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The Encouraged Leader

3/1/2019

"I've given and helped others for so long, but now I need help, and where is everyone??"
This is a question I've heard from the hearts of friends who are leaders.
It's a question I've found in my own heart from time to time.

When a person spends their time and energy pouring themselves into others, lifting others up when they're down, building up and encouraging others, and watching and listening for those kinds of needs around them, it's fulfilling and rewarding.

But... what happens when the leader is the one who needs encouragement?
How and where do we find that encouragement we so readily give?

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Feeling Invisible? Writing in Obscurity? You May Just Be Doing It Right!

1/23/2019

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Ever notice how the dreams you have and the goals you set are big, and the results you get seem so very small?

I have a problem with this. I'm a major optimist and love to dream and have all kinds of big, shiny ideas.

Optimism is wonderful, and even necessary. We need optimism to even have dreams. Here's the problem.

I get super frustrated when I see the enormous difference between the size of my dreams and the size of my results.

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Encouragement for the Daunted [And a Tip for Memoir Writing]

9/5/2018

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"Recently I was chatting with a woman who has wanted to write her memoir. For years she's wanted to. For years, I've heard her tell interesting stories that I agree, should be recorded. And for years, she's put it off. As I explored her reasons for being stalled, I discovered several. One of them was this idea that to write a memoir required deciding to sit down and plod through almost without stopping until it was done. In her mind, it was a giant undertaking, so she put it off until 'one day' when she 'had time' for that kind of dedicated time investment.

But 'one day' is a day that never comes.

Never." ...

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Book Launch Basics from Best Seller Tracy Krauss

6/22/2018

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My latest book, THREE STRAND CORD, made it into the top 100 books in three categories on Amazon.ca, holding steady in ‘hot new releases’ in Christian fiction for several days after the launch.

This isn’t my first book launch and it isn’t the first time I’ve seen this kind of result. However, I have learned a few things over the years about what seems to work and what takes a lot of effort with little reward. Of course, the book industry is always changing and so must our strategies when it comes to launching a new book.

Here is a breakdown about has worked for me.

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10 Ways to 10x your Book Launch

6/22/2018

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Writing a book typically takes longer than expected. What begins as a bright shiny idea must be pulled out of one’s soul, penned or typed onto paper and then edited and edited some more.

Once a book is ready for publication, whether traditional or self-published, the author is exhausted and just wants to get the book out there.

Before you eagerly hit publish, here are 10 steps to 10x your book launch results.

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The Last Time I Saw My Friend

4/12/2018

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I buzzed Liz’s apartment. The phone went straight to answering machine.
That was odd. It had only been four hours since we’d arranged for me to pick her up for her appointment.

I dialed again. No answer.

In the last weeks she’d grown more exhausted by the day. The last few days she was too weak to even walk, so a neighbor lady in her building kindly lent her a wheelchair. The last few days, I was honored to bring her to multiple emergency appointments.

I checked my phone for a ‘sorry, I’m running late’ text. Maybe she couldn’t wait for me and went to the hospital with someone else.

No texts awaited.

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Broken Ice Reflects the Light

3/20/2018

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The freeze and thaw of March had heaved roads into soft mounds and then hardened them into ramps that, if we hit them at just the right speed, would send us airborne for a moment, our stomachs sinking and soaring all at once.

One particularly crisp morning, the hay fields that had filled with water like lakes, and the ditches that had brimmed with runoff, were suddenly all frozen solid again, covering the countryside like a hundred free-range ice rinks. With the freeze and thaw and freeze of spring though, mini ruptures speckled the otherwise smooth landscape, making it look more like an icy, pockmarked moon.

As I drove by, sun glinted off of the ice, but not the way I expected.

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How to Market Your Book with Speaking Engagements

2/5/2018

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Last year, I spoke for 15 minutes to a tiny group of women, and I even had to pay to be there. I was hoping to be lucky enough to sell a book.
Maybe I would, but I wasn't that optimistic.

My mentality going in then, was not focused on sales. Instead, I focused on encouraging the women I'd be speaking to.
My mission was to connect with their hearts in my 15 short minutes, and breathe life into their current struggle, whatever it was, by sharing the life I'd found in my own struggle.

I prepared, as I do with any speaking engagement, carefully planning what I'd say, rehearsing it so I wouldn't bumble over my words, and deliver a smooth, hopefully powerful story that encourages others somehow.

I was one of three presenters that evening. When all the speakers had taken their turns, the group of women (a third of whom were speakers themselves) were released to coffee and snacks.

What happened next surprised me.

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A Personal Note about Body Image (from a girl who's struggled all her life)

12/27/2017

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You've heard your friend say, “I feel fat”.Or been the one to say it.

Friends, this rampant body image issue is a problem. We’re believing lies about ourselves and each other, and it’s eroding our joy, stealing our sense of self, and sapping our purpose. It’s nearly impossible to live out your purpose when you’re busy criticizing yourself.

I’ve struggled with body image for as long as I can remember. Whatever shape or size I’ve been - swollen with pregnancy, bloated from gluttony, or so gaunt my rib and hip bones protruded – I always felt like I was too big. Too fat. If I could just lose more pounds, THEN I’d be happy. THEN I’d finally feel really good about myself. Be acceptable.

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If You're Thinking of Quitting, Don't Do It!

11/9/2017

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I almost packed it in this year; nearly quit freelancing to get a "real job". Bills were mounting, debt was climbing, and I needed an income. Fast.

So I set a do-or-die goal – if I could accomplish it, I would count it as traction and keep pursuing my online career. If I didn’t hit it though, it was J-O-B time.

Talk about stressful. I worried at night, and sent out job applications during the day for jobs I wasn’t even sure I wanted. I even interviewed a few times and it looked like I had an in.
But something inside of me just really, really, really wanted to do freelance (and not starve doing it!)

Then something happened.

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Forward>>

The Encouraged Leader

Feeling Invisible? Writing in Obscurity? You May Just Be Doing It Right!

Encouragement for the Daunted [And a Tip for Memoir Writing]

Book Launch Basics from Best Seller Tracy Krauss

10 Ways to 10x your Book Launch

The Last Time I Saw My Friend

Broken Ice Reflects the Light

How to Market Your Book with Speaking Engagements

A Personal Note about Body Image (from a girl who's struggled all her life)

If You're Thinking of Quitting, Don't Do It!

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