In the beginning of 2014, I decided to do something rather scary… BE TRANSPARENT & HONEST. I want to be an open book, but I’m scared. WHY? Because I’m still at the beginning of my journey, and the numbers are pitiful, and the failures often and obvious.
Below are the numbers, the finances, the projects, my health, and stats from JANUARY 2015. This is a snapshot of what it’s like to be a self published author. A new entrepreneur. An average guy still finding his way. It isn’t designed to scare, nor glorify, merely provide the truth of right now. For all my other Monthly Income Reports, Click Here.
_________
Many of the links in this post are affiliate ones, directing you to the products, apps, and softwares I use to create this monthly report. Don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything or affect your privacy, just gives me a commission if you happen to buy. Please note I use(d) everything I link to, and am picky when it comes to sharing such info.
[su_note]LIKE TO GET ALL THE TOOLS I USE TO MAKE THIS MONTHLY REPORT? I made an Exclusive PDF just for you, and you can grab it for FREE by Clicking Here[/su_note]
WRITING:
Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, I love to tap away at the keyboard and share my words with those willing to read. However, standing out from the ever growing list of book is tough, so let’s dive into my published books, the amount of copies sold, and the kind of income a crazy pen scratcher like myself earns:
…
EXISTING PUBLICATIONS:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
BOOK:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
SALES:
2
0
28
8
1
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
BIT.LY HITS
35
7
2
2
1
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]At the moment, all books are Exclusive to Amazon, although I do sell Paperback & Hardcover editions of Tick to the Tock and Beyond Parallel (sales indicated in brackets). The tools I use to gather the above info are through the AMAZON KDP DASHBOARD and BIT.LY.[/su_box]
Not a good month for book sales, but unfortunately I’ve not had much time to dedicate to book marketing. I managed to fit in a few bits and pieces, and I’m nearly ready to test out some ideas in the coming weeks. With all eyes on finishing I Unlove You’s first draft, and The Successful Mistake Crowd Publishing Campaign, this side of my world has slipped into nothingness.
Not good in all honesty, but it is what it is.
Need to try some new ideas soon, and kick things into gear. As simple as that!
…
NEW RELEASES:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
BOOK:
No new releases this month
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
SALES:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
BIT.LY HITS
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
CURRENT PROJECTS:
I’m thankful to say I’ve FINALLY finished I Unlove You’s first draft!!!
It’s taken much longer than expected, but as of February I go through the entire plot and pull it to pieces. First draft’s are often ugly, and this one fits that bill and then some. I’m excited about draft-two, though, and a new journey of tightening characters, ideas, and overall side-stories.
A process, and sometimes a labour of love, but we’re getting there. I’m rather chuffed about it, too.
My fiction isn’t the only one to get in on the action, either. The Successful Mistake Crowd-Publishing Campaign is live, and between now and the middle of March, we must raise $7,500. Just a normal stroll through the woods and all… haha.
Considering I’ve worked on this book for nearly three years, and have many months of writing and editing ahead, this campaign feels rather life-changing. Super nerve-wrecking and terrifying in all honesty, but exiting, too. We need campaigns like these the kind that test our very limits.
I’ve no idea what will happen over the next 45 days, but I won’t give up. Not this time. I’m pushing the entire way. I hope you’ll keep me pushing too, and remind me to hustle and work and give this everything I’ve got.
