The Internet Business Codex (IBCX) reopens this week.

It’s the end of November.  All over town, in towns everywhere,  Santa Claus look-alike characters are setting up their chairs, ready to grant Christmas wishes and give good will to all.

But you don’t need Santa.  You could give yourself an early Christmas present right here.

IBCX is the definitive online business training program, with Mentors to answer your every question about the best way to build an online sustainable business.  When it first opened, I joined as a founder member.

There’s a mystique about doing business online.  Many come to it having been sold the idea that ‘internet marketing’ is somehow different; that fast easy riches are there for the taking.

It’s certainly true that internet marketing, while it can be lucrative, is difficult to learn without a Mentor or two to light the way.  Most who begin an online journey report that (at first), they didn’t understand what to do, or how, or who to believe.  Statistics often quoted suggest that over 98% who try the online game will make no money at all.

Where can you you find out how to succeed online?

Many do succeed. Their (supposedly accurate and honest) stories are printed everywhere you look.  And here’s how you’ll achieve success too:  You utilise the combined talents and experience of business mentors Gary Simpson and Garry Parkes.

They understand how you feel.  Having started from no knowledge and experience online, like you, they  figured it all out, and have drawn the map for others to follow.  And it works in any and all niches.   IBCX will teach you ‘how-to’ if you have information or systems to sell online.

It’s here.

Have  you spent dozens – or hundreds – of hours searching and not finding?  Most online marketing information that’s available is rubbish, in my view.  Perhaps you’ve found the same.

The IBCX membership is mentored by Garry Parkes and Gary Simpson.  It’s been over a year in development. You “start at the very beginning . . .” which means that IBCX will work for you if you’ve just decided to ‘jump in’ and don’t know anything at all about the ways of the net.

If you’re into ‘all the details’ – you’ll find out more here.

IBCX is the most comprehensive internet marketing course available.

All the elements of successful learning have been included:

• Webinars to introduce and explain each module
• Explanatory videos for each concept.
• Written transcripts of the videos, in case you prefer text (I do myself)
• Longer reports and books that expand on various topics
• Q n A sessions at the end of each module,  to answer clarify anything you find challenging.

Module summaries:

1. First things first.

A new beginning. Planning for Profit. Time Management.  Pain v Pleasure.  It’s a business you’re building.

2. Power of presence and positioning.

Relationships; what you need, and why.  Steps to building a dynamic website. Identity.  Branding.  And a lot more.

3. Blogging buddies.

You’ll meet the IBCX networking Wizard.  You’ll take the Seven Day Challenge. And you’ll discover the ‘Spider’s Web’ . . .

4. Niche Nirvana.

What niche? Why that one?  How to choose . . .  Which one is optimum? Will covert action help?  And who will use the ‘Secret Weapon’ first?

5. Listology.

Lies, lies and Lists.  Listology is ‘the science’ of building your mailing list. Many will tell you  “the money is in the list” – how true is this? And where is teh money made – really?

6. Fast Track Cash Funnel.

Monetising the Mammoth.  You get the inside info on the latest ‘sales funnel’ with step-by-step installation instructions. This module alone is worth the whole course fee.

7. Traffic Top Ten.

Where do your website visitors come from – and what should you do to get more of them ?  The ‘top ten’ traffic techniques are explained in depth so you can take full advantage . . .

8. Client Collaboration.

In module eight you’ll get another income opportunity.  It’s just one more example of how IBCX stands out among online business educators.

9. PLR Power Play.

Can you use pre-written articles and re-label them to create your ‘own’ information products?  You can – there are thousands of ‘Private Label Products’ available.  But use them wrong, and your money will evaporate.

10. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

Doing more of what worked, and less of what didn’t.  and making use of two of the best mentors in the IM world to grow your business ahead of the competition.  It’s Action for Profit, month by month.

I recommend IBCX not because of what is contained in the teaching modules – that’s subject to change anyway as it is continually updated.  I recommend IBCX because of the mentors; two ethical teachers I have personally met and whole-heartedly endorse.

Want to make Screen-Capture Video?  Grab Web Video Mastery.

