10,000 Mark!

Woo-Hoo! 

The Whimsical World has reached it's 10,000 viewer mark since restarting the counter on January 2012!

Thank you readers.  I do so appreciate your faithfulness!

~T.L. Gray

Dis – What Was I Talking About?

Distractions! Nothing stops progress more than interruptions. Most often, the greatest appetizing diversions always occur when you’re facing a deadline, or the finish line, of a huge project.  However, failure to meet our goals is not the fault of the diversion.  WE are accountable, WE are in full control of our choices, and WE are the one responsible to make the decision to allow, or reject, the distraction.

Not all distractions are bad.  Some are a welcomed reprieve; a change of pace to re-store energy, re-charge and re-focus.  A vacation, an afternoon nap, a celebratory evening are all good examples of good distractions.  However, just as important is the discipline to return to the tasks at hand.

Examine your latest goals, and then try to identify the biggest distractions that have kept you from reaching that goal. 

Go ahead, do it now.

So?

Now that you know what they are, use your creativity and wisdom to manage them.

You still there?  I hope you weren’t distracted.

Till next time,

~T.L. Gray

Becoming Our Own Biggest Fan

Artists spend a great portion of their time creating their masterpieces, and then an even greater amount of time promoting and marketing them.  Like any relationship, the beginning of this process is filled with excitement and much zeal, but after a prolonged period of exposure, that enthusiasm begins to fade.

As artists, we need to make sure that the ‘love’ of our art doesn’t wane with the decrease of excitement, but solidifies to an even deeper degree.  The millionth time we meet a new fan, we must have the same degree of excitement for our work as we had with the first hundred. The only way this can happen successfully, is that we must become our own biggest fan.

One of the first things I learned in my college marketing class was: If we don’t believe in what we’re selling or promoting, neither will anyone else. If we’re not excited about our work, who else will be?  Not only does this excitement affect the way we market our products, but it greatly affects our stamina, determination and devotion. We must continually inspire ourselves in order to be an inspiration.

One of the basic laws of the human condition is: We want what everyone else wants.  A good marketing strategy is to create desire and demand.  The greatest tool to do just that is by becoming your own biggest fan.

Till next time,

~T.L. Gray

Set Small Goals

Human beings crave a sense of accomplishment.  A defeatist attitude usually comes from not being able to meet the goals we set in our lives.  Often times, we give up when the pressures get too hard, and we feel like we spin our wheels, mercilessly, without any traction. 

Where we usually fail when it comes to meeting goals, is we often set them too big, especially if we’re a dreamer, or artistic in any way.  Creative people see no limit to the possibilities, and are open to most prospects, so we set our life goals in adherence to our dreams, regardless if they’re against the natural current.  Practical people usually shake their heads at this behavior, because they themselves usually opt for what is in their grasp, what they’re capable to achieve within reason, and don’t often fight the current seeing no sense in the action.  However, neither is wrong and the other right.  There should be a balance between the two. 

Dreamers should set impossible goals, because that’s where true dreams are realized.  However, we need to be practical in our application, and set for us a series of small goals along the way.   With each small accomplishment we achieve, we will also receive more confidence, more faith, and more inspiration to move forward.  If we constantly struggle against the current, without finding small pools of respite by the wayside, we’ll burn ourselves out.  We must be able to find small side-streams to rest and regroup, so that we will have the strength to make it all the way upstream. 

Your inspiration exercise today:  Think about what you really want out of life, and then try to think of at least six small steps you can take that will ‘lead’ in that direction, and then set one of them as your first goal.

Till next time,

~T.L. Gray

Do a Happy Dance

Being a writer involves a life of many ups and downs, probably more downs and solitude than anything, but there are some really great ‘up’ moments.  We should really cherish those moments, because they are far and few between. 

I’ve had many writers warn me not let myself get too excited, because behind those peaks are long dips and valleys, but I find that bit of advice a little disconcerting.  Why should I not allow myself to get too excited?  Don’t I allow myself to fully worry, to fitfully fret, to completely struggle and to labor?  Why only expect the full benefits of the ‘down’ times, and pull back from experiencing the full joy of the ‘up’ times?  That doesn’t make sense, unless I’m glutton for pain, which I’m not. 

So, my advice today for all those who are approaching an ‘up’ moment –fully enjoy it.  Give yourself completely into the exhilaration and jubilation that comes with the achievement.  Laugh out loud, do a happy dance, and shout from the top of the mountains of your achievement. Don’t be shy about it, and put all modesty to the side.  Don’t allow the Michal’s of this world mock your jubilation.  You’ve earned this moment, so enjoy it.  Don’t let anyone steal it, deem it as precious, and celebrate its existence.  Believe me - it won’t last long before the next trial shows its teeth. 

Till next time,

~T.L. Gray