Blogs

Does your career in this publishing biz stump you sometimes? So much information and not sure what to do next? Need some help?

Suppose you could sit down with the most successful people in your field andjust talk with them to learn what they know.

Well, here is the deal. YOU can learn what they know - and you can probably do it forlittle or no cost! You just have to get your head in the game (quitfocusing on only YOU), be observant, vigilant, coach-able andappreciative.

If you are a novice wanting to learn the book industry or an author needing to learn how to market books better or abusiness/ministry leaders looking to learn a new skill - you can get theinformation you need - sometimes for free - by following the leaders.

I mean really becoming a "student" of the person. That means becoming adisciple and real follower who is disciplined to learn, listen, studyand DO!

It's amazing to me to see folks struggling to do something and there are mentors online all around. In the age of the internet, acouple of clicks on Google and you can find blogs, books, podcasts,webinars and websites or the some of the best and brightest minds on theplanet.

But don't just find their info - and email them. That's the lazy way! That's the way to be put in the spam and "blocked" folderfor real.

So, what do you do once you find a person you feel is the next link in your destiny?

Follow them religiously. Not stalk but become a protege by doing the following things:

1. Be social! Be their Facebook friend, join their groups or be on theirfan pages every day! Read their updates and comment on their statuses.

It's easy to get overwhelmed from the 400 million folks online but zone inon your "fav five" or "top ten." The folks you need to learn from, folksyou admire, model and want to know how they think, operate and livetheir lives. Now, don't copy. And don't "hate on" them. A protegeappreciates a mentor. Learn to give accolades and tell others of thewonderful info you're getting from your online mentor! Spread the loveand it will come back to you!

Be part of every social site where they are - if they are on Twitter, you follow them on Twitter andretweet their tweets. If they are on Facebook or Twitter, make sure youget the SMS updates to your phone. Pick up clues and run with it.

2. Blog. This is the easiest way to really learn from your mentorand get noticed by them fast. Because this is their weblog or onlinediary, you know what they're thinking, doing, working on and can sensethe direction their business is going. Read all their old blog posts.Become a student! Do you homework. Also, click all the buttons and linkson their blog and find out what they're into and how you can add thosesame buttons, widgets or links to your own blog. But the main thing, isto comment on their posts! Be social when social networking!

3. Email. Of course you have subscribed to their email list and readevery email (even if they send something out every day), right? This isthe secret. The mentor's emails are the keys to your next level. Whenyour mentor sends an email to his/her list, they are talking to YOU.

So, pay attention - they would not send a frivolous email, they are a Proremember? That's why you are following them and NOT other way around.

Here's what you can find out from reading, saving and keep up with your onlinementor's emails:

1. Their upcoming events, teleseminars, recent blog posts or media exposure
2. Their style, wording of each email - so you can benchmark youremail campaigns.
3. Their pattern for doing things. What days to they send emails,what times?
4. Their "hot buttons" and what is on the cutting edge in theindustry

If they send a lot of emails, learn to manage it. You want to learn from them? Deal with it. Put the emails in a folder onyour computer desktop or print them out and put in a binder so you canread during your lunch hours - whatever it takes to be a good studentand stay on top of their information - do it!

If the information is coming fast and furious, maybe you're not ready for the level thatyou think you are. Think about it. If you can't read emails from yourmentor, then you probably wouldn't be able to keep up with their pacethey are on. You're just reading - they're doing the writing. Anyway,why would you want to follow an online mentor if their pace was slowerthan yours?) So, suck it up and get organized.

4. Finally, and most important - appreciate and acknowledge your online mentor/coach.This is THE KEY to your success. I find that most people don't do thisand consequently they don't get the results they're looking for or theFAVOR. Most folks are so self-absorbed that they rarely take time to bekind to others. It is great to have focus, but you need a team to makethe dream work.

And a day of favor is worth more than years of labor - any day! So, want to learn from those on the next level? Learnto:

1. Listen. Be observant. Be vigilant.
2. Read. Scan. Speed read. Print and save information.
3. Be curious. Click all the buttons! Do what they do. Model themonline
4. Thank the mentor/coach. Let them know you are watching them andyou appreciate them. Never hate on your help. Don't be a rival friend.You must learn to get rid of jealous feelings and not be envious. How?

By showing gratitude. This is CRITICAL to getting over envy and gettingfavor! Sounds easy? It is. Do people do these things consistently? Only arare few who are ready to get in the game and really win!