Mindset, Motivation, and The Power of Niche Research at Wealthy Affiliate

byConniesHouse

103 followers

Updated 1 month ago

There are days when I can write effortlessly, for hours, and with no lack of language for the message I wish to convey in the moment.

Other days, like today... the message I need to share is rumbling deep within, demanding release, yet the message is lacking structure and roars like the deluge of an unrestrained waterfall.

@RickTorri's recent article titled, "A Change of Heart, Finding Purpose In Business and Life, has been fanning the flames of my own need to address my thoughts about business and purpose, so I'm here today to give voice to the mental fog that has been clouding my productivity.

Hindsight Is 20/20

The image below was taken at a homeless outreach facility in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a rough season in my recovery journey when I found myself living and working in the shelter that was run by this ministry. I felt compelled to take a photo of this cart that was sitting in the courtyard as we prepared for the evening outreach dinner and service.

It had been several years since I had a cart like that myself, and it was terrifying to once again find myself in a homeless situation.

That photo was taken at some point during 2009, so I have ticked off many more milestones in my recovery journey since then. I celebrate the fact that I am no longer living in danger of the need for a facility like this one.

I now live in an apartment that is subsidized for seniors and the disabled, which is a far cry from the homestead and business location I envision for myself and my family.

I was introduced to web development in 2007 when I discovered Squidoo. I was overjoyed to discover that I had a knack for technology!

I immediately recognized the power of communicating with the pages they called “lenses”, so I used them to express my love for crafting, the Bible, and my dreams for "helping those who are homeless."

I fully embraced the task of building lenses, so I became a founding member of the Squid Angels, a member of Giant Club, and later; a Squidoo Greeter and contributor to the "So Crafty Magazine."

I didn't make any money, but I loved the ability to build on the internet, so I was in artsy, crafty tech heaven!! I spent many happy hours learning to navigate the world of blogging, writing copy, creating graphics, registering domains and finding the hex codes for my favorite color schemes.

For many years, I have envisioned using my art and teaching skills to finance my business dream, which is to build a facility that would provide the resources like those I needed while I was homeless myself.

When I discovered the internet, I developed great tech skills, but could never seem to generate the revenue needed to develop my business entity.

I built and re-built website after website, using free and low-cost platforms. I should have gained frequent flyer miles for the hours I spent on tech support calls, because I was determined to learn the behind-the-scenes details of changing my own name servers and importing or exporting my domains!!

Okay, now that I have shared the context... let's get to the heart of this message.

Pulling The Rug From Under My Feet (Again)

In June 2022, I discovered Wealthy Affiliate, and immediately chose the premium version because I recognized the power of the platform, but also for the incomparable performance of the tech support team. Those folks are highly skilled and always provide service with a virtual smile. That is not the case with all service providers, and so the choice to pinch pennies so I could move my domains to WA was clear!

I happily built sites for my many domains, and on March 17, 2023, I wrote to tell you that I had been gifted the funds to purchase my LLC, and was ready to launch into the business I thought was destined to become the vehicle to my dream for my homeless recovery training center.

On April 2, 2023, I was still reveling in the joy of becoming a business owner and shared an image of the building I envision for my facility. The post was all about branding!!

I have lived on a fixed disability budget for a very long time, so you can imagine how happy I was to have attained these major milestones.

I continued to take one baby step at a time, but I was blindsided in November when it became necessary for me to close my LLC. That's a very complicated story, but you can imagine how devastated I was. The disappointment and grief was heart-rending and it took some time for me to overcome the shock.

So much so, that it has taken this long for me to heal enough that I could find the courage to share this painful milestone with you.

There's an upside to this story, so don't stop reading yet!!

New Perspective For The Re-Launch of Connie's House

My niche topic has not changed, but it HAS become more fully defined and that has shed new light on the development of my virtual real estate. Homeless recovery is the core topic I was working to teach, but that is a very complex topic that must be addressed from multiple angles for problem-solving.

And EUREKA! It took years for me to recognize that multiplicity is my area of expertise, and the chaotic process of recovering from dissociative identity disorder could clearly be seen in the ebb and chaotic flow of my web development activities.

The dashboard and construction process at Wealthy Affiliate was familiar territory, but the training provided here was not available in the platforms that I had used for so long.

I knew the basic premise of niche content and keyword research, but really didn't understand how to implement the power of niche research and SEO. The Jaxxy tool shed new light on my understanding and helped change the way I built my sites.

I have made many shifts in my content over the past few weeks, and have just launched the Etsy shop that is now a true reflection of my area of expertise!

Art Therapy Ideas : My Key To Productivity and a Viable Stream of Revenue

I realize that the topics I discuss are awkward and uncomfortable for most people, and that is the reason that it has been so difficult to garner any significant measure of conversation and engagement with my content.

