Planning your year with Audrey Hughey

Quick recap

The conversation among Russell, Monica, and Audrey revolved around the significance of planning in the writing and publishing process, with a focus on various planning and time management strategies. They also discussed the role of AI tools in creating content and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. The conversation highlighted the importance of managing expectations, setting and sticking to priorities, and maintaining a visible presence in business operations. The participants also shared their experiences with sleep cycles and work strategies, and the challenges of delivering quality work. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of process improvement and transitioning into a mentor role.

Summary

Planning in Writing and Publishing Process

The conversation among Russell, Monica, and Audrey focused on the significance of planning in the writing and publishing process. Audrey, a planner expert, stressed the advantages of target-setting and planning for authors. The trio also reviewed the success of their author ecosystem efforts and upcoming projects. The discussion highlighted various planning and time management strategies, with Audrey and Monica sharing their experiences, while Russell expressed his struggles with content planning. Audrey and Monica also discussed the importance of time blocking and noted that it can be beneficial in different scenarios. The conversation ended without a definitive conclusion on which method was superior.

Writing, Productivity, and AI in Creative Processes

Russell Nohelty discussed his writing process, highlighting his ability to focus on his work due to not having any dependents. Monica Leonelle brought up the concept of women often being seen as support in others' lives. The conversation then shifted to productivity and Audrey Hughey shared her strategy of dedicating Saturday mornings to brainstorming and building her vision, which she found to be a highly productive time for her. Russell also mentioned the use of AI for writing and noted the recent release of Microsoft 365's Copilot Pro.

AI Tools for Presentations and Task Delegation

Russell, Audrey, and Monica discussed the benefits and limitations of AI tools in creating presentations and content calendars. Audrey shared her approach to monthly maintenance tasks, which involves using AI for content creation and delegating tasks to her team. The conversation concluded with Russell discussing the concept of 'chaos agents' and how they can disrupt plans, and Audrey bringing up the idea of 'yellow, red, and gray tines'.

Balancing Life Priorities

Audrey shared her top life priorities, which include self-care, family, her writing career, and income generation. She admitted struggling with balancing these priorities, particularly when her writing flow is disrupted and it affects her time with her family. Audrey, Monica, and Russell discussed the importance of setting and sticking to priorities, sharing their personal approaches. The conversation highlighted the challenges of balancing work and personal life, with Monica admitting that her family often takes precedence over her own needs.

Managing Expectations in Project Planning

Monica shared her approach to project planning and meeting deadlines, emphasizing the importance of managing audience expectations. Russell expressed concerns over the fulfillment rate of a recent crowdfunding campaign and the need for maintaining a visible presence in business operations. Both Monica and Russell discussed the significance of managing expectations, particularly in terms of project timelines, and the importance of focusing on one goal at a time. The conversation also touched upon the varying expectations from different audiences and the psychological impact of losing supporters.

Quality Work Challenges for Small Businesses

Monica, Audrey, and Russell discussed the challenges of delivering quality work, with Monica noting the struggle small businesses may face in balancing time and quality. Audrey emphasized the importance of prioritization, adaptability, and stakeholder communication, while Russell highlighted the subjective nature of quality. Audrey stressed the need for weekly evaluations, holistic planning, and strategic time management. Her suggestions were agreed upon by the team, with Russell and Monica acknowledging the practicality of her approach.

Sleep Cycles and Work Strategies

The participants discussed their experiences with sleep cycles and work strategies, noting how their approaches have changed as they've aged. Audrey emphasized the importance of self-care and limiting commitments to preserve energy. Russell shared how his strategies evolved as he had to adapt to chronic fatigue and reduced physical capacity. Monica mentioned her struggle with sleep deprivation and the need to shift her work habits. The conversation also touched upon the challenges of balancing work commitments and self-care when life circumstances change, such as becoming a parent or caring for a sick relative.

Digital Products Income Boost: Planning, Efficiency, Challenges

Audrey Hughey highlighted the significance of planning and efficiency in boosting income from digital products, underscoring the need to balance income generation with personal fulfillment. Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle concurred, discussing their personal approaches to planning and the challenges of running a business, particularly in relation to digital presence and income generation. Russell shared his experience of losing his social media accounts and discussed the potential use of AI in advertising as a solution to regain lost revenue. The trio also explored various strategies such as finding more traffic sources, creating packages of old posts, and providing transformative experiences for clients.

Writers Discuss Editing, Teamwork, and Outsourcing.

Audrey Hughey shared her plans to package and edit her previously written short stories and flash fiction for her audience who enjoys horror and thriller genres. Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle reflected on the quality of their teams, noting their ability to work independently and deliver the desired experience. They emphasized the importance of hiring a well-suited team who require less oversight. The conversation concluded with the idea of documenting their processes for future reference, particularly in relation to a book project. Monica acknowledged her role as a bottleneck and decided to delegate much of her remaining workload to others. Russell emphasized the importance of investing in outsourcing and hiring professionals when possible.

Marketing, Processes, and Leadership Discussions

Russell, Audrey, and Monica discussed their experiences with marketing tool ConvertKit, with Audrey expressing satisfaction and Russell raising concerns about cost. They underscored the importance of understanding personal processes for improvement or outsourcing. Monica shared the benefits of gaining clarity about her work process and the advantages of outsourcing tasks. Russell introduced a new tool, Scroll, which uses AI for process documentation. The conversation also touched on the need for process improvement in their business ventures and the importance of transitioning into a mentor role, especially after turning 40. Audrey and Monica discussed the challenges faced by individuals who don't make this transition, with potential burnout being a significant concern. Additionally, they talked about the importance of training and leadership in the military, with Audrey emphasizing the potential for dismissal if one stagnates at the same rank.

Work Challenges and Priorities: A Team Discussion

Monica, Audrey, and Russell discussed their work challenges and benefits. Monica mentioned an upcoming milestone birthday and the need for better systems. Audrey shared their bi-weekly meetings to focus on important projects and evaluate progress. Russell expressed interest in learning about their systems to avoid burnout and improve operations. Audrey admitted struggles with delegation, indicating a need to improve their system further. They also discussed the importance of having a team to manage and prioritize tasks, with Audrey sharing her strategy of breaking up projects into manageable tasks. Monica and Audrey discussed their respective strategies and priorities, with Monica emphasizing sales and marketing skills, and Audrey focusing on sales for the year. The conversation concluded with the group agreeing on the value of coaching for addressing planning problems and finding solutions.

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