Take 2 Steps Toward Success – Learning And Taking Action

A willingness to learn new things is the first step to success. The second step  is to turn what you have learned into actions. 

Finding information and the willingness to learn new information is important, even if it can be overwhelming. Thanks to the internet, and instantly available ebooks, there are not many true excuses anyone can have for not finding the answers to a problem you have. There are facebook groups, forums, and networks on just about every subject. Peer support is a click away, courses on every subject are available, in many instances those are free. Gathering information is time-consuming, yet easy and possible.

Taking action, however, even if they are laid out in front of you, in workbooks, course assignments, daily assignment threads, or action prompts are often ignored, or “postponed” until a later time. I have heard so many excuses, real or imagined why someone could not follow through upon what they learned – from, lack of time to kids, to other responsibilities. Yet, we find time to talk about our favorite television shows, follow our favorite sports team, or leave comments on funny youtube videos.

If you want success you have to take both steps. 

There are no short-cuts around that fact – no one will learn what you need to learn for you, and no one will turn off that television or gaming console that distracts you from taking action. YOU have to make that commitment, YOU have to make that choice, between continued stagnant existence or success. Those two steps are the prize you have to pay, in order to become the person, I know you want to be.

Take those two steps and you will find, that the harder you work for your success, the less competition you will come in contact with. You see, too many choose the couch, the video game, the excuses, leaving a lot of opportunities open for those who are willing to work for it. They choose convenience over success.

Which one will you choose?

Blessings!

Claudia

P.S. If you are interested in growing now, and taking action now, join me at Wealthy Affiliate Network for free. Taking the first step to creating a first-rate online presence takes knowledge which can be sometimes elusive and confusing. Wealthy Affiliate has created free step-by-step lessons on how to build a website, how to find your niche, how to create great content and more. With incredible peer support, you can ask for as much or as little help as you need. What are you waiting for? Join now! 

 

 

Camp NaNoWriMo

Anyone else exited about Camp NaNoWriMo? For those who are not familiar with this writer’s version of summer camp, here is the short version of what it is:

Camp NaNoWriMo is associated with the National Novel Writing Month, which occurs every year in November, trying to aid and motivate writers to finish their books, by giving advice, and peer motivation. The associated Camp happens every year April and July, and allows writers in a more open environment do the  same, not limiting the projects to novels, but also including scripts, non-fiction or collections.

This year will be my first year, I will have time to participate. I am planning on updating the process of the work on the Camp website, but also here.

The Project For This July’s Camp Session:

The Keeper – Book One of the World Walker Series – An Urban Fantasy

A Short Synopsis Of The Series:

We are People of Magic. We live amongst you, hiding our abilities from your sight, because you choose not to see us as we are, unless you need our help.

We are much like you, some good, some evil, but we are also not the same as you. Our abilities scare you, you fear our powers, you tell stories about us, in the dark, shadowy nights, frightening your children, forcing us to hide our true identity.

Then the turmoil began.

Now it is time to tell our story, the story of The Conflict that changed everything.

Before The Conflict began, we were simply two magical families, two of many, the Historians, collectors and keepers of the knowledge of our kind and the Guardians, meant to protect us. But that role is no longer enough. Hunted by some of our own kind, hiding from those who do not understand, we changed, we evolved, we learned.

We became The World Walkers.

We have not abandoned you. We will not allow those of our kind, with bad intentions to harm you or one of our own. We will hunt them down, bring them to justice.
One after the other.

This is a war – a war we did not choose. A war that chose us.

A war we will win.

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

Are you participating in the Camp NaNoWriMo this year? What are you writing about?

 

Book Review: Optimal Living 360 by Sanjay Jain

Title: Optimal Living 360 – Smart Decision Making For A Balanced Life

Author: Sanjay Jain

Genre: Non-fiction/ Self-Help

Publisher: Green Leaf Book Group Press

Release Date: February 3rd 2014

Rating: 2.5/5

Optimal Living 360 is a very right brain, analytical self-help book that is set up more mathematical and clinical then emotional, which does not work for me.
This book is very detailed workbook with practical advice for those who look for a more structured approach to the self-help process. Filled with facts, it attempts to assist you in every aspect of your life, and considering the space of one book, it does fall short of doing so. No one single book can take on every aspect of living, in enough detail to touch more then the basics, even if it brought forth in such a straight forward way. Because of that, the Author fails in delivering the promise of a major overhaul.

Lazed with personal anecdotes that seem a little out of place in this volume, the writer attempts to connect with the reader by giving the “been there, done that” feel, but it feels forced, because it does not fit with the straight forward, right-brain formula approach of the rest of the book, and therefore seems as if an editor/publisher asked to have that added, rather then a natural development of the Author’s voice.

Overall someone who wants a basic outline of multiple aspects of life-improvement, without the depth of an expert in the individual and complex subjects such as diet, will find some useful information in this book. It is not your typical self-help volume, which will serve some readers who are looking for a different approach. But it is not for me, lacking in depth, in the ability to convince me of the sincerity of the Author or in the attempt of such a large subject matter in a single volume.

I am reviewing this book for NetGalley, who provided me with a copy.