And it’s all free too,  – not the course, but the Video you’ll make and benefit from.

With Web Video Mastery you’ll learn easy techniques for making screen-capture videos – using free software.

For screen-capture, you don’t need a video camera.. You don’t need smart clothes, a studio-look, or any of that. You won’t be filming your ‘face.’

Web Video Mastery is the creation of two wise men in the world of internet business: Garry Parkes and Gary Simpson.

Gary and Garry are the developers of internet business training phenomena IBCX.  This course is a rarity in the online world, as has been touched on in previous articles.

Grab Your Video Mastery in Gold or Platinum.

There are two parts to Web Video Mastery:  Gold and Platinum.  Essentially, Gold is Basic Training, and Platinum gives you  Advanced Ninja Abilities.

You get the whole picture at   Easy Video Mastery.

The Gold training level consists of 9 videos with supporting text and notes.  Platinum is a further 11 videos, with more ‘insider’ methods and techniques.

And you should get on the list for IBCX, too. The IBCX banner on this page will take you right to the water cooler.  By the time they swing the gate open to train the next group of internet business students, every technique and material you’ll need will be there.

Or you could just hang around here.  I’ll be talking more of the successes people are ahving with IBCX, and hope to interview some of the founder members.

But you can get Web Video Mastery today – while it’s still at the introductory price  . . .

Learn the easiest FREE ways to  make screen-capture video now.

What’s all this hype anyway?

This week, internet marketer Alex Jeffreys published “Unreported Marketing – What the Gurus Won’t Tell You” another signature tirade against the establishment.  

Hype-hype and more bloody hype, right?  Alex reminds us that he stands against ‘everyone else’ who only sells hype.

Mind you, it’s a mantra often heard.  I’m beginning to think ‘hype’ is one of those words like ‘value,’ so often used in a sweeping generalised way that it means nothing anymore.

Every second marketing message received in our brimming inbox now contains the soothing comfort that ‘there’s no hype here…’

Who remembers the Supertramp hit from the 70′s “Right, Right, bloody well right . . .”

Meanwhile, Alex suggests that most of his predictions have come true,  principal among them that millions have been made in the last few years by those who’ve sold little more than hope.  He’s spoken of this in previous writings – and it’s so true.  Nevertheless, many  continue to buy hope for good money day after day despite any evidence that this is sensible.

Business success comes from taking one path – not ten.

Alex confesses several past addictions; among them ‘the next best thing.’  I’ve had his addiction to that too.  Almost all those who venture online to learn its secrets start off on the same road. Full of optimism, after hearing how ‘simple’ it all is online, they head off through the marketplace, buying from every stall, barely tasting their purchase before pushing on through a throng of frenzied fans to buy the next offering. And the next.

Many lose their shirt as well as their purse before being ejected into the dusty street somewhere on the edge of the action.  Looking back, it still seems colourful and exciting in the crowd, but with no more money for another go round, another wearied success-hunter turns for home, poorer and not much wiser.

Despite advice, I did the same when I began. Alex and others tell similar stories.  We humans . . . we’re VERY slow to learn from each other.  There’s a little of the lemming in us, it seems.  I spent the first ‘quarter’ of my online business game in that marketplace.

Next steps?

Should you rush off to Alex and read about the end of hype?  Certainly, you should get his book here, if you haven’t had one of his previous ones. But if you already know which head’s in the Guru’s bed,  you won’t find any new songs, only more covers of the old ones.

For the real thing, with everything you’ll need for a tremendous business,  you’ll not do better than IBCX . . . Go here to apply.  You’ll need balls; there’s no holds barred, but you’ll make bucks.  And isn’t that what you want? Go now.  If it’s closed right now – grab a place on the list .  .  .

The Mystery?

It’s that cloud of bewilderment that hangs over many of us at some time in life – be honest: Don’t you ask yourself questions like these?
“How do I get a better job; how do I get ahead; where do I find out how to be successful; what’s the secret to it all anyway?
This paragraph has a 2 em right margin.

“How come I can’t find success when so many others seem to get it so easily?

