Inspired by the jogging blogger

FOCUS = Follow one course until success.

Focus is something that historically I've struggled with. I often end up with lots of nothing to show for those efforts. Do you feel that starting this might sabotage your other "beginning" in this very subforum? If not, what is your plan to keep more balls in the air?

Buck

What happen to this thread or have you given up again ?

https://www.warriorforum.com/warrior...ing-again.html

You have to find one thig and stick to it! take ACTION and no more EXCUSES.

If this is going to be your year then make it a bloody good one

Jason

UMC, I've been right there with you! Losing focus is how I sabotaged my original plans for my PLR site. I had plans, got in a hurry, lost focus and loaded the site with "quality" junk! I made some money, but realized it was counter-productive to my passion and ministry for the site. I got discourage so much I left the IM business for 18 months. A friend virtually dragged me back in kicking and screaming the whole time.

I had no passion in it until we came to common grounds on the list building site. He needed some material and I had a similar site so I could work on both our stuff at the same time. But, he realized he was losing focus and went back to what he already started and has a following for (2000 subscribers list) and they aren't interested in list building.

In the meantime, as I was starting up on the site, I found this forum and put in my challenge. Even though he has no interest anymore, I am committed to finishing what I committed to in it.

What I found from the new beginning challenge is a renewed desire to make something happen. I found the Jogging Blogger, and I found the PLR I had started writing. And, with all that, it has renewed my passion for my PLR site and it's mission to help others.

My challenge here is light. Part of the reason is that it needs to become a daily routine in addition to my other daily duties. Unlike the site that has a beginning and an end, this is an ongoing habit I am building now.


Jason, I am not going to lie to you, I would LOVE to drop the other challenge and focus on my PLR site. BUT BUT BUT !!!

I am more afraid that my not completing my first challenge will actually do more harm to those who are following it and those who may come later and see it than the good it will do me towards setting back up my PLR site.

To me, other people are often more important than myself. A big part of the reason I am building/rebuilding my PLR site is to help other people. The whole site is designed around and dependent on helping other people, so much so I am not sure it can succeed without doing so.

BUT, I don't have those other people right now, I have these who are reading this forum who will either get hope or be discouraged by what I do. I can't stop now. I have to finish it.

I have resolved to finish the NinjaListSecrets site up to my challenge, and then to sell it. I am not going down the path I started with it. I have 8 more domains that I will either let expire or try to sell, or maybe even give away. I don't know. Their presence is always tugging at me to work on them and I want to keep my focus on my mission.

I believe in the long run, I'll help more people and make more money with my passion and mission than with automated sales sites.

I want you both to know that you have valid and legitimate concerns. I thank you for bringing them up and being concerned for me. If I were drifting off, I think your responses would have been a wake up call.

This week's update.

I only posted this challenge this morning, but I met my first goal anyway.

This morning I read a question in a FaceBook group that inspired me to write....

"First Email After Opt-In - Do You Just Give Value or Sell Something?"

In response, I wrote a 600 word article. Just for kicks and giggles (quite appropriate for that particular group) I posted the whole article as my answer. No one there knows it's my PLR piece, so I am interested in seeing their responses.

It was extremely time consuming and frustrating as my whole day has been full of interruptions. Until this evening, I probably didn't get more than 15 - 20 minutes of uninterrupted time working on it. I assume I have about 3 hours total in it but there's no way of really knowing. It took a lot of thought and rewriting before it became what I wanted.

I have also started a notepad file on my desktop. When I see a question I can answer, I add it to my list. So today, I answered two questions. One on the Bible and one on email marketing. I made the email marketing answer an article. I kept the Bible answer so I can rewrite it as an article later.

Thanks, guys, I'll be back next week.

Hello again this Sunday Evening.

Weekends here area always unpredictable and this one was no different. Several activities planned were canceled due to rain or other circumstances and my daughter went to a friends for an overnight yesterday afternoon.

That left me with the whole evening open, and all this morning open to do computer work. And computer work I did!

