Evolution: Moving from Attracting the Small Stuff to What Really Matters
I’ve been a follower and believer in the Laws of Attraction for a number of years now. I’ve seen how intentions can attract things like green lights and parking spaces, even when the intention which attracted them wasn’t specific. In fact, I’m learning attraction often works better when painted in broad strokes because the Universe loves to improve on things if we only give it room to work.
I’m also learning the more space you give it, the more attraction spills over into other aspects of your life.
A few weeks ago, I set the intention to write 3 posts per week instead of 2. I was a bit nervous about how I’d come up with enough ideas every week to fill 3 posts, but I trusted in the Universe and my own proven ability to make a topic out of a bunch of random words. I also have a deeply ingrained habit of writing 3 pages long hand every morning also known as “Morning Pages”. The process is the best way I know to allow ideas to find their way out of the convoluted mess I call my mind, or better still, for Universal Mind to poke a few of my sleeping bears. Needless to say, lack of topics has not been a problem since I made the conscious decision to write more.
Raising the Bar
This week, I upped my game a bit, committing to getting ahead by at least 2 weeks. Though I missed my arbitrary deadline by a couple of days, it wasn’t for lack of material. In fact, I already have something in the queue for 3 Sundays out. Yet I still struggle with putting down the book, the game, or the remote and committing myself to the task of putting words on the screen. That’s most of the problem behind my lack of recent progress on “Life Torn Asunder”. I keep finding excuses to do something else, which is part of the reason I wanted to take weekly blog writing out of the mix.
Still and all, I manage to overwhelm myself in one way or another, despite my best efforts. This week, it’s a couple of research projects, one for a potential client, and one suggested by my coach who seems to be on a roll with podcasts. I learned she’s suggested starting one to both me and my accountability partner.
Putting in the Time to Research Options for Future Goals
Though I’ve only been a guest on one so far, I know there’s more to creating a successful podcast than creating a video on Zoom and uploading it to YouTube. Hence, the research project. I began by asking questions in one of my groups, and will continue to use that approach for part of my research. I know getting the intention out there, even if it’s neither fully formed, nor fully committed to will help me find the best sources of information with which to make an intelligent decision.
If that decision is to pursue creating a podcast, there will, of course, be even more research. Still, I could happily stay in the research stage forever, but it would hardly move me forward in my quest for more visibility. At some point, I have to, as I did with my regular thrice-weekly posts, and twice-weekly Facebook Lives, get off the dime and just start doing it.
Pursuing Perfection Causes Stagnation
A point in my favor is I don’t have to have every duck in it’s proper place and every detail perfect before I jump in. (that’s probably obvious from some of the rambles I’ve left here and on my blog from time to time). I don’t have a problem with learning as I go, and in fact, that was the case throughout my career as an Accountant. The field started changing after I’d been in it for only a couple of years. Computers and software got more sophisticated every year, and my forward progress depended on embracing the changes and learning them as quickly as possible.
My career path may have changed, but technology is still a major factor. I still need to keep up with the hows, whys, and whats of getting myself known, and at this point, without spending thousands of dollars to have someone teach me what they, too learned the hard way.
Admittedly, I don’t have all the time in the world, but I do have a background in research and an ability to learn new things quickly. It might take me longer than paying someone to hold my hand, but frankly, I’ve never been overly fond of learning via the spoon feeding method anyway. I find I learn more and retain it longer if I have to put some real effort into finding the answers myself.
Following Those With A Mindset of Giving Back
I am definitely not the ICA for coaches who charge $3000 or more for access to their expertise. But then, they’re not beating down my door for mine so it’s pretty clear they’re not mine either. What I am finding is those coaches who have built up enough of a following to attract people willing to pay thousands for their expertise also attract people like me who learn by hanging out and listening, and who are looking for help but with a slightly less heart-stopping price tag. We’re the ones who were where they were 3-5 years ago.
We all have a period of time when we have to devote a lot of effort to building our credibility and reputation. It isn’t something that appears from one sleep to the next. We have to put forth the effort and give of our time and some of the expertise we, too are learning along the way. It takes a willingness to listen to someone else’s hopes and dreams for their lives, and offer help if we can without expecting something in return. Why? Because the Laws of Attraction.
Putting Our Effort in the Proper Order
What? You’re saying. Give back before you get something? Give someone a leg up without personal benefit (read: financial compensation). The truth is, helping someone else is it’s own personal benefit. Giving of ourselves without expectation of reward is how we build credibility, unless of course, you want to be known as a greedy, money-grubbing louse.
People want to know the people they hire will give value. What better way to show someone you give value than to help them when they’re operating on a tight budget (or in some cases, no budget).
Do you think they’re going to remember the guy who said: “Sure, I’ll help you get your business going and your website optimized so you can start attracting clients. That’ll be $5000 please.” when their business starts getting crazy and they need to offload some of the work? Or will the remember the one who says: “If you’d like, I’ll take a look at your landing page and give you some suggestions on making it better.” Or “Let me edit that email; write a couple of quick blog posts; set up your newsletter, or whatever” when funds are low, they’re overwhelmed, and feel like they’re on an uphill trek to get their idea off the ground so they can share their passion.
Trust me. They’ll remember the helping hand far longer than they one who would only help if it was worth their while financially.
Giving is Attracting
I’m getting a little off track here, maybe. It all comes down to attracting, but I’ve learned giving is a huge part of attracting. Whether you give by listening to a friend who’s going through a tough time you can relate to, or by helping a fellow business owner with some copy or marketing, you are attracting.
I have been blessed with so many great people offering to help without asking for a dime. And many of them are even the ones who charge 4 or 5 figures for their courses and training. Those people learned an important lesson they’re sharing with the rest of us. You’re never too big to offer a helping hand to those who are a few steps behind you. Doing so pays enormous dividends in personal growth.
I’m looking forward to the time when I’ve gone through my growing pains and can carve out time in my busy schedule to help someone who is where I am now. That, for me will be what tells me I’ve found my success.
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a writer, blogger, Virtual Assistant and advocate for cats. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. She specializes in creating content that helps entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming release of “Life Torn Asunder: Rebuilding After Suicide”.