Unlocking Success Through Supporting Others: A 28-Day Journey
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Chapter 1: Embracing Change
The phrase “be the change you wish to see in the world” is often quoted, yet few truly commit to putting it into practice. For many, the motivation to seek change is primarily self-serving.
Recently, I engaged in a 28-day cross-promotion sprint through Coach.me, aimed at coaches and authors. Initially, I thought the process would be straightforward: I would post content, receive likes, shares, and comments, and reciprocate for others. It seemed like a simple exchange that would yield personal benefits, but I was mistaken. The experience proved to be profoundly transformative.
The core idea of the program required participants to post daily from Monday to Friday while also engaging with at least three pieces of content created by others through likes, shares, comments, or applause. Missing a day would mean disqualification from the promotion.
While the concept appeared simple, it demanded considerable time, effort, and reflection—especially at the outset. Out of approximately 40 participants, only around 15 completed the challenge. I understood why; life can often make consistent daily commitments challenging.
However, something intriguing occurred. The more I participated, the more invested I became, and the more I was inspired by the stories I encountered. Assisting others in promoting their work uplifted me and fueled my motivation.
Engaging with and sharing other authors' stories became a pivotal focus of my day, creating a personal space for learning and reading—two passions of mine. Yet, to maintain my position in the challenge, I also needed to contribute my own content daily. Initially, I relied on previously written pieces, hoping to breathe new life into them.
Then, a remarkable shift occurred; I rediscovered my writing flow. Ideas flowed effortlessly, revealing a wealth of thoughts that had long been dormant. Over the month, I published twelve articles and had several others submitted for publication, totaling over 20,000 words—around a quarter of a non-fiction book. This was a significant achievement for someone not actively pursuing a book project at that time.
More Good Things on the Horizon
Beyond the writing, numerous positive developments unfolded during this period. I engaged with remarkable writers like Roo Benjamin, whose thought-provoking work made me reflect deeply on life, and Kendra Kinnison, whose brief pieces rekindled my love for Twitter. RJ Reyes challenged me to steer clear of the deception often associated with fake gurus, while Tony U. Francisco inspired me to approach life as an adventure. I shared critical life moments with Leah Welborn, laughed with Aliza Rosenfelder as she used Marvel references to discuss great writing, and learned valuable lessons from Jennifer Chicoine about her counseling experiences. Sufyan Maan, M.Eng, motivated me to undertake a 30-day plank challenge—an initiative he’s encouraged me to embrace for several months.
As I connected with these writers and others, we formed friendships and collaborative relationships. This led me to join a member program that allows writers to earn while they create, delve into Substack (which I had long intended to explore), and revisit several applications, including Brain.fm. I also rediscovered my earlier writing on 750words.com and signed up for their August challenge—why not?
Revisiting some of my past work surprised me; some pieces were genuinely good, which was a pleasant revelation. I shared one of my recent articles in a Facebook group filled with knowledgeable women, and to my astonishment, their enthusiastic feedback about my writing fueled my desire to write even more.
I began reconnecting with people I hadn’t reached out to in years and approached several publications to consider me as a writer—an act of self-promotion that proved fruitful. I re-engaged with a community I had isolated myself from for four years, following a significant accident.
These experiences were immensely rewarding and made every moment spent worthwhile. However, unexpected outcomes were even more surprising.
Unanticipated Outcomes
In an unexpected twist, old friends reached out after reading my work, leading us to schedule catch-up sessions over lunch, coffee, or dinner. Jeb Blount from Sales Gravy invited me to be a guest on his popular podcast this week—an invitation I received after I expressed my gratitude in a piece I wrote about how his team supported me during my recovery.
My readership surged from virtually zero to over 2,500 in just a month, and I gained an additional 130 followers. One of my articles even reached 1.3K views—an astonishing number for someone starting from scratch. I learned valuable strategies along the way, giving me hope for future engagement.
Since taking a much-needed career break, I’ve been telling myself I’m working on a book. Originally, I intended to produce a first draft—a goal I thought was achievable considering I can write around 20,000 words weekly. My initial focus shifted between fiction and non-fiction topics related to my career, but I struggled to find my footing.
Eventually, I discovered my true writing niche—sharing insights from my extensive (and often challenging) recovery journey. I finally found my voice, which stands as my biggest victory from this experience.
Charting the Path Forward
Now, regarding that book I mentioned—the one I wasn’t fully committed to writing but now has over 20,000 words completed? It resonates with readers and emerged from this challenge. I understand its message and target audience. Subsequently, I plan to tackle the other non-fiction book I had in mind, as I now have clarity on its purpose and connection to my journey.
In conclusion, promote others. Avoid merely offering superficial support—truly engage with their work. Celebrate their achievements and have genuine conversations. Embrace the invaluable lessons they can impart. Pour your heart into it; you never know where the act of uplifting someone else might lead you. Most importantly, you’ll embody the change the world desperately needs.
If you're serious about becoming a writer, consider signing up for the next Coach.me author/coach challenge or participating in the monthly 750words.com challenge—or any other writing initiative. Just take the leap and write!
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Chapter 2: The Journey to Promotion
In this insightful video, discover strategies to accelerate your career advancement through effective self-promotion and networking.