How do you measure success? by Brendan Conboy

Photo from Pixabay

This blog is inspired by the recent blogs of Liz Carter and Veronica Bright.

Liz says, “It seems to me that there is always a massive push to succeed, to always be 'doing' in order to get our books out there.”  Veronica quotes Sophie Hannah who tells us to, “Believe in our future success, believe that we will achieve success in one way or another.”

In general, the market tends to measure and define success based on how much money the author makes or how many copies the book sells.  So, how do you measure success?  Have you actually defined what success looks like for you?  If not, how will you know when you have achieved it?

Once your work is published, how do you define its success?  The word define means to “state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of.”

The word measure means to “estimate or assess the extent, quality, value, or effect of (something).”

I spent 30 years working in the charity sector and learned to define and measure success in both qualitative and quantitative means.  Monitoring is engrained within me and like any good charity, I even have a vision and mission statement.

 

MY VISION (What I want to see)

To make a positive difference.

To change lives and have a purpose

that leaves an impact – SOW SEEDS

 

MY MISSION (How I will do it)

Listen to God.

Communicate His message creatively.

Use words – written & spoken & visuals

Inspire, motivate & transform

 

I would encourage you all to look at your whole life in general, not just the writing aspect.  Consider writing your own vision and mission statements.

Personally, I don’t regard the number of books sold and the amount of income generated as the main success.  Of course, it is great to sell lots of books but I have the greatest joy when I receive a message telling me that something I wrote changed the life of someone in a positive way.

My biography, called ‘The Golden Thread’ was the first book that I wrote.  Soon after it was published, I heard that it was being used as optional reading in a drug rehab based in Canada and two people had become Christians after reading it.  I once gave a copy of that book to a young man.  Soon after reading it, he invited Jesus into his life and now he works as a missionary in Brazil.  I would say that that book has been successful.

Take the wins when they come along.  I would love to hear your success stories no matter how small they may be, they are significant.

Brendan Conboy aka Half Man Half Poet is the author of 14 published books including his fascinating autobiography, The Golden Thread.  In 1986, Brendan invited Jesus into his life and God blessed him with the gift of rhyming words.  He used that gift as a Christian Rap artist for 25 years and has written 6 poetry books including the entire Book of Psalms in Rhyme.  He has 3 published novels - Issues, Invasion of the Mimics and Legacy of the Mimics.  He is the creator of Book Blest Christian book festival.  Brendan is available for speaking events, poetry performances and workshops.  Visit Brendan's website HERE.