GarthBox

When you have a challenging client, they push you to be better, to put yourself in their shoes, to ask (and answer) questions you would never think of asking (or answering).

In rising to the challenge, you build skills that will help you in future interactions, in other work situations and life, in general.

But what if your client, boss, coworker, spouse, friend, parent, neighbor and internet troll don’t challenge you?

The worst part about waiting for the challenge, is that it might not come.

 

Stay Positive & Seek The Challenge (Or Challenge Yourself)

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Asking questions will build your knowledge base, it’ll give you the assurance you need to make a decision, it’ll give you the confidence to see an endeavor all the way through.

Asking questions is a super power in my book.

 

Stay Positive & You Don’t Need A Cape

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It’s all about the experience, isn’t it?

Every owner cares about their guests having a remarkable experience.

Every server wants the customer to leave having had a wonderful experience.

Every internet retailer wants the package drop off to go off without a hitch because of the experience.

Subtle additions to a moment is what turns it into an experience. Doing things differently for each repeat order is what makes it an experience. Surprising and delighting at every opportunity is what makes it a memorable experience.

You don’t need to overdo an experience, you only need to tweak it ever slightly for it to be seen as different from the time before, thus making it memorable.

 

Stay Positive & Experience Truly Is Everything

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If you want people to believe in your story, you have to live it out in every way possible.

That means gut checking yourself in every decision “Is this the way we do things?”

That means keeping consistent even when you’re tired, even when no one is in the shop.

That means saying you’re here for some people, not all people.

That means selecting design that helps tell your story, not design that you think is cool.

That means not wavering even when the loudest customer yells.

 

Stay Positive & Solidify Your Story By Living It Daily

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To see more business results, you likely don’t need to market more, you need to market better.

The best way to do so? Market in a way that makes an emotional connection with the target.

And that’s where your imagination comes in. That’s when you put on your target’s shoes, her pants, her shirt, her scarf and begin to imagine what life is like.

It’s in every scenario you make up in your head about the target that gets you that much closer to making an emotional connection with him or her.

Sure, a lot of scenarios are rooted in insights you’ve already acquired or your research team told you, but as a marketer, a bit of what you do is make assumptions, tell a story, imagine the details because it’s those details that make all the difference.

 

Stay Positive & Keep Connecting Emotionally

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Anytime you meet someone, they’re going to have an agenda.

Heck, you’ve got one too.

That’s why it’s critical to start any conversation, interaction or meeting by making an agenda together.

Five minutes of upfront discussion around the topics each wants to talk about is worth it to ensure all parties leave feeling fulfilled or, at minimum, acknowledged.

 

Stay Positive & Set Yourself Up For Success

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There are only two options when you are in doubt.

Quit or improvise.

Obviously you choose the one you learn more from, right?

 

Stay Positive & Make It Up As You Go

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