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]The tool I use to create all Affiliate links is SMART URL, which not only creates a handy short link, but allows me to send users from different countries to specific stores (as you can imagine, ideal for Amazon).[/su_box]
PROMOTIONS/FREE RUNS:
No Free promotions or campaigns this month, so nothing to see here, folks…
…
INCOME BREAKDOWN:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
INCOME:
BOOK/AFFILIATE:
AMAZON USA (affiliate)
AMAZON UK (affiliate)
EBAY (affiliate)
APPLE APP STORE (affiliate)
HOOTSUITE (affiliate)
FOLLOW UP.CC (affiliate)
STUDIOPRESS (affiliate)
SCRIBE (affiliate)
YOAST (affiliate)
ECAMM (affiliate)
GETRESPONSE (affiliate)
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
THIS MONTH:
£3.36
£0
£0
£0.46
£0.10
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£3.92
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
LAST MONTH:
£1.61 (+£1.75)
£5.01 (-£5.01)
£0
£0.26 (+£.20)
£1.82 (-£1.72)
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£8.70 (-£4.78)
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
EXPENDITURE:
…
Nothing This Month
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
THIS MONTH:
£0
£0
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
LAST MONTH:
£0
£0
[/su_column][/su_row]
TOTAL PROFIT = £3.92
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]I use WAVE to organise and keep on top of my invoices and finances, and the above breakdown is taken from reports generated with this fine piece of FREE software. I’ve not been using it long, but so far I have no complaints.[/su_box]
Not much to say. You can see the disappointment with your own eyes.
Numbers like these hurt. They always do. They never won’t. But onwards and upwards, and ensuring I push The Successful Mistake and I Unlove You to the limit. But I must improve my book marketing and place more time and resources into my past books at the same time. I must. I must! I MUST!
SPEAKING:
I’ve decided 2015 is the year I kick my speaking/workshop career into gear, and as such I’ve created four topics to build a portfolio around:
- YOUR STORY MATTERS, DAMN IT! (aimed at colleges)
- CREATE CUSTOMER LOYALTY & BANISH COMPETITORS THROUGH BRAND STORYTELLING (aimed at businesses)
- THE SECRET BEHIND THE MODERN CREATIVE, ARTIST & CHANGEMAKER (aimed at colleges)
- THE LOCAL AUTHOR WHO NEVER USED TO READ OR WRITE (aimed at primary schools)
Focus for the rest of the year is to refine these topics, gain kick-ass testimonials, and generate momentum ahead of 2015:
THE GIGS:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
No Gigs This Month
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
[/su_column][/su_row]
THE BEHIND THE SCENES:
Not much going on in the speaking world at the minute, as I’ve placed all eyes on Client Work and The Successful Mistake of late. Of course, I intend to develop a kick-ass Successful Mistake Talk/Workshop, so I suppose that’s on the horizon.
Still in contact with a few schools, and have one or two gigs in the pipeline. Not had much time to think about speaking at the moment though, but this will change come early March. By this time next month, I may have one of two things in my diary.
…
INCOME BREAKDOWN:
[su_row][su_column size=”2/3″]
INCOME:
TALK:
YOUR STORY MATTERS, DAMN IT!
CREATE CUSTOMER LOYALTY & BANISH…
THE SECRET BEHIND THE MODERN…
THE LOCAL AUTHOR WHO NEVER…
MISCELLANEOUS
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
REVENUE:
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_row][su_column size=”2/3″]
EXPENDITURE:
TYPE:
N/A
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
OUT GOING:
£0
£0
[/su_column][/su_row]
TOTAL PROFIT = £0
Nothing to see here. Not this month.
To be honest, I never expected any speaking gigs in January, but hopefully things will come together again by the end of February. I’ve one or two meetings in the pipeline, so should have a couple speaking engagements in March.
I’ll keep you posted, but as of now, move along…
THE KID ENJOYING ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE PLACES – EUREKA
CLIENT WORK:
I may be a writer, but that doesn’t define my whole world. I also help businesses Discover, Create & Share their story, and I’m constantly meeting and greeting local businesses. However, the fine line of client work, networking events, and crafting your own projects is delicate indeed – and one I’m still toeing along each day:
…..
CURRENT CLIENT PROJECTS:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
PROJECT CODE NAME:
Project Boba Fet
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
The start of a Brand Story/Development project that will run for at least 3 months in some capacity
[/su_column][/su_row]
….
COMPLETED THIS MONTH
- Project Ahsoka Tano
NETWORKING:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
I’VE BEEN TO
NETWORKING EVENTS
MEETINGS
CONFERENCES
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH
0
7
0
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH
0
3 (+4)
0
[/su_column][/su_row]
INCOME BREAKDOWN:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
INCOME:
CLIENT WORK:
Project Ahsoka Tano
Project Boba Fet (Taster Session)
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
REVENUE:
150
250
£400
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
EXPENDITURE:
TYPE:
N/A
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
..
