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I recently hosted a big event for entrepreneurial women and was excited to rock out in the fab pair of platform heels I bought just for the occasion. Let me tell you, they looked GOOD. But every step I took felt like I was balancing on the edge of a tower.

What we do in the name of fashion, right? It occurred to me that it’s similar to what we entrepreneurs do in the name of feeling successful. A lesson I learned the hard way.

In 2004, I left my job in Corporate America – where I had successfully built a $9 million online brand and community – to build my very own million-dollar brand and community around one word: breakups.

I was going through my very own Big Breakup at the time, and I set my sights on getting a book deal. Within months, I accomplished that goal. My book, It’s a Breakup, Not a Breakdown, debuted in 2007. I appeared on the Today Show and other national programs. I went on a book tour. I did all the fancy things I thought an author should do. Woohoo!, right?

Well, not quite. When I got home, I took a look at my bank account and almost had a nervous breakdown. I was broke. I had invested thousands of dollars in publicists and book tour fees and website development. I had taken time away from lucrative freelance projects to write and sell my book. In other words: I did all of the things I thought a successful author should do, but I hadn’t checked to see if I was building my platform on a solid foundation.

Ironically, I’m one of the lucky ones. Only 5% of first-time authors sell more than 5,000 copies in their book’s lifetime, and my book sold close to 10,000 copies in the first six months. And only 5% of the population makes over one hundred thousand dollars a year. I broke that ceiling a few years ago. Woohoo! indeed.

So what happened?

Well, while I love my books (I’ve since written and published two more traditional books and two e-books), I didn’t realize that they weren’t sturdy enough to be my business.

Instead, they’re my business card.

Here are some of the mistakes I made and how you can avoid making them, too:

1. I relied on one revenue stream – my book. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket (especially if it’s a broken basket!).  Create an entire product suite, such as a book, coaching programs with multiple levels, speaking engagements, writing and blogging opportunities, etc.

1. I forgot to create golden opportunities with others who were aligned with my brand. Find major companies that have similar missions and explore ways you can partner. Eventually, I got paid $5,000 to write a blog entry pimping out a major company’s hair care products while giving their customers tips on how to have a post-breakup makeover. Jackpot!

1. I got caught up in being an author and overlooked the value of my expertise. Look for other ways to make money from your knowledge. Eventually, I got paid handsomely to write articles for an online dating site. A Fortune 500 company approached me to consult them on their online business. At first, I felt these were not aligned with my “author” expertise. However, both opportunities have been incredibly lucrative and I loved taking on those exciting endeavors.

1. I didn't ask for help. Before you spend tons of money on a publicist, for example, take the time to evaluate what you really need. In hindsight, what I really needed was a business coach before I needed a publicist. Carefully assemble your team (a.k.a. your Woohoo Crew!) because you cannot build a profitable platform alone.

1. Finally, I HOPED for success rather than making a solid, actionable plan. Get out of wishing mode and into action. Sure, hope springs eternal, but it also keeps you paralyzed because as long as you wish for something, it's possible. Taking action is scary because it might dash those dreams … but it’s the key to your success.

So back to those sky high and oh so fab shoes of mine. For one night, they’re fun. But when it comes to building a six-figure and beyond success story, I’ve decided do it in sensible shoes.

Ready to build a rock solid 6 figure platform around your expertise, passion, and purpose?

Join my Savor U class "How to Build a Sustainable 6 Figure Platform" on March 9th!