I’ve spent most of my life either running away from failure or running towards my dreams…often a bit of both at the same time.

It comes at a price though, because I have a restless spirit.

I can’t remember a day gone by in which I didn’t feel some sense of urgency…”you must create.”

I don’t know what it feels like to be at peace with my accomplishments, nor do I know if I could live myself otherwise.

I’ve always been drawn to three things really:

1. Spirituality

Having been raised in a very traditional Christian environment, I know a thing or two about religion, most of which clashes with who I am.

So, although I’m deeply spiritual, I am not religious.

2. Making Music

I’ve been making music since I was in grade school. When I didn’t have instruments, I was making it in my head or on paper.

I played French Horn in High School (crazy right?), trumpet, drums, saxophone, and now play guitar and a bit of piano.

3. Writing

When I wasn’t making music, I was writing songs and bits of poetry. I was planning my next great novel. I was writing, writing, and writing more.

Even though I never considered myself a writer, looking back, I don’t see how I didn’t. I still recall hearing one of my teachers protest my decision to study science in college:

“But you’re a writer Nathan!”

Thank you Mrs. C

So, although I create, and I can’t stop doing it…I’ve got this strange need to see my bills paid on time. Crazy right?

I always thought that in order to do this, I’d have to have a real job or do something that I didn’t necessarily enjoy. I never saw art and money going together.

But then I met people that are doing just that…

There’s Hugh MacLeod, who despite his greatest efforts to the contrary, is becoming known not for his “side hustle,” but for his art.

There’s Danielle LaPorte, who is making art in a way that inspires others…in the form of wisdom.

There’s Seth Godin, Gary V, DHH and Jason Fried, and dozens more.

Sure, they might not all be artists of the painting type, but they are making art in the sense that they’re:

a) following their passion

b) making something remarkable

In my talk recently at the Influencer Project, I said that if you really want influence, then you need to make something worthy of influence. In other words, don’t try to get influence…try to create it.

So here I am, a dude that has done a bit of everything.

I’ve chased the dollar, and I’ve been a starving artist.

I’ve spent time at war, and I’ve spent time in my own personal wars.

I’m a born crusader…it’s not something I can change, nor is it something I want to change.

At the same time, I keep finding myself in a place where I feel pressured to compromise who I am in order to make a living, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are 5 promises I’m making to myself right now:

1. I’m going to write a book by the end of the year. I’m just going to do it.

2. I’m going to start making music again, and I’m going to be creating my own music for Blogger Beats and the upcoming Soundtrackster.

3. Every post on this blog will either be art in its own right, or about artists…no more compromising.

4. The people I work with will be artists…they must have a mission.

5. Everything I create from this day forward will be evaluated not on how much money it can make, but how much closer it moves me towards my goal of doing nothing but creating art.

Is this idealistic or overly optimistic? Probably, but that’s what I like about it.

I’m nearly 32 years old, and I’m staring down the rest of my life. I simply cannot afford to negotiate with or to compromise my core in order to appease or to appeal…whether to myself or others.

There are plenty of people making a living doing what they do best, and to be honest, it’s fear that has kept me from following them.

But I’m an artist, and even though I might not be creating oil paintings, I’m still worthy of creating art. I think it’s time that more of us do the same.

When I speak of doing something that matters and of making a difference, this is what I mean.

Less time following the lead, compromising, and making it work…and more time leading…and making it work.

Who’s with me?

Make Nothing but Art is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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Blogging isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.

Similar to religion, bloggers must not only talk the talk, but they have to practice what they preach…become a “blogger.”

What is a Blogger

A blogger is someone that writes what they think and/or feel. Blogging is a hobby…blogging is passion.

A blogger is an author, a poet, a writer…an artist.

Bloggers do what feels right because it’s feeling good that’s important. Money is secondary, it will come when it is ready to come.

How do you feel good?

You post every single day.

Posting every day accomplished two things:

It gives you an excuse to keep talking, even when you have nothing to say.
It adds to numbers, and as we all know…Numbers = Happiness

The more you post, the more it feels like you’ve been working. Working, even if it’s just the appearance of doing so = Happiness.

