GarthBox

You might as well learn before you’re forced to.

You might as well try it before you’re forced to.

You might as well care more before you’re forced to.

Of course, you’re never really forced to.

You can give up, stand still, sell out and back pedal to a place you’re content with.

But that doesn’t sound fun at all, does it?

We can choose to level up today and every day.

Word on the street is today is the last day for the story skills workshop, organized by Seth Godin and taught by Bernadette Jiwa. It’s worth it if you want to control where you go from here.

Stay Positive & It’s Your Narrative

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There’s no shortage of surveys circulating the web from businesses and brands asking what their customers, fans and followers want them to do.

All the data in the world doesn’t make a hard decision easy. It doesn’t ensure that there won’t be a group of those who are frustrated with your decision (there always are). Most importantly to remember, doing what the “mass” suggests doesn’t mean you will succeed.

The hard decision comes down to what you want for your business and brand and how that entwines with the narrative the customers, fans and followers you want are creating.

Now’s the perfect time to draw a line in the sand.

Without one, no one knows where or with who to side.

Stay Positive & It’s On You (Always Has Been)

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It’s not more of what you sell that will make the difference.

It’s more than what you sell. It’s the empathy and care and attention you put into it. It’s the kindness and patience and help you provide.

Consider the reviews that move us.

“Works as described” and five stars isn’t good enough for us to be convinced.

“Easy to use and the level of support is great. Louis got us set up with exactly what we needed and kindly answered every question we had” is what moves us.

Care enough to care more. It’s the key to creating loyalty. The key to word of mouth marketing. The key to business growth. The key to being proud about what you’re offering.

Stay Positive & Extra Product Is Simply Hiding

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When we come across someone else who is clearly defensive, the tried and true next step is the one we take away from the person.

Pushing and prodding to open them up only leads to them building the wall higher. Smile and carry on.

However, there are plenty of times when we notice that we’re the ones being defensive.

The tried and true next step is the one we take toward curiosity. When we do the asking, it puts the attention and onus on the other. When we lean in to observe or listen, we give ourselves permission to not act, and simply to absorb.

It’s not easy to stop being defensive; but it is worth it.

For you and those you’re being defensive to.

Stay Positive & Curiosity Is The Best Defense

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Now more than ever we need to listen.

Not to everyone. Not to those who don’t see us.

But to those who are close to us: our customers, friends or audience.

What do they want out of us or the brand or the restaurant or the factory.

It has always been about listening and then responding accordingly, but now it’s more important than ever because they’re finally expecting us to listen.

And if we don’t, they’ll find a replacement.

Stay Positive & Listen Then Act, Not The Other Way Around

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Thinking through various scenarios, it’s tough work. It’s time consuming. It’s emotionally draining. It’s going to hurt your brain if you do it right.

So here are a few reminders to make it less painful and more likely that you do it now rather than later because if it’s later then you’ll rush it; As with all things, haste makes waste.

• Write and then talk the scenario out loud: Hearing the path will make it more clear if it’s a path worth pursuing than if you merely read it. If it doesn’t sound convincing saying it, then it’s likely not a good scenario.
• Find someone you trust to get you to think more deeply: You’re not at this alone. Share your scenarios with someone you trust the opinion of (and who is likely in your target audience or at minimum understands your brand or business or goal). They’ll gut check you.
• Draw the line between what you want and what you’re doing for others: When the line is blurred or we only look at one side of the coin, decisions get made that we regret. The only way to find the balance between WIIFM and WIIFT is to draw the line and detail both sides.
• There are no wrong scenarios to start: Put them all out on the table, in the notebook or on the wall. Cutting scenarios too soon prevents you from thinking through ideas that might be worth taking from one scenario and applied to another.

Stay Positive & Back To Planning

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Stuffing the envelope doesn’t help the recipient. You’ll end up having it returned because there’s not enough postage. You’ll end up having the recipient ripping the material trying to open it. You’ll be igniting a series of negative perceptions of yourself.

The same goes for the final two minutes of a meeting.

There’s more harm than help when we rush and cram information, entertainment, work, and connection.

Pause and propose an email follow up. Take conversations offline. Break it up into two sessions.

p.s. Whether you ask permission for a meeting to go over or postage to be waived, you’re still stealing time and attention; not earning it.

Stay Positive & Grab A Second Envelope

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