My One-Horse, One-Month 30-Day Challenge, Will You Join Me?

by AnneE
73 replies
I saw a post about a Tony Robbins 30-day challenge and decided to create one of my own.

I challenge you to spend the next 30 days, the month of November to focusing entirely on projects that you are already working on. Preferably this should be a small number of projects. Ideally it would be ONE project. Commit to NOT buying products (including WSO's) unless they are services that will support a strategy, website, product that you are already promoting. Stop researching alternative methods of internet marketing and USE the methods you already know how to do.

Too many of us, and I know I fall into this trap, are constantly changing our focus. We have a day job and a family and only have a very limited amount of time to work online. So it is critical that we maintain our focus during that time.

So for the next 30 days I will commit myself to making what I've already got working, work better. If you don't have anything that you feel is "working" yet, pick something today to focus on for the next month. No switching horses mid-stream in the month of November. Hence the name, "One Horse, One Month Challenge".

And, if by chance you already signed up for National Novel Writing Month (write one novel in the month of November) this works perfectly with that! Not that I think too many Warriors are fiction writers, but I'm sure there are a few.

So add a post, if you want to join me in my One-Horse, One-Month Challenge. Let's see what's on the other side of the stream by actually riding one horse for long enough to get there!
#30day #challenge #consistency #join #one horse #onehorse #onemonth
  • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
    I will definitely follow along with your challenge, though I'm not joining you exactly. I have, though, set up a challenge to work on a certain number of articles for one aspect of my business every day - these kind of challenges always help me to stay focused. Last year I did NaNoWriMo but wrote eBooks instead and it was a great way to focus!
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  • Profile picture of the author Shania
    I like this.
    The temptation to quite too soon is so great. I need to focus on my Article Writing without despairing. This will give me a chance to really ensure that I produce quality work and give value for money.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by Shania View Post

      I like this.
      This will give me a chance to really ensure that I produce quality work and give value for money.
      Great. Welcome to the challenge.

      This morning just before I posted this challenge, I came very close to purchasing a WSO. It was by someone who I've purchased from before (and I really liked what they offered) and it promised a decent income for a relatively small investment. But I stopped myself and thought -- they will still be selling this in another month. Yes, they are going to keep raising the price, but so what? So what if I have to pay another $10 or $20 for it, if it really could earn help me earn $1000 a month.

      There will always be more good offers, new methods to try. The key is staying with your current idea long enough to let it bear fruit.

      And then I saw the other thread about a 30 day challenge and I thought "Perfect. Don't pretend you will never get distracted, never sign up for another program. Don't pretend that you will stop buying WSO's." Just stop doing those things for a month. Just give what you already have in the works a month and put some effort in during that month and then see what happens. At the end of the month THEN think about whether you want to continue to focus on it, or shift your priorities.

      And I thought, what better way to commit to stay focused than to post about it on Warriors and perhaps get some synergy going too.
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  • Profile picture of the author GerberDeLange
    Oh yeah, I'm with you. I really need to focus on one project at a time and finish that project, before starting another one. It's so easy to start something else when you see that new WSO or get that email about the latest way to make $ by doing something different from what you are doing right now.

    Reading Dennis Becker's 5 Bucks a Day really started me on defining my projects and finishing them and this is a great reminder.
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  • Profile picture of the author jointaldc
    you know, I like this... because every inch of my being is telling me not to do it, and I know my inner self is lazy, I need to focus, so I definitely will join. I'm in
    Signature
    Jointal ---- A CPA network that operates on trust -
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    Welcome jointaldc, GerberDeLange to the challenge. And it is a CHALLENGE!

    Funny you mention Dennis (Mr. 5-Buck-a-Day) because his email brought this morning's temptation.... a link to a reseller package. This guy is earning 6-figures selling this stuff, so could you....blah, blah, blah.... the siren song.

    I have to admit, I looked. If I had been really good, I probably wouldn't even have taken the time to look, but I will confess I did look.

    But no, I will for ONE MONTH work on the niches and businesses I already have.

    It's very unsexy, of course, like a date with your spouse. Hard to get too excited about continuing with the same old. But, I must, or I will forever regret it.

    Ride on, fellow challengers/Warriors!
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    I'm in.

    I have one website and it's under construction...by the end of the month the website will be completely set up and optimized and I'll have my backlink FOUNDATION(about 50-150..not sure yet.) established.


    Yuuusss

    Would anyone like to meet up once a week?

    Aaryn
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    • Profile picture of the author mankis
      That's a challenge! I'm in! In next 30 days I will redesign my own page. It looks same all this years, what is embarrassing since I'm offering revolutionary design and programming.
      But I must say it will be hard. I have tried many times to work on that but allways something new came up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quilst
    Hey everyone!
    If there is room I will also join. I never seem to get enough motivation and I consider myself to be a very lazy dog. I jump from one thing to another. Let this month be a challenge. I know a way of making money and it involves a thing called work.

    If you all agree we could post each day on our progress
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by Quilst View Post

      Hey everyone!
      If there is room I will also join. I never seem to get enough motivation and I consider myself to be a very lazy dog. I jump from one thing to another. Let this month be a challenge. I know a way of making money and it involves a thing called work.

      If you all agree we could post each day on our progress
      The more, the merrier. There is definitely room. So welcome -- AwesomePossum, Quilist and mankis.

      I'll propose that we (anyone accepting the challenge) post our status to this thread (if you slip up, fess up and climb back on that horse). Post your status once a day or every few days and at least once a week.

      If someone wants to propose a Skype call or other alternative way of communicating, that's fine. I don't think I'll try to organize myself, as my schedule is kind of up in the air and I'd hate to organize a call, and then end up not being able to do it. But someone else can do so if there's interest.

