And this shortcoming of mine is driving everyone else around me crazy.
Why? Because I keep emailing, contacting, talking, searching, writing, and researching. I keep jumping from one project to another, like a juggler. I’m constantly doing something to keep this project moving and that project progressing and this other project going…
In my efforts to keep everything moving, I’ve expanded my circle of influence to include a number of other people, who find themselves in desperate need of a reprieve from my persistence.
Not to totally alienate myself from these new contacts, I’m trying to be patient.
I am managing to refrain myself from actually emailing anyone today, even though I’m continually checking my email account every hour for news from the publisher who is showing some interest in our Friendship book, for news from the therapists who have agreed to give us feedback on our teen book, or for news from parents who have offered to have their kids read and give us feedback on our children’s book.
It seems harder, today, to be content with sitting and waiting, because last week was so full of activity.
I couldn't believe it! Suddenly, everything started moving in different directions... as if each project had a life of its own. This is great news and exactly what we are hoping for; but when it happens all at once... well, it makes it more difficult to juggle everything.
What happened last week?
- The publisher, who asked for sample chapters, has written back and asked for the rest of the Friendship book.
- The therapist who was impressed with an audio clip — enough to say she’ll buy several copies of the book if it was anything like the clip — emailed back, wanting to meet with us once she reads the book. She’s also asking questions about how we’re promoting ourselves and the book, and is indicating her desire to keep in contact with us through this process.
- Friends of friends who are teachers and have published their own children’s books have come forward with suggestions and ideas as to how to get our children’s book viewed by educational publishers, which would open the doors to schools and homeschoolers. This has prompted me to create a discussion aid for teachers and parents. This will help with the interactive discussion that the book thrives on.
- The audio clip, “Self Defense Against Fear” is getting regular hits on the YouTube site.
- People keep returning to this blog to follow our progress —and thank you very much, for doing that!
I’m a visual person, so I had to set everything down in front of me, so I could see the whole picture. To do that, I got a huge piece of paper (around 16” x 21”) and created three columns (i.e., one for each project). In the separate columns, I wrote where we were on each project, as well as my concerns and pending issues.
With this new person, possibly, coming into the mix — the excited therapist — I also wanted to protect my self-interest in all of this. To do that, I needed to be able to actually identify, clarify, and communicate what my goals are.
Why am I doing all of this? I’m sure more things will come to me, but this is a start:
- To have the freedom to stretch my creativity and have the ability to write on subjects that most interest me
- To be able to get our messages out in a positive and supportive manner that can help others
- To make a difference — to be an intricate and important part of this “movement” and enjoy this journey that we’re on
- Not to be harmed (financially, emotionally, physically, reputation-wise, etc.) by this endeavor
- To be able to make enough money from this to support me during my retirement years… until death does me in
Now… all that’s left to do is wait… and wait… and wait…
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