The Mystery for most of us is . . .  why some succeed and most do not; why do the likes of Branson, Gates and Buffett make it when we think we’re just as smart – and we’re certainly not lazy.

Well, maybe some are – but I’m not, you declare.

So why haven’t you got the success you desire? Are you anywhere near the altitude you’re aiming for – or are you wondering whether it’s worth trying any more?

What’s your story of achieving altitude – or not?

What’s your story?

Your blog is getting an identity; do you have one yourself?  Most bloggers don’t know it, but your ‘about me’ page is one of your most valuable.  Many first-time visitors to your blog will want to check you out – and the about page is where they’ll go.

This is your chance to tell your story, in brief, without being boring.  Write this so it will resonate with your readers.

Do you need inspiration?  One look at this extraordinary page and you’ll realise the potential of ‘about me’ pages. But most of us can’t, or won’t, write an encyclopaedic post like that.

So here’s a quick list of  the important stuff.  When you mention these four items, you’ll be ahead of almost everyone:

• Mention how long you’ve been interested in this niche, your qualifications if relevant; your experience and successes.
• Explain why standing in this niche right now is important – see: we’re back to ‘why.’
• Talk about your hopes, perhaps your initial strategy; including why you’re going to be a relevant read in today’s blogosphere. Why do you matter?
• Include contact information, or a link to a contact form and an invitation to readers to engage through leaving comments.

This is effectively another ‘post;’ one which will remain visible.  So check everything carefully, and like with any post, it’s a good idea to leave it overnight so you can have a fresh read-through before publishing.  Next . . .

Make some connections.

Your social media connections need to be established. With each passing month, more and more people become connected through portals such as Facebook and Twitter.  Your readers will want to interact with you that way too, so you must make sure they can.

You’ve probably got a Facebook or Twitter account.  Or both.  There are not many who haven’t.  Get some low-cost promotion by making it easy for blog visitors to share your information through their social media networks.

With Twitter, you’ll probably want to use bit.ly to shorten the link to your posts, to keep within the 140 character limit.

You can search for and ‘friend’ fellow bloggers in your niche who are on the same social platform as you.  And keep working on your writer’s voice, which we talked about on Day Two of your first seven days of blogging, to ensure you stand out in your niche. More about voice can be found here.

Now write another post – make it a foundation feature article.

Foundation articles build a look of permanence.  You could write a ‘list of’ article about key needs in your niche.  You could also pen a ‘how-to’ – a tutorial explaining the intricacies of elements that many people wonder about.  Your brainstorming and mind-mapping on Day One will have started some ideas; continue with the process if you’re not done.

You can do keyword research for some sought-after terms in your niche, then include these in your article. Here’s the latest Google tool link: http://www.googlekeywordtool.com/

You have your post template to remind you of all the elements you need to include.  In addition, consider these elements:

• Keep your headline simple.  It should explain the concept and purpose of your article clearly.  I’m one of the first to line up at word-play time, but a post headline needs to be succinct. It’s not the place for poetry.
• Show your personality, but not too much.  You want to come across as professional, yet unique.  The same as expected, and yet refreshingly different.  Not easy, but possible.  Takes practice, is all.
• Use bullet points, and numbered paragraphs, because it aids your reader’s navigation, and makes things easier to read.

Hunt for blogs like yours – and comment on them.

Your blog may not have many, or any, readers yet. So you might not have much to respond to, emails to answer or contributions on your Facebook wall that need a response.  But if things are quiet for you, there are undoubtedly other blogs in your niche where lots is happening.

This is your moment to jump in and join those other conversations.  You’ll increase awareness of your own blog, just as you’re starting to post your new articles.  And you can build your own reputation as a quality commentator.  This could even lead to a request for a guest post .  A guest post can be one of the best ways of increasing your visibility in the blogosphere fast.  So  when you hunt, look for high-trafficked  blogs.  You will, won’t you?

Prepare for tomorrow:

Tomorrow, you’ll publish the foundation feature you wrote today.  But what will you write tomorrow?  A big part of blogging is planning your next article.  You may choose to write a series of related articles.  This provides you with a sense of ‘where you’re going next’ and it gives readers continuity.

