Since this is the last blog post for the year, I’d like to take the opportunity to share some highlights from 2018, as well as provide a sneak peek of good things to come.
Here are the amazing things that happened in 2018:
I launched a group PR program. For years, I had struggled with how I could serve more authors while staying aligned with our company’s values. I wanted to help more people bring their books to market, but I wanted to do it in a way that would ensure they received a good return on their investment. And that’s how BookLaunch Boot Camp was born. I could help more authors launch their books, but because it was a group program, I could also keep the costs down. The first group of authors started in January, the second in July, and now we’re gearing up for our third Book Launch Boot Camp class to start in January.
Click here if you’d like to be notified when applications open in the spring!
I launched a YouTube channel. I had been resistant to creating more video content for quite some time, but after much encouragement from my fellow entrepreneurs, I decided to give it a shot. I’m still not a fan of the actual shooting process – I’m not an actor and memorizing lines is a struggle – but I did enjoy the editing process way more than I thought I would. I’ve also enjoyed evaluating which content is best for which format, and having more mediums to teach and share information. I’m not sure that YouTube is the right platform for this community, so I’m considering scaling back in 2019, but I am glad I went all in and have a strong body of work and a new set of skills to show for it.
I began hosting interviewing other entrepreneurs on the podcast. After recording dozens of solo shows, I realized it was time to begin accepting guests on the podcast. I knew booking, coordinating, and editing the interviews was going to be a bit more work than the solo shows, but I didn’t expect how much more FUN the process was going to be. Every interview feels like an intimate coffee chat with a fellow entrepreneur, and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from these savvy individuals…and then pass that knowledge on to you!
I invested in my own professional development…IRL. Though I travel a lot throughout the year, it’s mostly for speaking gigs and conferences where I’m supporting our clients. I had done very little travel for my own professional development, so that was something I decided to prioritize this year. I attended my first entrepreneur conference in January, led by AmberMcCue of Freshly Implemented. It involved two days of intensive workshops, group masterminding, and networking. Then in September, I attended the Being Boss Vacation and participated in a VIP group of entrepreneurs to take a deeper dive into our businesses and work together on a more intimate level. While this event was more vacation than conference, the real aha moments happened while walking to breakfast with the other bosses or sitting on our balcony with a glass of wine. The ability to spend nearly 3 days with a small group of savvy entrepreneurs was invaluable to both my business and my spirit.
I decided to close a revenue stream. Diverse revenue streams are important for entrepreneurs, but more is not always more. I spent much of Q4 reviewing all of our different revenue streams and evaluating which ones were working and which weren’t, and in the end, I decided to close the Your Book, Your Brand e-course to focus more on Book Launch Boot Camp and other live trainings. You can read my full explanation here and if you do want to snag the Your Book, Your Brand before it closes, you can do so before 12/31/18 and receive $150 off.
Each of these highlights has informed my 2019 plans, and while not everything has been finalized, here are a few things you can expect in the coming year…
More group programs. The success of Book Launch Boot Camp has demonstrated the value and effectiveness of group programs. I love teaching and coaching in a group setting, while keeping the group small enough that there’s still personalized attention. That is why I plan to create a membership site that will consist of a group forum, monthly trainings, and additional resources.
I’ll be starting with a beta group, so if you’re interested in taking part, please click here and fill out this form.
More podcast interviews. I intend to maintain the bi-weekly solo shows alternating with the bi-weekly interview shows, but if great interview opportunities present themselves more often, then I’m not going to turn them down. If there is someone you’d like to hear interviewed on the podcast (even if that someone is you!), shoot me an email or share your info in the comments.
Continue to pare down revenue streams and focus on the ones that are really working. Too many revenue streams means not enough time to focus on any particular one. That’s why I will continue to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t, and not be afraid to trim the fat. I’d much rather put my full energy into a few things than to spread myself too thinly.
I am so excited for what’s to come in the new year! What about you? What were your year-end highlights? Big plans for the new year? Share in the comments or on social media!
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