

We did a little digital meetup earlier this week, and lots of folks enjoyed it. We''re planning on doing another one next week on Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00pm Central time. Go ahead and mark your calendars, and I''ll send a registration link soon.

In the meantime, lots of folks have been sharing how much they''ve struggled with procrastination and distraction this week, and I can relate. We could all benefit from an extra dose of productivity.

So we''re doing a live work time TODAY at 1:00pm Central time. If you''d like to join us and simply show up with whatever project you''ve been procrastinating on, we''re going to meet for an hour on Zoom, get to work, then reward ourselves with a cookie, shower, or something that makes you feel good.

Are you in?

Click here to register.

See you soon,
Jeff

Hello,

Whether it's a podcast or a blog or a course, it's time for you to stop hoarding and offer your ideas to the world, as an offering to those who need it. This is your work; this is how you give back to a world that has been kind enough to let you live in it for so long.

If you have learned something, if you have survived a tragedy, if you know more than most about a particular subject, you have a responsibility to share it.

I'd like you to join me for a FREE five-day challenge next week in which I will walk you through the following:

1. Identifying the problem you're going to solve.
2. Deciding how to package and sell it.
3. Finding people to buy it.

I will email you five daily lessons in which I will share with you what I've learned in the past ten years of selling my own ideas and information on the Internet.

You'll walk away with:

• A greater sense of clarity and confidence that you can, indeed, share what you know with the world and get paid for it.
• A step-by-step approach to identify what you want to sell and how.
• A list of resources to keep you going after the challenge is over.
• Access to a Facebook group where you can share any questions, challenges, and wins you're having during the challenge.

I'm partnering with my friends at Thinkific on this, so you can get free access to their software that will allow you to sell anything from a PDF to a video course online. Of course, you aren't required to use Thinkific for the challenge, but I'll be walking you through how to do that during one of the lessons.

What do you say? Are you in? Just click here to get started.

Hope you''ll join me,

Jeff

P.S. Don''t miss out on this free 5-day challenge. Click here to save your spot.

Hello,

Quick reminder that today is the last day to get my Writing Habit Bundle for 60% off. Click here to grab it before the offer expires at midnight tonight.

To refresh your memory, here are all the courses you get with this bundle:

• Tribe Writers: This is my most comprehensive course on what it takes to find your voice, build a platform, find an audience, and get paid to be a writer.
• Intentional Blog: This is my most popular course of all time and helps you intentionally build a popular blog/website and grow your audience to 1000 subscribers.
• Effective Writer: Want to write great emails, powerful blog posts, and articles that go viral? This course gives you a scorecard to knock it out of the park every time.
• Email Marketing for Creative People: My newest course gives you step-by-step instructions on how to grow and maintain an email list of thousands of subscribers, along with how to sell your first product via email marketing.

The value for this whole bundle is nearly $1200, but you'll get it for 60% off. To see the whole "Writing Habit Bundle" click here (discount automatically applied when you click that link).

Enjoy!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. I don't normally do discounts like this, so this is a limited-time deal. Don't miss it! All my courses come backed with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you don't take any risk. Click here to get started so you don't miss out!

Hello,

Business growth can come from all kinds of directions, expected or unexpected.

So, I don't know if you've thought about this before, but you *could* grow your business (even in these uncertain times) by selling an online course in your area of expertise.

There are always people in the world who want to know what you know, and who are willing to pay for the right course to help them learn.

Plus having your own online course can be a perfect way to introduce new customers or clients to your business, giving them a valuable product and impressing them with the outcomes they get from it.

And right now, online courses are the best & safest way to deliver education to anybody, anywhere.

That's why I'm excited about the new book that's just been published by Danny Iny, called Teach Your Gift: How Coaches, Consultants, Authors, Speakers and Experts Create Online Course Business Success in 2020 and Beyond.

I've read it from start to finish and I'm very impressed with how Danny's packed so much valuable information and insight about online course business success strategy into one short book.

If you'd like to read it too, get a copy here (free until May 11).

I've followed Danny's work for some time and I think this is his best book yet. So check it out while it''s free! ??

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Grab your free book now! It''s only available until May 11.

Hello,

How was your weekend? I just got back from a camping trip/retreat with some friends where we sat around in a circle and simply shared with each other what we were learning and how we were growing.

It occurred to me, as I did this, that my ability to grow as a human is directly related to my willingness to sit with discomfort. I learned this recently while sitting for four minutes in a bath tub full of ice.

"It's just a little discomfort," said the instructor whose only job was to keep me from screaming and jumping out of the top, "that's all-just a little discomfort."

And of course, this was a metaphor. The longer I sat in that tub, the more my body changed; the more I grew. And this has always been true:

The more I am able to sit down and write, the more creative I become.

The more I am able to sit with my feelings, the more sensitive I become.

The more I am able to bear the pain of any moment, the stronger I become.

My Jewish friend, Cathy, told me once while we were celebrating a seder dinner at her house on a Friday night, "The word sabbath means to sit," she said. "Sabbath is a meditation!"

To sit is to meditate. To rest. To grow.

And as we learn to be with whatever is happening in the moment, we become more of what we are. We do not grow when moments are comfortable or even pain-free. We grow when we sit, when we endure, when we can be with the discomfort and realize, "Oh, hey, I'm still here."

And after a weekend of giving thanks, I realize I am grateful for that: the ability to sit and endure and celebrate that I made it. I'm still here. And so are you.

Thank you.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Did you see I'm doing a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promo? Get any of my writing courses for 50% off or get all four for 60% off! Click here to see the promo (discount automatically applied to the bundle when you click that link), or be sure to use the code HABIT2020 if you prefer to buy any individual course (promo code is applied to any individual course).

Hey there,

Heads up: I'm hosting two free trainings this week on starting a writing habit. Don't miss them. Click here to find the time that works for you and register.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what words can do. They can can cut a person down or lift them up. They can overwhelm with beauty or devastate a soul.

I am often searching for the words that want to be said, because when you find them, they mean everything. Jack Kerouac once wrote, "One day, I will find the right words, and they will be simple." My wish is the same.

This weekend, I attended a men's retreat out in the woods, and for most of the day on Saturday, we sat in a circle, facing each other, sharing the words that wounded us and the ones we longed to hear.

Words like:

You are so lovable.

And:

It's not your fault.