      And now, as Quilist said, off to do some WORK!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author mankis
    Yes, let's go to do some work! Why am I still reading this forum , this forum is really addictive
    I will tommorow come with report, now said it I know I will do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Alright so my actions today to constructing my website consisted of me quiting my job(not really a wise decision so try not to follow my footsteps.)

    I really woke up every day hating my job so I'm done. I put in my two weeks and I'm giving myself 2 weeks to build my site till I find my new job...I have enough money to tide me over for a few months so everything will be alright.

    I guess that's my main activity today. Tomorrow I think my plan is to research the industry in and out.

    - I have my keywords selected so my next step is to write an article for all 12 of my keywords....

    I'm doing that through searching my 12 keywords and picking the top 5 sites on google for each word and then explore each website.It's a very tedious task but this will make me an expert in my respected field.

    Ohhh and my site is maleenhancement-product.net if anyone's interested. You can track my progress
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  • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
    OK - I'm in. I know what I do that works, so that's where I will focus my attention.

    I'm not clear, though, on how we'll be sharing our progress or lack thereof ... so I hope some of y'all who are participating will lead the way by example so I'll have a pattern to follow.

    Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Alright so I have a pretty awesome idea.

    I was part of the beta testing for google wave and it's legit. You can talk with multiple people real time, video chat and sync in with social media just to name a few things so we could definitely use that...

    The best part is you can see everything being typed real time #1 and number two it's very flexible so people can add in whenever it's convenient.

    We can set up video conferences once a week about how we're all doing following through in our actions and MAYBE get a little into exactly what we're doing and how to improve all of our ideas...BUT right now action's the focus of this shin dig so..

    What does everyone think about the whole google wave?

    If everyone's cool with it we can just PM and I can sync everyone up together..it's really really simple and everyone can see and friend and interact with each other.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tam Chancellor
    Oh, I want to play
    I have two projects that need to get completed, but I have been spinning my wheels for the past month or so. This is really a fantastic idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    so if anyone wants to join the google wave so we can talk on a regular basis here's my google wave email....aarynhuntsman(a t )gmail.com

    If you don't know how to set up wave all you have to do is go do a search on google wave or go here... wave.google.com At this point if you don't have a google email sign up. It's really easy then go to the bottom left hand corner where contacts are then hit the add button on the bottom right of the contact box....it's a +...at this point we're ready to rock!!

    If you're(anyone) not feelin it I'll keep posting here anyways everyone's included...I'm just trying to make it easier to get in touch with everyone.


    So last night I finished my first of starting 11 articles/pages for my website!! 10 to go!!!

    My goal today is to knock down 2 to 3...I'm going for 3.

    P.S: Tam Ikea's awesome so a quote from the owner must be just as cool
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  • Profile picture of the author mankis
    Here is my report. First I needed an revolutionary idea for my new design. So today I was letting my creativ mind go where no one has gone before .
    Tomorrow I need to try programming some part of that idea to be sure that it is possible to do it. I know that it seams like a little acomplishment, but it is acctually 80% of the job, I was just lucky to come to an idea in one day.
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    • Profile picture of the author ucajack
      Absolutely that focus and concentration is so vital. i am subscribing to this wonderful challenge.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ester B
    I'm in! I found this a perfectly timed timely reminder to FOCUS!
    Personally not sure about the wave thing, as for time differences reasons (and as its also another distraction!) but willing to join this challenge if there's room for an unfocused a new-bie who wishes to focus,use and strengthen that focus muscle!
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    I HAVE AN IDEA I PICKED UP FROM EBEN PAGAN(WHO MAKES 20 MILLION A YEAR OFF OF ONLINE BUSINESS).

    TAKE YOUR NUMBER ONE GOAL FOR EACH DAY AND TAKE ACTION ON IT RIGHT WHEN YOU WAKE UP OR RIGHT AFTER WORK...JUST SIT DOWN AND DO IT FIRST.

    This helps us use our energy right to make sure we at least get take care of what's most important.

    Sweet, posting once a day sounds great to me.

    mankis, very nice. Get rockin on that little accomplishment because it looks like a key step for you...make sure it's your number one importance tomorrow to get going.

    I've written two more articles today and I'm about to sit down and write one to two more...

    8 articles to go before I start organizing and building my website for optimization

    So far so good...

    ***

    Hope my idea helped and I'm excited for this challenge

    Aaryn
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  • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
    Built a lens today. Freshened up a few others.

    Took a long, hard look at the tangled web I've woven ... blogs, and static pages, and Squidoo lenses ... chose which ones will get my attention this month and which ones will have to wait for later. Wrote down my choices so I won't forget.

    Worked on learning two new software programs that I'd downloaded. I think they will be very useful if I can learn how to use them fast enough.

    Most fun part: picking which lenses to put in my sig file.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by CCGAL;

      Built a lens today. Freshened up a few others.

      Took a long, hard look at the tangled web I've woven ... blogs, and static pages, and Squidoo lenses ... chose which ones will get my attention this month and which ones will have to wait for later. Wrote down my choices so I won't forget.

      Worked on learning two new software programs that I'd downloaded. I think they will be very useful if I can learn how to use them fast enough.

      Most fun part: picking which lenses to put in my sig file.
      I see what you mean (looking at your signature).... mine is the same way. The BAD part of having lots of websites or Squidoo pages, is that you can possibly promote them all in one signature. Sigh... So it's one more way of choosing what you care the most about working on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tam Chancellor
    Yesterday, I fell off the horse. Today is a new day. Getting back on the horse.

