About Steven AitchisonRecently I wrote an article describing my goal to reach 10,000 subscribers by the end of the year. It’s a very tall order but one I feel I will reach. I honestly don’t know how I can do this I just feel it. That was around 15 days ago and I still don’t know how I am going to reach that figure. When I see that I have only added around 100 subscribers in two weeks I was starting to think ‘I think I might have made a bit of a fool of myself by stating my goal of 10,000 subscribers’. As soon as I started thinking that my passion for the blog and writing diminished a little. Now that I have caught that thought I put even more effort in.
I have written a guest post for Lifehack.org, Zenhabits and DumbLittleMan (2 have not been published yet). I have added new features to this blog, which may or may not work, I have banished the Google ads and have just bought the Thesis theme to make the blog more simple in style (don’t know when that will be ready as I am still working on it).
My thoughts are now firmly on writing and over the last two weeks I have written over 10,000 words in posts, produced two videos, tweeted my little beak off, set up a facebook profile, a youtube channel, sent off an article as a freelancer, and joined a forum for A-ListBloggers. My thoughts are all on writing just now and reaching that goal, it’s a hunger from the minute I wake up, even when I am at work I am thinking ‘oh, that would be a great post’ and I get it down on paper before I forget it.
What has given me the drive?
There are 3 things that are driving this passion right now
- A big hairy measurable goal
- A passion for writing
- The avoidance of pain (being made to look stupid if I don’t reach my goal of 10,000 subscribers)
5 ways to inject some passion into your goals
Have a goal in mind
You can’t have passion in your life if you don’t have a goal or goals. Try and make your goal measurable so you’ll know that you’ve reached your goal at the end of all your hard work.
Reach out
Reach out to other people who can help you reach your goals even your competition. If you see someone you are competing with and they are doing well, look at what they are doing, break it down into little pieces and emulate each piece. There are always people who are willing to help you if they feel your passion and hunger so ask other people to help you, if they say no, then move on to someone else who can help but always make it a win-win so you both gain out of the partnership.
Small changes
100 incremental changes can make a huge difference on your goal whereas 1 big change might not make that much of a difference. You find out what works for you, throw away the bits that don’t and keep improving bit by bit.
Obsess about it
I can’t believe how obsessed I have become about writing over the last two weeks. At first i thought ‘I’ll write a few guest posts, get some guest writers for CYT and write a little more for the blog’ It’s nothing like that. It’s like ‘I want to write the best post ever, every single time, I want to write it now and I want to find a way to write in my sleep.’
Think about your goal often and every single day. Have a picture in your mind of you reaching your goal and the rewards it will bring. Do this especially when you are feeling a bit down and things aren’t going quite the way you planned. It’s a hunger, a drive you need to reach that goal no matter what.
Speak about it
I have spoken to my wife about my goals for the next five months and she has asked some great questions one of them being ‘What are you going to get out of it?’ honestly I don’t know I just know I have to do it. So if you have friends and family who are willing to listen speak about your goals or join a forum who have people with similar goals to yours. Small goals can be a one man show, big goals need an audience.
What are your goals?
What are your goals right now and how are you injecting passion into them? Why not share your thoughts with the readers and help them out.
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I am going through a similar period right now. I just started my blog and I too am in search of that perfect post. You really can get obsessed very quickly. But that is not necessarily a bad thing! When you enjoy what you are doing and you are passionate about it as it seems you are…whats wrong with that??
.-= Nick´s last blog ..21 Ways to Have Fun For Free! =-.
Even if you don’t come close to your goal, I don’t think you’ll have made a fool out of yourself at all. What’s important is that you set a goal and that you’re focused on it. Whether you reach 10k or not, you’ll surely get many more subscribers than you would have without the added focus. Think positive.
I joined A-List Bloggers too and am looking forward to it!
.-= Vin – NaturalBias´s last blog ..The Dark Side of Healthy Living =-.
@nick good to see you at CYT Nick. Nothing wrong with that at all Nick it’s great having fire in your belly to get you going. I see your Alexa ranking is coming down quite quickly which is great.