We all want the right words at the right time, don't we? Recently, an interview I did on the healing power of words was published as part of a series, and I can't stress this enough: Words can heal, and they can hurt. So, please choose the words you use wisely, the ones you speak and the ones you write. The ones you post and the ones you publish. Because it's not just sticks and stones that break bones. Words wound, too.

This, I think, is more important than ever, as a pandemic along with an election year here in America seem to be elevating the tension between all of us. The things we say to one another matter now more than ever.

So, how do we find the right words? The ones we are all longing to hear? Well, it's very simple:

1. First, you need a regular writing a habit. Find a place and a time of day when you can begin writing. For me, that's first thing in the morning, after I get the kids off to school and drink my morning coffee. Maybe for you, it's earlier or later. But I recommend finding a consistent time and trying to stick with it.
2. When you write, have a goal. Decide when you're going to be done. I tend to write a minimum of 500 words per day, whether it's a poem or a newsletter, or a part of a book-it all counts. My goal is to get words down on page. That's it. Do this enough times, and the heavy lifting loses its burden.
3. Trust what words come, and learn how to organize them. How I do it is I follow a simple system that allows me to capture ideas all day long through random notes on my phone, then taking one of those ideas and translating it into a draft the next day, and then editing an older piece of content from the previous day. I call this the 3-Bucket System, and it's what works for me.

If you need help with this, I'm hosting another series of free, live trainings this week around creating a writing habit. Click on the time below to register (you'll be signed up, so only click on the one you want to attend):

• Wednesday, August 26th at 1:00 p.m. Central
• Friday, August 28th at 9:00 a.m. Central

I've been practicing a regular writing habit for over a decade, and it-along with my daily walks-is the best thing I ever did for my creativity. I highly recommend it.

Someone once told me that a man who doesn't trust his strength often hurts people. I believe that. Similarly, a writer who doesn't know the power of her words can wound many people. So, dear creator, take care with the words you share. Don't be too brash. Delicately usher your stories and ideas into the world with gentleness and ease, allowing them to land where they need. Practice this art of connecting your heart to that of the reader by crafting something small every single day. There is no other way to learn this.

Godspeed,
Jeff

P.S. What would developing a regular writing habit do for you? Hit reply to this email and let me know. And don't forget to register for the free trainings!

Hello,

I hope this week is treating you well. Here in the States, we are celebrating Thanksgiving, and I always find it meaningful to pause and consider all that I have to be thankful for. And always on that list is you.

I consider it a privilege to be able to make a living and a life off this wonderful medium of words. Thank you for the honor of being able to do so. It means a lot. As a way of saying "thank you," I'm offering my top writing courses for half off their normal price.

And if you end up buying all of them, you'll get the whole thing for 60% off.

What's in this writing course bundle, you ask? Good question. Here's the skinny: you get all of these courses for a fraction of the normal price.

• Tribe Writers: This is my most comprehensive course on what it takes to find your voice, build a platform, find an audience, and get paid to be a writer.
• Intentional Blog: This is my most popular course of all time and helps you intentionally build a popular blog/website and grow your audience to 1000 subscribers.
• Effective Writer: Want to write great emails, powerful blog posts, and articles that go viral? This course gives you a scorecard to knock it out of the park every time.
• Email Marketing for Creative People: My newest course gives you step-by-step instructions on how to grow and maintain an email list of thousands of subscribers, along with how to sell your first product via email marketing.

The value for this whole bundle is nearly $1200, but you'll get it for 60% off that. To see the whole "Writing Habit Bundle" click here (discount automatically applied when you click that link).

To look at each course and see which ones are right for you, click on each course to view a description.. Make sure you use the promo code HABIT2020 to get the 50% off discount if you only order one of the courses.

Best,

Jeff

Hello,

I hope you had an amazing weekend. I spent the weekend with my kids, and one of my favorite moments was yesterday afternoon when we were at a trampoline park and my daughter decided to build a fort out of foam cubes that were meant to break the fall of any child catapulting themselves into a squishy sea of them.

As Amelia began building her fort, she asked if I would help her, and of course, I was happy to oblige. Then her older, eight year-old brother came along, and asked if he could join in. She said okay.

Then a few minutes later, another girl-a stranger-just joined in without even asking. Not long after that, a small group of boys walked by and said, "That's a good idea!" Minutes later, I saw them building their own foam-cube forts.

Amelia's fort grew to enormous heights and spanned the length of the play area so broadly that the pool of foam cubes began to be a safety hazard as there were no more soft places to land. In fact, there were three fort iterations in total, each one either collapsing or being destroyed by someone walking by; and each time, my daughter started over.

The afternoon was not without its tears and learning lessons, of course, but I was struck by beauty of this moment. At one point, there were three completely independent forts being constructed by three different groups of people, all inspired by Amelia.

This, I thought as I sat back and took in the whole scene with my eyes, is why we make things.

We don't make things to be done with them (although that can certainly be a tempting reason until you've finished a creative project or two or ten and realized that the creation is never as fulfilling as the creating).

We don't make things to make money off of them (although it's nice to be rewarded for your hard work, and certainly remuneration helps the physical world go round).

We don't even make things so that other people will notice (but that can feel good too).

No, we make things, because we can't help it. It's in our being. Almost every faith tradition and mythology has a story about us humans being fashioned from the dirt or clay or from the imagination of some deity or another. Often, the very life force that animates us is the power of breath, which is appropriate considering it is the first thing we do when we come into this world and the last thing that happens before we leave it. We are created beings that are at once a part of the earth and filled with the same creative spirit that made us. We are breathed-in-that is, inspired-beings.

I believe we make things, because that's what we were made to do. Not even to make things, but to be making things. We are the little creators of our lives and the world as we know it. And as we endeavor to make something beautiful of, say, a pile of multicolored foamed blocks, that are worn and old and falling apart in some places; we invite the rest of the world to follow our example. So we create not just to make something out of nothing, but we also create to inspire others to be creative.

And this, I think, is how we make the world something other than what it has always been. Maybe you, like me, are a little tired of the increasing animosities one finds on the evening news or on your favorite social media channel. Maybe you are lucky enough to not even notice it. Regardless, I can't help but wonder if what our world needs more of right now is a little less consumption or contention and a little more creativity.

May we all look around and see the Amelias in our lives getting on with it. And may we be brave enough to join them.