    Tam

    P.S. I just love the horse metaphor
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  • Profile picture of the author FloridaKash
    I will join your challenge, but I have a couple things going on.

    I have one project that should wrap up by the end of this week. Let me rephrase.... it WILL wrap up by the end of this week.

    I will continue to create content and market the site in my signature.

    I will be starting another site ina completely different niche (already have the domain).

    Does this count? I won't add anything else to my plate.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by FloridaKash View Post

      I will join your challenge, but I have a couple things going on.

      I have one project that should wrap up by the end of this week. Let me rephrase.... it WILL wrap up by the end of this week.

      I will continue to create content and market the site in my signature.

      I will be starting another site ina completely different niche (already have the domain).

      Does this count? I won't add anything else to my plate.

      I think it counts. I like a quote from Herb Brooks (coach of the 1980 men's "Miracle" Olympic ice hockey team. He said:

      Plan your work and work your plan.

      Too often we do the first and then don't stick with that plan.

      FloridaKash -- You've got your plate full, so your plan is not to add anything more on for all of November.

      For me today the challenge was a free webinar that was going to tell me how to make $500 in 24 hours. Normally, my reasoning would go -- gosh, it's only going to cost me one day of my time and I could use $500. I mean $500 a day would be 15K in a month, right? Sounds pretty darn good

      Normally, I would follow the link, if only just to see if I could figure out what it was. But I thought of this challenge and said, NO..... in November I will be focused.

      I'm not sure about the Google Wave, at the moment up to my eyeballs in day job demands, just taking a 10 minute coffee/sanity break. So I'll consider that possibility another time.

      So welcome CCGal, FloridaKash, TamChancellor, Suky, ucajack.

      In terms of posting progress, I sort of feel that anything goes. I'm sure people don't want an hourly report. And I don't think people should feel obligated to post every day -- for some folks that alone might become a distraction. But if it helps people to post every day, then they should do so. I don't think we have to all do it exactly the same.

      TTYL,
      Anne

      Ride on Warriors.
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  • Profile picture of the author KristieDean
    I like this idea (and I had forgotten about the novel writing month!). I think I will join you on this challenge! I have two projects I am working on, and I am going to focus on these two. Great idea!


    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

    I saw a post about a Tony Robbins 30-day challenge and decided to create one of my own.

    I challenge you to spend the next 30 days, the month of November to focusing entirely on projects that you are already working on. Preferably this should be a small number of projects. Ideally it would be ONE project. Commit to NOT buying products (including WSO's) unless they are services that will support a strategy, website, product that you are already promoting. Stop researching alternative methods of internet marketing and USE the methods you already know how to do.

    Too many of us, and I know I fall into this trap, are constantly changing our focus. We have a day job and a family and only have a very limited amount of time to work online. So it is critical that we maintain our focus during that time.

    So for the next 30 days I will commit myself to making what I've already got working, work better. If you don't have anything that you feel is "working" yet, pick something today to focus on for the next month. No switching horses mid-stream in the month of November. Hence the name, "One Horse, One Month Challenge".

    And, if by chance you already signed up for National Novel Writing Month (write one novel in the month of November) this works perfectly with that! Not that I think too many Warriors are fiction writers, but I'm sure there are a few.

    So add a post, if you want to join me in my One-Horse, One-Month Challenge. Let's see what's on the other side of the stream by actually riding one horse for long enough to get there!
    Signature

    Ready for a change? Need a transformation? Read Reformat Your Life Today!

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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Very good thought AnneE. Everyone should work at their own pace and if you fall of the horse for even a week it's ok. Get back up on the horse...I've had a LOT of falling off in this journey and the biggest step is admitting you fell of the horse and to get right back on it even if you went for a walk while you were of the horse...

    And yesterday I kind of fell off the horse...

    I only wrote one article and today I'm going to Estes Park with my girlfriend so I'm going to sit down and hopefully bust out two articles before 11:30 but I could only get one.

    My goal of the day is 2 articles...2 would be amazing considering the day coming up and how late I woke up :/

    So as of now I have 5 articles written and only 6 to go!

    My goal is to have all of my articles set up by Monday Nov. 8th...2 a day.

    Then I have more work but the 6 articles are my only focus in life...

    FOCUS.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quilst
    Still here

    I also fell of the horse. I started my usual day and end on some discussion forums. I know I lack of focus and get easily distracted by the shiny thingy info.

    My main objective failed and it is no longer manageable to make money with it. But old people in my country say: When God closes the door he opens a window. Today I got a offer to do some work for my ex JV and a good friend. I will do that and I must be punishing myself for letting another day fly me by like that.

    Well, enough said... Where did my horse go?
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    • Profile picture of the author FloridaKash
      Okay, good news. I have my second site up now so that project is now completed! Yay.

      My first site is an affiliate site. Simply put, trying to drive traffic to it so I can make money off of ads.

      Got my second site up today. Its all set to go once ClickBank approves my product. Today I spent a lot of time marketing to the niche websites that I think would provide me with a TON of targeted traffic if they are willing to display my ad banners. We'll see if I get any responses to my emails. There is a ton of money to be made, I just hope they see it that way as well. I learned with my second site that outsourcing my web development is key since I am inept in this department. Found a very fast web designer that creates a super professional product and is more than I could ask for. This site is selling a product I created.

      So, since I got all that accomplished I am back to article submission for my first site and I am writing future articles for my second so I have them in the bag once my product is approved. Hoping this will save me time.

