This post was most recently updated on March 26th, 2014

“If you want to do something bad enough you can do ANYTHING in 30 days” – Matt Cutts

I am a strong believer in 30 day challenges.  It can be anything from riding a bike instead of driving a car; to changing your mindset by reprogramming your subconscious.

My first 30 challenge was to involve videos in my blogging.  By accepting the challenge, I agreed to do one video a day for 30 consecutive days.  Oh my gosh, I did not want to get in front of that camera for anything.  But I decided I needed to be upload some videos to YouTube in order to better relate to my readers.  

How can I, a middle aged woman who is neither a flashy movie star nor skinny fashion model, get in front of the camera and look presentable?  Oh, what a hang up that was for me (and I know I’m not alone, lol).  The first time I did a video I spent more time doing my make-up and deciding which color blouse to wear that my message was totally blurred out in my mind.  In fact, I was totally freaked out.

The second day of “the challenge“, I decided that bright lights were not my friend, so I had the room dimly lit.  Yuck!  Watching at that one you got the distinct feeling I was hiding.  

Each day that I did a video, I found that half way through, I started to find some “tricks”.  Just little things, like wearing a hat and transition glasses outdoors.  Oh yea, that works!  I learned that little tricks did indeed make a big difference.

By the third week, I was so over putting on globs of make-up and focusing on how I looked.  I was actually able to think about what I was saying.  Hey, get real now, I was doing this for business right?  Not too helpful if I sounded like I didn’t know what I was saying.

So my mind started turning more on the content I was delivering, than how I looked doing it. And guess what I noticed?  My videos were becoming informative and interesting.

But that was only one of the 30 day challenges I have done in my life.  

I’ve done so many since then, especially to challenge my mindset and program myself to achieve things I wanted to.  From affirmations written on my bathroom mirror (Yes, where else do you go the first thing in the morning?) to demolishing obstacles purely through intention and properly scripted attention. Reciting affirmations repeatedly for 30 days, visualizing things working out the way I directed them to, visualizing what I intended to have happen and then sit back and watch it play out.  

These are just some of the 30 day challenges that have been so effective for me.  In fact, they’ve kind of become a habit for me: a standard method of operation in my business.

Whether I encounter a stumbling block in my personal development, or am traveling through some rough or unknown terrain in my business, I immediately put myself through a “challenge” that is carefully designed to achieve success.  

Now, I’ve just been talking about me here, so I decided to share with you another person who travels this path.  In 3 minutes, he will rock your world.   Check out what Matt Cutts’ TED presentation, “Try Something New For 30 Days.”

I love Matt Cutts, and I so appreciate him sharing his 30 day experience.  

So tell me, did you ever try a 30 day challenge?  Did it work?  Or, if you never did, are you willing to do so?  I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts on the “30 Day Challenge”.

Blessings,
Donna

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• Blogging Magic

Donna Merrill

Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.