OUT GOING:
N/A
N/A
[/su_column][/su_row]
TOTAL PROFIT = £400
All in all, January’s provided a VERY good month in terms of client work. Finishing an editing project for a friend, and filling my weeks with lots of exciting meetings, it’s made all the emails and hustling in November/December worthwhile.
Only one project booked in at the moment, but a few others in the pipeline. Considering I can only take on two major client projects at any one time, means a few simmering in the background is no bad thing. I can’t sit back and relax though, as I continue to connect and introduce myself to LOTS of potential peeps.
But I’ve had some of the best meetings I’ve ever had in recent weeks, and it seems this side of my world begins to click into place. I can’t say much more at the moment, as the majority of this remains confidential and in the early stages. I’m excited to share more in the coming months with you, and hopefully this section becomes hearty reading in the not too distant future.
Boom!
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE KID RETURNS FROM ONE OF HIS FAVE PLACES 🙂
WEBSITE:
This website is my home, and although it doesn’t generate any income per se, it does offer a detailed overview of WHO I am and WHY I can help. As such I think it’s important to breakdown all the ins and outs:
…
GENERAL OVERVIEW:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
TITLE:
UNIQUE VISITORS
PAGE VIEWS
AVERAGE TIME
BOUNCE RATE
NEW VISITORS
DIRECT TRAFFIC
GOOGLE SEARCH
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
1,529
3,773
2:21
69%
72%
539 Views
1,160 Referrals
112 Referrals
61 Referrals
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
1,400
2,867
1:46
79%
81%
841 Views
689 Referrals
41 Referrals
19 Referrals
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]I anlyse all of my website’s data through GOOGLE ANALYTICS, which is a free piece of kit from the Google Empire. I’ve tested other software over the years, but nothing has tempted me away from this freebie yet.[/su_box]
…
POPULAR BLOG POSTS:
- 50-brands-with-amazing-brand-stories-20-11 = 678 Views
- the-best-brand-stories-in-the-world-2013 = 277 Views
-
50-brands-with-amazing-brand-stories-10-1 = 203 Views
- 50-brands-with-amazing-brand-stories-40-31 = 187 Views
-
50-brands-with-amazing-brand-stories-50-41 = 109 Views
NEW BLOG POSTS:
- Why My Meaningful 2015 Goals Are More Awesome Than Yours = 25 Views
- Turndog’s Monthly Income Report (December 2014) = 40 Views
- For The Love of Zeus, Tell Your Story in 2015 = 16 Views
- 10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Brand Story Telling Today = 7 Views
- The Ultimate Tool For Your Epic Brand Story is… = 11 Views
- 973 Ridiculous Days and It’s Come To This… = 2 Views
…
PURPLE COFFEE PODCAST:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
TITLE:
TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS
TOTAL DOWNLOADS
MOST POULAR SESSION
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
N/A
622
Session 3 (88 Downloads)
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
0
99 (+523)
Session 28 (10 Downloads)
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]I gather all Podcast stats through LIBSYN (my podcast hosting) and FEEDBURNER (which breakdowns subscribers).[/su_box]
SOCIAL MEDIA:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
FOLLOWERS:
FACEBOOK PROFILE
FACEBOOK PAGE
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
300
181
1,157
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
284 (+16)
179 (+2)
1,133 (+24)
[/su_column][/su_row]
**The above Facebook stats consider a combined friend/follower count for the profile**
I’ll be honest with you, I expected greater traffic in January. However, the more I think about it, the more these numbers make sense.
For one, I Re-Launched The Purple Coffee Podcast this month, but it wasn’t until the end of January. Plus, a lot of my social media sharing directs people to the iTunes channel, negating my own site. February sees a new podcast session almost every day, so we should be set for a decent month of traffic. I suppose time will tell…
Before we focus on the podcast, let’s take a closer look at the website, and it’s numbers, which, for the most part, are all up from December. Not surprising as it seems this site is beginning to settle back into Google’s rankings once more (after December’s site launch). We’re not quite back up to previous Google Search traffic levels, but we’re getting there. Hopefully by this time next month, we won’t only be back to where we were, but better than ever.
