76 Days to Selfless Success: The First Step

Friend,

I am going to transform myself, before your eyes.

Even though I have a successful online business, attracting 5 million visitors/year, I feel like I am not living up to my potential.

I want to take myself up to the next level.
 
Over the next 76 days, I’ll be tackling concepts of:
    •    online marketing,
    •    success,
    •    and even spirituality and selfless giving…

all in an effort to become a Master before the year is out.
 
It’s going to be hard work. There may be many unforeseen consequences. But I am aiming for nothing less than total self-immolation and awe-inspiring success; it’s worth it.
 
 
SELFLESS SUCCESS
 
I have a theory. I am guessing that, in order to be super successful, I must rise above selfishness. I still need to take care of myself. But when the self is feeling particularly well-loved, I am guessing that it will begin to demand less attention and become less “self-important”.  I am thinking that at this time, the floodgates of success will open even wider. That is my guess; we’ll see if this holds true.
 
Some of my initial questions are:
    •    What does it really mean to be selfless?
    •    What is success? (and how do I get more of it?)
    •    Where will I be at the end of this experiment?    
    •    Can I balance selflessness and success – contribution and winning?
    •    Can I both strive for recognition AND be humble, spiritual, clear-headed?
 
 
BECOMING AN EXPERT
 
Because I want to learn, I aim to write a book on marketing, selfless contribution, and business success. In the process, I will be putting myself through a series of exercises. I’ll be trying out what I learn. I will let you know what surprises I uncover, what I find to be most effective, and what turns out to be a bunch of hogwash.
 
In the past, I’ve learned by writing. I admit, with my photography how-to books, I did not start off as The Expert. I used the process of writing the book to become an expert. By the time the book was complete, I had learned a lot, and felt okay taking a stance of credibility and authority.
 
This time, I am going to write the book “live”. It will be an open and transparent process. In this way, when I’m done with the writing, I will not have any opportunity to change my presentation so I can "puff myself up" and make myself look good. You will know from the beginning where I was as I started out on this journey.
 
I am not an expert in online marketing.  I am not an expert in success. And I am certainly not an expert in selflessness (just ask my wife!).

I don’t have all the answers… but, like you, I imagine, I have lots of questions.
 
I’ll bet I am more like you than unlike you. The things we have in common outnumber the things that would separate us. For example, I’ll bet you’ve been frustrated trying to make money, balance things, and be happy.
 
In frustration, I often wish someone would:
    •    Tell me what to do to be more successful... specifically.
    •    Help me figure out how to implement the interesting principles I learn in books.
    •    Show me where to find the door… where to start.
    •    Walk with me as I take the first few steps.
 
Also, like you, I have demands on my time. I have a business, a wife, three wonderfully wild kids, a team, a home, etc. When a marketing “guru” gives me 101 suggestions I can try in an effort to get more traffic, more conversions, more profit… I often feel like giving up before I get out of the gate.
 
How can I afford the time to see what works and what doesn’t work? I have a business. I have kids.
 
I don’t seem to have the time.
 
And I want to be somebody. I want success. I want mastery. Today.
 
 
WHY 76 DAYS?
 
The number 76 reminds me of independence. This theme of freedom feels right to me, and when combined with New Year’s resolutions, it feels really right.
 
Also, I like the idea of starting to build habits before New Year’s Day. We’ll talk more about making success (and selflessness) a habit. In the meantime, doesn’t it feel better to build up to the new year, rather than waiting until that day and then making a bunch of resolutions you know you won’t have the will power to keep?
 
I honestly don’t love the idea of placing a time limit such as 76 days because this project may take much longer or shorter amount of time. But I need my projects to have a definite and clear completion date to them. That is one thing I've learned about how I operate. So let’s see how far we can get… and where we end up in 76 days.
 
 
TRANSPARENCY
 
I imagine most people only share about 20% of themselves to the world, keeping the rest locked up as secret and confidential. Perhaps these people are afraid of “being found out”. Perhaps they feel ashamed of past mistakes or bad behavior.
 
The most sharing people perhaps give us 80-90%, holding back on the 10-20% they feel is too risky to put out in the public light.
 