I not only completed my other challenge to set up the squeeze page, but I also set up my CuttingEdgePLR site and posted one (old) PLR product I got from Arun Chandran. (who, by the way, has been trying to get me back to this project for a while now. Thank you Arun!)

I mentioned having written one article for last week's challenge. I'll still need to do that for this week as well. Tonight I am planning on seeing if I can find all my writing from the past and gather it together so I can edit it and finalize it to put for sale.

MY SITE IS UGLY!!

I know, and I'm not changing it. When it makes money, I'll use some of that money to hire someone to make it pretty. Everything in it is free except for the backup script which no one can see.

Apparently my biggest challenge will be creating a squeeze page for my autoresponder, or I'll have to subscribe to GetResponse or Aweber to get the tools for a pretty squeeze page. I do believe that I had my buyers automatically added to the autoresponder before. I will be looking into that as well.

It only took a few hours to set up, but it is operational so I won't be providing the actual link. I'd like to keep the powers that be here happy.

The site is up, it's capable of making money now! (It isn't stocked for it yet.) And I am of PLR articles to write.

I am now more excited about working this business than I have been in about two years! This time, I am making arrangements to divert the junk PLR to another site so I can keep my focus and mission on CuttingEdgePLR.

More news later...

I think I have 50 websites now lol. I sure need to focus. But I am now letting old domains expire if the sites don't have much potential.

One thing I have started doing this year is to look at my sites and improve the top 10 pages on each of my sites. I've done it to 2 sites so far and just had the 2 highest traffic days so far this year. So it might have worked.

It was quite an easy thing to do as well. I know masses more about my niches than I did in 2011 when I wrote most of the articles.

So if you're writing new articles, remember to enhance existing ones as well.

Good Morning!

I just started my day by writing my first email:

How to Build a Self-Cleaning Autoresponder

I actually started 4 versions, completed two. The first to are worth deleting but the second two both work. Version C came to 899 words, so I rewrote it to streamline it and Version D came to only 645 words.

My biggest problem writing right now seems to be inspiration to write. I opened my word processor yesterday and stared. I looked over my list of topics but so much came to mind, I didn't know where to begin.I think this is a problem I have from a combination of being overwhelmed, and totally disorganized.

However, a few days ago, my friend gave me a link to Xmind, a mind map program I once used until I moved to Windows 10. Windows 10 won't run Adobe Air that Xmind was written in to be available for cross platform use. I did not know they had one for Windows again. I am glad to have it back.

This morning I decided to put my ideas on the mind map. Scattered and disconnected, I just put them there. The central them is "PLR Articles" from there I link the folders and subfolders and the articles I write. It is organized in the same order of my PLR articles folder so I can find any article I write.

I noticed when I plopped the titles and niches and ideas down, that many can connect in different ways. For example, "Setting Goals" can be used in many different categories includeing, "Getting Things Done" and "Losing Weight" and more. This means I can write one set of articles and then use one or more in other article packs, either slightly edited or as-is.

I can link each article to an Xmind box. This gives me the ability to make copies of different boxes in Xmind, and assemble a collection of article topics and ideas, with and without written articles. This way I can create an article pack by writing the unwritten articles and connecting the written one. I just click on each link to find the article I need to add to my PLR article pack.

This gives me the added advantage of being able to organize article packs even before they are written, and, after they are written, reuse the content for other packs where the articles are related.

Additionally, my wife informed me that the family is going on a diet effective Friday. She's on one furnished by her employer, I'm on one furnished by the VA and my daughter is on one furnished by her nutritionist. They are all similar, but from different sources with different focuses on nutrition. This means I have lots of fresh materials that I will be studying. i.e. I'll probably be writing a lot in the weight loss niche.

Now that I have all the topics scattered on my mind map, I am able to see connections and create article pack titles for each of the niches. This may resolve some of the combination of overwhelm and disorganization plaguing my inspiration.

