but what if the opposite is true?

but what if the opposite is true?

What if the opposite is true?

This is a question I ask myself all the time.

For example, you say, “Oh, I don’t have time to write a book.”
What if the opposite is true ?

What if the truth is, “I don’t have time to NOT write a book.”

In other words –
Life is fleeting. The future is uncertain. You can’t afford the luxury of believing that you will have a chance to write this book in the future — you MUST write this book right now.

Interesting, huh?
Or maybe you say, “Everyone is already writing a book.”

When the truth (the opposite) is, “No one is writing my book.”
Or you say, “I don’t know how to write a book.”

When the truth (the opposite) is, “I know enough to start. And I know enough to get help and guidance.”
Speaking of which, I’m putting together a small group of smart people who want to write a GOOD book for a day-long event that will end with you having:

🧐 Perfect Clarity on which book you are actually writing (style, structure, genre, format)
🤓 A Solid Decision about which publishing path is right for you (self-, hybrid, or traditional)
😎 Created a joyful, workable plan for you to get the whole thing done by the end of April. F’reals.

 

This is a small-group, heavily interactive, online event.
This is a small-group, heavily interactive, online event.

Let’s do this thing.

If you are interested in finding out more, please write me back and we’ll see what’s what.

No pressure.
No sales.

And, actually, it really helps me to hear directly from you what you’re up to, so you’d be doing me a favor.

If you are thinking now, “I don’t think this offer is for me….”
I encourage you to consider:

What if the opposite is true?
What if this offer is the absolutely most perfect thing you could do to bring your book to life in 2025?

Happy New Year!

P.S. This year alone I’ve helped dozens of writers get their books and book proposals out into the world in a fun, holistic, gentle, and creative way.
Oh, and I also wrote and published my own award-winning book. I think it would be fun to work with you, too : ) – S.

Your Hot Pink Octopus – ?

Your Hot Pink Octopus – ?

OK, look – I didn’t want to be the first one to mention it….
but you’ve got a Hot Pink Octopus
and it’s wrapped all around you.

You can’t get away from her.
You can pry off one arm, but she’ll wrap it somewhere else.
Maybe somewhere that tickles.

You can try to hide from her…..
but you know a 600-lb Hot Pink Octopus can fit through a hole the size of a quarter…
so she follows wherever you go.

She’s been with you forever.

She’s your creativity.
She’s your stories.
She’s the uncanny sense that you have been put on this earth in this
incarnation to

share your words
share your vision
share your voice

She’s the part of you that knows better than you —
and the less you try and manhandle her, the better.

Babe, you were put here to share your octopus.
And when you share her,
and people love her or don’t,
you can know that it’s not You that they love or don’t,

it’s your Hot Pink Octopus.

Your Hot Pink Octopus might even win awards
or make you a fortune
or connect you with other Cephalopods

And together, you can do great things.

Quit fighting her.
Quit trying to ignore her.
Quit pretending like she doesn’t matter,
or that you can only make time for her once everything else gets done,
which never happens.

The world needs your Hot Pink Octopus:
Her shape-shifting wisdom…
Her gift of camouflage…
Her endless curiousity….
Her remarkable ability to adapt and learn…

She’s been on this planet for almost 200 million years.

Let her speak.

 

Discouraging words?

Discouraging words?

Funny how we let ONE casual remark derail our dreams, isn’t it?

That one thing that one teacher said that one time has kept you paralyzed since middle school.
That callous remark from a casual acquaintance stopped you cold.

Even after all the smiles and support and even REQUESTS (!!!)

“Say, when are YOU going to write your book?”
“Do you have a book?”
“If you wrote a book I would totally buy it.”

just one discouraging word….
and you retreat.

You tuck your book dream back under the mattress where it continues to invade your nightly reveries.

I get it.

Book writing is:

complicated – where to start?
creatively confounding – what to write?
confusing – who would read it?

I got you.

I’m leading Figure Out Your Book In One Day on Jan. 4th for the third or fourth time, and if you show up, we will banish those clouds once and for all.

Satisfaction guaranteed.

(I mean, obviously, if it’s perfect for you, I will sell it to you – but I won’t be pitching you. I’m only interested in working with people who are a great match and are willing to invest the time and money to see real progress. Because let’s face it, your diet of free stuff and pdfs and salesy webinars is just NOT moving the needle for you, correct?)

Plus it really helps me to hear directly from you what you’re up to, so you’d be doing me a favor.

Let’s go hang out together where the the heavens are bright/with the light of the glittering stars, and where those deer and those antelope play, shall we?

What is your Little Thing?

What is your Little Thing?

What’s Your Little Thing?

Let’s start with something quite simple. What is one little thing that bugs you? It’s not about what enrages you, but those small annoyances that consistently nag at you. Write it down and feel free to share it, or keep it to yourself. It could be something as specific as the overuse of a word or the inconvenience of your walker catching on runners. Perhaps these small grievances aren’t even worth fixing, yet they linger.

A Step Further: What Delights You?

Move beyond annoyances and think about what delights you. The joy may come from a kind gesture, the productivity of editing travel photos, or spending quality time with loved ones. It’s important to identify these pleasures too.

Aligning with Values

Now, consider what these feelings—of annoyance or delight—represent in terms of your values. For instance, if you’re annoyed by the overuse of “awesome,” it could signify a value of precise communication. Or, if editing travel photos delights you, it might reflect a value of storytelling or preserving memories.

Look at these values and ask yourself: Where else in your life are they present? For instance, the combination of friendship and travel or the simple joy of completion and consideration. This reflection is about recognizing where these values resonate in other aspects of your life.