      I was hoping to start my third project this month, but until I find a much more efficient method for submitting articles manually I don't think I'll have the time to work on my third site. I intend to put 80% of my effort into the site that sells my own product and 20% into my affiliate site.
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    • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
      Originally Posted by Quilst View Post

      Still here

      I also fell of the horse. I started my usual day and end on some discussion forums. I know I lack of focus and get easily distracted by the shiny thingy info.

      My main objective failed and it is no longer manageable to make money with it. But old people in my country say: When God closes the door he opens a window. Today I got a offer to do some work for my ex JV and a good friend. I will do that and I must be punishing myself for letting another day fly me by like that.

      Well, enough said... Where did my horse go?
      Go find a new one
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    • Profile picture of the author mankis
      Originally Posted by Quilst View Post

      Still here

      I also fell of the horse. I started my usual day and end on some discussion forums. I know I lack of focus and get easily distracted by the shiny thingy info.

      My main objective failed and it is no longer manageable to make money with it. But old people in my country say: When God closes the door he opens a window. Today I got a offer to do some work for my ex JV and a good friend. I will do that and I must be punishing myself for letting another day fly me by like that.

      Well, enough said... Where did my horse go?
      In my country they say that too
      Hope you will get back on a horse, or find a new one like AwesomePossum say.
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      • Profile picture of the author mankis
        Well, my report.
        I have found few ways how to realize my idea. One even includes real people, so I have sent email to that people to ask will they help me and now I'm waiting for their answer. Mean while I'm doing plan B if they refuse me. It is very exciting, but still nothing is created, hope I will make it in 30 days. It must be the best thing I have ever done or there is no use. So I'm pretty nervous.
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Alright daily update. Yesterday I did a really good job staying on the horse. I got back from Estes Park around 8:30 and I was exhausted. The worst part about it is that I didn't have any knowledge of the article and the research led me almost nowhere and about a half hour in I had about 100 words with a beautiful girl provoking me. It just wasn't in me to bust out this article. I had a little bit of a hard time focusing....BUT I stuck to my horse because I saw his cute little stable hotel on the horizon and I finished up my article.

    I have 4 more to write and I could finish them up today but worst case I'll take them out tomorrow.

    My ultimate goal is two because I'm going home for the day.

    Time to go get my horse...I'll see you all on the road.

    Aaryn
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  • Profile picture of the author USGTMauthor
    I did a beta test of my DO IT program a while back and gave a bunch of the ebooks away. The results were great, but boiled down to one factor, those who did the program and those who second guessed it or did not do it. All of those who followed it to the letter made progress, in many instances exceptional progress.

    I do not post this to sell it, but to once again point out that action is the key. There are many systems out there, but the ones that focus on the basics like goal setting and personal action work if people use them.
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author nokta2023
    How I wish I could support this idea, 'cos my current projects are too small to focus on individually. But I can think about what you are trying to imply. In some resources I have come across some comments as for most new internet marketers just starting out trying to make an online income, the information they get on the net is completely overwhelming. For the time being I dont want to fall into a pitfall.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by nokta2023;

      How I wish I could support this idea, 'cos my current projects are too small to focus on individually. But I can think about what you are trying to imply. In some resources I have come across some comments as for most new internet marketers just starting out trying to make an online income, the information they get on the net is completely overwhelming. For the time being I dont want to fall into a pitfall.
      Nokta2023, I'm sure you can follow the challenge. You already have some current projects. You don't have to choose just one, but what you do have to do, is not add any. I think it's best to choose a primary focus. But it doesn't have to be the only thing you work on. What you do have to do is NOT jump on every new WSO or new money-making scheme that comes along (if you want to rise to the challenge).

      While technically, I've met the challenge this weekend. I did not switch horses and begin anything new. On the other hand, my primary goal for this month is promoting my audiobooks to learn Spanish. They are my product and I feel very much my "big idea." This is the horse that will get me to the other side of the stream.

      On the other hand, I also have some existing products that I sell, most of them through various reseller agreements. For one of these, a guide to creating membership websites, I was given an opportunity to run a sale on it for one week. I felt it would be foolish to not even try to profit from this opportunity and so (previous link), I updated the sales page with the sale and spend my online hours this weekend publicizing it.

      It isn't quite falling off the horse, but... it isn't quite riding forward with purpose and conviction, either. I guess I'm looking at the bright side that this challenge has me thinking about the need to ride forward and drive myself and my horse.

      Ride on fellow Warriors!
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  • Profile picture of the author Fahmod
    Good, it's already Nov 8, but I join the challenge after following the steps of a just acquired WSO ...

    - Domain registered and in propagation mode ...
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Update:

    uhmm I kind of fell off of the horse. I'm one article short of hitting my goal, it's 7 PM, I'm about ready to play aggrivation then call my girl because she had a beyond rough day...

    I'm in a sticky situation but I think I'll pull through..honestly I don't care how hard it is or how late...I'm going to get back up on the horse...I'm really tired but honestly another hour sounds easy but it's rough right now...really rough.

    sighh...

    Yes I'm committed. I'm doing that last article before I fall asleep tonight.

    I know know why this is called The Warrior Forum

    Aaryn
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    • Profile picture of the author icrystal
      Okay I like this idea too Planning and focus are a big part of success.

      My big goal right now is to make $10,000 per month and quit my 9-5 by the end of June 2011. I have a plan to acheive that and the start is to create 50 affiliate sites by the end of January.

      My current goal is to outsource affiliate site building (my day job and kids dont leave me enough free time to create these sites effectively) and NOT get distracted by a new plan until this goal is met.

      I think these sites can be very good money makers IF the right keyword research is done - so this is where I will put the free time I do have to use. Turns out this is VERY time consuming too - surprise, surprise.