I am hoping that this method of organizing will clear my mind and help me focus on article packs that focus on related articles. One of the goal-setting articles I planned is also a part of four other article packs I have laid out to write. One shot-four kills! Can you ask for anything better?

PS This isn't a promotion for Xmind, as any MindMap will probably do the same thing. This just happens to be the one I am familiar with and use.l

This evening I was able to write up two more articles. The articles are in a common niche and it took me a little over two hours each. That's a total of 3 articles in one niche this week. This weekend, if I find time, I'll try to write two more articles to make up the first pack of 5 PLR articles.

You might benefit from keeping a record of time spent online. You have written three articles this week -I think you said you were aiming at 600 or so word articles. If that's the case it's about 1800 words.

In that same week you've written about 2500 words in THIS thread alone.

If a mind map works for you - use it but do it quickly and get back to the writing that is your goal.

"Inspiration" is overrated. Open notepad instead of a word processor - make a quick outline of your article - 3 points to cover - 2 facts to mention....etc....and start writing. Don't stop to correct or think - just write about the topic.

When you feel stuck - look at your short outline at the top of the page and use one of the 'points' to keep going.

I would also suggest you post just one of your articles here in this thread and ask for critiques. I expect you are doing a good job as your writing in this thread is well done.

Edit: The above comments are not meant as a 'put down'. Learning to focus on the most important tasks is not an easy habit to acquire. A good practice is to write one article a day BEFORE you do anything else online. Before you visit the forum or check out new products or read your emails. Once that becomes a daily habit - change it to two articles a day before you do anything else online.

LOL Kay, I think I have a watchdog.

Thank you, (you counted the words??? LOL)

When I write, it usually takes three to four copies before I actually get it where I want it. For example, in one article I wrote 2 segments of about 500 words each and wasn't happy with the writing, so I canned them and started over. Then, I wrote it in 899 words, then 698 words is where I finally finished. That doesn't account for blocks of paragraphs I wrote, deleted, wrote again, deleted again and finally wrote what still might not be the final.

In here, I'm mostly sloppy. I have edited out sections sometimes, but as long as you understand what I'm saying, I leave it as-is.

BTW, I wrote another article right after leaving my update last night. Today, I wrote an 800+ word article that I deleted all but 200 words to and am about to go back to start it over from scratch.

As for the "put down" the thought never crossed my mind. anyone who would go to the trouble of counting my words to point this out has invested time in helping me. Thank You!!

Go back and look at my 3-tier goal. I don't go into much detail, but the three tiers are levels of success. It's a method of helping a procrastinator make progress in an overwhelming task. I see on my mind-map that I have added enough questions to my mindmap to write five articles on setting goals and getting things done. So, when I finish this series of articles, I'll probably make that my next project.

As you suggested, I do usually start off with writing an article. I often get inspired to write by whatever conversation I had the following evening. The series I am working on started with friend trying to reinvent the wheel in using his autoresponder. These articles, and many I wrote in the past, are actually me telling him what I would say if we didn't interrupt each other and kept on track to the topic. (I'm worse than him. LOL)

It's only 9:pm here, so hopefully, before I go to bed, I'll finish writing "How to Choose the Right Affiliate Offer for Your List." If I'm really good, I'll rewrite "Selling to Freebie Seekers." (yet again, LOL)

Thank you for your input and encouragement.

This weekend, I am hoping, really hoping, to finish this first 5-article series and get started on another.

Not much trouble to 'count the words - just copy/pasted blocks of your posts into a doc and checked that word count - not exact but close.

When I get back into writing after a break of weeks or months I have to work on my speed and the only way to increase speed is to write and push yourself. A quick outline -very quick and short list of 'points to cover' 1,2,3,4,5 - can cut down on 'redo's'. Also if you think an article may not be 'good enough' just save it in a folder and look at it again in a couple days when you are not as close to it. Often it looks better then.

You mention writing 800 words and deleting all but 200. If you are doing that much you'll give up in frustration. Organize your article 'points' and try to write by expanding your short outline - it will help organize your brain!