@Vin – Excellnt Vin, I am looking for to the A-ListBloggers course. You’re right as well about possibly not reaching the 10k but it’ll be a hell of time trying to get there, I love it.
Hi Steve, you might want to try talking to people more instead of just being a newsfeed for your blog. Writing is good, but twitter is about interaction, conversation. No one wants to be talked to. I post blog posts but mostly I talk to people and I have about 13,000 followers, I was under 500 at Christmas last year so it is possible.
Good luck,
Lisa
Steve, I have the same feeling you do. The way you are taking action and following through just reinforces my confidence in your ability to reach your goal. Lots of good points in this article also.
.-= Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s last blog ..Using Applied Focus Sessions to Boost Productivity =-.
Steve – way to put yourself out there with an “out there” goal. If we don’t dream big, we don’t live big. It IS possible to get over 10,000 subscribers by your goal date. Lots can happen!
Lisa gave great advice about twitter – that will definately drive your numbers up and get your work in front of more people.
…and Steve, I love your passion for writing. It’s likely your love to share information with your followers that drives it. Yay? Nay?
Oh, and I love how you’ve included “reaching out” to others as one of your tips. Often overlooked and underestimated. No one does any thing alone – we always have help along the way. Why not ask and save yourself time!
.-= Miki´s last blog ..The Ripple Effect =-.
I think going to bed thinking about your goals for the following day coincides with the points made here. That’s what my husband and I try to do every night.
.-= Colleen´s last blog ..Kennewick Real Estate Listings =-.
I love the idea about speaking about it. I actually talk myself back into motivation when I feel unmotivated. I even have a little recorder and record myslef giving me the boosts that I need.
.
The tip about making “small” changes is huge
Today I started a Youtube channel for my blog and I’ve decided that I’m just going to work and do the best that I can with what I have and that things will move forward. I think that faith has a lot to do with it and shutting our ears to people who try to tell us that it’s not possible.
Oh and also reading a blog that is motivating and positive is a great way to inject passion into our goals
All the best,
Eren
.-= Eren Mckay´s last blog ..Fun kids gingerbread house decorations & gingerbread man costume =-.
@Lisa – You’re absolutely right about this, I have sent you a twitter message about this
@jonathan – I’ve always appreciated your support jonathan, thanks for taking the journey with me.
@Miki – thanks for stopping by.
you’re right I love to share information and help as many readers as possible.
@Colleen – thanks for stopping by
@Eren – good for you about starting a youtube channel, post your link here so everyone can see
. I think being around positive people in your life should definitiely be a goal and steering clear of the dreamstealers is a must. Thanks for all your support.
The goals should be something couragous. There is no fun in pretending yourself to achieve 300 subscribers till end of the year
Now 10.000 is something worth trying 
I think that as far as goals should be in range (generally) they should not be too close and to easy to get. I think that there is always something that we have not done and to be done, so making new goals is as important as achieving old ones. You can’t get 10.000 by the end of the year? Try to get them by the end of next year. That is possible in my opinion.
.-= Odchudzanie´s last blog ..Jaką dietę wybrać? =-.
Obsessing about your goal can make you removed from other people.
What should one do if one becomes an outsider?
@Odchudzanie – thanks for that, no pojt in making it too easy for myself
@raju – learning to switch off and wear different hats so to speak e.g. when I am working on the blog I have my bloggers hat on. When I am with my family I have my father and husband hat on, when i am working I have my addiction worker hat on. However inbetween times such as breaks and a little thinking time I can mentally put on my bloggers hat and keep obsessing away.
Fantastic post steve,
A sudden increase in your subscriber network indicates you are definitely heading in the right direction.
The first post on the power of focus got me thinking, this one’s sent me back to the drawing board.
.-= Ayo Olaniyan´s last blog ..5 Suggestions for living in the economic crisis. =-.
It’s funny, I just read a blog post that said, you can only make a commitment to your actions, not to results.
Its so true, and so applicable to your big hairy goal. While I think its a brilliant goal, ultimately all you have control over is the efforts you make towards it (which seem to be all the right things). You can’t actually control how many people sign up.
Something to think about…