Last week, I hosted a free, five-day challenge on how to get "paid to create." This included daily written lessons (and I've now updated each article with audio), and if you missed any of them, I've included links to all of them here:

• Lesson 1: Get Paid to Create: Day 1 of a Free 5-Day Challenge
• Lesson 2: 3 Kinds of Creators (Which One Are You?)
• Lesson 3: More Than Passion: Getting Clear on a Business Idea
• Lesson 4: Sell Them What They Want, Give Them What They Need
• Lesson 5: Before You Build Your First Product, Do This

Soon, I'll be hosting a live training and Q&A on how you can get paid to create and what that looks like for each of us (because it will be different for everybody).

Before we get into all that, though, I'd love to know what questions you might have about this kind of work. I've been making a living for the past decade as a writer and creative entrepreneur, and my work has personally touched over 20,000 people in that time (these are people that I've worked with one-on-one or via one of my online courses or teaching programs). I'd love to help you get unstuck or even just take the first step if I can.

How can I help? What question do you have? Reply to this email to let me know.

Best,

Jeff

Hello,

(Note: There's a free book available today only mentioned later in this email. Click here to grab it now.)

It's been an interesting and heartbreaking week, and I wanted to send you a note of encouragement and challenge (as I am wont to do). The following is a bit long but feels important, so please bear with me.

First, let me take a minute to acknowledge an event in American news that caught my attention. Last week, video footage of a black man being shot and killed in broad daylight was leaked, causing a stir of online and offline protests. I myself was moved by the event and learned a lot from friends and members of my community. If you'd like to hear my thoughts regarding the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, you can read them on Instagram.

Bottom line: We who tell stories and share words with the world have a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the oppressed. Often our silence is an act of injustice in itself. And to all my readers who are people of color, I want to tell you I am committed to doing better than I've done in the past, first by learning and listening, then by acting and lending my voice. Thank you for your patience as I become more aware of my own blindness and privilege.

In that same vein, I believe now is the best time to offer our greatest gift to the world. In times of crisis, we are called to create more work, not less. This doesn't mean we pursue productivity for the sake of staying busy; it means we share our work in way that is unique and generous, because that's what we're here to do-not pivot, but find our true work and share it.

That said, it seems there are a few different paths we can pursue in offering our work to the world. And these ways are not created equal.

The first way is a transaction. We make things to get things. Money. Recognition. A sense of purpose. This often ends up feeling zero-sum and binary. It either works or it doesn't. You starve or you succeed, and you do so at the expense of others. This is the world of celebrity artists, musicians, and authors, reinforcing the myth that it's all or nothing. Take the leap, hope for the best, and if you're lucky, maybe you'll catch a break.

The second way is a compromise. We get a day job and do our art on the side, ever afraid of selling out, mitigating our risk and following a more practical path of creation. This works, but it is also a path of self-preservation, motivated by fear of being hurt. On this path, we follow a careful and calculated plan so as to not end up in a difficult situation. It's not wrong, but it rarely leaves the artist feeling fully satisfied in her work, as if she's given it her all. We who choose this path frequently end up feeling jaded toward those who have "made it," secretly jealous of their success and wondering what we did wrong.

The third way is a gift. We share our work freely without expectation of reciprocity. We don't starve our way to success nor do we compromise our core values for the sake of practicality. We confidently relax in our work, knowing it is not for everyone but surely for someone. We trust that if we do the work, the world will take notice. And when we do this, we show up in ways that the previous paths don't provide. We are open and excited, generous and free to give our best work without needing anything in return. And of course, this is attractive and interesting and always brings a new energy to the work, thus creating better art. And good art gets its reward, eventually.

Yes, there are practical things you can do to help your work spread and grow-strategies and tools and resources worth learning. But far too often, I see people following one of the first two paths, wondering why it doesn't work. The reason is this: you have to care. You have to believe in your work before anyone else does. You have to show up, hands open and full, ready to give. You have to keep showing up, keep giving, and keep sharing, especially when you doubt how good it is or if anyone cares. This is the way you get people to care: you audaciously do the work, no matter what. To be generous is always the best way to get noticed-and it's always the only true path to creating real art.

Okay, so what does all that mean? It means you commit to the path that you want. And if you want to be a giver, it means you show up every day for at least the next six months without expectation or excuse or complaint. You do the work, knowing no one will care or listen. You do it for the practice. You do it to call your own bluff. You do it because you love it, and because if you stick with it, you will be rare. And eventually, people will care and pay attention and even pay you. But it starts here, with you.

And if you need help figuring out what this looks like, you might enjoy my friend Danny Iny's latest book called Teach Your Gift, which lays out how to share your knowledge in a way where you can be generous and make a living from your gift (those two aren''t mutually exclusive). The book is currently free via Amazon Kindle, but the freebie expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern tonight.

If you're curious about the world of online education and how you could even build a business around your knowledge, click here to download this free book.

That said, how can you share your gift with the world this week?

I'd love to hear more.

Best,

Jeff

Hey,

Last week, I taught a workshop on writing habits. We had more than 3,500 people register for it and 1,000 tuned in to watch it live. If you missed it, the essence of the teaching can be found in this blog post: How to Really Get Your Writing Done.

Also! I'm going to be doing a live Q&A today at lunch time (12:00 p.m. Central) to answer all your writing questions. Click here to register.

Lastly, today is the last day to register for the Write a Bestseller course, which I teach twice per year. After today, registration will close and won't open again until late fall.

This cohort is going to be a special one, because I will be doing a three-day big idea intensive called Bestseller Bootcamp where I'll be helping every student hone their big idea, structure their book, and create a personalized plan for getting their book done in 90 days.

I've never done this before and usually reserve this level of teaching and instruction for my one-on-one clients, but it felt right to include it in the course.

What this means is if you sign up for this class of Write a Bestseller, you'll not only get LIFETIME access to the course and community including all the group calls with me, you'll also get a $2,000 workshop absolutely for FREE if you sign up today.

Not only that, you get another $2,500 worth of bonuses if you sign up before the deadline, which is 9:00 p.m. Central tonight.

To learn more about the program, click here to read about it, watch the video, and see if it's right for you.

And don't forget to join me live if you have any questions about the program, about writing in general, or you just want to tell me how good my quarantine hair looks today! ;)

See you soon!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. If you have any questions about Write a Bestseller, you can always reply here, too. If you can't make the Q&A, feel free to submit your question via email, and I'll do my best to answer as many of them as I can live.

P.P.S. The deadline to register for Write a Bestseller is tonight at 9:00 p.m. Central. This program comes backed with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Don't miss your opportunity to jump in and get started writing your book! Click here to check it out.