      I have found 16 of the 50 so far so my goal for this month will be to discover the remaining 34.

      This week, I'll find at least 11 - that's my goal

      Also, I have outsourced the building, writing and promotion of 16 of the sites (I'm really excited about that!)

      PS AwesomePossum... what are you doing in your profile pic? I keep staring and wondering but I can't figure it out lol!
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      • Profile picture of the author AnneE
        Originally Posted by icrystal View Post

        ....

        PS AwesomePossum... what are you doing in your profile pic? I keep staring and wondering but I can't figure it out lol!
        Well AwesomePossum, inquiring minds want to know! And don't beat yourself up just for needing a bit of rest. It isn't the rest that causes problems, it's the diversions off to find greener pastures that turn out to not be any greener after all.

        In terms of my projects, I haven't made the mistake of adding any new projects, but have been scattered a bit more than I'd like between existing websites, Squidoo lenses, etc.

        It does help to have a team goal of driving hard with the skills, ideas, goals you already have and to stop window shopping so much. No webinars for me this month.

        I also liked what someone said above about deciding what was REALLY important for the day and tackling it.

        Ride on Warriors!
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  • Profile picture of the author HostWind
    I am all for this let the journey begin!
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    • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
      Nope, I didn't fall off the horse. In fact, I'm rather pleased with myself.

      Won't bore you with the details; most of it is either Squidoo or WordPress related, but I can say my sales have started to increase, so I feel certain that the tweaks I've been making are having an influence.

      PLR has been on the back burner - I'm finding I'd rather write new lenses and articles for myself at the moment.

      I hope you are all focused and energized and ready for the Holiday Season!

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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Alright so I kinda fell off the horse and I fell short of my goal by one day.

    I'm ok with that.

    My next goal is to have my website completely set up by Sunday.

    I've got my articles completed and I'm going to edit them for conversion.
    I'm going to set up all my affiliates through articles and my website.
    I'm going to create my free report.
    I'm going to implement my affiliate and free report for conversion.
    I'm going to submit all of my articles on ezine, wait for a day then put my articles up on my website.

    My goal is to have my website completely up and running by Monday.
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  • Profile picture of the author sith005
    Great idea! This has always been my biggest challenge - staying focused and finishing. I'm so ADHD sometimes that I find methods that make money and give a great ROI, but then I move on because I lose interest?!?! But when I ground myself and focus, I grow those successes. So I'm with you. I have 2 major projects open right now. I'm going to focus ONLY on these, for the rest of the month.
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    So we are almost halfway through the month. Who is still riding strong?

    I have to confess, as I sit here at 1:30 AM on a night I had "free" and I realize I made no progress towards my most important goals, that I need to do more than just not take on new projects. I really do need to commit to riding one horse.

    My website and business that I truly love is, NoWorkSpanish.com and while it's fun to log on to Squidoo and see I sold an Amazon book or got a new comment on my guestbook and while I think "Oh I should just write a blog post on that other site, because look here is some free content"... or "oh this forum that I stumbled upon has dofollow signatures, let me add some posts." Meanwhile day turns to night and night to day and my "new idea" is going to be old before I ever really give it a chance.

    And so I'm trying once again to shift my mindset, to crank up my commitment. More is needed. There is a scene in a book I've been reading (actually it's a family read-as-we-rdie-along-in-a-car book), Leviathan, where someone has smuggled gold bars onto an airship and now the airship isn't gaining altitude quickly enough and the only way to survive is to toss the gold bullion overboard to make the airship lighter. A horrible shame, right? Well, it's a matter of priorities.

    With just over a half-month to go, I can see my new business is not gaining altitude fast enough and I have to start jettisoning. I've got a press release half-written, a video half-made and radio shows that interview people that I'm supposed to email-- all related to No-Work Spanish and if I have to give up some other "gold", well.... at least I have a funny scene in a book to think of.

    So how is everyone else doing with the One-Horse, One-Month Challenge??
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  • Profile picture of the author cjordan231
    I'm on board. Great post by the way!
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    Thanks, cjordan231.

    Pretty quiet on this thread at the moment. Is everyone that focused? Or gone on to other things?
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    • Profile picture of the author icrystal
      Well I figure Monday is a great day for an update so here goes...

      I now have 21 keyword phrases chosen and 21 matching domains purchased. All 21 are currently being built, written and promoted by a fellow warrior.

      I not only fell of my horse last week, I pretty much crashed. I realized that I had done my keyword research wrong on several of my sites (I used Phrase match instead of Exact) and many of them won't get much traffic... so I was feeling pretty down.

      But I decided to just brush it off and find new keywords and move on. The sites that won't get enough traffic to make money are just going to sit empty until they expire. I have to focus my attention on the ones that will make money.

      Also, I decided that affiliate money isn't the only way to make money so of my 21 sites, 14 will be affiliate sites and 7 will be Adsense.

      My goal for this week is to assess my finances and see how many sites I can afford to have built for me in the next little while. With Christmas coming I need to be very careful.

      At the same time though, as I sit here at my desk at my J.O.B., I really really dislike every minute. I just have to push forward to see my dream through. Wishing each day away is not the way I want to spend my years. Ugh...

      How is everyone else doing?
      ...and what's everyone else's inspriation for wanting to succeed?
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    • Profile picture of the author LindseyRainwater
      Ha! I just noticed this thread.

      I actually have two things I'm completely focused on this November.

      One is NaNoWriMo. I am a fiction writer. I find it amusing you mentioned that.

      The other is trying to get my PLR site making money. I've dabbled in PLR before, and know there is potential for those who have new, quality content (I've seen plenty of people here on WF who seem to be doing well with it!) So I finally made a site and am focusing on it.

