Without delusions of grandeur I would not have …
… Started a book, let alone finish it
… Jumped head first to become a professional voice over talent
… Or created Chapter & Voice, a cutting edge new business for writers

Nope, delusions of grandeur can be our best friend. Our delusions of greatness help motivate us to chase after our best life with abandon, even if it appears too ambitious to other people. Who cares if they can’t imagine our dreams of “what if” coming true? We can.

Someone asked me recently, “What would you do if you knew that you couldn’t fail?”

My answer, “Exactly what I’m doing right now.” It’s true and my delusions of grandeur helped get me here.

For delusions of grandeur to morph into reality takes long hours and hard work every day. Dreaming isn’t enough to make our delusions materialize – it requires diligent practice, unwavering focus, and skin so thick it resembles elephant hide.

Having delusions of a five-book deal with Random House keeps me taking classes, going to conferences, and plugging away on writing projects.

My earnest wish of finally becoming a narrator for the Discovery Channel or NatGeo keeps me auditioning and practicing my “conversational, natural” reading style.

Knowing an AudioTeaser (much like this one) will help writers market their books, fuels my dreams that Chapter & Voice will become the essential promotion tool that I know it can be.

Delusions of grandeur give us the strength to keep going.

LISTEN to the Audio Teaser of Embrace Your Delusions

When we want to give up and call it a career, delusions show us what is possible, if we just try once more. Our delusions of success help us shrug off the ten rejections we received via email to submit another day. Delusions tell us to get out of bed, fix our hair and slap on some lip-gloss, and go take the next risk that will breathe life into our dreams.

Believe in your delusions of grandeur and use them as a road map to where to want to go. Celebrate your visions of what will be “when you finally _____________.” Throw a party in anticipation of your impending success. Then, work your ass off to get there.

Our delusions of grandeur are only delusions if we don’t try.

It started with blogs, then it was Facebook, now it’s Twitter. With everything that we do to market our books, it’s not a surprise that at times actual writing can take a back seat.  So what can we do?

Simplify.

Don’t want to read this post?

Are you trying to manage 3 or more email addresses? Simplify. Which one(s) can you cancel?

Are you working on, but not finishing, more than one manuscript right now? Simplify – pick and finish one.

Are you overwhelmed with the number of social media outlets you are trying to keep up with? Simplify. Choose one and become really consistent in its use, then you can add another one as your time grows.

PONDER POINTS

• Where can you simplify your writing life?
• What are some of the distractions that get in your way?
• What can you scratch off your list of “to dos?”
• Who is not helping you meet your goals?

Simplifying might create more chaos in the beginning, but after the initial brouhaha, the pay off is totally worth it.

When it doubt…simplify!

When I grow up, I want to be ________________.

It seems funny when grownups say this, especially to those under twenty, but it’s the sentiment that helps keep our childhood dreams alive. When you finally decide to turn those dreams into reality, the 3 Ps help as you move along the road to fulfillment.

The 3 Ps are Passion, Persistence, and Patience.

PASSION

On the days when following your dreams is just…plain…hard, passion can pull you through.  Think long-term commitment like a stick of incense slowing smoldering. It still burns, but it takes its time, releasing its aroma slowly, but surely.

If your passion burns too hot or fast like a fuse on a stick of dynamite, it will burn out too quickly or worse, blow up.  Don’t know about you, but I have enjoyed many heated passions (yes, that kind too) that flamed out all too quickly – playing the piano and becoming the next great lounge singer to name but a few.

However, I have maintained passion for writing.  Some of my passion filled projects are still enjoying a vacation in the drawer, but my passion for the craft and joy of writing continue to simmer, fueling my desire to keep on going.

PERSISTENCE

My favorite definition of persistence is “continuing despite problems.”  And boy-o-boy, do problems, or as I prefer to call them obstacles, come in a variety of flavors.

From rejections to time management, family obligations to (momentarily) just not giving a crap. If you haven’t hit all of these yet…it’s something to look forward to on your journey. Think of hurdles as badges of honor and experiences to put in your memoir, but don’t let them stop you.

Persistence is about soldiering on in the face of delay, other people’s opinions and the hardest of all, self doubt. There are some days that I believe that the “fraud police” are going to stop me and give me a ticket for posing as a writer and voice talent.

Persistence is about becoming a hearty soul who laughs at adversity and keeps on going.

PATIENCE

“I’m an overnight success and it only took me 20 years.”

Having patience is hard. I don’t know anyone who dons Gandhi garb and is cool with waiting.  We all want success to happen as soon as possible, but most of us have a lot to learn before we are ready for success. That’s patience.

Here’s the trick – don’t focus on the when, focus on the next step. Just the next step.  Not fifteen steps ahead or three steps behind, just the next step on your path to success.

Do you have a list of steps? Do you know where you want to go and more than a vague idea of how to get there?

Consider these points…

Do you have enough training? Can you use more? (Everyone can use more)

• Is there a class you can take?
• Is there a group you can join?
• Are there books to read to improve your skill?
• Are you doing the work? If you want to be a writer, you gotta write. If you want to be a voice talent, you have to have a demo. If you want to be a pro golfer, hitting the links is imperative to your success.

When you shift your focus off “when” success will happen and just keep working on what you want – your dreams will come true before you know it, and you’ll be better prepared to deal with it when it does.

Embracing and developing a deeper sense of the 3 Ps will always help you move toward your goals – no matter how lofty or as of yet, unrealized. There is always time to follow your dreams! So what are you waiting for? Go!

HIRE ME!

As a Voice Talent: Demos

My friend KC said it best:  I work for myself, so I work half days. I just have to decide which 12 hours those will be!