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Book Journey!

THE LAST BIG EDIT!

28 July, 2023

My eyes might be bleary but my heart is happy.
Very early start today proofing the last substantive edit of my upcoming book. Manuscript due back to publisher today.

I took myself to a local hang out that ticks all the boxes for remote working. ✅

☕️ Good coffee
🫧 Lots of space
🛋️ Soft and comfy seat
⚡️ Power point
💥 Even an inspirational sign above my head!

Here we goooooo!!!! 🚀

THIS BOOK CONVERSATION BROUGHT ME TO TEARS

26 July, 2023

I’m finally on the home stretch of getting my first book published. This morning I was on a call with one of my mentors when I sought some encouragement around being ok with releasing the manuscript as it is now, to go for typesetting.

I know it can be a common thing with authors, feeling the need to constantly re-work the content and refine it.

I struggle with that too.

Even though I know the original content was good. Plus it has had two professional edits. And several of my own.

My mentor, who‘s published 15 books, didn’t give me the advice I asked for.

Instead, he asked me a question.

“What is the purpose behind why you are publishing this book?”

That question elicited such a visceral response.

My eyes welled with tears, my heart pounded so strongly it felt like it was exploding out of my chest.

“I’m publishing it because I want what’s in it to change as many lives as possible….What I wrote about changed mine so much, and I want others to experience that too”.

Of course, there’s another aspect to it, and I know it will open doors in certain sectors where I want to have more impact through my work.

But honestly in in that moment that part really. didn’t. matter.

The reason I wrote “Marketing Me: Take Charge of Your Personal Brand and Make Your Mark on the World - is far beyond that.

Many inspiring and positive “marks” need to be “made”.

This book is for everyone who wants to do that.

I want people everywhere to read it, absorb and embrace the message, and apply it to their own life and business.

Because I know and have experiend the freedom of being on the other side of that.

My instinctive response to the provoking question put to me also highlighted to me the need to apply my own philosophy - which is trusting the intention that sits behind a piece of work will be transmitted and received at an energetic level (ironically one of the things I cover in the book!).

It was clear to all and sundry the conviction I have around this message and the desire to get it into the hands of as many people as possible.

So based on that….

YES, this book is ready to go back to the publisher after this week.

***

It’s amazing how simple act of asking the question elicits the very answer we are looking from that then emerges from within us.

What burning question do you have preoccupying your thoughts right now?

Can you leave room for the possibility that the answer is in you, right below the surface.

Like a delectable vanilla custard encased beneath the crackly sugar surface of a crème brûlée. Waiting to be tapped by a spoon and revealed.

Like you, waiting the right question to break the crackly surface of conventional thinking that has kept your intuition and “knowing” trapped beneath the surface.

And enable that inherent part of you that’s ready to create more impact to surface.

So that once you “see”…

it paves the way for you to take the action…

that takes you a step closer…

to that becoming a tangible reality in your life.

HOW I DECIDED WHAT MAKES THE FINAL CUT

07 July, 2023

Right now I'm in the thick of the "almost final" review of the manuscript for my upcoming book “Marketing Me: Take Charge of Your Personal Brand and Make Your Mark on the World”.

It’s so exciting knowing this work will be released into the world soon.

As I review this content, all of which I feel so passionately about, one thing keeps coming up.

In order to be able to create something useful, there are a lot of things I need to NOT include.

Not because it’s not great information.

Not because it won’t help people.

But, because too many insights, too many thoughts and ideas will make it hard to absorb and effectively process the main big idea of the book.

My first draft had 62,000 words. Together with my editing team that was distilled to 32,000 during the first edit, and we decided to keep some of the content for a future book.

The second draft quickly morphed to 42,000 words.

Which we then distilled to 32,000 words.

And sure enough, following that it crept up yet again, as the fountain of insights overflowed :-)

Now I’m doing the final review – and while the most important part of that is putting each section, each paragraph, each sentence through the filter of:

“Does this serve the reader to be here?”

“Does it help them understand the big idea of the book better?”

“Will it help them make progress and implement it?”

If not – then it I need to find another home for it.

Which is hard sometimes, as there are a lot of good insights and
information in here
.
(I have a great repository of content for future books piling up!)