Overall social media stats are on the up, too, in terms of both referral traffic and followers. Not by a crazy amount, but good is good is good…
And I think the most pleasing statistic of all is the amount of time people are spending on site, which saw a good increase this month. In the end of the day, this is what it’s all about. As a blogger and content-crafter, I strive for new eyes, but not any old eyes, rather those who come, stay, and come back again-and-again.
As for the podcast’s re-launch, we’ve seen decent numbers in the first two weeks. Considering the re-launch didn’t take place until the back-end of January, 1,500 downloads within its first month isn’t out of reach. To be honest, I don’t know if this is a good number of not. Compared to my old stats, it’s damn amazing.
Good enough to build long term traction…? I’m not sure.
I’ve learned a lot in the first couple of weeks though, and keen to uncovers lots more wisdom along the way. If you haven’t seen the new podcast yet, I hope you’ll Take A Look and let me know what you think.
[su_note]LIKE TO GET ALL THE TOOLS I USE TO MAKE THIS MONTHLY REPORT? I made an Exclusive PDF just for you, and you can grab it for FREE by Clicking Here[/su_note]
EMAIL:
Like this website, EMAIL doesn’t generate any income, but it does play a huge role in my journey. Overall, I try not sell via email all too much, rather use the medium to connect and share. Email is my primary tool to introduce myself to potential new clients, reach out to those I wish to interview, and talk to YOU on a regular basis. This is a snapshot of my email world:
….
THE MAIN NEWSLETTER:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
???
TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS
NEW SUBSCRIBERS
UNSUBSCRIBES
OPEN RATE
CLICK THROUGH RATE
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
415
12
17
40%
2%
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
421 (-6)
16 (-4)
15 (+2)
39% (+1%)
2%
[/su_column][/su_row]
THE OTHER LISTS:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS:
FICTION
NON-FICTION
HOW TO BUILD AN AUTHOR HOUSE
PURPLE COFFEE PODCAST
#HAPPENINGS
TOTAL FOR ALL LISTS:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
203
69
158
3
29
879
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
209 (-6)
63 (+6)
163 (-5)
2 (+1)
31 (-2)
891 (-12)
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]My email platform of choice is GETRESPONSE, which offers all the specifics I need to build my email lists. It also provides comprehensive reports which the above info is captured from. There’s many providers to choose from (and I’ve tried most of them), but these guys rock![/su_box]
PERSONAL EMAIL:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
???
EMAILS SENT
TRACKED EMAILS
OPEN PERCENTAGE
CLICK PERCENTAGE
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
1,465
57
70%
9%
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
543 (+922)
31 (+26)
51% (+19%)
10% (-1%)
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]To help stay on top of my email, there are a couple key tools I use. The first is FOLLOWUP.CC, which allows me to set reminders for key emails. The other is SIGNALS, which monitors who opens my emails, and the links they click on. Combined, these two tools are absolute superstars![/su_box]
What a strange month for email.
First of all, I’ve sent more personal emails in the last few weeks than I ever have before. In aid of The Successful Mistake’s Crowd-Publish Launch, I’ve contacted all the interviewees several times, and to be quite honest I feel like a massive pest. I’ve tried to stay on the right side of annoying, but I’m not sure, maybe I’ve stumbled over it.
This worry carries over into my mailing lists, where most numbers are down. Thankfully unsubscribe-rates don’t seem any higher than usual, but less sign-ups are somewhat concerning. I’ve had lots of content-driven posts this month, and shared them far and wide. It’s a worry to see so few newbies, although this may be down to not reaching enough new people.
I do have quite a few Guest Posts lined up, and Podcast Interviews, too, but seen as they’re aimed at The Successful Mistake Crowd-Publish Campaign, I’m not sure how beneficial this will be for email sign ups. A tad worrisome, and I may have to reevaluate my content strategy soon. I don’t think there’s an issue with the content as such, but my reach… and marketing… and connecting with new people… not the best.
