BOOK MARKETING. GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE.

This is not a place where I feel at ease. Marketing and trying to build an audience around my story is not my forte.

Real talk - I don’t look at myself having the credentials to be a face of sobriety or recovery or substance abuse. This is not grounded in truth. The reasoning for not feeling like I am enough to speak on this subject is a deeper dive for another time.  For now we’ll say that I recognize that I do have the experience, strength and hope to share from my journey.  Even more, I want to be a part of the conversation to ultimately help as many as I can.

From my conversations with professionals in the book industry, I’ll need to do this uncomfortable marketing to build that audience. Duh Mathias, I know. It’s something I was starting to wrestle with as we came closer to the website going live. What I kept reminding myself is that I’ve done harder things in life and if we want to help people, we need to reach people. That’s where the motivation started to grow, when I started to think of the person who needs it.  Thinking of Mathias 3 years ago, searching for a solution and common ground.  Put that person above my own personal uneasiness.

So it’s time for growth and once again use that common phrase - get comfortable being uncomfortable.  What exactly does this look like?

For me, everything. Using social media with purpose. Writing emails to those I don’t know introducing the book. Going from an undercover recovering alcoholic to a rather outspoken one. Taking videos of myself speaking about my journey, the lows, the highs and what I’ve learned.

These are all things that make me uncomfortable. These are all things that need to happen to reach the most people. Putting others ahead of myself is the driving force. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll learn how to look comfortable on camera. 

And if I don’t, thats ok too. In the end, as long as its authentic and honest, I’m good.

What’s that?….Ah, yes you’re right. I almost forgot to say that you can read Journal 2 on the blog page.  A chapter a week was our promise and we’re still right on it.

Enjoy and talk to you next week.

- Mathias John