It used to be that when someone called and invited me to talk about my latest book at their club meeting I would think about it for only a few seconds before responding. And, usually, I would say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Well, it was a safe answer. I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t comfortable speaking in public. What if I messed up? Yes, it was the right answer. However, later, I often regretted my snap decision. <\/p>\n
So I started handling things differently. Now, when someone called and asked me to do something that was outside of my comfort zone, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll think about it and call you back.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Invariably, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d talk myself out of it and end up missing a worthwhile activity or an interesting event. Obviously, that wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the solution to my decision-making problem, either. So, I developed a new tactic.<\/p>\n
The next time someone called to ask me to speak or to attend a writers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 group meeting or to help organize a group, I said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Then I figured out a way to do it. Instead of focusing on the negative possibilities and my perceived short-comings\u00e2\u20ac\u201drather than dreading failure\u00e2\u20ac\u201dI began a self-improvement regimen. I started meditating and using positive self-talk. I joined Toastmasters and improved my public-speaking skills. <\/p>\n
Now, when I say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to a speaking invitation, I spend my days preparing for a positive outcome rather than dreading failure. Consequently, book sales are up, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m getting more client work and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m having a lot of fun traveling all over the place. April 1, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be in Honolulu presenting a workshop on how to create a book proposal for the Pen Women\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Conference. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be speaking before the Book Publicists of Southern California in Studio City, CA April 6 and I just accepted a gig for May 10 as the keynote speaker for the area Toastmasters conference in Dubai\u00e2\u20ac\u201dyes, that amazing city in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
I learned my lesson: Make snap decisions based on your fears and insecurities and you could miss out on some exciting adventures and great book-selling opportunities. Just say, YES.<\/p>\n
And don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget to say YES to my suggestion that you purchase and study my latest book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. <\/em> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html <\/a> <\/p>\n For suggestions on how to find speaking engagements through which you can promote your book, read the previous entry posted in this blog. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It used to be that when someone called and invited me to talk about my latest book at their club meeting I would think about it for only a few seconds before responding. And, usually, I would say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Well, it was a safe answer. I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t comfortable speaking in public. What if I messed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t