Life Lesson

There’s the Perfectionist Playbook that shows you everyone you should get feedback from before you hit publish.

There’s the Forward Playbook that shows you exactly how to work around the red tape to get it blessed and subsequently published.

There’s the Corner Playbook that shows you all the corners you can cut so you can get to hitting publishing quicker or forgetting about it entirely.

There are other playbooks … many, and more applications of them than getting work published.

That’s why it’s critical when you’re asking for someone’s help that you know which playbook you’re asking them to share a page out of with you.

“What do you think of this copy I wrote?” gets them to share a page of a very different playbook than “Who’s the one who needs to sign off on this?”

And “Who’s the one who needs to sign off on this?” is a different page than if you asked “How can we cut this in half?”

Make sure you’re asking the right questions to learn from the playbook you want.

 

Stay Positive & Hut Hut …

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There’s a piece of any article or post that’s called the kicker.

It’s typically at the end of a story and invokes a whole lot of emotion.

You need it not only to increase a person’s recall of what they’ve just read.

You need it not only to get those who skim to the end to be convinced to read the whole thing.

Truthfully, you need it to get someone to share what you’ve written. Anyone who feels emotionally satisfied at the end of an interaction is likely to pass that interaction along. Why?

Because it feels good to feel good. And it feels better to know you made others feel good.

 

Stay Positive & Go Ahead, Pass This Along

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It’s likely the problem you’re trying to solve isn’t an awareness problem.

Ring a bell, people will hear it. Shout online, people will be interrupted. Send an email, people will glance at it. Set up a pop-up ad and people will click it (ya know, the big X in the top right).

It’s likely the problem you’re trying to solve is a trust problem.

And a trust problem isn’t solved by shouting the promise you’re making louder or by telling more people to trust you. It’s solved by keeping your promise to those who give you the chance and it’s about showing how that promise fits into the narrative your target is telling themselves.

 

Stay Positive & Less Insertion, More Immersion

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There’s confusion around where the line of fine is.

It’s fine to let a friend borrow a dress.

It’s not fine to only give your work 80 percent.

It’s fine to buy the meal of a person behind you.

It’s not fine to surround yourself with those who don’t appreciate you.

It’s fine to show up a little earlier and stay a little longer.

It’s not fine to waste others’ time because you’re afraid of what’s next.

It’s fine to go back for seconds of the casserole.

It’s not fine that you don’t give feedback in the moment.

It’s fine if you forgot to bring the board game to the party.

It’s not fine following your head over your heart.

It’s fine to park in the back to get a few more steps in.

It’s not fine to go through each day not knowing what you really want.

 

Stay Positive & Stop Saying “It’s Fine” When It’s Not

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Of course there are a million ways to grow, but there’s one way that’s often overlooked …

Surround yourself with those who will call out your faults when you’re too blind to see them.

 

Stay Positive & Then Listen

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Here’s a marketing exercise for you: For every tactic you’re performing or plan to perform, categorize it in one of the following two categories:

1. It’s to motivate them to go to you
2. It’s for once they are there

Too often, brands and owners and activists put their time and energy into the first bucket, leaving the second bucket up to fate or design.

Both need attention. Both need intention.

 

Stay Positive & Find The Balance

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Statements that resonate most are ones that are planned and practiced.

The greatest orators were those who responded, not reacted to questions.

They invested time in imagining what others might ask and how he or she should respond.

They roll-played. They asked for feedback from those they trust. They crafted and recrafted their answers until they had them filled with power and emotion and confidence.

Do you have responses to the following questions?

• What’s your end goal?
• What’s the biggest struggle you’re facing?
• How can I help you?
• What change are you trying to make happen?
• What’s your dream?
• Who is your target?
• What’s your elevator pitch?
• Why did you do that?
• What’s your biggest fear?

Don’t get on being able to react and answer them in the moment.

 

Stay Positive & Start Practicing

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