You have to continually ask yourself about the relevance of what you’re planning.  What will my readers do with this?  Who is this article applicable to?  It’s very easy to lose focus and slip away from what your readers want – a sure way to lose them.

Day Three Tasks:

Write your ‘about me’ page, post your blog links to your favourite social sites (like Facebook and Twitter), and write a foundation feature from the ideas you developed in your mind-mapping.  Once that’s done, go on a blog hunt, and comment on the posts of some kindred spirits.

That about wraps it for Day Three.

Having Fun Yet?

I am – and it’s your blog we’re designing!  But just a sniff of the power in human creativity is high-inducing.  There’s no drug like it!

I’m very interested to see what you create, so I can contribute to your conversation.

Did you get everything done on the Day One list?

Today, think first about what’s needed to get your new baby blog to ‘adulthood.’ You’ll want to review what else you’re doing.

Make a schedule for those tasks that are needed – one you can stick with.  Life force for a blog is the care and attention you’ll bring – if you neglect your blog, readers will too.

It makes no difference how you begin; if your schedule of care falters, your blog will soon be deserted like a ghost town.

Tasks you’ll need to do regularly:

• Planning your posts; mind mapping.
• Writing; perhaps choosing images.
• Editing/reviewing/inserting links.
• Posting what you write/managing your posting process.
• Contributing to any conversation started by readers.

Think about the time you have.  Can you realistically post once a week, given all the other tasks?  We naturally gravitate to what we love doing.  But if what you love is the ‘writing’ bit, understand that unless all the other tasks are done too, you won’t get the blog you dream about.

Develop a template for your posts.

You’ll want your posts to be consistent, and you’ll also want to spend a minimum of tome on housekeeping.  A template will help.  You can write a ‘dummy’ post that has notes about your requirements, so you don’t forget them.

You could have notes that remind you to:

• Attribute sources, such as for images.
• Check spellings of names and places.
• Make sure keywords are used in the post title
• Ask questions to encourage discussion.
• Place links to other posts, as cross linking helps your SEO.

What’s the foundation of your blog??

For a few years now, Yaro Starak has discussed the concept of using key articles – he calls them pillars – to provide a framework within which to build your blog’s message.  Yaro ‘s pillar article is a tutorial that teaches concepts.  In this way it’s different from book reviews or comment about contemporary issues. Concept-teaching articles articles stay relevant, though may need to be updated now and then as market conditions and technology changes.  These articles give your blog authority.

Chris Garrett calls this concept his Killer Flagship Content.

Same idea; different label.  My label is foundations. It’s not surprising – I come from an architectural background.  What holds a building together isn’t so much the pillars that support the roof; it’s the foundations that underpin the whole structure. The question for you then: what’s underpinning your blog?

• You need several detailed foundation articles or tutorials in key areas of your niche that answer the elementary questions people have.  For example, if your blog focuses on getting published – aimed at non fiction writers – one foundation element could be a tutorial on what writer’s agents really look for in a new author.  Not glamorous, but necessary.
• Your foundation tutorials will be articles that won’t date, at least in the medium term.
• You’re not targeting experts in your niche area with these articles; you’re targeting the serious beginner – those keen to stay around to learn what you’re teaching.
• Your ideal foundation article becomes a reference point for that aspect of your niche, perhaps leading to requests for you to expound on it in guest posts on other blogs.

Ready to write another post?

On your Blog: Image is Everything.

Online, there isn’t much else that you can uniquely offer.  The information you will have to impart will be much the same as can be had in many other places.  And there’s three things to tweak to turn your brand unique:

Your voice.

This is the general description for you, as you are interpreted in your writing.  It’s not whether you write in first person, or your ‘learnedness.’  Voice is you – pure and simple.  That’s wonderful goose-bump inducing news for writers: no-one can copy us!  We really are unique.  And everything you dream about and aspire to will come through in your voice. Especially when you’re passionate.