Hey friend,

Our digital meetup last Wednesday was such a success that we''ve decided to do it again this week. We''re having a special community call tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00pm Central time. Register here: http://goinswriter.com/chatwithjeff

Hello,

This past week, I shared the news of my marriage ending. This has been the hardest decision I have ever made, and how people responded more than surprised me.

Here's what I wrote:

"Our family is not ending, it's changing," I said to my kids in the hardest conversation I have ever had with them. Ashley and I are getting a divorce, and I feel conflicted in sharing this with you.

I don't believe I owe the world my vulnerability; but the work of a writer, for me, has always been about being fully awake and engaged in life, even the difficult parts. This is one of those. When we share hard things, something inside of us seems to soften, and this, I think, is good.

I am grateful for Ashley and sad this chapter of our story is ending. We will, of course, continue to partner in raising our children, and I request the typical respect and privacy people ask for during such times. I promise you no one has been more unkind to me throughout this process than I have been to myself.

Yes, this is a death of sorts, and the grief at times has been overwhelming; but it also has been a season of personal transformation. In the disappearance of the old, I have seen the emergence of something new. And as the clouds begin to part, I am unsure of what that new thing will be or how it will unfold, but I can tell you this: It will be beautiful.

Thank you for the encouragement, support, and love for our family. The other day, my daughter Amelia drew a picture of all four of us (plus our dog Lyric), and I love what it represents. We are all standing together-in this, together. Something, I maintain, is not breaking; it's changing-as is always the case with life. We humans do not break; we change, we grow, we become. And if we're lucky, we bend towards the light.

At least, I hope we do.

When I posted the announcement, I was worried people would judge me for ruining the lives of my children. But this thing called the Internet can sometimes surprise us.

After hitting publish, I took a deep breath and began checking comments, bracing myself for the worst. But what came next was completely unexpected.

No hate. No vitriol. No passive-aggressive "concerns" for me. Nothing but love, encouragement, and support.

Hundreds of comments and messages flooded in from acquaintances, old friends, and even strangers-all saying they were for me, praying for my family, hoping for the best for all of us.

And on and on it went, one loving message after another. It was all so much to take in, too much to consume, that I had to go for a walk.

On my walk, I thought this must be what happens when you share the parts of yourself you are most afraid to reveal. People can show up and surprise you; they can love you not in spite of those things, but /because/ of them.

This, I think, is what we mean when we use that wonderful but oft-misunderstood word "grace."

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we are, of course, opening ourselves up to be wounded. But we are also allowing ourselves to be healed and made whole. Only in the tenderness of potential pain can we experience deep love.

You taught me that.

I feel very loved and supported right now. I don't know what else to say. There's no wise lesson here, no clever tie-in. I am just grateful.

Thank you,

Jeff

P.S. We'll resume the regularly-scheduled tips on writing and such soon, but for now, I just wanted to say thanks. You can read the original announcement here or read a deeper exploration here.

Hello,

Last week, I shared a story about how a bartender pulled a gun and pointed it at me. If you missed it, you can read that here.

Also, I'm doing a live training later this week on how to make a living blogging. All the details are here. Don't miss it!

This week, as I scroll my social media feeds and read my emails, as I listen to what's going on in the world, I think, "Does anyone have any idea what's going on? Do I? Is the world ending? Are we going to be okay?"

One thing I see everywhere is fear, and what I know about fear is that it is rarely accurate. Or rather, when we are in a fearful state, our decisions are often quick and irrational. And that makes sense when our lives are actually in danger. But as my friend Jake taught me last week, while he was staring down a drunk man with a gun, sometimes the most seemingly threatening situations contain a hidden opportunity in them.

What does that mean for us, we who aspire to dream and create a new world for ourselves the ones we love? Those of us who want to tell stories and write books that change the way people see everything? I think it means that we must seek to find the opportunity that exists in this moment. Yes, this very moment that is filled with all its uncertainty and fear and potential danger. Can you do that? Can I? I'm not sure, but I'd like to try.

Ten years ago, I was unhappy with my life and had no reason to be. I had a good job, a nice life in the suburbs. My wife was expecting our first child, and I kept getting raises and promotions. We were debt-free, settled into a nice routine in a new home outside of Nashville, and I felt inside of me a deep longing. I wanted more.

I didn't know what to call this, this voice, this hunger, this sense that I was missing out. For a while-and I mean, years-I suppressed this feeling, pushed it down. Way, way down. And every once in a while, it would poke up in the most surprising of circumstances: at a conference, maybe while I was out running or watching a movie, anytime I wasn't quite paying attention to what I ought to be doing with my life.

And when this happened, I would get angry and then sad, and then distract myself with busyness. Eventually, though, these instances kept popping up again and again. The hunger grew. Work became less fulfilling; my angst increased, and I wondered what was wrong with me. Why wasn't I content?

I began to search for answers by reading books, listening to podcasts, attending events-all with the intent of trying to fix this hunger, this desire for more. Surely, if I tried hard enough, maybe prayed more or learned more or did something more, it would go away.

It didn't.

In fact, over and over again, I kept bumping into the same word: writer. I heard it at conferences, felt it tingle in my soul every time I heard someone talk about writing their first book or the fact that they felt called to this creative vocation. Yes, that''s how I felt, too: called.

Still, this couldn't be. I had responsibilities now. A good job. A wife. A kid on the way. I couldn't jeopardize it all for some fleeting fancy like writing.

Then, one day a friend asked me a hard question:

"What's your dream?" He said.

"What?" I asked, not understanding the language he was speaking. "Dream? I don't have one of those. I have a job. Don't need a dream."

"That's funny, because I thought you were going to say that you wanted to be a writer."

I laughed. "What? Why?"

"Well, because you're always talking about writing, reading books about writing. Just seems like something you're really into."

"Oh," I said, my gaze lowered. "Yeah, I guess I'd like to do that. some day. But that'll never happen."

"Jeff," my friend said, waiting for me to look up at him. "You don't have to want to be a writer. You are a writer. You just need to write."

"Oh," I said, as his words hit my chest and the energy of them seemed to surge through my body. Yes, that was it. I am a writer. I just need to write.

The next morning, I sat down and wrote 500 words and have been doing it almost every day since. I immediately began publishing on a brand-new blog as a way of "practicing in public" and honing my voice.

And ten years later, I am still doing it, the one small thing that changed everything.