And mark my words, even though the benefits of posting every day might not be obvious…they are…trust me.

The more you post, the more traffic you can build. Even if that traffic doesn’t convert, the important thing is that your numbers are growing.

Comments go up.
RT’s go up.
Pageviews go up.

Total win, for you…the blogger.

Blogging every day gives the appearance that you are a professional, even though you might not be. It allows you to fake it until you make it. It allows you to feed the machine that needs your content.

Must…have…more…content.

In a consumption happy society, what better way is there to lure them to your Internet opium than by posting every single day.

What if I don’t have anything to say?

That doesn’t matter. Just say something.

Copy if you have to.

Borrow ideas. Write list posts. Crowdsource your content. Reveal private conversations as posts because your audience will respond very strongly. Linkbait by calling people out or bashing them.

Instead of “Just keep swimming,” it’s “Just keep blogging.”

There’s a reason we say to do this. It’s the same reason that everyone repeats the same messages over, and over, and over, and over again…because of trust.

It feels right.

Blogging works in the same way that the Law of Attraction works. If you just keep doing what feels right, then good things are sure to come your way.

There’s no need to worry about metrics, products, or services…just keep posting.

Post every day.

If you aren’t…then you don’t deserve success.

Are you getting the message? It’s not where you think it is.

Blog as if Your Life Depended on It is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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Nothing says value like the words “FREE.”

Free costs everything to produce, but nothing to consume, and so, it helps feed the consumption engine that each of us relies on.

If people aren’t consuming, then they aren’t buying, so it is your job to fuel the consumption.

Freemium is everything.

It allows you to place faith in the powerful process of “if you build it, they will come.”

It allows you to give your ideas away.

It allows you to put your foot in the door, the door which bars you from an overcrowded room.

You might place value on your words, but your audience does not, therefore it is your job to prove them wrong.

This is what free ebooks accomplish, and this is why you must create one for your readers.

Don’t get me wrong. The goal with a free ebook is not to provide value, but to find a hook with which you can bait potential customers. To get them in the program.

And once you have them on your list, you are free to do with them what you wish.

The ebook is just a distraction. The list is where it’s at. Think not of the value you provide in that book, but of what you can get them to buy in the future.

Since value is unimportant, feel free to throw something together at random. Use a blank document if you must…design is also unimportant.

I would, however,  craft a fancy title so that the hook is shiny and bright.

“But freebooks are a dime a dozen” you say…

It does not matter. No one will read it. They’ll download it, RT the link, and plan to read it, but they never will.

Everyone plays the part to perfection…in the same manner that they share links of posts they haven’t read, comment on posts only having read the headings, and fuel the fires of the consumption engine.

Your way of life…your value as a blogger…relies on the existence of this very machine. It is essential that you understand this.

It is the machine that feeds you.

In a perfect blogging world, every single blogger on the planet would offer a free ebook to their readers. It’s not your ebook that matters, but that of the greater good.

Don’t worry about art, leave that to someone else. Someone that enjoys taking risks.

You might never make a single dime as a blogger, but at least you’ll have something to give away.

At least you’ll feed the machine.

So come up with an idea, at random. The topic doesn’t matter. Write in large, double spaced fonts so that you take up more room, and put it front and center on your blog.

Free ebook for sale!

Use Free eBooks to Fuel the Consumption Engine is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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Never before in the history of the human race has there been such beautiful and glorious technology at our fingertips. Up until the past several decades, humans were forced to live primarily in isolation, relying on primitive systems to communicate.

However, with the advent of social media, the curse of isolation is broken and the human race can finally come together as one.

One industry.

One niche.

One product.

Social media is a godsend…it is a chance to be reborn as what you were meant to be.

With Facebook comes the power to find people where they play.

With Twitter comes the power to find and engage anyone that might have something you want.

With blogs, more specifically, blog comments, comes the power to build a following far beyond your wildest dreams.

