Deciding what to action next…

Hi,
With the start of the new spring season, I’m feeling strong visions not just for the next season but what I want from my business over the next year:
– Stronger structures and systems to support myself
– Diversify and prioritise my income-generating work: a mix of writing and events — including pitching journalism, corporate copy-writing for social impact, queer social events and educational allyship events on this for businesses.

I’m aware that this sounds like a lot! But it actually all links together, in terms of the writing and the events, as they’re on same topics… And it also helps with a longer-term goal I have about building an audience for a book proposal I’ve already written.

But another idea has swooped in… and it’s around a newsletter I currently publish, on the themes of this book proposal. I realised i could start running virual events and a community thread through the platform I already use, and having a membership charge for this, making it paid sooner than I think.

Again it sounds like a lot… but I’m already doing it for free, and i know there is an audience for the events and community aspect, as I have had amazing feedback on the first in person event I ran recently on this theme.

However, I feel torn in lots of different directions and am unsure what my priority is and where to start in the building of this long-term plan for my business?! And I’m aware that the membership idea could in fact be a distraction that is stopping me starting anything…

My instinct is:
1. Refresh systems / a new mindset and practical approach to pitching
2. Get into swing of pitching income-generating work – because low earnings have been a source of panic and emotional stress recently.
Layer each part in, starting with journalism because I already have leads on that from my first year of freelancing. Then the social events because I did my first recently so it’s already begun.
Then layering in the corporate copy-writing and events are newer aspects that might need more energy into them.
3. Let this be the focus of spring – and trust that the membership idea will still be there, and that I can access it with more stability next season.

BUT: the membership idea feels so shiny and exciting!!! It combines everything I do and is passion / dream side of all of this.. and would also enable me to be earning some income from the unpaid newsletter I already make……

Is doing all at the same time an option?! It feels like a lot… Or could it be that I trial a free virtual event to support my newsletter and gather info in this season? As a way to test it out, and set myself up for being able to launch something bigger in future… Maybe this could be a sweet spot?!

Do you have any tips on deciding what to prioritise and knowing what is a distraction or not?
Thank you!

 

Answer:

Here are some things to consider. If having a paid membership plan is your goal, when would you like to have it set up by? What if you could let this be the dream phase of that project – how does it feel in your body when you consider that?

Secondly, what do you need to do to make ends meet? Paying your bills is important – sustaining your life is important. Only you know yourself well enough to know whether the creation of a membership platform is a distraction or a priority (or a fun experiment on the side of your work). Why is it a distraction? Why is it something to prioritize? Notice how you feel about what you list – what does that tell you? Keep being curious with yourself – ask questions and answer them to gain more clarity. You know yourself better than anyone. And also, keep bringing questions to AAC and we’ll keep clearing brush in search of the path forward. This all sounds very exciting!