Why share this today? Because back then, I was scared. Unsure of myself. Wondering why everything I wanted to do seemed so hard. We had just come out of a recession, and it was silly to leave my job as a nonprofit marketer. But nonetheless, I had this feeling. This inner sense that has haunted my whole life whenever a big thing is about to him. And the voice always says the same thing:

There's more.

Maybe you've heard this, too. I don't know. All I know is the more I listen to that voice, the better my life goes. Not easier, necessarily; but truer. More beautiful.

The opportunity that exists in this moment, right now, is to believe that even in the midst of so much fear and chaos, there's more for you. To choose hope. To believe something beautiful and wonderful can emerge from this chrysalis of a year in which we all find ourselves.

And maybe it begins with something as simple as acknowledging who and what you already are, then acting from that place. Activity follows identity, after all.

I do think a tremendous opportunity exists for any writer or creative communicator who wants to share their message with the world. That's why I'll be sharing my story this week of making a living as a blogger for the past ten years, along with all the lessons I've learned. It's totally free, so if you'd like to learn more, tune in here (make sure you register as seats are limited!).

See you soon,

Jeff

P.S. What opportunity exists for you in this moment? Shoot me a reply. I'd love to hear it.

Hello,

I have looked at my phone five times since starting this email. This is how distracted I am these days. Maybe you can relate.

I know everyone says a pandemic is a great time to do your best work, but it hasn't worked out so well for me. Never in my life have I been more distracted and felt more guilty for not being able to pay attention.

I mean, how hard is it to sit down and write some words each day? Apparently, pretty hard. especially when you have all the time in the world.

I have always been a bit of a procrastinator and suffered from an attention deficit. This, admittedly, has not always been a bad thing for me, as it's given me what psychologists call a "leaky filter," enabling me to spot opportunities that other, more focused individuals might miss.

Nonetheless, I don't love the fact that it can sometimes be a little difficult (okay, always very, very hard) to start my work day before noon or that my kids catch me staring at my phone while driving.

Yes, yes. I know. I shouldn't do that. Thank you for telling me something I already knew.

I always felt shame for being so easily distracted. Why was I, an author, so terrible at finishing books? Why couldn't I sit and read writing that belonged to someone other than myself? I didn't know.

That is, until I met Nir Eyal, my guest on The Portfolio Life podcast this week.

Nir is an author, investor, and just all-around smart person whose recent book delves into the science of distraction and how we can better understand what keeps us from focusing on our best work.

This conversation rocked me, truly. What I learned from our interview and from Nir's great book (which I make required reading for almost everyone I coach or work with) helped me become a better dad, a better writer, and a more intentional leader.

I hope you'll take some time to give it a listen. You won't regret it.

Click here to tune in.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. What are you wanting to focus on right now? Shoot me a quick reply with one project or task you want to dedicate more time to and let me know what's standing in your way.

P.P.S. Struggling to take care of yourself in the midst of a pandemic? You might enjoy this recent piece I did.

Hey friend,

Our digital meetup last Wednesday was such a success that we''ve decided to do it again this week. We''re having a special community call on Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00pm Central time. Register here: http://goinswriter.com/chatwithjeff

So you've got something to say. And you're passionate about it. But when you think about trying to make a living off this message of yours, when you try to put your ideas out into the world, it doesn't seem possible.

How do you get heard in this increasingly noisy world of ours? Is it even possible to rise about all the digital clutter and nonsense?

I certainly didn't think so, not for a long time. I figured I'd go to my grave with my song still inside me, wondering what it was like to actually be heard.

For years, I''d write and send my words out into the ether as social media posts and blog updates, wondering if anyone out there cared.

Then, ten years ago this fall, I had a breakthrough that changed everything.

I went from having no traffic to my website, to gaining 10,000 fans in a matter of months, publishing two books, and making more than $100,000 in a year for the first time in my life.

So, I want to tell you: You can make a living from your writing. if you know how to do it.

I'm not here to sell you snake oil or convince you that this is easy. It takes genuine hard work, and you've got to be willing to put yourself out there again and again. But it's possible. And I'd like to show you how, especially at a time when people are worried about the future of their work and looking for ways to make a part-time or full-time income from home.

What if now, this crazy year, was the perfect time to venture into your life's work, to really do this, for real?

I created this free workshop, "How to Make a Living Blogging" to show you what I learned through my own experiences and from working with over 20,000 writers and creatives in the past decade.

I've seen people go from making $0 a month with little to no traffic to hitting their first 1000 subscribers and continuing to grow from there, making thousands of dollars a month now.

In this workshop I'll show you:

• How to make your message clear and attractive
• My process for starting a blog and growing it to a 1000 readers
• A simple way to make your first $1000 online
• The most powerful ways to build a platform online (and why it's not one size fits all)

Click here to register for the workshop on Thursday, July 23 at 12:00 p.m. CT

I hope you'll join me.

Hey friend,

Note: I''m hosting another free webinar this week on Wednesday, April 1, at noon Central. This time, we''ll be discussing how to start and maintain a daily writing habit. Click here to be automatically registered.

So you''re stuck at home, wondering what to do with your life right now. Should you consume more media? Share another meme on Instagram? Yell at your dad for touching his face too much?

Nope. It''s time to write that book you''ve always wanted to write.

As an online teacher to writers for the past decade, I have long maintained that writing a book is an important and serious undertaking and not one to be considered lightly.

Writing is hard work, and, no, I don''t think everyone should do it. In fact, I recently argued the world doesn''t need more books; it needs better books.

That said, there are plenty of reasons to write a book, and now just might be the right time for you to do it.

The world is changing. Whether you think our current crisis is an overblown hoax or the great equalizer of modern society, we can''t deny this crisis has suddenly and dramatically altered the state of our lives.

So what do you do? How do you cope? What does healthy and constructive processing of such an experience look like?

Well, you could write about it.

But how do you know it''s time that book?

Here are a few reasons to write a book:

• Because you have a unique experience worth sharing.
• Because you have a unique perspective on an already established subject.
• Because you have a unique expertise that is needed in the world.

There is something mysterious, even spiritual, about the process of bringing an idea to life through the written word. I believe it is a calling, one that I don''t think you can run away from it-at least, not forever.

But before you do that, you''ll need to start with a goal that is far simpler than writing a book.

Before you write anything substantial-an article, blog post, manifesto, or even a full-fledged book-you first have to master the daily discipline of writing every day.

That''s why I''m hosting a live training later this week on how to start a daily writing habit.

