Stay out of Overwhelm and in Flow with Your Book Marketing & Publicity

It's funny, but I thought I was going to retire this blog and begin another one that focused on other subject matter, but I just can't do it. I think it's simply because I love books and authors, and wannbe authors so much, and most really need and want help when it comes to publicizing and marketing their books so I am staying put and will be contributing more helpful information. I will potentially add another blog, but this one will stay live. Yay!

So here we are again....

I'm excited to say that a great deal has happened in the last few months. Much of my work is virtual now with various programs and an amazing online community where we help and support one another with the goals associated with our books, our businesses, and our work in general. I can't tell you how inspiring, helpful, and hopeful this process is--particularly the Masterminds that have been created. 

There is one curious thing though....What I've noticed is that no matter what, there is one topic that comes up over, and over, and over again....

It's a subject that I have worked on my entire career, and maybe even before that. In fact, it's been so close to me that I only just realized last week that I can share this  information with others and really help them! It's the subject of overwhelm--specifically, how to say OUT of it. 

If you ever hear yourself saying, "I'm so busy. I have too much to do. I can't take that project on because I am overwhelmed," then this is for you.

But here's the crazy catch: The experience of overwhelm often stops people from doing much of anything. They just get to feel bad, which is so unpleasant. 

It doesn't have to be that way.

First let's change the languaging. Rather than saying "staying out of overwhelm", a better description is to learn "how to be in FLOW". You know when you're in flow. When you're in flow, you feel great. You feel like you're creating and producing in a way that feels amazing. You're getting your work done and out there and the process is a joy. 

Let me share a little secret. When it comes to being in flow, it's an inside job. This is all about being motivated on the inside to want to move forward. When you get the inside in order, the stuff on the outside falls into place. Yes, it's that simple. Not easy until you have some techniques for doing it, but it is simple, and sometimes the simplest of things are the most powerful.  

Does that mean you get everything you want? Not necessarily, but often you will. It means taking every result you get as feedback, joyfully, and then making the adjustments that need to be made. This is so much more productive and helpful than going into the old, "Oh, I'll never get anything right." Or "If only I were older, younger, smarter, thinner, quicker...." or whatever that old tape is playing back to you. 

So how do we harness the flow state? Well, that's what much of my work has been about. What if we could harness technology and marketing (two things that stop many people in their tracks) and use it toward reaching our goals of publicizing our books? And what if we could do this in a way that feels good, not like we're trying to make ourselves take action. No, it needs to come naturally and happen easily. This is totally doable!

Here are a couple of tips you can begin with today:

1. Ask yourself some questions: When in my life have I been in flow? Then take a few minutes and really remember a particular time. Close your eyes and feel it in your body. Feel what you were feeling then. See what you were seeing then. Hear what you were hearing then.  Allow the feelings to really fill you up. Enjoy that. Relish it! Make it bigger and more intense.

2. Next, when you are feeling those feelings, think about what it is you are wanting to do now. What is the project or task that you would like to feel in flow about. See yourself doing it, feeling great about it, and being successful. Imagine this fully. What are you telling yourself? Make sure your words are positive and helpful.


The fact that you've been in flow before means you can be in flow again. You have to remember how you got there before and then duplicate that process. We all have to learn new things. That is simply the way life is and the good news is that we are basically learning machines. We learn every day, all the time. Make sure you are learning the things that are going to take you closer to your goals rather than further away from them. (For example, learning how to go into overwhelm quickly and easily is not a very helpful technique to learn; yet the more often you allow yourself to go into it, the better you get at it. Let's change this...now!)

And remember, you can always come to my complimentary Q&A calls. This is where we discuss these ideas, plus how to increase your visibility, market and publicize your books, how to get into flow, and make things happen. If you want to know when the next call is, or the next webinar or other opportunity, go here and get my gift to you. It may answer some of the questions you currently have. 

And remember, you can do this! I'd love to help.

Warmly,
Joanne