WORKING HOURS:
Time is a valuable entity you can never get back, and knowing how I spend my time (or as often is the case, waste it!), is a vital cog in my growth. I’m forever trying to find a balance between work, sleep, spending time with Kid Turndog, and chilling with a book in hand. The below doesn’t break down my exact timetable, but it does provide a rough overview as to how productive I am:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
WORKLOAD:
TOTAL HOURS LOGGED
FINAL CUT PRO
ADOBE CS6
EVERNOTE/WUNDERLIST/ICAL
TURNDOG.CO
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
SKYPE
ACCOUNTING
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
177 hours
16:43 hours
5:45 hours
4:02 hours
32:59 hours
9:37 hours
21:10 hours
2:20 hours
6:58 hours
0:18 hours
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
155 hours
18:32 hours
1:47 hours
3:31 hours
19:51 hours
11:52 hours
31:14 hours
3:20 hours
0:49 hours
0:18 hours
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]The app I use to capture this data is RESCUETIME, a nonintrusive app that monitors your computer’s use. You can set yourself goals, block certain sites, and bespoke it around your needs.[/su_box]
…
WRITTEN WORDS:
- 39, 251 Words Written (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Email Newsletters, Blog Posts)
…
I’m a tad disappointed to not spend 20 hours in Scrivener this month, but considering I’ve written around 40,000 words, I can’t be too down on myself. Before we delve into the rest of my time, let’s first focus on this word count – a new feature I’ve decided to track in 2015.
It makes sense, after all, being a writer and such. This number takes into account my Fiction, Non-Fiction, Blogging, and Email Newsletters. Considering it doesn’t consider general email, storyboarding, client work, and general planning of life, I think it’s safe to say I wrote around 50,0o0 words this month.
That’s over half-a-million words a year, and although many of them are crap and far from polished, it’s positive nevertheless. In the end of the day, the more I write the better I become. It’s as simple as that. Whether it’s an email or a novel, writing and storytelling knows no bounds.
In future I think I’ll split this word count up, too, measuring how much time I spend on fiction, non-fiction, and so on. What do you think? Would this add more value to this monthly income report?
As for the rest of the workload, not a great deal stands out. I’m not sure how I spent so much time within Turndog.co to be honest, but it’s probably down to Blog and Guest Post writing. Add this to the time spent in Scrivener, and I suppose it explains how I wrote 40,000 words this month.
Feels good to lose myself for nearly 7 hours in Skype too, as this is time spent connecting with awesome folk. With quite a few interviews lined up in February, this number should continue to rock-and-roll. Overall though, no huge surprises from this section. It seems like a rather well balanced month, and combine this to time spent in meetings, I’ve averaged over 50 hours a week.
..
BEARD WATCH
ALL I CAN SAY IS, IT’S GETTING THERE.
HEALTH & WELL BEING:
The final piece of the jigsaw is my health and wellbeing, which is arguably more important than everything else. 2015 is the year I wish to bootstrap my routine, and ensure I stay healthy, active, and on top of the stress and vigour working for yourself brings. You can’t measure happiness, but you can track your daily day, which certainly plays a role if you ask me:
FITNESS:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
ACTIVITY:
TOTAL CALORIES
WALKING
RUNNING
YOGA
PRESSUPS
SITUPS
OTHER
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
7,770 Burned
61.3 Miles
0 Miles
5 Hours
1,550
1,550
1.5 Hours (football)
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
6,679 Burned
56.5 Miles
0 Miles
4 Hours
1,550
1,550
1.5 Hours (football)
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]The app I use to track the amount of running/walking I do is MOVE, a smartphone app that monitors what you do 24/7. I love this app, as it provides me the motivation to walk and go for a run from time to time[/su_box]
DIET:
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
DATA:
WEIGHT
NET CALORIES
CARBS
PROTEIN
FAT
DAYS UNDER LIMIT
DAYS OVER LIMIT
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
THIS MONTH:
11.5 Stone (159 lbs)
42,350 Net Colories
57%
17%
27%
30 Days
1 Days
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
LAST MONTH:
11.3 Stone (157 lbs)
42,570 Net Colories
57%
15%
28%
29 Days
2 Days
[/su_column][/su_row]
…
[su_box title=”THE TOOLS I USE:” box_color=”#89609f” title_color=”#ededed” radius=”7″]I monitor my daily food intake with MY FITNESS PAL, which makes it super easy to track your meals, and set goals (be it lose weight, cut out gluten, etc). I also combine this with WATER BALANCE, which ensures I get enough water each day.[/su_box]
BOOKS:
FINISHED:
- Connections That Count by Scott Oldford
- Growth Hacking Handbook by Jon Yongfook
CURRENTLY READING:
- The Lean Brand by Jeremiah Gardner
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Not surprising, I’ve had a better month compared to December (a month of diet doom).