Here are all the details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2020
• Time: Noon Central time (use this time zone converter to see what time it will be where you are)
• Location: Online via Zoom (duh, because #socialdistancing)
• Cost: Free (but you have to register)

Spaces are limited, so make sure you sign up and don''t be late!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. To read the full text of this article, click here. And don''t forget to save your seat for the free live training on Wednesday!

Hello,

I have a new post and podcast up (click here to read/listen). Here's a little note, though, just to you:

We are all scared and unsure, or at least that's what the news tells us. I don't know who you are or what you do or what you make of all this madness.

Every day, I wake up wondering where I am and what is happening, and it all feels so confusing. Doesn't it?

And yet, there seems to be a voice inside me, wanting to say something.

I don't know if you hear this voice, too, but it scares me. If I'm honest, this is the place from which my best decisions have been made-but it is always uncomfortable.

It is the tightening in my chest I felt in high school just before asking a girl on a date for the first time.

It is the swirling in my stomach as I am about on step onstage in front of an audience.

It is the feeling I feel right now, writing these words. If you hear this voice, it is my experience that you must respond, if you want any peace at all.

And I do.

Recently, I heard someone say it is enough to survive a crisis. After all, nobody needs you to paint the Mona Lisa this week. Which, I suppose, is true; but it doesn't feel quite right to me. It doesn't feel like all I have to offer now. And if you, too, feel like you have more to share, and the boredom and loneliness are getting to you, if you're wondering what else you can do, well maybe start here:

Give your greatest gift away. Every day.

Give until it hurts. And keep giving until it feels good again.

Give like you mean it, like no one else can.

Give without expectation of anyone saying thanks, because maybe no one will.

Give because it's right, because you'll feel better when it's done.

Give what you have, whenever you have it, as much as you can give it-now.

Give your gift when others need it, and when no one seems to need it at all, because that's what you're here to do, and what else is there?

Give.

Give.

Give.

Because it sure beats watching the news.

Need help figuring out what your gift is? Don't worry. You don't have to do it on your own. Last week, I hosted a digital meetup of creatives who want to share their work with the world and need help during this time of crisis. We had such a great time that many folks were asking for us to do it again.

So this Wednesday, we're going to do just that.

Here are the details:

• Time: Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00pm Central time.
• Length: About an hour (but we may stick around a little later to answer questions and chat some more).
• Format: Video conference call via Zoom (make sure you have a decent internet connection so you can stream video).

Come ready to share your thoughts and questions in the chat (you don't have to be on video). Spaces are limited, so make sure you register here.

See you there!

Best,
Jeff

P.S. How are you doing with all this? What challenges and opportunities are you facing in light of the coronavirus crisis? I'd love to hear from you. Hit reply to let me know what's going on.

P.P.S. Please register for the meetup tomorrow. I want to hear how you're doing, what challenges and struggles you're facing, and see how I can help.

Hey friend,

"What did you do with this crisis?"

This may be what our children ask us about this time.

Which, of course, is always the question. What will you do, Mary Oliver asks us, with your one wild and precious life?

Something, I hope, more than worry.

Something, I hope, more than hoard or blame.

Something more than hole yourself up in a cabin and wait for this thing to blow over.

A crisis is an opportunity to create something new.

My mentor Seth Godin encourages us in this time of change to not binge watch another show or sulk through more news updates but to go learn something.

Why?

Because the world is changing, and it will need your contribution. In a week or a month or a year from now, how will you look back on this time? Will you have used your opportunity to contribute something to this new world? Or will you have only enjoyed an abundance of hand sanitizer?

Let's talk about what we need right now. Yes, let's be informed. Let's be wise with where we go and what we expose ourselves to. But let's not stop there.

What we need is to be generous. To love those around us. We need to be more than survivors. If we are safe, we have an opportunity to help. To connect. To care. And to create.

What if this week you launched that podcast you were thinking about doing?

What if you played that board game with your kids?

What if you called that friend you've been meaning to catch up with?

What if, as an old friend once taught me, you stopped saying "what if...?" and started saying, "Let's!"

Let's start the podcast.

Let's play the board game.

Let's do the call.

Let's be brave.

I spent the past 48 hours worrying. I desperately wanted others to surround me to make me feel not so alone.

I watched too much Netflix, called too many friends to validate me, refreshed my feed too many times. Now it's time to get to work. To do something. To make something.

And I invite you to join me... if you want to be proud of how you spent this time.

Yes, inform yourself.

Yes, take care of your loved ones.

Yes, stay home.

But please don't just hoard the toilet paper. Don't just isolate yourself. Don't merely endure the crisis.

All of these choices are just the context from which you can create something new.

This, I promise you, is about more than toilet paper.

And please, if things get dark or scary, reach out. Ask for help. Invite someone's love into your life.

What's wonderful and terrifying about a crisis is that it's a reminder that life is more fragile than we thought. It's a lesson that the systems upon which we so heavily rely can easily be upended.

I have to be honest with you. I'm a little scared. I am relatively safe, as is my family. But the world as we know it is quickly changing. What will happen? Maybe six weeks from now, we will look back on this and laugh. I sure hope so.

Maybe not. Regardless, I don't want to know that I wasted my opportunity. That I could have cared more for those who were in need. That I could have created something new. That I could have made a connection with another human.

So, whatever you've been thinking about doing, whatever yearning you've had to learn something, make something, contribute something:

Let's.

Here are some ways to get involved:

• If you are a creator and in financial need, check out this fund that ConvertKit just created. Also, if you have the means to contribute, please do that. I'll be making a donation later this week as I know these are hard times for many of my friends.
• For a little levity, I am launching a cooking show on Instagram where every morning for breakfast, I'll cook something different and show you how in my live feed. Make sure you're following me and don't miss it on Instagram.
• Tomorrow at 1:00pm Central time, I'll be hosting a free digital meetup for writers and creatives to share their struggles and opportunities presented by the current coronavirus crisis. You can sign up for that right here. In the meantime, please answer the following:

What current struggle (emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, etc.) are you facing?

What new thing does this crisis make possible for you?

As for me, I'm going to be working on a new project that I'll be sharing more about soon-a friend and I have been kicking around the idea of a new podcast for ages and we're going to give it a shot this week. I'll keep you posted.

Hang in there, friend. Be strong. Learn something new. Make a meaningful contribution. And don't forget to reach out and connect with someone during this time.

The world needs your work.

Best,

Jeff

P.S. I want to hear both your struggles and opportunities you're facing this week. Reply here and let me know.

