Are You Making a Difference?

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One of the topics we discussed on Caroline Gavin’s podcast was the importance of doing something meaningful. We spoke  about the fact opportunities exist all around us. We need to look outside ourselves and realize we can make a difference in the world.

Too often, we become caught-up in the immediate responsibilities of our daily lives and fail to see the very needs of others.

When was the last time you actually sat down and took an inventory of where you are and what you are doing?

Maybe it’s time.

Jeff Goins looked past himself and found a world that wrecked his life. Justin Lucasavige recently quit a start-up venture to focus on something far more touching in people’s lives. These folks decided to make a difference. You can too.

There is a need for every one of us to find a purpose in our lives. Mine won’t be spent in a cubicle living for the next paycheck, waiting for someone’s approval or fighting to keep from being "thrown off the island."

Every one of us knows what the problems are; but few take the chance to stand-up and care. We were taught to fit-in, don’t rock the boat and comply. It’s risky to take a stand, put your faith on the line. After all; what if we fail?

But doing something meaningful isn’t about failing, it’s about bravery, being rock solid in our faith and committed to making a difference.

That’s not asking a lot.

So it’s time to put our words into action. We need to wear our heart on our sleeves. The effort to do something remarkable is waiting for you and me. We’ve wasted years focusing on our own wants, needs and desires.

Ironically those “things” didn’t satisfy our thirst.

I referred to myself the other day on Caroline’s show as the “Roy Roger’s of bloggers.” That is part of my quest, to take a stand against those who attempt to keep us as “slaves to their system.” The subject doesn’t matter. Being heard certainly matters.

Being the “good guy in the white hat” is only the beginning of my journey. Greater opportunities are in store for me. That’s the exciting part of my venture.

Isn’t it time for you to make a difference?

So, let’s saddle-up and ride.

Who’s with me?

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

Building or Buying a Web Platform?

Do it Yourself?

I’ve spent much of the last few days working with many free WordPress themes for my new website. I was up all night tinkering with Gimp (this poor man’s version of Photoshop) attempting to add another image into a header banner photo. After hours of trying to figure it out I actually was able to add the second image.

My time has also been spent searching for plug-ins to add the capability necessary to have the site look like I’d prefer. Plug-ins are frustrating. After a simple install of the plug-in I’ve discovered several possible problems.

1.   The appearance isn’t what I hoped for.

2.   Many of the free plug-ins did not meet my expectations.

3.   The setup requires keys or details without an easy explanation of where to find the information to continue the setup.

4.   The setup is easy, but to get the full features I prefer, an upgraded plan is available. ($$$)

I received quite a bit of information through Google queries, but the best plug-ins require a subscription (AWeber, ChimpMail).

Another Option or 2

For an actual theme I have been considering using Genesis Framework with one of the StudioPress themes. Of course both products are available as a separate fee.

After realizing the yearly fees add up and my website isn’t profitable yet, I am thinking it’s smarter to purchase a theme that offers as many good plug-in features up-front as possible. Why pay for or have the stress of trying to setup a plug-in if it could be included in the theme. Many of the StudioPress themes have some built-in features.

But which one do I use?

Then it hit me. Why not look at someone else’s website I admire and try to imitate it myself with free features. Jeff Goins website is one I’ve enjoyed with its clean look. That’s how I’ve spent the last couple of days.

The Results

Given free tools to work with and seeing how I don’t build websites from scratch, I was somewhat able to imitate the look of goinswriter.com. Realistically, what I created has nowhere near the professional look of Jeff’s “Tribes” theme created by Martyn Chamberlin.  While I gained some knowledge of working with plug-ins and Gimp (for a header image) it would be easier to purchase the Tribes theme. Of course it requires using Genesis Framework just like the custom StudioPress themes, so there is an additional fee.

One More Choice

I love the look of Michael Hyatt’s website. I recalled Michael was working on developing a new theme, so why not look into it. Michael is scheduled to release the new theme- “Get Noticed” near the end of the first quarter of 2013. Michael has the new theme decked out on his page, it looks busier than Jeff’s page, but; it also has a clean look.

I like the widgets offered on the sidebar and footer. Once again, why pay for a plug-in if you can purchase a theme with the “extras” possibly included. Get Noticed appears to offer the most widgets up-front that I need without paying for yearly add-on subscriptions. Pricing for the new theme has not been mentioned yet.

Conclusion

So my grand experiment has ended and I am still torn between purchasing Tribes or Get Noticed. I am hoping Michael Hyatt’s- Get Noticed theme gets released soon. I may even seek someone to create a custom header. Gimp is still a disaster to work with for me. Photoshop CS6 is available for a trial period, so I could possibly tinker with Photoshop to tweak my own header.