But.  Yes, it’s hard to achieve a clear voice, without the shadow of all we’ve ever read and watched and listened to imposing over it and giving it the sameness that much writing has.  It can be done. But it requires gut-wrenching, soul-searching honesty.  Most of us spend much of life pretending to be someone we aren’t.  Even when we write our blog we can easily take on a persona; a public face.  It’s hard to be authentic then.  And most people are afraid to be that honest with themselves.

Your tool kit.

Every writer brings a life’s experience that no one else shares. Even twins who share more than most will have different experiences of the same event. We are shaped by our work, leisure activities, education, friendships; the totality of our life’s journey.

This means that we bring a unique perspective to any situation, and it’s why there can be so many blogs on what is essentially the same subject.  No one sees things exactly the same way you do – and there are many people who may have heard others, yet want to hear your view.  If you doubt this, think of how many cook books there are with a recipe for baking potato!

Your reader’s experience.

Yes, a third of the reason readers come isn’t because you have great stories and information to share, or write with a voice like . . . It’s because the reader was changed the last time they came.  And they liked that change, so they return.  This is why it’s important for blog writers to interact with their readers through the comments that are left.  It’s a good way to stay abreast of what readers want.

Day Two Tasks:

Today you’ll write another post, develop a template to make your posts consistent and brainstorm foundation tutorial ideas. . .  Then it’s on to Day Three.

Is it easy to Blog?

Does it seem like everyone is splashing about in social media, so much so you don’t want to shiver on the bank of disconnect another day?  Are you’re reading this because you know you should, or wish you could – and want to put your toe in?

Just jump in: we’ll do it together and we’ll do it in seven days. Whole universes have been built in seven days; a blog will be a baby step. You’ll go in a week from before-blogging-innocence, to wondering what it was you spent all that time on in your old life.

Ahhh, maybe you’ve already tasted the blog life. And don’t want to go back, can’t go back; lost your online-virgin status and yet haven’t experienced the highs you expected. So you’re ripe for some blog-improvement ideas. Then come ride.

Let’s get on with it.

There’s no snooze time in a seven-day sprint.

If you don’t know the mechanics of unpacking a blog, putting up the aerial, and connecting the headphones, you need this: Matt Wolfe’s Intro.

But there’s a lot more to blogging than the house-keeping issues about which template to try or what widgets will work.  I’m going to talk much more about why, than how.  Not because how doesn’t matter. But why matters more.  How can be learned, once why is enshrined.

Along with the decision to ‘start blogging,’ come bigger questions that demand more decisions.  Presumably you already know what your niche is, and have chosen an angle within that.  Now ask yourself . . .

1. Why? As in why?

Blogging’s going to take a piece of you; if you’re going to do it well, you have to write for your life. So you need to know why you’re doing it, in order to sound authentic.

“Well . . . to make money”, or “Because I believe in . . .” might be two answers.

Me; I blog because I love writing; because I have a business I can promote through the medium; because those words  just won’t stop running through the page . . . and I have to keep catching them . . . Well, maybe less it’s the third reason and more the first.

But you can see where I’m coming from.  Have you read this about authenticity yet?

You need an equally vivid reason for you. People are going to comment on what you write. Unkindly, too. And yes, you can comment unkindly back, though it’s often not the best move. With blogging you get to be anonymous, and completely exposed, all at once. Very few people who read you will ever meet you, yet your readers will see a side of you that perhaps even your partner doesn’t see – unless they too read your work.

What’s your reason for doing this? I know it’s hip to blog. And tweet, and to do what you do with your iwhatever. But stop and reflect. You’ll supercharge everything you write with a half-decent why. There’s an awful lot; a countless number, of poor, or deserted blogs. More than we need. Don’t build another one.

That thought about why leads us to the next question:

2. What have you built (created; designed; acted on) already this life?

What did you do well? Never mind what others thought. In your thoughts about your achievements lie the seeds of your next ones. If your blog takes you in directions you feel personal strength in, you’ll come across as more convincing and believable.

You need to start collecting thoughts for your blog.  Thoughts become paragraphs and eventually posts.  And by having all your blog-related stuff snugly in one place, your blog-writing will be easier.

3) What’s the image you’re trying to create in a reader’s mind?