      Unfortunately nothing is happening yet, but I knew if I didn't focus on it, nothing would EVER happen!

      Here's to settling down on one or two things and riding them until they work! (Sorry if that sounded odd.)

      P.S. And my inspiration is my husband having no job due to being laid off, and I don't want him to have to find another crummy job! I'd rather keep him home!
      Signature
      Limited Time: Grab the "Pay Your Way" option, and get a complete website with content created - without having to pay the full amount up-front! Pay what you can today, and make payments from there! Click HERE for more info!
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  • Profile picture of the author YellowBird
    I just happened to find this thread and think it's great! Looks like lots of progress is being made and the month is halfway over.

    Guess my focus for the month is to finish Tony Robbins Personal Power. Figured that my foundational beliefs and skills in following through were lacking and until I could get clear with what I wanted and learn how to change my habits, well, I'd probably keep getting the same half-a*%ed results.

    It's inspiring to see what is being put together in each of your lives. Sometimes a small boost is all ya need.. other times a big kick in the keester. I think I have been in the latter category until recently - but not any more!
    Best,
    Deb
    Signature
    Voted #1 Internet Marketing service by IM Report card: www.internetmarketing-abc.com
    Blog about successful late blooming: www.debbauer.com
    "The secret to changing your life is changing your mind."

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  • Profile picture of the author Tam Chancellor
    I admit that I can get easily distracted by "shiny news objects", but thinking about this thread has kept me on track. I am on track to finishing two projects that have been languishing for the past couple of months. This thread has been really helpful.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Tam, I'm glad you are finding the thread helpful. It's definitely helping me. I'm even getting better about not reading all the emails about new product announcements, etc. I keep myself in check by remembering how hypocritical it would be of me to have started this thread, committed myself to this and then just.... forget about staying focused.

      So LindseyRainwater, how's the novel? They give you some goal of writing some number of words each day, right? 500 maybe? So you'd end up with 15K word novel at the end of the month -- or am I off -- certainly breaking down those giant tasks into smaller ones is helpful. Whether you are writing a novel or starting a business (I'm saying that mostly for my own benefit)

      icrystal -- thansk for the update! Sounds like you are going full-speed ahead, even if you had to take a moment after discovering the keyword info.

      YellowBird, I've heard several folks mention a Tony Robbins program. I should check those out, though not till December

      Okay.. back to my tasks for today.

      Ride on Warriors!
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      • Profile picture of the author YellowBird
        @AnneE, December sounds good. I'll be going through it again in January. I've heard repetition is the mother of skill.

        By the time I've finished two rounds, I'll be spouting Robbins truisms, no doubt. They are catchy, tho!

        Deb
        Signature
        Voted #1 Internet Marketing service by IM Report card: www.internetmarketing-abc.com
        Blog about successful late blooming: www.debbauer.com
        "The secret to changing your life is changing your mind."

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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    Someone above asked about what motivates people. Last night I went through incoming bills and discovered (pun coming up there) that this month's Discover bill is about $1300 more than what I would project to be in the bank account on the due date. The due date is about 3 weeks away and I realized that I need about 65 sales between now and then for $1300 That's quite doable.

    Sure that's not my long-term vision, to be able to pay my Discover bill. But in the short-term I think it is good to motivate me to push sales NOW and push myself NOW.

    I'm still surprised how quiet the thread is recently, versus the first few days. Maybe I'll message a few folks to see how they are doing.

    Ride on Warriors!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
      Banned
      I think you're all awesome for having the courage to take part in this challenge.

      And, if you don't complete it 100%, then no matter because you've learned something, you've made progress, and you'll be ready to succeed next time. Or just keep succeeding if that's what you prefer.

      Thanks for the inspiration.

      That said, you still have half the challenge left. Keep pushing yourself. Keep succeeding. Now may be a good time to redefine your goals knowing how much you've accomplished etc. Good luck.

      (Sorry to butt in, Anne, just thought I'd write something.)
      Signature
      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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      • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
        My horse and I have had a long dark night of the soul this past week, as business goes.

        I am not happy that I have to change something that I've been doing. This is related to my one-horse-one-month goal, and I knew that I'd be making some changes, but I didn't expect that this particular course correction would be so emotionally charged or that it would be so uncomfortable.

        I have to learn to build "spammy" lenses.

        You have no idea how horrid this makes me feel.

        But the handwriting is on the wall (and you get points if you know from where THAT phrase originates!) and it's pretty clear to me that if a Squid newbie can come in and make lenses that are nothing but a few keywords in the intro and links to places to buy and get a first squid-pay that's 13 times larger than mine after I've played by what I thought were "the rules" for over 2 years, that I've got to change how I Squidoo.

        That hurts. OUCH!!!

        But ... it's either got to be a hobby or it's got to pay me for my time, so I'm biting the proverbial bullet, taking my lumps, and am forcing myself to look at what works and what doesn't, from a monetary standpoint. Not fun, but certainly necessary.

        I still have over 130 lenses, despite having deleted many over the past few weeks, zeroing in on those interests that truly reflect my personality. Many of those I've deleted were made when I was just looking at Squidoo as a fun place to hang out, and was building lenses on every subject that crossed my mind while trying to get to Giant and Giant 100.

        Of the 130 or so, I've looked at stats for the past year and have determined which ones have made me money, and which ones are fun but not profitable.

        I've chosen to only update and improve those lenses which have monetary potential, and to that end I've gone through about 50 or so and have added items that increase "cross-pollination" inside Squidoo, and I've added more click-out-to-buy-something modules to all of those selected.