I'll be doing a free, live video chat later tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, at 1:00pm Central time where we can all connect and share. You can sign up for that right here.

Hello,

Over the last three months, my professional speaker friend Grant Baldwin has been having conversations almost every day with speakers and event organizers about this ever-changing climate we find ourselves in.

He's shared some of what he's learned with me and I have to admit, his takeaways are not only fascinating, but they are not at all what I expected.

I asked him if we could co-host a training session to share these insights, because after hearing them, I believe there is an incredible opportunity in front of some of us right now to set ourselves apart as virtual speakers.

I'm excited that he agreed to the idea! So, on Thursday, July 9, at 10:00 a.m. Central time, we're going to co-host a FREE online workshop together called "How Speakers Can Pivot To Virtual Speaking Gigs (Even If You're A Brand New Speaker)." You'll learn:

• Why the speaking industry isn't going anywhere.
• How to pivot your business to include virtual presentations.
• How to pitch existing clients on virtual speaking solutions.
• Why now is a great time to start your speaking career.
• Where to spend and save your money when it comes to setup.
• How one of Grant's coaches booked six figures in virtual talks!
• Plus live Q&A for all your burning questions

The rules in the speaking world are changing, and if you know what to focus on and what to ignore, you can set yourself apart as a virtual speaker and take your speaking business to the next level like you never have before.

Whether you''re just getting started or are a speaking veteran, you don't want to miss this workshop. Grant has had over 400 paid engagements and has earned over one million dollars from speaking! I can't wait for you to learn from him!

>> Click Here To Register <<

I can't wait for this workshop! See you there!

Jeff

PS: Remember that the workshop is free but space is limited, so register now to reserve your spot. Even if you can''t make it, we''ll send out a replay of the workshop, so you''ll want to register either way :)

Register here for the "How Speakers Can Pivot To Virtual Speaking Gigs" webinar!

Hello,

Wow. Thank you to everyone who replied to last week's newsletter. I read every single email and am so glad. I learned so much from so many of you, and I just feel. grateful.

Honored.

Amazed.

Privileged.

And that's an interesting word, isn't it: "privilege"?

I don't know your experience with that word, but I have been taught to think of it as a dirty word, something to apologize for and feel guilty about. But privilege is simply "a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group."

As a white man, I am acquainted with the invisible advantages that have benefited me my entire life. I have also learned that there is nothing noble about feeling guilty for this. It doesn't cost me anything to acknowledge my leg-ups in life, and doing so does not negate my hard work.

But with these advantages come great responsibility (I can't not think of Spider-man when type that, btw).

The point of my privilege is to acknowledge it so I can use it. But I want to pivot a little into a mini-lesson I'm learning this week:

Influence is a privilege.

For those of us who have others listening to us-whether that be on social media, with friends, or even talking to family members-this is an advantage we have. People are listening to us, and those people aren't listening to everyone.

There are individuals in the world who pay special attention to me. For the longest time, I took this for granted, downplayed it, even dismissed it.

Why? Because it felt. heavy.

What if I said the wrong thing?

What if I said nothing, and that was wrong?

What if I misled people or made them mad?

I just didn't want to have to deal with all that.

Now, I understand that my influence is not something everyone has, and that gives me an advantage. And there is a certain necessary weight that comes with such responsibility. But it's also an opportunity.

When I talk about influence, I'm not just talking about my work as a writer, speaker, and teacher. I'm also talking about my friends and family members, past colleagues and current associates, people from a variety of political, religious, and cultural backgrounds-all who trust me.

I want to take that seriously. I want to wield that influence well.

Over the past few months especially, I've learned that if you have something someone else doesn't, you have an opportunity-call it a privilege, honor, or even blessing-to share it.

This is not a compulsion, not a rule, not a "should." It's an invitation.

If I have space to listen to someone, I can.

If I have money to give to someone who is need, I can.

If I have special knowledge to share, I can.

And as I've responded to this invitation, albeit imperfectly and with lots of mistakes, I'm learning quite a bit. Here are a few lessons that feel relevant right now:

• If we have influence over other people, we have a responsibility to wield that influence well. When we choose to speak up on behalf of the oppressed, for example, it matters matters more than we often realize.
• When we use our voices to speak up and speak out, we should consider how we do this. When people listen to you, they also pay attention to how you say things.
• Healing happens when we talk about hard things. Some conversations, no matter how difficult, are worth having. And if we have the space to have them, we should. Because influence is a privilege.

So, that's what I'm learning.

I want to invite you to consider how you can use your influence this week for good. I don't presume to know what that looks like, but I encourage you to consider it. And, of course, part of how I want to use my influence is to help other voices be heard.

We are having this conversation via email, which has always been one of the best places for me to connect with people.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for your trust. I don't take it lightly.

Best,

Jeff

Hey there,

Ever since I shared my friend Danny Iny's new book and online bootcamp, I've had people getting in touch to ask how they can learn more and dive deeper into the world of online courses.

Especially now, it seems that more and more people are wanting the freedom and impact that teaching online courses can bring.

For years, I've been making a living sharing what I know through online courses and can tell you it's a wonderful way to share your knowledge with the world, help a lot of people, and make some money from the comfort of your own home.

To learn more about Danny's program that will teach you how to do this for yourself, go check out the details and enroll today. And if you have questions, feel free to contact his team or shoot me an email.

Also, here are a couple of recent pieces you may have missed:

• The 3 Stages of an Artist's Work: Transaction, Compromise, Gift
• When I Became Me: Understanding the Life of an Artist as Story
• My latest post on IG (which is just a little update that seems to be inspiring people)

Thanks and hope your week is going well,

Jeff

Hey friend,

Hello there from quarantine!

I have a new post and podcast episode for you to check out today. Click here to read or listen.

Here's an abbreviated version for you: You might be feeling some shame for being unproductive or lazy or depressed during this time of crisis and social distancing.

Please allow me to make you feel better:

I am doing this worse than you, promise.

Did you go for a walk in the rain on your birthday and cry for an hour?

Did you spend an hour making dinner then spill hundreds of peppercorns all over the food. and eat it anyway? (My mouth is still burning, by the way.)

Do you wake up every day with the best of intentions to do something productive during the day and end every night watching "Community" on Netflix, swearing tomorrow will be better?

Has you diet gone out the window?

Is ice cream your new best friend (cookies 'n' creme, of course)?

Have you wondered what the point of "you" even is?

Do you find yourself saying ridiculous things to friends just so they keep texting or talking to you?