Are you a serious political commentator, or a humorous one? Perhaps you don’t want to be seen as any kind of a commentator, but a source of information of technical how-to. Do you want to entertain, inform or educate? Those are three key areas of non fiction, and you may fit neatly into one – or not.

Day One Tasks:

Get clear about your topic; sketch out your ideas.  If you’ve already blogged a while, recommit to your core ideas. What are some of the things your readers really want to know?  Make a mind-map.  It’s a very good technique for extending one small idea into a mass of possibilities. Melissa Culbertson has some good tips.

Over time, you can make mind-maps for all the key ideas you have. Right now, with a good sense of why you’re doing this blog, you’re ready to craft Post number one.

If it’s a brand new blog, you’ll probably talk about yourself a little, your focus for this blog, and explain briefly what you’re going to offer.  What problems are you going to solve for those readers you hope to attract?  Ask a question or two – you want to encourage feedback.  If you’re looking for a fresh start for a stagnant blog, approach your post in that light. What’s going to happen differently on your blog from now?  Leave your post to review in the morning – or after some hours, anyway.

And I think you’re ready for Day Two.

Is there a way to make great video affordable?

Magic buttons do NOT exist, but… here’s a magician who’s very real. Marketer Max Alter has found a way to make professional-quality video in simple steps with free software.

In Max’s words:

“You already know that video blows every other marketing tool out of the water.
Video generates never-previously-heard-of conversion rates, out-of-this-world click-through rates and is responsible for earth-shattering audience retention…”

Ok, we’re convinced. But, we also know that CamtasiaStudio cost $300 plus and takes a lifetime to work out; plus there’s all the other gear that’s needed…

Enter Max, with cape and wand: We’re going to find out how to make Video the easy way.

Big Video for the Smallest Pockets.

Max in the quiet assured way of an expert, explains very simply and without fuss how to make video that look like it came out of a film-maker’s studio. His ebook is over 70 pages; it’s no lightweight. And every page is filled with step by step instructions, with screen shots and pointers so you won’t slip up.

Get Max’s ebook “Big Video for the Smallest Pockets” here.

In Part 1 you’ll make a slide show with PowerPoint and Windows Live Movie Maker. No, PowerPoint is not usually ‘free’ software, but you can get a free trial of it for 60 days; plenty of time to try out all Max’s techniques.

Then, in Part 2, Max explains how to make slide-show videos with just the basics: simple images, a word processor, and free video-editing software. None of this is dry theory. In each Part, Max dissects one of his own videos, which shows clearly, second by second, how each piece was made.

In Part 3, Max gets even more magical with, free screen-capture software
and a neat editing trick for the free video editor. You be left amazed at the clarity and simplicity of Max Alter’s methods. I’d not made video before; it was on my ‘need to know list.’ But it was also in the too-hard basket.

With Max Alter, Video-making seems simple.

As I read Max’s book, the fog lifted. At the time of writing this review, I haven’t produced my first video yet. But I’m underway. It’s a wonderful feeling to have some signposts to follow. Making video is a highly technical task, yet Max has written an easy-to-understand methodology that we can all understand.

This is not an abstract course. It’s practical; you get the “how-to.” And the as a bonus, there’s Part 4. Every resource that Max mentions is listed. Download them for free.

I thoroughly recommend Max Alter’s book Big Video. I’ve never seen anything explained so simply which appeared so complex for so long.

Grab Max Alter’s Big Video here – (for a crazy low introductory-offer price).

Get creative with PowerPoint

Richard Moloney has revised his popular primer about Microsoft PowerPoint.  Now there’s a new edition for Powerpoint 2010.  This ebook is a well-explained detailed explanation for that question:  “How DO you get those great PowerPoint effects?”

Richard says, “Using PowerPoint, you can create a stunning presentation that looks as if a professional graphic designer designed it.”

This is practical information. Richard isn’t just regurgitating theory; he’s done it all ways with PowerPoint, and you can sense that when you read his book. It’s well laid out and sequenced in just the right order.  Information is presented in the way you need it when you’re making your slide presentation.