On the other hand, purchasing the products you require minimizes time wasted on building a website in order to to obtain a professional look. Building a platform properly is what will be needed to be successful, so I’ll leave the foundation to the professionals; which allows me the time to build-up the platform.

In the end, it’s the platform and content that matters.

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

48Days.net- A Great Way to Connect!

One of the best decisions I made early on in my blogging career was to join the forums at 48Days.net. I discovered the forum by purchasing Dan Miller's best-selling book, “48 Days to The Work You Love”. The book guided me to Dan’s featured site- 48Days.com and it was there; I learned of 48Days.net.

When I joined several years ago, I was amazed at all the interaction and assistance while starting my own journey to the work I love. My interest was self-publishing a book and it was one of the many specialized groups in the forums. Questions were met with (free) answers from other members and it gave me a huge list of possibilities to study.

 In 2009, Kent Julian, Andy Traub and Justin Lukasavige, were exceptional with encouragement, coaching advice, technical knowledge and their own experience. Those folks were on the cutting –edge of marketing, content and media technology. Author/speaker Jeff Goins was just starting his rise to fame.

For nearly a year, I got distracted and slipped away from 48Days.net. I should have stuck around the forums and continued my education. Like a young adult, I thought I knew just enough to get by and I was wrong. In today’s world, change is the constant; so learning is an ongoing process.

We are either moving forward or moving backwards. There is no middle ground for success. It waits for no one. The minute we settle for mediocrity, success moves on.

 I returned in 2012 and was pleased to recognize many of the same people were still contributing and helping others. Their businesses have grown immensely over those few years. What I love about the members at 48days.net is their commitment and loyalty to those seeking advice.

Dan Miller has created a friendly caring community. Mr. Miller could charge for access to the forums and earn a generous passive income; but he understands helping others and building a tribe is a treasure of value for everyone involved. Dan is building a legacy one member at a time. 48Days.net is a jewel for those seeking change.

Since returning in 2012, I’ve been fortunate to develop friendships with newer members: Ann Musico, Caroline Gavin, Karen Putz and Jen McDonough. These ladies are successful authors, speakers, podcasters, bloggers and coaches on the verge of taking their dream to the next level.

I thank Dan Miller for his heart of gold and the members at 48Days.net for their encouragement, wisdom and knowledge. I'ts great to connect with kind people who assist anyone seeking advice. The free membership of 48Days.net is an valuable gem to finding your way!

Speaking of gems: Dan Miller and his son, Jared Angaza, have a fantastic new book out entitled: Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate. You may read my review here and order a copy today!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

Are You an Artist?

My friends, Michael Michalski and Stephen Rager create Art. So does author Jeff Goins. Grant Peelle is also living his dream has an artist.

Some of these folks have been creating their Art or years. Stephen Rager gets up every day at 5:00 a.m. to start his project before going to work. Michael Michalski has been creating his own music for years and loves it. Jeff Goins is an up-and-coming author, speaker and blogger, while Grant Peelle produced an award-winning documentary.

Every day, these folks have a common thread to make a difference through their Art. Whether it’s a part-time or a full-time operation, these artists are on the cutting-edge daily. It’s what motivates them and allows their talent and gifts to shine. While some may take their work for granted, those of us in the trenches understand the vulnerability and risk.

They know out of every 30 people, 29 will say they’re wasting their time. Those folks know rejection and failure will happen. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and brave the pain. Because pain and failure are their friends too! It’s understood the path they chose is tough.

Artists also know it only requires one idea, song, book or movie to breakthrough. Perseverance and shipping a product are what gives them the courage to stand-out. Despite success or failure, they understand tomorrow is a new day. It’s another chance to begin again.

Artists don’t float through life settling for the status quo or approval. That’s not Art, it’s a job. No these gentlemen push the boundaries from their soul. It’s not a choice, it’s a duty.

Artists understand their passion to make a difference and touch someone else’s heart and soul! Deep down inside they’d have it no other way. It’s why they exist and what makes them unique!

Are You an Artist?

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

The Artist Manifesto

Here’s an essential item for any aspiring artist, writer, procrastinator or just someone in need of an inspirational pick-me-up.

Photo credit: Ashley Goins.

 Jeff Goins the author of Wrecked, penned the Artist Manifesto.  Jeff’s words resonate brilliantly concerning our how to be a creative force of good for the world through art.

He commissioned Mandy Thompson to create the visual art to his manifesto. Mandy did a superb job and she offers various sizes of the print through Etsy. Mandy is a terrific artist in her own right. Her blog looks great and judging from her artwork for Jeff, Mandy has a very promising future doing what she loves to do.