I'm intentionally staying focused on the “one big idea” of the book and ensuring that every word in the book supports that purpose, or delivers on that promise to the reader.

So it doesn’t become convoluted and lose its overall potency.
 
It’s like that with our own brand, positioning and messaging as well.
 
We can be known for lots of things, but not lot lots of things at once.
 
People these days are looking for specialists. People who are the best in the field in what they do.

Yet at the same time craving simplicity.

We need to make it easy for people to understand us.

And beyond that, we need to be easy to engage with
and transact with.

I DID IT!!!

14 March, 2023

FRIENDS!!! 💃 I DID IT!!! WHAT A DAY!! WHAT A WEEK! 🤯

After getting my book manuscript ready for professional editing yesterday, today I set myself the task of having my book pre-order page built and online by today.

Ok so It's 43 mins officially past the end of the day, but.... it's done!!!

See what I've been working on here! And the amazing book launch pre-order packages I've created.

This IS exciting, turning what's been in my head and heart for so long, into reality - so that soon you'll be able to hold, read and follow!

www.ninachristian.com/book

And if anyone wants to preorder their book copy overnight while I finally sleep after this labour of love, be my guest, I would love that!

BIG NEWS!!!

14 March, 2023

GETTING THE MANUSCRIPT READY FOR EDITING

08 March, 2023

The "Do Not Disturb" sign is on today! As I finish my own first edit of my book, and get the manuscript ready to send off for the first round of professional editing. 🙇‍♀️

I find that getting into the headspace to do something big like this "in a day" takes a bit of prep and planning.

So here's what I do when I need to focus - to free my mind to go deep for an extended period.

✅ Email Auto-Responder on - letting people know not to expect a response from me today.

✅ Heads up yesterday to anyone who *might* have reason to get in touch today to let them know my plans, and that my phone will be on "do not disturb" today.

✅ Announcing to my family that today is the day I am having a big day to work on my book. All arrangements for kids/sports etc. in place.

✅ Letting a few close friends know what my goals are with accountability to let them know when I'm finished tonight.

✅ "Clearing the decks" of my mind - yesterday was lots of walking, thinking, listening, dancing, to find the flow state that was needed for today.

✅ Super comfy clothes including my *favourite* hoodie 😉

✅ Pre-organised plan for where I will work and when. Ensuring good coffee and good food is at the ready.

SO - let the editing begin! 📝

See you on the other side!

TESTING OUT THE BIG MESSAGES OF THE BOOK

January, 2023

Today I asked a question of my connections who are experts, entrepreneurs and industry leaders..... I'm mulling over a few of the core messages of my forthcoming book 'Marketing Me™️' ..... and wanted to know which one of these statements appeals to them the most.

A. 💛 Marketing yourself authentically will stretch you, but that stretch will propel you to amazing places in life and open possibilities beyond what you could imagine.

B. 💚 Marketing yourself doesn’t have to deplete you, instead it can energise you and make you feel good.

C. 💜 When you embrace your true identity, and express that authentically and elegantly, you go from “having impact” to be “being impact” wherever you go.

D. 🧡 The power for impact is in embracing your unique identity. Marketing yourself (personal branding) is a surprisingly effective way of uncovering it.

E. 💙 The journey of authentic personal branding won’t just change your business, it will change your life.

Side Note: these are ALL true and things I have personally experienced. Which is super cool.

And what I want to ultimately impart through the book. ❤️

(Note: these aren't taglines or an elevator pitch or the summary - it's more about the "truth" that sits behind the book and the message and where to place the most emphasis).

This is how the results went down....

A. 💛 Marketing yourself authentically will stretch you, but that stretch will propel you to amazing places in life and open possibilities beyond what you could imagine.

B. 💚 Marketing yourself doesn’t have to deplete you, instead it can energise you and make you feel good.

C. 💜 When you embrace your true identity, and express that authentically and elegantly, you go from “having impact” to be “being impact” wherever you go.

D. 🧡 The power for impact is in embracing your unique identity. Marketing yourself (personal branding) is a surprisingly effective way of uncovering it.

E. 💙 The journey of authentic personal branding won’t just change your business, it will change your life.

BIG LEARNING??? THEY ALL SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I'LL USE THEM ALL!!

