Author Entrepreneur: The #1 Tool You Need to Succeed
Grip the rock
Talent? Mojo? The secret awesome kick ass plot? Money? Connections? Okay. All those things help.
But what we really need to succeed in this business of being an author and making money at it, somehow, some way, is persistence.
- Tenacity
- Stick-to-it-tive-ness
- Gumption
- Stubbornness
- Pigheadedness
- [consulting thesaurus now…] and…
- constant
- game to the last
- indefatigable
- indomitable
- industrious
- persisting
- pertinacious
- plodding
- sedulous
- solid
- staunch
- Yes, there’s more… There’s always more.
When I was little I scribbled on pads, filling them up page after page. When I was in college, I’d do free writing not knowing why, only knowing that I needed to move my hand across the page. Twelve years ago I committed to writing novels above all else even though it was the scariest thing in the world to me.
Now, my persistence is more on the marketing and sales front. I’ve written 5 novels, published one, so far. I’ve had to learn how to market and sell my work, and my services related to writing and editing.
When ! started my business ~4+ years ago, I didn’t know how to run a business, how to market or sell, at least not consciously. I only had my innate chattiness and my willingness to dive into the mix. Boy, did I crash into hopelessness, confusion and fear!
Now, with the guidance of some amazing coaches, I have a thriving business. I understand the nuts and bolts of sales and marketing. Et volia! And I’m more committed than ever to doing what it takes to reach my goals, both in sales and in writing accomplishments.
It hasn’t been easy.
But I had and have the one ingredient I believe in the most: I will keep going, learning, trying new things, forever.
What keeps me going?
That’s the real secret. And each of us has to discover the why for themselves. Sorry folks. But it’s true. You can’t borrow my motivation, but you can run along side me for a while. We can keep each other company.
Well, that’s it for today. I gotta run!
And remember, you can do this because you want it bad enough!
