5 Questions To Help You Stay Focused As An Online Writer

#4 is easy to put in place starting today

I just went through an online course and summit where a bunch of guest speakers came and talked about how they had achieved X, Y, or Z goals with their online business.

But do you what?

Many of them offered conflicting advice.

Yes, slide into DMs. No, that’s bothersome.

Yes, comment on other posts. No, that’s spreading yourself too thin.

Yes, post everyday. No, that’s too much work.

Obviously, different things work for different people and it’s a mix.

Here are some questions to help you clarify what to focus on.

1. What do you want to achieve?

First things first: figure out what you really want.

Write it down, make it clear.

• Do you want a big audience?
• To write a novel or screenplay?
• Become a better curator of info?

When you know what you want, it’s easier to go after it.

Goals work best when they’re FAST — frequent, ambitious, specific, and transparent. So put time constraints around them and share with others (that’s the transparent part).

And remember: it’s okay to say no to things that don’t serve you. Figure out what you don’t want and let go of it.

Clear the path for what you do want.

2. Can you go faster?

Keep things moving!

Speed to market is a real thing, and it’ll help you clarify what you really want to be worked on.

Don’t get bogged down with overthinking. The faster you go, the more you’ll achieve.

Stay in the flow and keep creating.

3. What can you get rid of?

This is the old less is more. I’m reading a book about discipline and simplicity, and it’s amazing what you can cut out.

Focus on what’s important.

You don’t have to do everything at once.

Simplify and prioritize.

Right now, I’m working on a bunch of different projects and I’m trying to think of what to discard. It includes SEO work, productivity tips for writers, and then this nagging hobby of mine where I process books and culture.

Honestly, I like them all, but it’s hard to pin it down. I’m currently working through this.

4. What is your routine like?

Keep your routine simple and stick to it.

For me, I usually get out of the house in the morning and work in a coffeeshop.

But I live in New York City, and there are literally hundreds of options. I’ve only selected a few to help me focus and then I don’t have to think about which place or where.

That familiarity helps me focus, and then I explore other places on the weekends.

That’s a simple example, but what things in your routine do you need to change to add more focus?

Focus is your secret weapon. Use it wisely to make progress.

5. What do you like doing?

Finally, what do you like doing?

We’re online all the time, so we’ve heard of the bros making millions in dropshipping or something like that. But is that fun? Dealing with international shipping and far-off manufacturers?

I’m sure it is for some people, but not for me. What I like doing won’t necessarily make the most money, but I enjoy it.

When you care about something, it’s easier to stay focused.

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