Another trick I've used when writing several article on a particular niche or topic is to KEEP text I've 'deleted.' It works well when you start writing in a new niche and it's tough to get going. Keep a (saved) notepad open and any time you 'delete' a paragraph - cut and paste it to that notepad. When you start to write the next day - glance through what you pasted there and you might find work you can use in the next article.

Don't aim for perfection - get the spelling and grammar right and don't bore people. That alone puts you in the top 25% of content writers.

kay

First update this week.

Sunday, I actually had noting I needed to do. So, I took a day off and enjoyed it. Monday was hectic, as it is in my schedule to be that way. Tuesday, did a lot of work for a friend, but I had time to work out some mind-maps.

Over the last few days, I had a shift in what I am doing. As you can see from my reports above, that I am thousands of words in a day trying to keep them somewhat in the 500-600 word range. My problem is that I am thinking like I am writing a book. I don't feel comfortable writing an article where it has no detail.

So, I have ending the article writing! Not this challenge, I will write, just not articles. I spent the week creating a new mind map of my book on Autoresponders. I have laid chapters and points in each chapter for the book.

Everyday I have written an artilcle, I my first draft has been in the 800 word range, with a rewrite to get it sounding descent. Then, I would try to take out content to make it an article. This is the hard part. I can't seem to be satisfied with giving just a few points that aren't backed up by details or some level of information that can be acted on unless the article is supporting a document that does such as a give-away product or product for sale.

To give you and idea, one of the articles I wrote is responsible for 5 chapters of the book. It took me 6 hours to get that ~500 word article written and more words than I can count. When I read the article, it is bland and dead to me.

So, I am writing a book and writing chapters instead of articles. Every article I've written so far depends on the others. So, by writing the book, I no longer have to restrain my thoughts and try to minimize them to 500 words. I can write away, proof read it and reorganize it into a chapter. I don't need to worry about the fact that it depends on the other chapters. They'll come along when they come along.

I am also one to plan for the future. My goal is to automate as much as possible. Even with these few writings, and other writings I am finding that I wrote years ago, I can see where they are overlapping. Something I want to say in one topic can be used in another. For example, the "S.M.A.R.T." method of setting goals. It's used in weight loss, body building, setting up your business, even in my planning my book. So, if am writing in any niche where setting goals is involved, I want to be able to link that document into my work.

I am using LibreOffice Writer for my word processor -- And I don't "type", I "word process" I use advanced word processing skills for creating my documents. I have headers defined for each header, text is rarely formatted, it uses a pre-defined format. When I want to change the look of a book, I just change the format of the header paragraph settings and the whole document matches instantly.

I used my randomly available times to research setting up a master document in Libreoffice writer. Today, I created the standard format for all my books. The cover page, the title page, the disclaimer pages and the content pages are all separate documents. Each chapter, as well as any segment of a chapter that can stand alone, will be saved in a separate document file so I can use it later. I have special plans for using these features in a unique way in the near future.

So, I was hoping to get some actual writing done today. But, I did accomplish a lot this morning. I still have two days to get some writing done, it is on top of tomorrow's priority list.

This afternoon while waiting on my family, I created the book cover for the autoresponder book I'm writing.

So, I'm really satisfied with the progress I have made. I now have my foundation laid to actually do the work. At this point, the only thing to do for the project is to write.

I'll be back with another update really soon!


================================================== ==========
New Goals for This Challenge
================================================== ==========

My ultimate goal is: Complete the Autoresponder Book

My High Challenge is: Write 500-1000 words a day towards the book

My Entry Challenge is: Write 1000 words of the book in a week.




PS I am hoping and expecting that writing articles will become easier because instead of trying to tie everything together, I will see an overall picture to make it easier to write supporting articles. Or, I can dump the articles idea altogether. We'll see what happens.

Sorry for the delay in this update. I was hired to do some online work.

This weekend, I wrote over 1000 words, and I started this morning writing a 500 word article. So, I am still on track. Hopefully, I'll get another 500 words or so written today.

Any updates on your progress?

Mark