Have you failed at every goal you set including the one to stick with a single television show for more than an evening?

If not, then you're doing this better than me. And if you still think you're worse off, I dare you to email me with your situation, and we can commiserate together.

But the truth is that even though I am a hot mess right now, I'm still making it through.

We all are. If you're still here, you made it another day. And that's wonderful.

Admittedly, this has been a challenging time for me: socially, psychologically, physically, vocationally. And I'm pretty fortunate. I realize I still have steady work to do, still have a home, still have all my family members.

So I don't mean to be glib about any of this, but I do feel like I could be way more productive. Most days, I simply go for a bunch of walks and spend too much time on Instagram, then wonder where all the time went.

That said, there have been a handful of habits that I've accidentally stumbled upon that have been super useful to me during this time, and I'd like to share them with you in hopes of helping.

1. Stick with something stable. Like a good job or steady relationship. We need rhythms and routines right now.
2. Create something stupid. A little levity never hurts. Yes, it's good to get things done, but it's also nice to do something that doesn't need to have a point other than to cause you delight. For me, this is doing random live cooking shows in Instagram.
3. Have something new to start. Now is the time to begin something new: that writing habit, podcast, book, etc. Insecurity and possibility always go hand in hand. There's no guarantee that it will work, but that's part of the fun.

Click here to read the rest of the article and/or listen to the audio essay.

How are you coping in these times of uncertainty? What stable, stupid, and new things are you doing to stay sane? I'd love to hear about it.

And if I can make you feel better about your situation - because I swear I am quarantining worse than you - please shoot me an email and let me know.

You can also find me on Instagram @JeffGoins where I am sharing daily videos on my thoughts on what you can create in a crisis.

Thanks,

Jeff

Hello,

So 2020 has been a crazy year for most people.

And while most cannot wait to ring in a New Year and leave this one behind...

I want to make sure that I am taking part in, and communicating to you, the true spirit of Christmas.

The spirit of giving.

So in that spirit, let me offer you a free gift.

Every year, I see hundreds of writers bridge the gap between starving and thriving. I've watched them do it, documented the process, and I'm going to share it all here. This is what I teach in my program Tribe Writers, and before I begin each class, I always tell the students the same thing:

If you do the work, you'll see the results.

In other words, this process works if you do. I can't motivate you. I can't make you sit down and write. But I can show you the way to success and hope that you take the next step.

So, here's how this is going to go. In this brief book, I am going to outline a process for you. I call it the "12 Steps to Writing Success."

This is what 99% of the writers I know who are succeeding have done, in one form or another.

It's a proven path based on literally thousands of case studies.

And if you do the work, you will see the results.

This is a 49-page eBook that documents how you can go from starving to making money with your writing.

And it''s my gift to you.

Go here, confirm your email, and enjoy.

Merry Christmas,

Jeff Goins

P.S. As you get ready to say goodbye to 2020, take some time to read this. It will help you prepare for a better 2021.

Cart is closing on this special deal-the Email Marketing for Creative People course at 50% OFF the normal selling price.

Hello,

Consider this a courtesy email.

After today, we won''t be offering the Email Marketing for Creative People online course at the special discounted rate of $149 (that''s $150 OFF the normal selling price).

Yes, it''s an amazing discount.

But it''s an even more amazing course.

Don''t try to go it alone, get help from a veteran online marketer.

As the bestselling author of five books and creator of nine online courses, having sold my products to hundreds of thousands of people, I've learned that to be a successful creative professional, you can't just hope and pray someone discovers your work. You can't rely on luck. You have to attract and keep the attention of your audience.

For creative people like yourself, you cannot overlook the power of email marketing to grow your business.

The problem is-or I should say has been-that the nuts and bolts of email marketing (not so much the writing part) can be a lot to demystify.

Get ready to have the curtain pulled back for you.

In my course, Email Marketing for Creative People, we not only examine the WHY behind email marketing, we also examine in detail:

• How to Set Up Your Email List
• Get Your First 100 Subscribers
• Creating Content
• Growing Your List
• Keeping Readers Engaged ... and perhaps the biggest issue of all...
• Making Money Off Your List

Email Marketing for Creative People even gives you two very valuable swipe files

• The Lead Magnet Leading to Product Sale
• The Lead Magnet Leading to Webinar Invitation

Until December 30, you can take advantage of a super special offer. A huge discount of $150 OFF the normal selling price of Email Marketing for Creative People.

Get the Email Marketing for Creative People course today for only $149. WARNING: Offer expires December 30.

Happy New Year from GoinsWriter.com!

Jeff Goins

P.S. Time is ticking. I don''t want you to miss this very vital training. Get Email Marketing for Creative People for only $149 today.

Only 48 hours left in this special deal!

Hello,

Email is the tool that connects the most people in the world to each other. It's the easiest, most universal tool to reach your audience.

I call these "The Three C''s of Email."

1. Communication
2. Creating conversation
3. Conversion - getting your audience to take action

For creative people like yourself, you cannot overlook the power of email marketing to grow your business.

The problem is-or I should say has been-that the nuts and bolts of email marketing (not so much the writing part) can be a lot to demystify.

Get ready to have the curtain pulled back for you.

In my course, Email Marketing for Creative People, we not only examine the WHY behind email marketing, we also examine in detail:

• How to Set Up Your Email List
• Get Your First 100 Subscribers
• Creating Content
• Growing Your List
• Keeping Readers Engaged ... and perhaps the biggest issue of all...
• Making Money Off Your List

Email Marketing for Creative People even gives you two very valuable swipe files

• The Lead Magnet Leading to Product Sale
• The Lead Magnet Leading to Webinar Invitation

If you enroll in the Email Marketing for Creative People course BEFORE December 30, you get $150 off the normal selling price. But you must act now!

Enroll now for only $149. LESS THAN 48 HOURS LEFT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPECIAL OFFER!

In case you didn''t know, we even have a Facebook group for Email Marketing for Creative People. This means you really aren''t alone! Enroll in the course and get instant community!

So do me (and yourself) a favor...

Take a look at the course page and the course contents.

I''m confident this will help you make more money as a writer.

Jeff Goins

P.S. Email Marketing for Creative People is a journey that will take you from zero subscribers to a list of thousands of engaged fans and customers by teaching you the principles, strategies, and tools of email marketing. Now is the time for you to impact more people with your work. This program is exactly what you need to get started! Registration is open for a limited time. Do not miss your chance to get in at the lowest price possible.