Why Try To Get Out Of Your Box, When You Can Use What's In It?
A week ago if you asked me what’s the one thing I really needed; that one thing to get my business off the ground, I would have said a space.
I’ve got the space now … and there’s a new one thing.
That’s the thing about one things–there’s always another.
Turns out the one thing we need–the break, the speaking engagement, the testimonial, the portfolio–isn’t as important as we think it is.
Stay Positive & Onto The Next
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It’s nearly 20 years since Seth Godin’s book Permission Marketing came out and it’s still as relevant as ever.
Though, I would make a single caveat at the type of permission we all now have from those who have opted in, reached out and given us permission to connect with them.
It’s no longer passive permission; it’s active.
There’s an expectation that if they have given their contact information or a nudge in your direction that you actively connect with them, that you pursue what’s most relevant to their narrative and to add to it. They expect you to know and share more than ever before.
They know more brands have been given their permission and they’re subject to a new kind of noise. They’re searching for a brand who sings the same tune as them, if not daily.
But yes, daily.
Stay Positive & Can You Keep Up With The Permission?
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You can have the perfectly designed location.
You can have the highest quality product.
You can have a series of top reviews, testimonials and blurbs.
Nothing – not the position of the product or the benefit of it – will be as important as the attitude of the person talking about it, selling it, showing it.
In a world where it’s easier than ever to match prices, match quality, match a web design or an email campaign; it’s extremely important to train the right people with the right attitude of touch.
Turns out the gap is massive between a not so good employee and an epic one.
Stay Positive & People Notice (And Care)
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Keystone habits are habits that lead to the development of multiple other good habits, often unknowingly so.
They create a domino effect in your life that produces positive outcomes exponentially.
There are many more than six, but here are the six I would recommend implementing today.
Gratitude – Write three things down that you’re thankful for. (I use Evernote)
Meditate – Invest at least 10 minutes to meditation. (I use Headspace)
Exercise – Spend at minimum 20 minutes performing some fitness activity. (I use P90X3)
Freewrite – Do not lift the pen up from the page for five minutes straight. (I use whatever journal I have on hand)
Mantra – Create a mantra to say out loud each morning. It can be three words or 300. (I use the one below the photo credit)
Outreach – Connect with at least three people via social or email. (I use LinkedIn and go down my connections list)
Do these six activities as often as you can and I guarantee you will see all other areas of your life begin to improve from productivity to relationships to financial status to happiness.
Stay Positive & Habit On
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I am healthy, strong, and in control of my body and willpower. In all I do I am positive and hardworking. In all that I create I ask what is in it for them? I put myself in their position. I am a giver, I am generous. I care about others.
I keep an open mind and observe all the wonder of the world. I see the little things and their big meanings. I remain curious as I look at things and ask why?
Each day, each task, each conversation, each goal, I will show up, I will be present. I will own the moment. Throughout the day I will do things my own way, but will have studied and learned from the paths others have taken.
Confidence is my key to remarkable work, to creating value for others, to pushing through setbacks. I am resilient. I persevere beyond the line of others. I set an example for those wishing to succeed in life.
I will remain agile and flexible while maintaining my determination to succeed. I will keep my hopes up high and my head down low. I will not take anything personally. Today I will embrace the culture of continuous improvement.
For my future kids. For my current and future friends dancing with their own fears. I will stay positive.
I have always been fascinated with the movie industry. From how so many covers have a template to them, to spotting all the product placements to how we have surpassed more than a million terrible movies having been created.
It’s worth pausing a moment to consider the quality of movies released.
Movies that basically received negative points in Rotten Tomatoes and other movies that weren’t good enough to deserve an ounce of criticism.
Yet, the movie was still made, still hit the theater, still watched by people like us (even if we turned it off after 20 minutes).
Despite the fact there are middlemen, early critics and gatekeepers, terrible films were shown.
It has to make you wonder about how the relationship between people who are supposed to know (know what will be a hit and what won’t) and people who merely show up with the best work they can make at that time. The gatekeepers don’t have as much control as we often tell ourselves they have (or they act like they have).
No doubt the filmmaker learned lessons from their ill-received film, but so to were lessons learned by the audience, by other filmmakers. Even when a movie maker fails, they make a positive impact on the industry.
That’s why it’s not fair to let the thought “this isn’t going to work” stop you from shipping the best version of your work you can make right now. The only time your work is guaranteed not to hit the big screen is when you hesitate and hold back.
If you keep pushing it forward, no intermediary, critic or gatekeeper can stop you.
Proof is at the movie theater.
Stay Positive & Keep Pushing, Keep Shipping
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We need you to come up with more ideas, share more stories and find new ways to connect with the target audience.
More importantly, we need you to not fall into a paralysis or feel defeated when an idea doesn’t stick, a story doesn’t resonate and you break a connection instead of make one.
Stay Positive & Always Forward Movement
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It’s a great dream and a great moment to work toward to – that minute when you’ll feel like you’re on top of the mountain.
The reality is that you won’t feel that way. Not entirely.
Ask anyone who has been in business for 2 or 20 years. The moment when they thought they were close to “making it” a new opportunity or challenge presented itself.
If you’re considering going in business for the destination; it may be worth giving yourself a reality check.
It’s a journey.
Always will be.
Stay Positive & As We Climb, The Mountain Gets Bigger (And Better)
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