        I put two more articles into the hopper at EZineArticles.com that point back to my lenses, and I've got several drafts working.

        Going to have to change horses a little bit this week, though. We were tracked down by someone who wants to purchase one of hubby's cutting boards, so I promised him I would take photos and get them up for sale. Although, if I put them on a Squidoo lens with Paypal buttons, I guess it would count for this challenge. I may as well put them up on eBay, since the holidays are upon us and they would make great gifts.

        In my spare time I've been working my way through a course I bought, and I found some new tools to use on Squidoo, so I'm going to try to learn how to use them effectively this next week.

        Oh, I almost forgot. I joined the war room and have made it a point to at least go read for a few minutes every day.

        And I've been unsubscribing left and right from mailing lists again. That helps the focus big time.

        Sorry this is so long - hope it wasn't boring.

        Back to lurk mode. :rolleyes:

        Edit: PS ... I forgot to tell you something. I made a clickbank sale, and when I discovered that, I also discovered that I had made 3 sales back in February that I didn't know about ... and because I didn't have any others, for the second time since I started with Clickbank, I lost my commission for not having hit that 5 methods of payment rule. So I am adding to my goal for this month getting enough clickbank sales to get past that 5 payments rule so I can get paid.
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        • Profile picture of the author AnneE
          Originally Posted by CCGAL View Post

          ....

          I have to learn to build "spammy" lenses.

          You have no idea how horrid this makes me feel.

          But the handwriting is on the wall (and you get points if you know from where THAT phrase originates!) ....
          First, no, I don't know where the phrase "the writing is on the wall" comes from.

          Secondly, although it burns me up to see people make money online with what I consider SPAM or taking advantage of people, I've decided that there is a middle ground.

          You can decide to make your lenses more commercial, without necessarily resorting to SPAM, or tactics that are distasteful to you. I'm sure there are products you consider worthwhile that tie in to some of your popular lenses. Or if you create a lens that is more product oriented, use the Sidebar Widget of Featured Lenses to send traffic from your already popular less-commercial lens to the new one. I'm going to PM you an example of what I'm suggesting...

          So I assume someone posted in the SquidU forum boasting about their online earnings? and that is how you knew how much they made.

          It doesn't matter that someone else has found a winning formula before you have. It just matters that you are going to keep on trying until you have found a winning formula and your desired online income.
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      • Profile picture of the author AnneE
        Originally Posted by Jonathan 2.0 View Post

        I think you're all awesome for having the courage to take part in this challenge.

        And, if you don't complete it 100%, then no matter because you've learned something, you've made progress, and you'll be ready to succeed next time. Or just keep succeeding if that's what you prefer.

        Thanks for the inspiration.

        That said, you still have half the challenge left. Keep pushing yourself. Keep succeeding. Now may be a good time to redefine your goals knowing how much you've accomplished etc. Good luck.

        (Sorry to butt in, Anne, just thought I'd write something.)
        Hey, people who cheer are ALWAYS welcome to 'butt in'!
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  • Profile picture of the author StephanieMojica
    Yes, I will join your challenge. I find that it is way too easy to become an "information junkie" and never move into actual action. My wagon is hitched to the Christian Mickelsen and Kathleen Gage horses and unless I find something from them or one of their trusted people that directly supports my business coaching, Internet marketing and writing I will not succumb

    I also am watching FAR less TV. Christian recommends a 30-day no TV challenge but I'm not so sure I'm really ready to go there!

    Stephanie
    Signature
    Are you still struggling to grow your Internet business income? Learn the secrets that increased my income 700%--and can do the same for you--in my free report "5 Business Prosperity Secrets." Go here now to download your copy at no cost to you...http://www.businessprosperitysecrets.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Daryl Lim
    Count me in, I'm currently focused on a product launch I am doing.

    I am frigging focused on this project, I must say. I planned to complete the main works of the whole launch in 2 weeks, but ended up over-working and completed the site, copy and bonuses all prepared in 4 days. All is left is the main product to be fully completed. Yay for Focus!
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    That's great Daryl. I wish I had gotten that much done in the last 4 days. I must say that today I'm really feeling foolish riding my same ol' tired nag as I've already received emails from several people telling me about how they either
    -- have the absolute BEST program to recommend to me (this has most often been the overnight expert program, though not always)
    -- have made 'a killing' or '$1xx,xxx in xx days' starting from scratch
    -- or.... I can't remember what else...

    Well I'm trying to regard these emails the same way that I do the headlines in the tabloids.

    Ride on, Warriors!
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  • Profile picture of the author Tonybuk
    Getting a bit late in the month, but just found this thread!

    Spookily, I had sat down a few days ago and picked 3 projects to concentrate on for the next few weeks. I found myself doing exactly as you said in the OP, starting one thing, then getting distracted by a new offer for somethingelse

    This looks like it will run on, so count me in from now.

    TonyB
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  • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
    I am sooo tired of working on my Squidoo lenses! I've been updating and cross linking and making use of the new RSS module and the Fluffanutta's RSS feeds for Amazon, eBay, and Clickbank, and I've made a couple of new lenses to boot.

    I decided to put the second project on the back burner so I could focus 100% on my Squidoo lenses, but I'm about ready to take a day off and go shopping.

    Maybe only I will find this amusing, but after I'd gone and spilled my guts here about how horrid I felt having to start building what I've been referring to as "spammy lenses", Squidoo came out with a cobrand that's ... drum roll please ... all about "spammy lenses" ... Holiday Gift Guide they've named it. Starts out with a nice template and has a cool banner. Makes my quest to build commercial lenses sooooo much easier! Also discovered that I've got a Christmas Theme available, so I've been putting that on lenses that have anything remotely associated with gifts or the holiday season.