Simply put…social media gives you the power of engagement. Engagement gives you the power to build a cult following of people that worship the ground you walk on.

Engagement is your bunker…your parapet…the rallying cry that you can use to protect yourself from any message you send, regardless of the intention.

With the advent of social media, you have the power of engagement, and it’s the most powerful ability you have.

The Way of Engagement

Respond to every comment.

Reply to every Tweet.

Follow people for the sole purpose of getting them to follow you.

These are the rules of engagement.

Marketing, especially when cleverly disguised as engagement, is the key to unlock both power and riches.

Through engagement, you build a following that is interested in your message.

Through continued engagement, this audience becomes the engagers, and starts to spread your message for you.

Should all go well, you’ll quickly have a following that is ready and willing to buy anything you sell, regardless of its quality or price. Fancy names do well here, as do pretty packages.

If, for some reason, you find that people aren’t buying, perhaps it’s time to examine your level of online engagement.

Are you spending enough time on Twitter making friends? Are you doing your part to make people feel special…like you care?

Build a Tribe

Does your tribe have an exclusionary language of its own?

Do you use fancy hashtags to host online Twitter chats?

Do you use video to show yourself as a real person; one that your audience can identify with?

Do you make use of clever branding tactics to make yourself cool…one of the big kids?

Be Someone to Emulate

Talk about how often you engage. Brag about it.

Share your awesomeness with the world.

“I engage!”

It’s not good enough to do it…you also have to talk about it so that your audience…your tribe…has someone they can emulate.

Exploit relationships to the fullest, and all of your customers will fall before you.

There is No Other Way

Engagement is the purpose and social media is the engine that drives it.

Engagement isn’t a privilege, it’s a duty.

It is by performing this duty that you have the right to make money and to build an audience. Anything else is secondary.

If you aren’t fulfilling your duty, then someone else will.

Engagement is the Way is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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“Way too macho for me.”

I received this message in an unsubscribe email yesterday, and yeah, I know…you’re not supposed to read them and if you do, you’re not supposed to care.

And I don’t, at least not for the reason you might think.

I get them all the time

After a while, they add up, and even though I get a little pissed when I see them, I realize that they’re part of the game. If you’re not getting them, then you’re doing something wrong, so I embrace it in the same way House embraces his leg pain.

It’s nothing a lil’ whiskey can’t cure right?

Besides, they add fuel to the fire, and as you know, I like to keep this fire hot!

Is it really that simple?

Before we disregard this somewhat anonymous comment from a random subscriber, let’s talk about why this one, in particular, bothers me so much.

I get it, the blog is pretty masculine. We talk about dominating, building an empire, battle cries, and becoming a crusader. I can see how someone would say that this blog is drenched in testosterone.

But…let’s be real about it.

Most people need a swift kick in the ass from time to time. Talks of Care Bears don’t get us pumped up…we like to hear rallying cries because that’s what inspires us to take action.

Granted, “macho” might make us uncomfortable, but only because it puts us in the awkward situation of realizing our business is f’ed up and in the need of help.

“Flowers and butterflies are so much more comfy…they’re reassuring and make me feel special.”

Get a grip

The person that sent this email had a blog with very little action. It looked nice, but it was like a store caught in the middle of a zombie invasion. No one was home.

They are obviously uncomfortable with calls to action and talk of world domination, which is fine, but let me ask you this:

Do you want to be educated or entertained?

I’m not here to make you feel special, because in doing that I provide a disservice to you and to humanity.

I’m here to show you where I’ve been and teach you how I got to my present point.

I’m not a guru or a Jedi, I just happen to have a few notches on the hilt of my sword.

I’m in the business of teaching people how to build a business that makes them happy.

I’m not in the business of making people feel happy. You have to get that on your own.

He’s doing it right

Do you know who’s uncomfortable now? I’ll give you a name:

Dana Severson

He just took a risk…a leap of faith, and launched IDesignYourLogo.com with the help of the I Wear Your Shirt guy.

He had an idea and fricking went for it. That’s pretty macho if you ask me.

He’s building a kick ass empire because he’s OK with being scared. He loves storming the gates.