MOTIVATION & MOJO: WHAT FUELS MY FLOW

January, 2023

One of the most powerful ways I have found to generate fresh ideas and new insights is "working in nature".

I find that when I go into nature with the "intention to work" the experience (and outcome) is very different to the times when I'm in nature just relaxing and taking time out (I do plenty of this too!).

So this was my "oval office" yesterday.☀️

I've spent a lot of time on my laptop over the last week writing the first draft of my book - so yesterday to progress my work I decided to move outdoors to a nearby oval by the bush where the only inhabitants are the local kangaroos, birds (and bugs!).

I spent 5 hours relaxing in this very spot, crystallising my thoughts, mulling over what else to include.

My trusty "oval office" accessories included....

📒 My trusty Notebook
📚 Folder of my developing IP & models
🕶 Sunglasses
🦟 Bug repellant
🍃 A comfy rug
🫗 Lots of water

The peace, tranquillity, clarity and Vitamin D intake were off the charts. 🌞🌞🌞

And now, back to the "actual desk" today to put the notes into written form. 🙇‍♀️ Still on track for the first draft to be completed this week! 💃

So if you're starting the year and want to think differently, get more clarity, or up your mojo, proactively setting aside a "work day" in nature and finding a quiet spot could be just what you need!

#MarketingMeBook

ACTION STATIONS: THE WRITING IS UNDERWAY!

01 January, 2023

I have some exciting news to share! I've set myself the goal of completing the first draft of my book 'Marketing Me™️' while I"m away on my annual summer break this year.

And surrounded by nature - bush, beach and these adorable baby kangaroos on my morning walk today - is the perfect space to fuel my creativity.

And so I'm celebrating TWO big milestones today.

1. I created my transformational outline.
The roadmap that will guide readers through the terrain of tapping into their uniqueness and expressing it authentically, confidently and in a way that feels energising (mind-map version of the outline visible on the laptop pic!)

2. I compiled a large body of work based on my previous writings on some of the teaching points previously, and sorted the words into key topic areas, from which I will glean snippets to include, elaborate on or summarise.

I was floored when I realised just how much gold is sitting there waiting to be refined into my book.

And there are lots of things yet to write that will be brand new - and that's the juiciest part I can't WAIT to get into!

And today's output is definitely worth noting so I would love for you to celebrate these milestones with me!

Marketing Me - The Book - The Journey Begins

20 October, 2022 

I spent the last week in beautiful Aotearoa (New Zealand) taking time to reflect, re-energise, and be inspired and the most extraordinary thing happened.

I came on this trip with no agenda from a business perspective.

No plans, no goals, no intended outcomes.

And of course, when you create space for beauty and inspiration to come, come it does.

Yesterday in the most surprising way, something very powerful transpired.

For a while now I've been mulling over my plans to write a book.

Feels like it's been living in me for a long while, while getting ready to be released.

And yesterday, so many key pieces of it came together in one amazing moment of synchronicity and flow.

The result?

The introduction of the book - written in about 10 minutes.

I had just had a conversation with a dear mentor and friend at a retreat I was attending, which sparked something.

Immediately I left the room and wrote the intro.

And it gets better.

After a short hiatus in my room allowing the words to come, I returned to the group and over lunch, several people asked more about my book.

When I told them I’d written the introduction following that chat, they wanted to hear more, and I ended up doing a reading over lunch.

The response blew me away and was beyond what I could have even imagined.

Because I didn’t just want to write a book about marketing for marketers and business owners – even though that’s what I’m known for and my technical area of expertise and what I've done professionally for decades.

I wanted it to be something that anyone could read and be inspired by.

Infusing more of what really lights me up which is helping amazing people have a greater impact on the world.

I’d been putting that intention out very actively for about 3-4 months now.

And the revelation of how to do that was the penny that dropped yesterday.

And so for those that are keen, I’d like to invite you to read the introduction that I wrote yesterday here.

There were a bunch of other super exciting things that happened this week, this is just one of many.

You’ll hear about some of the others in due course.

Particularly the book as it continues to unfold.

But the one thing I really feel like encouraging you with is that when you make space for the things you really want, the things you want find YOU!