My relocation to Oklahoma changed that sad but true fact for me!! When I registered for services at my new behavioral health care facility, I recognized the shift in my own perspective, and I could see the resilience that I have developed during my years of engaging in the therapy that helped me learn the value of self-care.

I was in crisis mode when I registered, but that was understandable to me. I had just made a cross-country relocation, after 10 years of stability that I had never experienced before. I was engaged in regular behavioral health care, medical care, and long-term support from a treatment team who valued, respected, understood, and celebrated my recovery journey.

It was shocking to leave that behind, but that process had prepared me for re-engaging the same process in my new location. This wasn't the first time I had experienced a massive cross-country transition, so I cried my tears, felt the deep grief and pain of change, and stepped into the doors of the clinic that would soon facilitate very positive changes in my life.

A Working Platform To Sustain My Final Phases of Self-Actualization

It was near Christmas time when my emotions escalated to the point that I knew I needed support, so there was only one person working on the day I arrived to request an intake appointment.

As it turns out, she was the trauma therapist that I would eventually be assigned to, so the timing and circumstances of my arrival were actually ideal.

In hindsight, I recognized that I felt more like a staff member than a mental health client, because I have been working in the field of trauma recovery for so long. I have had volunteer opportunities and employment during my recovery, so I have a high tolerance for the behavioral health care environment.

I shared my story, my current stressors, established a safety plan, and began the intake process that would lead to re-establishing my therapy process. I shared my hopes and dreams for business, which opened doors of opportunity to discuss my vocational needs with other agency leaders.

Due to those conversations, I was extended an invitation that has forever changed the landscape of my entire life. In January 2024, I was invited to apply and was approved to become a member of the Oklahoma State Advisory Council for the Moving Forward With Faith Initiative.

As it turns out, the medical community values the voices of "lived experience," so my requests for vocational support led me to this incredible opportunity.

The Good News Gets Better

My first few meetings were emotionally overwhelming, and I seriously considered withdrawing from participation. I felt ashamed of the surge of emotions I experienced during meetings, but leaders were gracious, kind, and extremely understanding about the waves of awareness that swept over me.

My surging emotions were not their first rodeo, and they were willing to cheer me on as I rode those massive mental health mavericks of surging emotion!!

Chasing Mavericks is a movie that inspired that term for me... the 100-foot waves of water you see in the movie are a great example of what the swell of traumatic memories feels like, so the phrase has become my go-to for anyone who needs to understand the panic of emerging emotions that are exhibited by those who suffer from PTSD.

My Passion For Mental Health Care Converges With My Passion For Technology

I shared the fact that art and web development are a huge component of my treatment plan, so that led to the opportunity for me to write a public service announcement about the work of the newly developing council, which you can read here: Moving Forward With Faith Initiative

You can see how my relocation has served as a converging point for the many components of my hopes and dreams for business development. Passion, purpose, business, faith, homeless recovery, and behavioral health care are all vital aspects of my request for the help to create the business entity I envision so clearly.

That is an ambitious project that cannot be accomplished alone, and that is the reason that Papa God knew that I needed to close my initial LLC.

Many people ask how I have been able to hold onto faith for my dream after so many years of delay. I too, often reminded Jesus that "hope deferred makes the heart sick," because I could envision my business so clearly, and I was devastated by the never-ending cycle of one closed door after another.

I was often reminded by well-meaning believers that we are to "give thanks in all things," but it took many years for me to articulate my response to the condescending attitudes that often accompanied that "admonition."

I have reached the point that I am able to point out the fact that I AM grateful that Jesus was with me during the most horrendous experiences of my life, but also that He despised the suffering as much as I did.

There was a day when I was so annoyed, frustrated, and indignant about the long-term suffering and delays that I shouted to Him... I AM grateful for your presence in my life; but I am NOT a masochist, and neither are YOU!! Enough is enough, and I am DONE with these delays!!!

I am able to laugh now, but that was a painful day that I am glad is behind me now. His purpose for allowing those painful conditions was so that I could learn to articulate the details that I am sharing with you today, and that I can celebrate the fact that I have been fully freed from religious shaming about my symptomatic behavior.

My future conversations and product matrix have become abundantly clear, and my path forward can finally be defined by the niche content I am now working to complete.

I'm beyond grateful for the power of WA, and I look forward to keeping you updated about my progress in days ahead.

No, I'm not in business yet, but I know that I know that I know... one day I will be!!

It will be my great pleasure to return with a post to share THOSE details with you.

Shared with great appreciation for your presence in my life, and for the encouraging words that are always so freely shared by my fellow affiliates.

With much love,

Connie, Clara, and the rest of my Armchair Adventure Team