The Power of Value Alignment

When you align actions with your core values, motivation becomes almost unnecessary. Tasks align with moral beliefs or preferences so intrinsically that little persuasion is needed. For example, individuals who don’t eat meat are aligned with their value system, rendering external motivation irrelevant.

Troubleshooting and Reflection

Consider projects or tasks you’ve been procrastinating on. Is the delay because they aren’t aligned with your values, or do they need more alignment to become motivating? This reflection might also apply to organization-focused values, where simplifying tasks brings peace.

Finding Joy and Connection

I understand that physical limitations, like my own experience with long-haul Covid, can add layers of complexity to embracing values fully. Yet, we can still experience dance, for example, in spirit if not with our bodies.

If certain areas of your life, like writing, seem underrepresented in your values, try to bring them into focus by linking them to your values. Sometimes minor adjustments can imbue tasks with deeper personal significance.

Engage with Your Values

Discovering what irritates and delights you can reveal much about your personal values. Use this insight to enhance parts of your life or address procrastination. Let your values fuel your actions, and enjoy the newfound alignment.

Engage and Share

I would love to hear how these reflections impact you. Feel free to reach out, share your experiences, and consider joining us at TheRealSamBennett.com for more insights and updates. Thank you for reading and engaging with this journey toward value-based living. See you next week!

What is your Little Thing?

Failure Is the Path to Success

Introduction: Confronting the Fear of Failure

Today, let’s talk about something crucial that holds many of us back: the fear of failure. It’s easy to recognize when fear stops us from moving forward. Questions like “What will people think?” or “What if I fail publicly?” often haunt us. But what if failure is not a stop sign but rather an indicator of progress?

Unlocking the Power of Failure

Admittedly, accepting failure as a part of growth is easier said than done. Many aren’t there yet, including myself. However, reflecting on my own experiences, I’ve learned that failure can indeed pave the way to success.

Here’s the crux: Failure is the only path to success. Failing signifies attempting something new, pushing your abilities and knowledge to the limit. It means stepping into uncharted territories, which inevitably leads to growth. If you’re not failing, you might not be trying anything new, and consequently, stagnating. Remember, creativity is stifled by stagnation.

Failure Leading to New Opportunities

Take the example of my encounter with a publishing house. My initial hope was for a 10th anniversary edition of “Get It Done,” but the plan fell through. Or did it? My agent pointed out an interesting offer hidden in the response email – an opportunity to write about overwhelm, which led to a book deal. The failure to achieve one goal opened the door to a more fitting opportunity.

Physical Failure Transforming into Lived Wisdom

For over two years, I’ve battled long-haul COVID, affecting my energy and cognitive abilities. Energy-draining fatigue meant I had to work differently, which led to the creation of the “15-Minute Method.” My body’s limitations became my teacher, deepening my understanding and commitment to this philosophy, which transformed into lived wisdom.

Real Estate Lessons: Failure as a Catalyst for Growth

A memorable failure occurred when I couldn’t afford to buy a home in Southern California after the building I lived in converted into an Airbnb. This inability led me to an unforeseen opportunity in Connecticut real estate, ultimately resulting in a significant financial gain. Thus, sometimes failure redirects us toward unexpected benefits.

Embracing Failure as a Leader

In leadership, actively seeking situations where you might fail can keep you grounded and innovative. Being a leader often shields you from hearing essential criticism. Embrace the discomfort and vulnerability of failing to remind yourself what it’s like for those you lead and serve.

The Joy of Failing Forward

By now, I hope you’re considering embracing failure rather than fearing it. Start that book, make those videos, or push those sales plans forward. Plan to fail repeatedly at first—and that’s okay. The beauty of failure lies in the learning and opportunities that arise from it.

Welcoming Failure as a Friend

Reflect on your life. Recall moments when failure seemed certain but something beautiful emerged. Let failure be your revered teacher, guiding you to push beyond limits, fail joyfully, and persist with grace. Challenge yourself to fail more often and with less judgment, unlocking the boundless potential that lies ahead.

By sharing our failures and learning from them, not only do we grow personally, but we also encourage others to view their setbacks as stepping stones to success. Embrace failure and discover the lessons and opportunities it unfolds. Visit therealsambennett.com/practicum to learn more and sign up. Join a supportive community that will help you put consistent effort behind your dreams, providing the energy and accountability you need to succeed.

There Is No Such Thing as a Big Decision

There Is No Such Thing as a Big Decision

There is no such thing as a big decision.

There are only little decisions.

And when you allow yourself to believe that something IS a big decision, you instantly psych yourself out, ammiright?

So you have a thought like…

“You know, maybe I want to quit this job….”

“Maybe I want to move…”

“Maybe I should leave this person that I’ve been with for all these years…”

And then you think, “Oh, but it’s such a big decision,” and you frighten yourself into inaction.

All of life is a series of little decisions, and sometimes we make a big deal about the last little decision, but really – that last one is no bigger than all the ones that precede it.

I remember before the first of my marriages (long story) when we were getting our pre-marital counseling from our very hip pastor, and he said,

“Here’s the thing – you two have been deciding to get married since you met. You have been deciding to get married since you first clapped eyes on each other. It’s been a million little steps. A million little yeses. Yes to this first date, and yes to this dinner, and yes to making up after this fight. Now, on the wedding day, we’re going to make a big fuss over this last little yes. Over this last little, ‘I do.’

But remember it is not a big decision. It is the latest in a series of small decisions. And as you stay married, you will continue to make little decisions every single day to stay married or to not.”

And anyone who has been in a long-term relationship will tell you, it’s true. You make decisions every single day to stay together, or to drift apart.

You make little decisions every day about your health, your job, your family, and your relationships, and those decisions shape your future.

If you remember that you only need to make a little decision and then take the next indicated right action, you might decide yourself into a new, better life.