Getting Your Copywriter Guru On

Gurus really DO think differently. They have to. Sometimes they are seen as bigger than life even when they don’t necessary FEEL that way. So they have to play some mind games with themselves. If you are in a bad frame of mind, try a few of these techniques to “Get Your Guru On” and shift yourself into greatness again.

• Take Care of Yourself First – It’s so easy to let clients, colleagues, friends and family dictate how you will prioritize your day. Don’t put off what feeds you. Schedule in YOUR time first. Be sure you schedule in exercise, healthy meals, and fun time. You can’t be creative if you are just working, working, working.
• Own It, Baby – No matter what you wear or how you feel, throw your shoulders back, stand up straight and smile. When we physically act “as if” we are all that and a bag o’ chips, our mind starts believing it too. (I use this technique when I’m working out and feeling exhausted by smiling and tightening up my form. Before I know it, I have an added burst of energy.) So fake it till you make it!
• Banish Criticism – How do I put this delicately? I’ve been told, “Opinions are like a-holes. Everybody has one”. Now constructive criticism is very much appreciated. You must know what is and isn’t working with your market. But you may be surprised at the barrage of nasty, pointless emails gurus get. Just be sure all criticism is filtered through an assistant who knows how to help. Do not run your business by committee.
• Don’t Respond Emotionally – In our instant world of email it’s very easy to REACT to something you don’t care for. It takes a much bigger person to sit with an issue and respond professionally - later. If something pushes your buttons, give it at least 24 hours. Then you can respond with a cool head and not leave an embarrassing trail of actions you wish you could “do over”.
• You’re Cool. We Know It – Sometimes you have to remind yourself how awesome you really are. Take 15 minutes and write out 30 successes you have had over your lifetime – no matter how big or small. Tap dance in a recital at 3? Put it in. Launched your blog? Put it in. Add everything you can think of, whether personal or business. Then post it where you will see it often. I did this with my mentorship groups and they loved it.
• What Else Are You Doing?– It’s not just about the here and now. Gurus think BIG. So what do you have planned for the rest of your life? Write down your top 20 big picture goals and look at them regularly. Don’t worry about the “how” they will happen. Just focus on the “what”. What you focus on expands so as you look at your goals regularly, don’t be surprised if they seem to magically happen.
• Be Positive – You may know about affirmations (positive statements you say to your subconscious to visualize the outcome you want for your future) – but do you USE THEM DAILY? Write them on Post-it notes stuck around your office and bathroom mirror. Create a list that you recite first thing each day. Remember to say your affirmation as if you already have it using the present tense. Example, “I am confident, organized, and self-assured.”
• Attitude of Gratitude – It is impossible to feel truly grateful for what you have and constricted in the same moment. Each morning and evening think of 10 things you’re grateful for. You can actually feel your state of mind (and vibration) shift when you’re grateful with what is already in your life.

You can’t get your “guru” on if you’re not firing on all magnificent cylinders. Tap into that greatness that is you. Then get out there and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!