What Was I Thinking? (aka The Pre-Writing Challenge)

I’ve been a life coach for about five of six years now and in that time I’ve pursued my field of choice with varying degrees of intensity. I’ve spent quite a bit of that time growing up, figuring what I was passionate about, and refining how I wanted to be thought of. In fact, I just spent the last year or so of my life running (and then getting over running) my own holistic wellness store (with real walls and a cash register and everything), which really had nothing to do with being a coach.

In the end, all this dabbling and exploring did its job; I’m finally here – I’ve found my voice and my message. (Now all I have to do is find my audience.)

Some of you know that 2010 is my year for being Daring, and that my business is the reason I committed myself to this insane theme in the first place. It’s what I need to do, but definitely hasn’t been easy for me. Still, I’m plunging onward because the definition of courage is not being without fear, but acting despite your fear. (Maybe some of you who dream about making and selling art, having your own coaching business, or seeing your words in print – etc – can sympathize with me?)

I do have one advantage in all of this though (another benefit of all those years dabbling and exploring): I know myself really well. Deadlines and accountability are my friends. I am a master at being consumed in “busy”, but getting nothing done. (I realized this week that this might more accurately be called playing at working – that’s a harsh message from my subconscious.) But, give me a deadline and people to answer to and I’m suddenly fully committed and highly productive (even if I just squeak in at the stroke of midnight).

Which is exactly why I decided to sign up for Conscious Me’s Pre-Writing Challenge. It has all the essential elements: a deadline (the challenge starts tomorrow (Feb. 19th) and ends on March 20th); accountability (with the participants and all of you readers to harass and encourage me, any slacking will end up being awfully public); and its focus is to work on my business. Just what I needed, and coming in so early in the year, just when I needed it.

Still, now I actually have to do the challenge. And, I’ll be honest, at least once a day for the last week I’ve been asking myself what the heck I was thinking getting myself into this. (Yes, there has been crying – shut up, I’m a girl, I’m allowed to cry.) So, starting tomorrow I’ll be slaving away at the keyboard and ransacking old notebooks and journals (thanks Justin!) for post ideas. I’ll also be saying good bye to television, nights off, and relaxing weekends (experience teaches me that once I start writing I just can’t stop). I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress; after all, I’ll need your harrassment (and encouragement) to succeed.

In the meantime, I think I’m going to go enjoy my last night off with a paint brush in hand. (If you want to read more about the challenge and meet my co-challengers just stop by my Pre-Writing Challenge Page.)

Yours,
Megan

The Challenge: Write 2 weeks of blog content (ready to publish by end of challenge) in one month, while maintaining your regular blog posting frequency.

My Goal: At 3 blog posts a week I need 6 posts stored in my cue and ready to publish. I will also need to have posted 12 live posts in the meantime, making my final goal a total of 18 blog posts.