I think you should help him get the word out, because he’s awesome. In fact, you better book a logo before her rates go up.

Macho Kicks Ass

If being macho is a sin, then I’m a sinner baby, and it feels good

Let’s put another level on the castle.

Image Credit

Are You Not Entertained? is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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In today’s Saturday Game Changer Interview, I’m excited to bring you a great interview I had with Karl from @workhappynow.

I’ve known Karl for quite some time, but this was really the first time I had a chance to pick his brain at length and I’ve got to say, he’s right on the money.

We talked about everything from being happy at work, to finding new work, to becoming an entrepreneur and blogger.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can be happy at work, or just happy in general, check him out at workhappynow.com and follow him on Twitter while you’re at it.

The interview runs around 30 minutes, so grab a coffee, beer, or a smoke and enjoy

Game Changer Interview – Karl Staib of Work Happy Now is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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As an entrepreneur, you are often faced with the difficult task of trying to squeeze 2 days worth of work into a single day’s worth of time, which not only leads to increased stress, but also affects your efficiency.

When you try to do too much, you end up doing nothing, but still worn out by the end of the day.

When I first started my online business, I wasted hours trying to learn everything from web design to copy writing, none of which I became a pro at, but all of which wasted valuable time that I needed to use for other things.

When this happens, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate a couple of things:

1. What are you good at? Knowing what tasks come easy to you can help you realize what tasks you should focus on. If you suck at web design, then outsource it and quit wasting your time. A smart business owner knows how to leverage their time so that they can get more done. As a blogger and online marketer, outsourcing has a lot to do with that.

2. What actions make you the most money? Sure, spending an entire day working on improving your blog’s load time (as I did recently) might have a positive effect on your business over the long run, but does it do anything for you now? Furthermore, does it make you any money?

Alternatively, writing blog posts is an action that help you make money. Creating products can help you make money. Refining your email marketing funnel can help you make more money.

I’m not saying that you need to spend 100% of your time on money making efforts, but as a beginner, especially if you have a 9-5 job that occupies your day, you need to make the most of the time you have.

Prioritizing

Once you’ve determined what skills you have and what actions are most important for your revenue, you can start making a list of priorities. I recommend making an A list, a B list, and a C list.

For example, here is my list:

A:

Blog Posts (3x per week)
Planning and Perfecting Products
Marketing (Social Media and PPC)

B:

Community Engagement (Social Media, Blog Comments)
Guest Posts (2-4x per week)
Recruiting Affiliates

C:

SEO
Tweaking Blog (plugins, design issues, etc)
Additional Content (Podcasts, videos, etc)

Now, this is not an all-inclusive list, and I’m using this as an example more than anything, but notice that all of the A level activities are those that can help me either expand my reach or make more money. If I’ve only got a few hours on a single day, then I’ll spend them with my A list priorities. If I get them done, then I’ll move on to B and then C, respectively.

If there are things that you need to accomplish that aren’t on the A list, then you can either outsource them, or schedule a day/time to get them done. However, if you find yourself doing this often, then you either need to re-adjust your priorities or find a way to get more done.
You could also make a list of things that you need to outsource regularly, such as:

• Guest Posts (from others for your blog)
• Web Design/Graphics
• Sales Copy
• E-Book Formatting
• Custom Coding/HTML
• Blog Posts/Content (Niche Blogs)
• SEO
• PPC

Again, this list is just an example, but you get the idea. As an entrepreneur, you need to make the most of the time you have. I know a lot of people hate to spend money on outsourcing, but the reality is that if you want to build a business, then you will have to learn to get comfortable doing just that.

I learned this the hard way and it cost me a year as a result. I’m hoping that you can learn from my mistakes and avoid yourself the trouble.

Until you learn to spend money on your business…until you learn to take your hands off…you will struggle to keep moving the ball down field. However, once you figure out how you can leverage both your time and money to get more done, then you will find that your business takes care of itself. If you water it, it will grow.

Image Credit

Focus on the Actions that Matter is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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