What if you’ve never used PowerPoint?

Then this guide will take you through it all, from choosing a theme, to working with tables.  Richard spends a lot of time of the tricky bits, so you’ll get good value even if you do know a thing or two already.

You’ll find it all in Richard’s PowerPoint Guide:

The Basics…

•    All about templates
•    The details of making a Master Slide
•    Ways to work with Text and Word Art
•    Fancy Formats; life beyond Bullets
•    When to use backgrounds
•    How to insert images, lines and shapes
•    The run-down on charts and tables

Then the good stuff…

•    Hyperlinks
•    Animations
•    Transitions and special effects
•    Sound and video
Get Richard’s ebook here.

Next, you could turn it all into Video…

Making your PowerPoint slides is just the first step!  There’s quite a process to turn your creativity into a video with sound. Richard doesn’t go into detail about the steps you’ll need to do this, but he gives an outline, and suggests resources.

(For a further resource for you on making Video from PowerPoint, see here.)

As a bonus, Richard includes valuable lists of video-hosting sites and places to get royalty-free music.

This is a great little intro to Microsoft PowerPoint by UK marketer Richard Moloney.

Your passion is the most important aspect of yourself

It’s the essence of you; it identifies you. You’re born either male or female. That’s fairly black-and white. But most characteristics are not.  We may label people as old or young, middle class, educated, qualified as, or skilled at… But all those things are subjective. There’s even a minority opinion at present that gender is subjective too. How the world changes…

Over a lifetime you will change many things about yourself; becoming educated, getting old, and so on; however, the essence of what you believe in and care for and are good at, and love to do does not change much in most of us. Unless you’re a Scanner.

Best-selling author Barbara Sher uses the term scanner to describe someone who loves to do lots of things.   A scanner change careers and hobbies like their clothes.  A scanner doesn’t have one passion; their passion is everything.  I’ll write about this more another day.

Working in the field that excites you will bring more job satisfaction. However, this is much  more important if you’re self-employed – here’s why.

There’s many resources online about finding your passion.  Here’s some notes to start…

What gets you excited?

For the rest of us, there’s usually a main interest or vocation that excites us more than any others.  And yet, this can be difficult to identify. Some people start adult life in the family business because it’s expected, but don’t feel fulfilled there.  Others take courses and ‘become’ the end product, for any number of reasons. And many of us stay in those unfulfilling roles for a long time.

But when you’re doing what you love, the universe moves.

Or perhaps it ignites, as in this image and thought from John Wesley:

When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn.
— John Wesley

Maybe there’s one task or aspect of your job that you especially look forward to – or try to work into each day.  You might find yourself more animated than usual when working with a particular skill set. It’s also possible that you’ll have the same feeling using that skill regardless of context. (You might love designing, whether it’s recipes or gardens or Facebook fan-pages.

What do you really yearn to get back to?

What do you think you’re good at?

It’s “what do YOU think…” because this is very subjective. And other opinions don’t count.  You’re passionate about what you’re passionate about; for the moment it’s no matter that you can’t get hired to do it. Most skills can be are learned.  And we certainly learn fast when it’s something we love!

What were you good at as a child?

What can you just ‘do’ so easily it even amazes you?

Yes, that thought that brought a smile to your face is probably one for your short list. You have unique life experiences which make you better at something than most others.  And a great number of those others will be very interested when you start to talk, write and create video about it – they’ll want to know more…

Why?

Do you know why you’re just better at…. whatever it is?

As an example, I’ll use me: I have an unusual affinity for house design, because I grew up in a place that was built around me. My parents moved into one unfinished bedroom/bathroom, and added onto it as they could. That house grew as their children did; it was a wild thing for years.  It’s true that few would relish living in “an unfinished” house.  For me it was a continuously changing canvas of creativity. I saw and felt all the decision-making that went into that house.  That house is in me and I am of it.

I don’t recall most of the process consciously, as I was too young.  But I know that because of it, I have a ‘feeling’ for architecture.  That of itself doesn’t make me a good architect, of course.

That may have given you some ideas.

If you’re reviewing or seeking your passions, how are you finding the process?