Note: If you enter the word “Manifesto” in the coupon code during the purchase before Monday the opportunity exists to receive a 25% discount off the purchase.

I was fortunate to purchase a copy the beautiful artwork last evening and I wanted to share it with my readers. In case you didn’t take a look and read the first link I posted; you may read Jeff Goins- The Artist Manifesto below:

The Artist Manifesto~ by Jeff Goins

This is it. NO TURNING BACK. No excuses, no delays. Time to sit down and focus. To show up and create. To paint and play and craft. To DREAM and vision-cast.

To make all things new.

This is beauty in action. Life in full swing. THIS IS ART.

There are no ringside seats or sick days. Everyone must play. No second chances. You only get one shot. All you have is today.

THE TIME IS NOW. To inspire wonder and awe. To speak up in a world fast asleep at the wheel.

We’re counting on you. To be creative. To AWAKEN our souls with beauty. To use your heart and hands to bring meaning back into the universe.

Because without you we are all lost.

Life makes no sense without prophets and poets.

We need you to DO THE WORK and honor your call. To tap into the Muse and find your voice.

We cannot do this alone. We have lost the child-within. That part of us content to stare at clouds — at home with magic and mystery. We need your help to find her. So that we can dance and laugh and sing. So that we can BE WHOLE once again.

WILL YOU GUIDE US?

If you are a writer, I highly recommend Jeff’s blog and newsletter. He is one of the best bloggers for aspiring writers in the world! Mr. Goins is climbing the ladder of success and has had an impact on my life. It’s refreshing to see a young man who spends much of his time helping others accomplish their goals.

Jeff has given everyone permission to share his manifesto to anyone through a blog, Twitter, Facebook or any other form of social media. So feel free to share, distribute, or copy The Artist Manifesto.

Better yet, purchase a beautiful copy today!

 Keep it near you to remind yourself “why” you are an artist and “why”- what you do matters!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

Writer's Block- How to Breakthrough the Obstacles

The last couple of evenings, I’ve had a bit of writer's block. The inspiration to introduce an idea, story or adventure wasn’t within my mind. Lately, I’ve not been over-flowing with multiple thoughts and have been pulling recent blogs out of the thin air. But for two days my mind produced nothing. Frustration at its finest moment!

Why Me?

Perhaps it’s exhaustion from several years of burning the candle at both ends. Maybe I haven’t read enough motivating books recently. I certainly haven’t been able to surround myself with people who inspire success or think between the lines in the rust belt. Whatever the reason(s) it is a common occurrence among writers.

Last night, I decided to take the time and make the situation a positive experience.

How I Beat the Block

I took advantage of the situation by catching up on my responses to people who commented on my blogs, researched the subject of writer's block, stumbled across some thought provoking ideas and realized I have a great success story to share, right under my nose.

When a writer begins to suffer from writer’s block, the mindset slowly shifts from focusing on others to focusing on self. The soul searching experience locks you in a series of self-centered thoughts or emotions. My former tendencies often help provide insight for the psychological condition at hand. Recognizing the problem is the first step in changing the outcome.

So instead of having another unproductive frustrating evening, I broke through the chains to unleash new ideas and possibilities.

What I Discovered

Photo courtesy of: Sami Stoner.

 

The most meaningful take-away was to realize- I have the opportunity and duty to unveil the sweetest success story to ever grace our area. The young courageous lady I hope to interview is currently undergoing a tough schedule between school events and a television taping with ESPN. I hope to bring you her amazing story soon, as her time permits.

Sami Stoner and her guide dog, Chloe's latest inspiring story will be featured on ESPN on Tuesday, October 16th at 7 pm. (Eastern Standard Time). Please don't miss this incredible story of success!

Tips for Writer's Block

The next time you suffer from writer's block:

·        Use the time constructively.

·        Forget about your frustration.

·        View the time as a period of tying up loose-ends.

·        Immerse yourself in focusing on others.

I promise you, the little treasures you will encounter will not only bust through writer's block, you’ll be back at warp speed writing about something meaningful that matters!

I’d love to see your input and comments on this story.

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

A September to Remember

September is nearly over. We had initially planned to attend a conference or workshop during September.  Our plans backfired due to some unexpected bills and extending my vacation days over Labor Day Weekend to clean-up the house.

Although we missed both of this year’s events, we are already looking forward to next year!

I recently read successful people attend workshops and conferences in order to mix ideas, communicate, meet new people with similar goals and become recharged about your passion in life.

Here in the rust belt, we could use a little motivation to fire-up our passion.