    It's been fun ... but I really am on the edge of Squidoo burn - out, so I'm giving myself permission to take the afternoon off and go out to lunch and shopping with my daughter. Heck, I may even give myself an early Christmas gift of a haircut and some new shoes.

    Blessings of Abundance and Joy to all who read these words.
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  • Profile picture of the author PeterDunin
    Sound advice,many thanks for sharing!
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  • Profile picture of the author StephanieMojica
    So far, the challenge has worked amazingly well for me. I'm getting more done than ever and have more money and free time to spare.

    Peace,
    Stephanie
    Signature
    Are you still struggling to grow your Internet business income? Learn the secrets that increased my income 700%--and can do the same for you--in my free report "5 Business Prosperity Secrets." Go here now to download your copy at no cost to you...http://www.businessprosperitysecrets.com
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Originally Posted by StephanieMojica View Post

      So far, the challenge has worked amazingly well for me. I'm getting more done than ever and have more money and free time to spare.

      Peace,
      Stephanie
      That's great, Stephanie!

      Three more days left to the month. Today I received an email that sounded like a good idea. And I even followed the link and started to get the information. But then I thought, Anne, is this really key to what you are doing?

      The answer was, no. It wasn't even close to being a top-priority. It had just been endorsed by someone that I liked and sounded like a good idea, but no way should it be at the top of my to-do list. So.... thinking of this thread AND what I really want to accomplish this month and what I have 3 (well 3 and a half) days to finish, I just went and closed that window. Then I went and deleted the email that had sent me down the path.

      Now, I must return to my task at home.

      Ride on, Warriors.
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  • Profile picture of the author gilbertg
    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

    Too many of us, and I know I fall into this trap, are constantly changing our focus. We have a day job and a family and only have a very limited amount of time to work online. So it is critical that we maintain our focus during that time.

    This is soooo true, I keep giving myself targets, then halfway there I seem to stumble across a new technique, change my plan, rinse and repeat, and finally never get anywhere...
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  • Profile picture of the author georgelaurelle
    Sounds like a great challange... I might have to follow suit, albeit a little late
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    • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
      My focusing on Squidoo has started to pay off, albeit slowly.

      I completed 5 "Gift Guide" lenses yesterday, which is a record for me. Had a couple of sales from the first one made, which was a nice note on my dashboard. I've been experimenting with using my own affiliate link in addition to, and sometimes in lieu of the Squidoo module, but so far all but one of my sales have been via the Squid-mod.

      Joining the War Room was more of a distraction than I would have guessed, because there were so many interesting and shiny objects in there, that I spent way too much time this month exploring things I have no business (pun intended) getting involved with right now.

      Looking ahead, I have two other projects I want to work on, so I'm going to switch horses pretty soon. I've got 1600 images from my Aunt that I need to figure out how to monetize, so that's going to be the horse I ride next. If you're interested in seeing some samples of her art, I've thrown a few up on a page at my name blog. PM me if you want a link - it's not a permanent page, so I don't want to link here where I can't delete it later.

      I think they may have some value in the scrapbooking niche, but I have a lot to learn about that, as it's not something I am involved with.

      Wishing you all a joyous holiday season!
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  • Profile picture of the author Ester B
    hello people,
    well with two more days of the month left its clear for me that I will be doing the same next month!
    Learnt alot of lessons from the 1 horse riding. How to put my own blinkers on was the major lesson learnt..

    I have got plenty sidetracked this past month and its interesting to then be aware and see what my list of excuses are that come up!
    Sure I'm in a new area so I then have the favourite excuse of "research" coming up but any how I can see how much procrastination and yes I admit the good old "switching to "xyz"" I was thinking I was doing well with avoiding the shiny things and that I was doing well at the start of the month..

    But yes here I am at pretty much the end of the month and I have to admit to myself the switching and see clearly what I have done this month,...with no excuses! and yes like I said I will be doing this again next month for sure.
    As my horse turned into a merry-go-round this month and then finally just fell apart into the horse bolting and running away...or was that me??!..yes yes ok I admit it was ME bolting and running away!!

    Ive enjoyed reading the posts from you all here on your own separate horses..Gained encouragement,advice and also alot great quotes and things you all said from you guys!
    Thanks for that people! All the best and until Dec!
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    • Profile picture of the author AnneE
      Well since it's December, this challenge (for November) is officially closed. I see now that there is a new section to Warrior Forum for challenges and contests. Perhaps I will enter my 1 Horse challenge in that race -- though for the moment, I'm still riding along and don't even want to take a time out for long enough to set up a new challenge.

      My final "homestretch" (sorry the horse terms just keep coming) felt quite good. I just submitted a press release. I added and am testing a peelaway ad on home page of website. I've done quite a bit of research/legwork for offline promotion of online business and somewhat related to that promotion, I just got a thrilling email that I would receive a $500 affiliate commission check. Wow, occasionally those seeds sprout that you planted so long ago that you almost forgot about them.

      I didn't stay off Squidoo for quite as long as I wanted (funny that Squidoo was the horse of choice for some folks, for me it was a distraction)... but I did stop creating new lenses.

      In terms of what I learned this month --
      I did the best when I really tried to ride ONE horse, focus on ONE business -- rather than my initial approach which was simply to not add anything new to my plate.

      It does pay to boast about giving up bad habits. I remembered this challenge many times when reading through emails this month.

      Thanks to everyone who participated. Having company makes any task easier!

      Ride on Warriors!
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