I was going to write a lengthy post about how professionals, especially business owners could say no to people who request their time and wisdom for free. I think I will step away from the podium and hand it over to Marie Forleo who says it just as powerful.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead
At the beginning of May 2013 I decide that I was going to embark on a series of 30 Day Challenges. These challenges would help to focus my mind in both a personal and professional capacity. The challenge I decided to embrace for May was the writing of a book on storytelling for professionals. As I enter the final days of my thirty day book challenge I thought I should give a little update on my progress thus far.
I have been getting up most mornings and sometimes late in the evening and adding notes and writing to my trusty Evernote folder. Brain dumping, as it were, all the material I have had in my head for a while and exploring how best to take these streams of consciousness from my brain archives into something readable and shareable. For years as a speaker people have said to me that I miss the final trick of delivery by not providing people with material to reflect on or comment on long after I have left the platform. So I decided to do something about it.
The process has been a tough but enjoyable one. Finding the discipline has been somewhat interesting.
Just because you have lots of ideas in your head does not mean that it is totally coherent when you have to commit to transferring it from your head to the page. Fortunately I am surrounded by some great writers and wordsmiths who construct blogs and contribute articles and recommend great books. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and E.B.White is one such book. It is an easy read and fits into your pocket. Well a big pocket anyway. I don’t intend to use it in its entirety until I get to the editing stage but it has been a great help. A couple of friends have also pointed me in the direction of Stephen King who has some great advice on drafts and rewriting here.
So by the end of my 30 days I would have had a brain dump and skeleton of my first published book on the power of storytelling for professionals. The next part is the rewriting and drafting and editorial. I have purposely avoided editorial for the first stage of this process as I just wanted to get this stuff out of my head. I am glad I have done so much and am almost finished and have already got in my head the ideas for two more books.
When the process is complete I think I will share all of my ups and downs of the writing process.
The plan is to publish later this year, that is 2013. So watch this space.
I realised the importance of having a story today is what really separates companies. People just don’t wear our shoes, they tell our story – Blake Mycoskie | CEO, Tom’s Shoes
For people starting out in business whether as self employed or looking to build a team one of the biggest issues is knowing how to price.
The truth for many is that if you are going into certain businesses and ask others about how much they charge it can be a bit of a minefield.
How much are other people charging?
Will people take me serious if I charge the same as someone else who has been going longer?
Do I charge a day rate, hourly rate or for a whole piece of work?
How do I know they have a budget?
What if they tell me that I am too expensive?
What if I am undercharging?
Many business people have suffered and wrestled this dilema and there is no simple answer but let me share what my mentors have told me.
“What are you worth?”
“What is your value?”
“Don’t get stuck on price, if you know what you are worth and who your market is and provide amazing value, people will pay”
I don’t second guess any more.
A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. —Rosalynn Carter
Love, love, love this TED video from Sir Ken Robinson.
My favourite of his bunch thus far.
DAVID MCQUEEN. Speaker. Executive Coach. Facilitator