However, I don’t feel too cracking, and my weight’s crept up a little again. It’s hard to describe, but I just feel a little sluggish, and I put it down to two things:
- Too many naughty snacks
- Not enough physical yoga
My sweet-tooth temptations continue to roam after Christmas, and I need to overcome this. This is the main reason I’ve put on a few pounds throughout January.
As for my lack of yoga, it’s down to circumstance as much as anything. I take part in a relaxed version on Monday evenings, which I’ve been to every week since Christmas. My Wednesday night physical yoga sessions though (which are more active and hardcore), have been hard to get to.
Between snow and ridiculously cold and wet nights, feeling sick, having a meeting, and postponed sessions, I’ve only been to one since the middle of December. I didn’t think it had such a big impact on me, but I now realise it does.
Which is great, because it provides the motivation to keep going, and to consider adding another physical session throughout the week, too. Two of these sessions each week could make me feel like a superhero, so I’m certainly considering it.
In the meantime, I’m performing 50 daily squats to compensate, pushing my sugar addictions to one side, and even using the idea of running and a few trips to the weight-room. But it all comes back to diet, and finding a lifestyle that fits me. With cold weather like this, and comfort food all around, it’s easier said than done.
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME:
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TOTAL INCOME:
…
FICTION
NON FICTION
AFFILIATES
SPEAKING
CLIENT WORK
OTHER
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
THIS MONTH:
£3.36
£0
£0.56
£0
£400
£0
£403.92
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
LAST MONTH:
£6.62 (-£3.26)
£0
£2.08 (-£1.52)
£0
£0 (+£400)
£0
£8.70 (+£395.22)
[/su_column][/su_row]
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]
….
TOTAL EXPENDITURE:
…
BOOK RELATED
SPEAKING RELATED
CLIENT RELATED
COMPUTER/INTERNET
TELEPHONE
OFFICE SUPPLIES
TRAVEL
ENTERTAINMENT/MEETINGS
UTILITIES
INTEREST/DEBT PAYMENTS
OTHER
TOTAL:
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
…
THIS MONTH:
£0
£0
£0
£78.77
£38.55
£5.27
£25.32
£63.75
£13.75
£40.26
£25.84
£291.48
[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/4″]
…
…
LAST MONTH:
£0
£0
£0
£70.27 (+£8.50)
£38.25 (+£.30)
£30.04 (-£24.77)
£16.50 (+£8.82)
£103.24 (-£39.49)
£11.50 (+£2.25)
£37.81 (+£2.45)
£164.48 (-£138.64)
£472.09 (-£174.61)
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…
TOTAL PROFIT = £112.44
…
THE START OF SOMETHING BIG
All in all, not a bad month, especially seen as I expected a slow start to the year. Not a huge profit by any means, but it’s good to see income going up, and outgoings heading down.
In particular, I spent a great deal less on coffee and trips to the coffee shop this month, and this probably correlates with the extra meetings I’ve had. The more time I spend in meetings, connecting with people and making shit happen, the less time I spend in Costa, hoping to make shit happen, and generally planning for it.