Here’s my promise to you: I will be 98% transparent. I will be honest as long as it’s legal and it won’t hurt anyone.  I will do my best to be an open book. If you ask me a question that falls in the 2% I keep private, I may decline to answer. I will never lie to you.
 

That brings me to my intentions.



INTENTIONS
 
My #1 intention: total realness.
 
I won’t waste my time or yours trying to baffle you or trying to impress you. My motto: “Express, don’t impress.”
 
I plan to gather what comes out of this experiment, if it’s any good, and put it into a book / system / product of some sort… so others can benefit. Yes, I am a capitalist, but I am what some people call a “conscious capitalist.” I will do my best to bless others while I strive to be financially super successful.
 
I want to pay down my debts. I want to get rid of my mortgages. I want to buy my family a “sunshine retreat” – a place to escape to when the Seattle rain and gray skies get to be too much.
 
But my #1 aspiration is:
 
To be perfectly happy AND getting better all the time.
 
 

MY GOALS

    1.    To master online marketing
    2.    To become a world class speaker
    3.    To destroy the sense of self that hinders my ability to shine
    4.    To be unbelievably successful
 
All doing what I love, what I would pay to do, what I’ve always dreamed of doing.
 
Because my gut was wrenched, I just took a break and ate a cereal bar, even though that is breaking my “No Snacks After 7:45pm” rule. To be honest, I’m nervous about putting myself and my goals out there…
 
(And this reminds me of another goal: On New Year’s Day and everyday thereafter, I weigh 175 lbs (or less), I'm flexible enough to touch my toes, and I have super strong core muscles.)
 
 
THE SIGNS

I talked with my friend Caleb about this idea yesterday. When the idea of being transparent came to the surface, I was excited and nervous.

Checking my e-mail this morning, I saw the Inspiring Quote of the Day in Gail Lynne Goodwin’s inspiremetoday.com newsletter:

“Just do it.” The famous slogan by Nike.
 
Later on the treadmill, I was reading Seth Godin’s great book “Tribes” and came across this line: “You can start right now.”
 
Then when visiting HappyLifeSuggestions.com – a task I had on my to do list since attending Engage Today 2009 in Calgary – I saw the following message: 

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

I also noticed:
 
“You can start now.
So get ready, get focused.
Because this very moment, your life can change… FOREVER.
Do it now!”
 
I pay attention to signs.
 
Thus, here is the only rule as we start: taking the first step before you have all the answers. Don’t wait. Just do your best with what you have at the moment. Do what feels like your highest sense of right at the time. Trust your gut and make a move.
 
Don't wait for the perfect time... it will never come.

 
SO LET’S DO IT!

Read on.

Comment.

Ask questions.

Tweet (and re-tweet).
 
Best of all, accept my challenge and join me if you too want to master marketing, learn to be more selfless and contributive, and figure out how to rise to the next level of success.
 
If you, like me, are seeking mastery, let’s help each other get to the next level. You can get ahead in your business and your life. You can rise to the next level.
 
If you are already a master and have advice for me, I’m all ears. I will listen with humility and respect. I will “wash on, wash off”, walk on rice paper without leaving a trace, and strive to catch a fly with my chopsticks, if you’re true and if you honestly think it will help me attain mastery.
 
76 days… 76 exercises… with the hope of greatness, mastery, and excellence as we enter the year 2010.
 
In upcoming posts this week, I’ll list the books and other resources we’ll explore, list my core values and ground rules, figure out the meaning of life, and, if we’re lucky, make a few confessions.
 
Hang on… we're in for an exciting ride!

Comments

[donna rae moratelli]

Thus, here is the only rule as we start: taking the first step before you have all the answers. Don’t wait. Just do your best with what you have at the moment. Do what feels like your highest sense of right at the time. Trust your gut and make a move.
Fcainating quotes,Jim. I totally agree.

[Betty Wisse]

Jim, I am inspired by this, I plan on following your process. I have been wanting
to go to the next level with my photography but just don't know where to go, so I'm hoping your words will help me get there. I wish you success and a wonderful journey.

[Jim Miotke]

Thanks Donna Rae and Betty. I appreciate your comments. I look forward to seeing how high we can fly and where we safely land. We'll certainly be higher up the mountain by the time 2010 rolls around. See you at the top! :)