Coaching with Excellence

My original plan was to attend Dan Miller’s Coaching with Excellence workshop in Franklin, Tennessee. Dan Miller is the best-selling author of No More Dreaded Monday’s and 48 Days to the Work You Love. Dan Miller recently released a new book co-written with his son, Jarad Angaza entitled- Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate (read the book review here). Dan Miller also has two websites with loads of community assistance, classes and podcasts at 48days.com and 48days.net.   

From the reviews of the three-day event we missed an excellent opportunity to learn about our abilities and choices in the coaching field. The event was full of insightful knowledge and it was an opportunity to meet new friends with the same interests. Did I forget to mention the food is excellent?

Quitter Conference

Jon Acuff’s Quitter Conference was held late last week in Brentwood, Tennessee. Jon is a successful speaker, blogger and author.  Jon is the author of Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Dream Job. Jon is a team member of the Dave Ramsey staff.

The event was sold out and it would have been a great time listening to Jon and his guest speakers. Many of those attendance have authored books, established their work in the coaching field and technology. The opportunity to meet and speak with many of those faces I’ve seen or heard online or read their books and material would have been inspirational as well!

Wrecked

Writer Jeff Goins, author of Wrecked was a featured speaker at the Quitter Conference and subsequently was able to interview Jon Acuff.

This is one of the reasons building a network of people is so important. Opportunities grow from the circle of friends established. One of the neat things- is it happens when you least expect it!

Speaking of Least Expecting

I signed up for Twitter the other day. One of the people I am following is author Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity and “The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future.” Surprisingly, Chris is following me on Twitter. Twitter is a pretty neat application. I don’t know how people find the time for all this activity. I’ve discussed Chris previously in my work.

Chris just returned from visiting his 188^th country- Seychelles. He only has 5 countries left to complete his goal of visiting all 193 countries in the world. What an amazing life having the freedom as an entrepreneur on your own terms.

 

 

Seasons Change

Soon the leaves will be changing colors and it will be a nice time to take a short drive to Amish country. It’s always a laid back trip to observe the goods, lifestyle and entrepreneurship of the Amish community.

Did I forget to mention the food is excellent?

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

The Art of Self-Publishing

Ever Consider Writing and Self-Publishing?

Note: I am revisiting and updating my blog from July 2010 on self-publishing to offer some advice from one of my readers. Enjoy!

First, consider learning everything you can about the publishing business. There are many companies who will attempt to take advantage of your lack of knowledge concerning the book industry and publishing. These “sharks” will have you paying a large sum of money to print, store and sell your book. They will ask you to sign a contract, which will give them the rights to your book and this will prohibit you from earning money. In the end, the disappointment will likely lead you to never write another book again.

I began my quest to write the first book without any experience. I asked questions, scoured the internet for best solutions and became knowledgeable to self-publish my book. I started my own publishing company and will soon launch the book. I am using the POD (print on demand) method. My printer will print the quantity of books, I choose; based on my need.

Sometimes decisions regarding business details were based on my situation financially or my audience. Self-publishing has some limitations, but when you choose to self-publish a book; you remain the author and sole decision maker.

If it sounds easy and someone promises to provide a simple solution for several thousand dollars to publish a book for you- walk away!

For those of you wishing to self-publish, here are a few items to consider:

· Purchasing a domain name

· Searching for the lowest cost solution in creating an attractive webpage

· Blog topics for a blog

· Website content

· Joining social network sites

· Writing press releases

· Creating advertisement flyers

· Choosing an editor

· Graphics person

· Printer company

· Shipping method

· Postal rates

· Pricing

· Taxes

· eBook solutions

· eCommerce shopping carts

· Payment gateways

· Photo releases

· Scanning Photos

· Purchasing an ISBN and copyright registration

· Creating a PDF file specific to the printing company in Adobe Acrobat

Did I mention writing 10- 12 hours a day of writing during weekends?

(Photo created by: gilles chiroleu.)

Yes, writing a book can be a tedious task. But the educational aspect is priceless and the next book will be easier to publish, given your vast experience and knowledge! Don’t allow any company to take advantage of you.

 The 10 Best Secrets of Self-Publishing

1. You don't need anyones permission to self-publish.
2. You become a writer once you decide to write.
3. Don't worry about mistakes, hire a good editor.
4. Pre-plan the layout of the chapters in the book.
5. Realize a book can be self-published cheaply as an ebook through online resources.
6. Income from the ebook could help fund the hard copy book or vice-versa.
7. Self-publishing and marketing are two separate aspects. Write first- worry about a website later.
8. Take advantage of using books, community forums and YouTube for ideas and assistance.
9. Perserverance is the biggest challenge in writing.
10. Start today!

 Until We Meet Again,

 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”

Something Meaningful that Matters!

www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and 3^rd party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.