I think the best way to describe January is to say it’s been a productive one, and I need plenty more in the near future. There’s a long way to go though, and I certainly can’t rest on my laurels just yet. Still, a good month is a good month, and I plenty to be thankful and hopeful for.
[su_note]LIKE TO GET ALL THE TOOLS I USE TO MAKE THIS MONTHLY REPORT? I made an Exclusive PDF just for you, and you can grab it for FREE by Clicking Here[/su_note]
SO, THE PLAN FOR FEBRUARY:
Right, let’s end with a few mini objectives to help keep the eye on the prize throughout February:
- RAISE $5,000 IN THE SUCCESSFUL MISTAKE CROWD-PUBLISH CAMPAIGN (Success Mistake Based)
- STORYBOARD TURNDOG BRAND STORY + PREPARE FOR MARCH ACTION PLAN (Content Based)
- WRITE/EDIT AT LEAST 20,000 WORDS FOR IN UNLOVE YOU (I Unlove You Based)
- FINISH WRITING STAGE ONE OF THE SUCCESSFUL MISTAKE (Success Mistake Based)
- CONVERT A CLIENT-LEAD INTO A CUSTOMER (Client Based)
February’s set to be manic, but in a truly wonderful sense. Between a client project, striving to convert another lead, starting I Unlove You’s second draft, writing The Successful Mistake, kicking The Purple Coffee Podcast into gear, AND point as many eyes on The Successful Mistake Crowd-Publish Campaign as possible, I’ve plenty on my plate.
Client work should take care of itself for the most part, because as I develop this process I’ll create actionable tasks to tick off the list. At this moment in time, I’m not sure how much of this will come in February, but in the coming days I will.
I’ve also set the Turndog Brand Story in motion, and now’s the time to kick this into gear, storyboard it, plan it, write it, and ready myself for Match (full of filming, design, and finishing touches). A busy couple of months, not least because it’s a side project I’m working on in the evenings.
And although The Successful Mistake is my most front-and-centre book, I must place a lot of love into I Unlove You, too. As I venture into the second draft, I appreciate how vital and important this time is. I must give it the careful attention it both requires and deserves.
But above all (other than client work, which always has my fullest attention), The Crowd-Publish Campaign rules this particular roost. We have 45 days to raise $7,500, and I have plenty of daily tasks to perform. I’m not some big deal with an existing large audience who can launch and sit back.
I’ve launched, which is the easy bit. It’s now time to make sure it’s a success, which is far from simple. Still, it’s why we do this kind of thing, right? 🙂
…
And finally, I’ve set myself three 2015 Goals (This Post explains all), which EVERYTHING I do over the next twelve months works towards. These are what they are, and this is what I’ve done to stride closer towards these this month:
- IN NOVEMBER, GO ABROAD WITH KID TURNDOG FOR THE FIRST TIME & WEIGH 11 STONE THE DAY OF OUR FLIGHT = I made strides towards this, setting the potential wheels in motion for several client projects. Between his and The Successful Mistake Crowd-Publish Launch, it could place me in a position of stability come November. However, I think I took a backwards step in terms of weight…
- BUY & SHARE A COFFEE WITH 25 PEOPLE WHO APPEAR IN THE SUCCESSFUL MISTAKE = Didn’t make any literal steps towards this, but connected and re-conencted with lots of folk. Overall, I feel like I crawled towards this goal, rather than walked the walk.
- REACH 100,000 PEOPLE THROUGH MY STORIES & WORDS = With the launch of the podcast, I took a potential big step in this quest. Also wrote a few Guest Posts, which are rather fundamental in this particular journey. Again, no major steps, but a few significant ones nevertheless.
And there you go, folks. Another Monthly Income Report at an end. I know these reports are long, but I hope they help you in some way (if only for pure entertainment/laughing at me purposes). These Monthly Income Reports are hard to write, but I find them rather therapeutic, too. Thank you for reading, and please get in touch and let me know your thoughts. I’d love to start a convo on TWITTER or FACEBOOK.
Speak soon,
TURNDOG
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