A week or so ago, I ran a simple, 2-question survey to my email subscribers. The purpose of that survey was simple – To find out what the biggest issues are out there facing bloggers.
One thing is VERY clear: The problem isn’t lack of tactics.
The problem is square between your ears. 
In other words, mindset and personal management.
What I see as the single biggest problem facing bloggers is a sense of confusion and frustration on those things which come BEFORE the actual blogging. Things like time management, overwhelm, lack of focus, lack of motivation.
These are things that many of us already doing it take for granted. After all, those of us who have found a level of success online would not have done so had we not found a system which worked for us to address those same issues. The problem is – then we forget.
What I’m seeing is that most of the strategies and tactics talked about when it comes to becoming successful bloggers are not, in reality, delivering what is really needed and wanted by bloggers.
We need to work on our foundations. In many ways, the success of our blogs, our businesses, the size of our bank accounts – these things are a measure of the quality of our thoughts.
I hear you. Loud and clear.
Now, Lay Down On My Couch…
I can’t tell you how glad I am to have run the survey. I’ve got a really good, inside look into the most pressing issues of aspiring bloggers out there. My mission is to help, so my gears are now churning on how best to do that.
But, I encourage you to keep something in mind. Lay down on my proverbial counseling couch for a second…
You should take the time to spot what your primary constraint is which is keeping you from achieving your goal – then focus on eliminating it.
Sounds simple enough, but this survey also shows me that many bloggers don’t seem to be doing it. See, the first question of my survey was designed to extract your most pressing issue. And I got it – in droves. 
The second question was designed to get your take on what you need/want from me. The answers show a disconnect.
Most people were requesting things from me which do not address the most pressing issues. While they’d give me some more personal constraints (i.e lack of time) to their success, they’d ask me for more tactics (i.e. traffic building, stuff designed to just show you where the money is).
Perhaps you’re focusing on the wrong things. I can give you my entire business playbook and it isn’t going to do anybody any good if they don’t have the solid foundation on which to build.
So, if you’re determined that lack of time is a constraint, why don’t you spend time addressing THAT rather than reading more blogs about blogging in search of more tactics? You don’t need more tactics! Handle your lack of time first.
Ya feeling me here?
When you’re focusing on scarcity and you look to people like me to artificially create the abundance for you, it won’t work.
Obviously, we’ll always meet the demand. It is smart business. But, you owe it to yourself to spend a little time in personal reflection of how you’re going to address those real constraints.
This is why you see personal development so often intertwined into the “make money” niche. They really do go hand in hand.
What do you think?
Oh, you can get up from the couch now.
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