The day before yesterday, I launched a brand new workbook, Selling Sweetly: How to write your sales page (in truth, the actual title is longer but this is easier to remember) and afterwards, a friend wrote to ask, “How did your project launch feel?”

What an interesting question! It felt… a lot of things. I beta-tested Selling Sweetly before the full launch so I already had the benefit of knowing how it might be received. I got great feedback early on and I incorporated as much as I could into the finished workbook. So I didn’t feel that nervousness (although when I sent out the first draft I did – it’s always vulnerable to show people what you’re up to and to ask if they like it or not). I felt excited to share it finally, a different kind of anxious energy. When you sit on an egg for so long, you want to see what hatches.

I was a little nervous about technological glitches. With the beta-test, we found out that Apple changed something in their PDF reader and preview functions. So my beautiful Bistro script, used in headlines? It disappeared for the Apple readers (which made a lot of exercises not make sense). The final draft had to use Georgia. Which was fine. But the Bistro surprise made me wonder what other surprises might be in store. But so far, eJunkie and various PDF readers have all cooperated as they should. Phew! 

Relief was definitely part of the emotional mix. I felt relieved to be done the work and to be able to release it into the world. No more tweaking, perfecting, fiddling. It was done. I loved creating that workbook. It’s the kind of work for me that devours time. But after hitting Send on the announcement and not having more to do, I realized it’d been a long while since I’d taken a day off. And I was tired. Tuckered right out. Still am, because I still haven’t taken that day off. That’s the problem with doing work that’s so enticing. (A very good problem to have!)

But the biggest thing I felt was – without question – GRATITUDE. I received so many notes of encouragement, and so many notes of thanks from entrepreneurs who bought the workbook. Fellow entrepreneurs posted links to it, sharing it with their communities. Others wrote to ask how they could help me spread the word because they loved the work. I was delighted. I think I spent most of Monday with a look of happy amazement on my face.

I am a very, very lucky woman to have my business supported by such a generous, loving, caring community. And this week was one more reminder of that. Thank you, all. xoxo

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Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.